Someone called me from behind, "Ed!" I took a deep breath and wore a smile, before turning to them.
"What's up? Did you guys finally finish fighting off at the bath?" I asked, in a teasing tone.
Gino and Forth looked at each other.
"Ah, right. I completely forgot about that. But, well. We can always do a fight anytime, finding you weren't that easy so we completely forgot it" Gino stated, and Forth nodded.
I mumbled, "Finding me?"
"You left us all at the bath, and when we went to your room you weren't there. So we looked for you" Russell explained.
They looked for me..?
As I mumbled such words to myself, I suddenly remembered the words I thought of earlier. I looked at the window that I used to look at myself earlier.
In the window, not only I but, Gino and the others were reflected, as well.
"Even if I close my eyes and opened it once again, it isn't like my hair would turn black and my eyes would turn red, like back then.
Since, I am not Hakuya Soraki anymore. I am already a different person…
I am Edward Finn von Collins now, after all" I repeated my words, in a very quiet tone. Quiet enough for them to not hear it.
"Hmm, did you say something Ed?" Gino asked. I remained silent for a second. "Ed?" As Gino called me, Reina and Anna, with Lux on her arms, appeared.
I sniffled, before looking at Gino and the others. "It's nothing..!" I smiled, with some tears seen from my eyes.
They exclaimed, "Eh?!"
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Gino asked, in a panic. "Surely, you made him cry" Forth tilted his glasses. "Why would I?" Gino complained.
Russell sighed, "Are you going to fight again, you two?"
"How noisy" Kirt yawned. "You are the same as them, usually" Reina told him, as she picked his ears. "Ouch, ouch!" Kirt groaned.
Anna giggled. "Reina-chan, you're hurting Kirt-kun" She stated. "Puu!" As if agreeing, Lux barked.
I giggled, before bursting out to laughter.
"First you cry, now you're laughing. You're busy, aren't you?" Gino sighed. "I think you're as busy as him, Gino" Kirt stated.
Gino glared at him. "Did you say something?" He asked, with a pissed tone. "Really, is something wrong Ed?" Russell asked.
"Like I said, it's nothing…really, it's not important" I smiled.
Really, don't mind me. Because, I just noticed that even if I changed or I am not the person I used to be there are still some people who will accept, like how you guys did.
So, really…
It's nothing that important. It's just that I managed to look forward again, thanks to you guys…
*
In the interrogation room, "Ah you finally woke up" I mumbled. The gray haired guy opened his half-opened eyes fully and raised his head to look at the person talking to him.
"How generous of you to interrogate us directly, your Imperial majesty" The gray haired guy smirked.
Soon, the brown haired guy also woke up. "We don't have much time, I'll need you two to be honest with me" I stated, as I looked at them.
Aren't they just kids? Just why are they doing this kind of things?
I shook my head, before taking a deep breath.
They might be kids, but this killing intent that I feel from them is no joke. I mustn't underestimate them.
I used my softest tone. "Let me ask first, are you guys the one who tore off the banner with my son's name on?" I asked. "Yeah" The gray haired guy stated, as the brown haired guy nodded.
"Aren't you a bit honest?" I mumbled. "You're the one who told us to do so. Plus, there is no point for us to lie to you" The gray haired guy stated.
I giggled. "Then, next…"
"Are you the one who send this letter?" I asked, as I showed them the letter which was sent to the palace, earlier.
The gray haired guy shifted his body towards me who was at his front. "Can you show it to me up close?" He asked. I looked at Reid, who was behind the gray haired guy.
Reid took off the thing that was binding the hands of the gray haired guy. "Here" I said, as I handed the letter to him.
The gray haired guy finished reading the letter.
"It's not from us, and that isn't the handwriting of our messenger" The gray haired guy leaned his back to the chair and stated.
He positioned his hands on where they were before, as if he asked Reid to bind them again.
Reid looked at me. "You don't have to. Rexx take off his bind" I stated, as Rexx followed and took off the brown haired guy's bind.
The two knights soon left the room.
"What are you doing? Are you underestimating us? If we really wanted to kill, we can, you know?" The gray haired guy stated.
I smiled. "I noticed that there is no need for me to be aware of you two, since you aren't a threat to me or my son. So I will need you two to explain everything to me" I stated.
The two guys in black looked at each other and look back at me, before sighing.
"But, first I need you two to tell me your names" I stated. "I am Qhuial Vengean" The gray haired guy stated. "My name is Hugo Vengean" The brown haired guy followed.
I asked, "You're family?"
"Precisely talking, we are twins" Qhuial explained. "I thought you were related, but didn't expect you two to be twins. So, who's the one older?" I asked.
Qhuial pointed at himself. "Me" He said, as Hugo looked at me with a smile. I was dumbfounded. "But you're the little one!" I exclaimed.
"Even if you're the Emperor, I can't forgive you for insulting me like that" Qhuial stated, as he clenched his fists. "Sorry, sorry. Well, then let us start Qhuial, Hugo" I stated.
*
"Ah, there you are, young master!" A knight called me from behind. "Roger?" I mumbled.
He is the older brother of the two twins, Reid and Rexx. By the way, I forgot to say but they are from the prestigious family of knights, the red-headed Brawns family.
"A letter was sent for you" Roger stated, as he handed a letter to me. "Urgent was written behind the envelope so I hastily brought it to you"
I mumbled, "I wonder what it is about?" I opened the envelope and took out the paper.
In the paper was written, "Go to the Harbor this midnight, we'll be waiting for you. You must not bring the Emperor!"
The writing was different to the previous letter, plus it has a sender this time.
"Ed, who was it from?" Reina asked, as she went beside me. "From the Black Knight of Vengeance, is written here" I mumbled.
The other repeated in confusion, "Black Knights of Vengeance..?"