I stared at him as his eyes, unwaveringly, watched mine. I could just feel the intense pressure weighing me down , I just hope that I don't break and set off those runes. I was never good at lying, my best attempts of lying were always half truths.
Truths that's encased with roundabout meaningless nonsense... I pride myself on thinking on my feet but when my opponent start to think... that's when I start to sweat and boy do I feel like I'm just sitting in a sauna right now...
"Lavira? The head librarian?"
"Yes. What's your relationship?"
"What do you mean by 'what's my relationship'? You know she's married right?"
"Is having a mistress or cheating not uncommon in your world?"
"It's common... but there are people with morals, Lavira has served me well as a librarian, she helped me in finding whatever books I needed and is a smart conversationalist."
"Oh and does those conversation extend to being in her room late at night?"
What?! How did he know that?
"There must be spies in the kingdom," suggested my logical self.
"You know what they say, 'the wall's always have ears'," my otaku self quipped.
"Who says that?" Retorted my logical self.
"Really? It's just a saying bro, I don't know who said it... sometimes I think you like being sarcastic, more than being a logical thinker."
"It's a perk but I can't deny that, I mean, it's interesting in finding out on what you'll say next. It's like solving a riddle with multiple meanings..."
"Is that a compliment? Cuz I'm taking it as such."
"Sure? But don't think too much on it or you'll get a big head."
"Ha ha... I hate you sometimes..."
"And I love you sometimes too."
"..."
Ignoring most of my idiot selves' comedy... I started to wonder about the spies thing. I mean someone like Faron has the resources to have such a system, maybe I should have such a system too. I mean I have the Knight's Order but it's limited and restricted by most circumstances. Baihu is also limited as they are by role, still bodyguards for the king. Hm... walls, ears, walls, ears... Ah! I know, maybe walls should have ears.
I could send out the shadow legion as scouters, informants and protection... yes... otaku self! You're a genius!
"I am?" My otaku self asked in shock.
"He is?" my logical self retorted sceptically.
"I suggest you should stop talking to yourself inside your head or you'll lose your mind. I find having a clear mind is more efficient than having a cluttered one. Now clear your mind and answer my question. I'm a busy man, Mr Huang. Don't test my patience."
Faron stared at me with a stone faced expression. It seems like I'm testing his patience and it's showing. Perfect. Wait... he said that I'm talking to myself and that my mind is cluttered... doesn't that mean he can read my mind?
{I know what you're thinking but don't let him fool you. He can only sense your cluttered mind but can't pinpoint what you're thinking or as he put it, a conversation with yourself. Relax, don't let him pull wool over your eyes.}
So he's cold reading. Man this guy loves to fish...
"I went to her last night to hand over so dishes I've made in the kitchen..."
"Kitchen? Why were you in the kitchens?"
"Uh..."
Shit...
"I was hungry, so I went to the kitchens to find some food. There were no cooks, so I made some food, ate it and found that I've made too much do I decided to give some away. Lavira the head librarian had helped me a lot so I gave her some of the leftovers as a thank you type of thing..."
"How nice of you... it seems like your telling the truth but you've just told me another rule admitted in breaking. My. My. You've only been here for four days and you've broken two rules already. Anymore and you'll be in real trouble. The king hates rule breakers you see, which is why he made so many. So far you've broken two but you never lied about them and told the truth so if you tell me the real truth, I'll abstain from telling the king. So tell me the truth."
"Uh... what truth you wanted again?"
"The incident that happened in the library, tell me what you know."
"The incident?"
"Don't play dumb, my sources told me that you were there."
"Okay, then tell me what your sources told you and I'll verify them."
"Mr Huang, this is an interrogation. I'm the one that dictates if my sources are correct. Now tell me."
Before I started to say things I know I'll regret, the door slammed open. Faron who had basically had been eye's glued to mine, never waved, instead his eyes grew more intensified.
"Tell me."
"Mr Huang, you don't have to answer him!" Shouted a voice with overwhelming authority from the door way.
I turned my head to the speaker and to my surprise, it's Marlos.
I'm saved!
"Your highness, I'm sorry for my rudeness but I'm in the middle of a interrogation. I have been ordered by the king to conduct this investigation."
"Yes, you have the rights to this investigation but Mr Huang is under my protection. I know your just fishing for answers but have no evidence. You have only word of mouth from uncredited sources. Now, if you wanted to interrogate Mr Huang further, I suggest you find actual evidence before you conduct these interrogations. Fishing for information is not something I thought the magic association would do. This is over, Mr Huang, come with me."
I felt the heavy knot inside of myself untangle as a flood of relief washed over me. I quickly got up from my chair and hurried to the prince. Faron hadn't move an inch from his seat and his face was still faced forward, unmoved.
"Good day, Faron."
"Good day, prince." Faron stated in a monotone robotic voice.
As we left the interrogation room, I saw I heard Faron's voice saying, "you're a very interesting man, Mr Huang," as if I've awakened a sleeping beast. An eerie coldness filled the hallway as we walked at a quickening pace which sent shivers down my spine.
The prince walked quickly, not talking as he guided me out of the building. Once we were out of the building, the prince let's out a heavy breath. Waiting outside was ten guards and information network tells me that they are all from the Knight's Order.
"Captain, Sir!" Saluted the ten guards.
"Glad thing Faron never made a move or we'll be in a different situation right about now..."
"Marlos, was it alright for us to leave like that?"
We just escaped the cage where the beast resides but a feeling of dread crept inside of me.
"Yes. He can't do or say anything against me since I'm the prince but I was anticipating some resistance..."
"So what now? Are we going back to the palace?"
"Yes. But first, since we're here. I want to buy a gift... before we head back."
As the prince said 'gift,' his face grimaced for a split second.
"Oh, I think the shop is this way, I'll give you a little tour since this is your fist time here."
This is my second time here, only briefly as we were in a carriage on our way to the tower. Since this city is within the kingdom's walls, we rode through the streets as the city held a parade for us.
"Sure, I want to know more about this city."
The prince nodded and swiftly walked down the street with the ten guards in tow. I was walking right next to the prince which had caught the attention of everyone in the city. I could feel the stares as everyone stopped what they were doing and gasped as the prince strolled only a few feet from them.
I could hear snippets of people conversations as we walked past like 'that's the prince,' or 'who is that man walking next to the prince, is he someone important? He looks weird.' When people started calling me weird, I started to feel uncomfortable but I get it since for my appearance, I stood out.
The prince started talking which drew my thoughts away from the crowd and on to him. I could tell that the prince noticed my uncomfortableness and helped me out. The prince started to tell me the history of this city and how this city laid the foundation for the palace. Some of these shops we walked pass had a long history and looked pretty old.
The prince told me that some of these shops were here even before the palace was even created. This place was once a town but with enriched ore here, people from all over started to take an interest and 'boom' a city was formed.
The prince stopped halfway down the street and turned left for a few blocks before we stopped in front of a small store. There were many jewellery stores all around us and I got the gist as to why but this store was old and very small compared to the others. At a small glance around, this store was the only store around that had little to no customers.
We walked into the store and to my surprise, it was quite cosy in here. It felt homely as if this was a family run store. The prince walked to the counter where an old grandma sat and was reading a newspaper.
The prince stood at the counter and waited, I would've thought that he would say something but didn't.
The grandma who was reading the newspaper, lowered it and stared at the prince for a few seconds before greeting him in a familiar tone.
"A gift for your mother?."
"Yes."
"Oh? What would you like?"
"I would like those dove earrings please."
"These are lovely earrings, fitting for a queen."
I could see standing on the sidelines that the prince wanted to say more but couldn't.
"Would that be all?"
"Mr Huang would you like anything? I'll be happy to buy it for you."
I looked around and thought for a moment. These are lovely jewellery, perfect for the girls... and Dayana… and Sara... as soon as I thought that my face felt like it's on fire.
"I uh..."
"It doesn't have to be now, I could buy it whenever you like."
"Sure let's do that."
"And who is this fine young man, your highness?"
"Oh sorry, let me introduce to you my benefactor, Mr Ryan Huang."
"Benefactor? Interesting. To be the prince's benefactor, you must've done something remarkable."
"I uh..."
"You don't have to tell me sweetie. This old granny is just glad that the prince has someone to help me out."
"Granny!" Marlos sniffed.
"You will have a long day ahead of you dearie. Go on, run along now and it's nice to me you sweetie."
Both the prince and I said our goodbyes and was about to walk out the door before someone ran straight in and slammed into the prince.
The prince was now on the ground with a girl on top of him.
The girl lifted herself up and was now straddling on the prince as she shook her head in a daze. The prince has regained his composure and opened his eyes, blinked a few times before mumbling two words.
"Snow flower."