Claude opens his eyes and sees himself in the middle of a bottomless pit. Everything was dark and he couldn't see a thing. He felt his face was wet and tries to rub it dry, to his dismay the water coming right out from his eyes was still flowing. Flashes of memories inside the extraction room start to hunt him as he runs through the darkness calling his family's name.
"Father!"
"Mother!"
"Caleb!"
"Mary"
One by one he keeps on calling and calling their names but there was no response, it was just pitch black and there was no end to it.
*Claude*
A voice calls out to him from somewhere.
"W-Where?"
*My name is Victoria, wake up Claude, everyone is worried about you*
"W-worried--w-what?"
*Wake Up*
*Wake Up*
"Mister? Are you okay? Wake up, Mister!"
Gasp!
Claude rises from his bed with cold sweat dripping out from his body, he was gasping heavily as he tries to picture out his surroundings.
"Mister? Are you okay?" he saw a child kneeling beside him
"W-who are you? Where am I?"
"You're in the slums down south, I'll call Tayne!" the child runs off outside the room.
"Wait! Ah!" He tries to stand up but he was covered with bandages, that's when he started regaining his memories last night. He was fighting Rell and almost died that's when Tayne and Tseng got themselves escaped outside the palace due to Caleb's help, his family was ---- he paused, his family was all killed and tears began to drip on his face again.
"Wh-why am I crying like this? I'm thirty years old dammit" he said to himself but he couldn't help it. Everyone he cares so much were all gone now, his home and his family, all gone, then he thought of Mary and the baby she carries that didn't even given the chance to live and it made him feel worse. "Gosh. Mary, why Mary?" he sobs
"Claude!" Tayne comes dashing inside the room, she must be running to come here, he thought because she was panting heavily. She sees Claude in tears and starts to cry herself as well "Your Majesty, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry" she keeps on repeating those words
(What is she sorry for?) He thought
Tayne held on to his clenched fists, lay her head on top and continued crying "I was so scared you won't wake up because you were hurt so badly" this was the first time Claude has seen her so vulnerable "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry your majesty, I broke my promise, I couldn't even save your sister and her baby"
The words were like daggers pierce right through him, that's when he remembered his orders to her. She must have felt conflicted about it, seeing how much she's crying in front of him right now, he can't help but want to pat her head.
"Stop crying brat," he said
Tayne sniffs while looking at him "I apologize, your majesty"
Suddenly he doesn't have any strength to cry anymore and wipes Tayne's teary face instead. "Now, stop crying, that's not how my head of security should be showing in front of me at this time, you're not the one who got their family slaughtered"
"Harsh words you got there pretty boy" Gus came in together with Tseng
"Your Majesty, I'm glad you're awake" Tseng kneels beside Tayne.
"Glad you're doing well, Tseng" he directed his gaze to Gus who was standing at the door.
"I assume you saved us?" he asks him
"Not really, your two guards over there came here all bloody and wounded, asking for someone who might be able to save you, man, I thought you were a corpse already but I just can't leave wounded guys like that you know, I still have my principles and thinking back were even now"
"Huh, and I thought you won't be forgiving the next time we come here"
Gus got flustered, "Sh-shut yer mouth pretty boy, you're all over the news you know"
"News?" confused, he looks to Tseng for answers.
"Duke Elizar released a conference after the incident last night and announced to the entire kingdom you went rogue and killed your family. He also introduces Rell as your only living relative who has the same Saverian blood as you to the public and is next in line for the throne. There are currently search parties everywhere inside the kingdom looking for us right now"
"What?"
"You guys are all wanted criminals! Good thing that bald guy over there explained everything to me what happened or I might have ratted you out" said Gus
"What do you want to do now, your majesty?" Tseng asks him
Claude could not answer him right now, everything is happening so fast he needs to process them one at a time. Tayne stands up and pats his shoulder. "It's fine, you don't need to answer us right away, whatever you decide were in this together. In the meantime, we will be outside in case you need anything"
Claude nods in agreement. The two guards left him while Gus was still standing in front of him.
"Do you believe me now pretty boy?"
Claude was still silent.
"You could still change this you know"
Gus got his attention "What do you mean?"
"Now that the true enemy has shown himself, I'm relieved you didn't die there."
"Haha, how ironic, I thought you hate me?"
"I still do but if that Rell guy is really what you guys explained to be then I'd rather have you as King than that family killing bastard"
"I couldn't even defeat him, he's too strong, you've seen it right? He was one of those bandits who rampaged this town"
"I know, but you could still become stronger --" Gus who was standing outside the door walks closer
"Get stronger and get what's rightfully yours"
"How can I do that?"
"I can help" a voice outside disturbs them
"Look, brother! I told you he's awake!" a redhead kid grabs his brother's hand pointing at Claude
"Yeah, I can see that"
"Why are the two of you here?" Gus asks them "Did Tayne give you permission?"
"Of course! Geez, you guys should be grateful I tried luring the guards outside of this town or else he'll get caught"
Claude was confused "I'm sorry, who are you?"
"They are Tayne's friends" answered Gus
"Hey! We got names! My name is Beck and this kid beside me is my brother Deck! Nice to meet yah ex-King!"
"Hey! That's rude!" Gus scolded them
"No- he's right since there's a new King now, I no longer have the right to call myself King anymore"
"Uhh--well, suit yerself it's not like I've been calling you, your majesty, anyway"
Claude goes back looking at Beck "What do you mean you can help me? In what way exactly?"
"Get stronger! You can come with us -- I know someone who'll make you strong!"
"Come with you to where?"
"To the Kingdom of Rosei!"
----
After crying her eyes out in front of Claude, Tayne decides to finish painting the benches inside the abandoned church that she left the last time she visited. The kids in town followed her and together they continued painting, with everyone's help it only took them an hour to finally finish.
"Wow, would you look at that colorful benches inside a dull abandoned church" she jokes, the kids were laughing with her as well.
"Tayne! Tayne! Who was that handsome fellow inside Gus's house, was he your boyfriend?" one child asked
"Yeah! He was so handsome when he sleeps!" another child said
"No! I like it when his eyes were open, it's like watching the sea!" Layla argued
"Now, now, that's not something to argue, right?" Tayne asked them
All the kids became quiet and nod in agreement
"Good, then help me clean up this mess while we wait for the paint to dry"
"Okay!"
"But he is your boyfriend, right?" Layla grabs Taynes hands
"Hahaha, since when did you kids learn what boyfriend means?"
"Well, you've been watching him closely when he was sleeping and you were holding his hand" Layla answered
Tayne was surprised "Oh my, you sneaky little ---" she raises both her arms and starts to playfully chase the kids around the building
"I'm gonna catch you guys!"
"Hahahaha!"
As they were playing chase, Claude arrives with Tseng supporting him. Layla notices them coming in and was so excited to see the handsome man.
"Look! It's Claude!"
All the kids stop running and stare at the two boys who just got in.
"Wow! It's really him!"
"Told yah! He's so handsome, right? He has hair like the sun and his eyes are like the color of the sea!" Layla runs towards Claude
Claude remembered her, "Do I really look like that?" he asked Layla
"Yes! Tayne! Your boyfriend is here!" she shouted
Tseng coughs out of shock when he heard the kid, Claude felt the same way too but he's currently in pain to scold them. Tayne dashes to their direction "Oh! Your Majesty! What brings you here?"
"Mind explaining why they are calling me your boyfriend?"
"Ah! Ahahahaha! Don't mind them, don't mind them, they are just kids! It's not true anyway"
"Riighhht"
"Really! Don't tell me you're bothered?"
"Not really but --" Claude sighs, he's not in the mood to argue right now.
"Tseng, you can let go of me now"
Tseng slowly lets go of his arms as Claude slowly walks towards the children.
"Hey you guys, why not play tag with that tall guy over there? I have something important to talk about with Tayne privately" he points to Tseng
"Like getting married?"
An angry nerve appear on Claude's forehead "Not really, now, go on, go on, big brother Tseng will play with you"
The children slowly walk to Tseng's direction as they secretly give Tayne a good luck gesture.
Tayne laughs at them "Silly Kids" she comments
When all of the children disappeared along with Tseng, Claude was looking for something to sit on.
"Here you go" Tayne offered him a stool "Those benches are still wet due to the paint"
"I see"
After Claude sits on the stool, he felt awkward now that they were alone and thinking about how he acted towards her this morning, he starts to flush.
"Your Majesty? Are you okay? You seem red, do you have a fever?"
"No! No! I'm alright, it's just that I'm still not used to hot places"
"Oh, right" she pauses for a moment "Then, what do you want to talk about that you needed to let Tseng and the children go outside?"
"I met your friend"
Tayne doesn't look surprised upon hearing it but instead, she got another stool and sat beside him.
"What did he told you?"
"About a group of mercenaries who currently resides in the KIngdom of Rosei, he's one of them" he faces her "and you too"
"Used to, we were ex-soldiers turned mercenaries but I left the group when I met your father"
"Can you tell me more about that?"
Tayne shakes her head "It's complicated but I promise I will tell you when the right time comes"
"You better"
They were quiet for a few more minutes, Claude really didn't understand the point of their conversation right now but he just felt that he needs to tell her privately, Tseng already agreed so most likely Tayne will do the same. There were still doubts in him but he wanted to change so badly that he needs to accept the risk.
"I'm going to Rosei to meet with them"
"What?" Tayne was surprised "Did Beck talk you into this? He said he'll only ask you about Victoria that's why I agreed to let him meet you"
"We did and I told him everything"
"Then why do you want to go to Rosei?"
"Because he said I can become stronger there"
Tayne gave him a serious look " Why do you want to get stronger? For Revenge?"
Claude shakes his head "To be honest, it's all I could ever think about right now, I'm so furious that I just want to blow up but I can't. Gus told me I can still make a difference, I know this may sound funny to you but I want to believe him"
Tayne smiled at him "I promise your father I'll stick with you no matter what, it's a long promise I tell you but I'm planning to keep it, I should tell you the truth as well that when we go to Rosei, it will be more difficult traveling than what you're used to, are you ready for that?"
Claude nods "Do I have a choice?"
"Hahaha, no, so let's go to the Kingdom of Rosei, your majesty"
"Don't call me that"
"But you said --"
"I know what I said but I'd rather you call me Claude like before"
"Okay, Claude"
---- End Of The Chapter.