Chapter XVII: Agreement between Alice and the king
*Police Department
"Your Ma-majesty! W-what are you doing here?"
All of the officials in the Police Department have paid their respect to the King who abruptly visited their bureau. Just how the king looked at his vicious officials with black expressions makes their skin crawl in fear.
"Some abusive report has come to me. I have heard that some lowborn are being punished without going under investigation. Why? Did some noblemen pay you, they pay you higher than your earnings?"
From how the king spoke to them, everyone knew that the king wasn't in a good mood. No one has dared to answer him, fearing that they may get targeted.
While Alice and the young girl were waiting curiously outside. The king is scourging his underlings verbally.
"Y-your Majesty! W-why you thought that way. W-we won't go against your law!" one person has boldly said. The king glared furiously at that man.
"Is that so? How can you say that right into my face? You useless scums. Didn't you know that I've been investigating all the abnormalities in your earnings each month? And most of you are earning almost eighty-percent of Gin monthly. This is why I am wondering, where in the world d'ya get such a large amount of gin."
Everyone is shaking, fearing the king. Some of them are sweating and nearly wetting in their own pants.
"Y-your Majesty…!"
"Explain to me the reason why. I only need an explanation that may pardon each of you."
The intense atmosphere is already leaking inside the small room. Each of the officials in that place can only give a ridiculous signal to each other. 'How can we escape this mess?' Most of them are thinking that way. Though, they didn't know that they wouldn't be able to escape from the first place. This is already a trap for them.
"If each single of you is unable to explain. Then I won't have any problem expelling you all in your positions."
"...!" Everyone was very surprised from this sudden decision. "Your Majesty. H-how can you do this to us!? We are your loyal subject! How could you just disregard our service for you?!"
"Oh?" the king glanced at the person who spoke used insolent words to charge the king from their service.
"You're saying that all of these years, all your deeds in the kingdom were very useful. Is that what you all think?" the king questioned them, every word he released was indeed thorny.
"Insolence! How dare you insult the King's decision. You must be wishing for your death!" Liam interrupted.
"I got this Liam." but the king stopped Liam from reminding the official to keep their respect to the king.
"Isn't that why I was asking for an explanation? This bureau must be an example of equality. Yet each of you biases the noblemen who abused their power to make the weak one suffer. I have no use on any of you."
Everyone in that place kneeled down as they started begging for forgiveness. However, the king has already set his mind to only one decision.
"Your Majesty. We wronged you. Please, please withdraw your decision! Your Majesty!" they chorused.
The king abruptly yelled at them, "Silence! You fools. I don't need your service anymore. Royal knight Liam, I would like to proceed with my decree. These people who are in front of me will be stripped off on their titles and the powers including the money they received from the noblemen will be collected. The officer with lower rank shall get promoted."
"Yes. Your Majesty!"
As the sentence of their punishments commenced. All the officials that had been gathered in that place were brought out of the office.
They are whining and some of them are begging to revoke the order but it seems there is no sign of his majesty's pulling back his words that have been declared.
After that keen situation. The king has finally dragged himself out. With some of the knights, and of course, the little girl's request.
The king went over to where Alice is. Alice then noticed the king approaching them so they ran toward the king as they gave him a smile.
"How did it go?" Alice asked curiously as she roamed her gaze in the other direction.
She noticed some people who were wearing expensive robes are being taken away. She was a bit lost on how things work.
"What do you expect? Of course, I clean everything. Just like what I did before! Aren't I reliable? Ahahah!"
The king suddenly burst out of laughter. However, Alice only twitched her eyebrows because of the man's weird behavior.
Not too long when the young girl's mother has arrived on the scene.
"...Mama!" the young girl ran toward her mother to seek a loving embrace.
The king and Alice witnessed how the two of them longed for each other.
"Geum! Oh. My Geum!"
It was a heartfelt reunion for the two of them. They are crying because of happiness. While for the king and Alice, it was a very momentous event for each other.
"I never knew that my people are suffering this much."
The king suddenly muttered. Although Alice heard him, he didn't question him but she felt curious about the man's history.
He then abruptly interrupted to let them know that the woman's husband is going to follow them soon.
"Your father will be joining you shortly. You should eat somewhere with your mom in the meantime. My men will bring your father to you." he patted the young girl while having that eased smile on his face.
"Here." he also gave them a large amount of money. How could the king be so generous to his people? And yet, most of the people who are around him are calling him a beast for being a tyrant leader of the kingdom.
No one would know how he treasures his people the most.
After that, Alice and the king decided to set apart the young girl since it seems everything will be okay for both of them.
"That went very well, don't you think so? If it isn't to you. I wouldn't accomplish such a thing." the King started praising Alice while they are both walking down the road.
"Me? I haven't done anything at all. It was you, who've accomplished things."
Alice shyly denied the complement of the king for her as she shifted her eyes to other things.
"Oh yeah. Why are you still wondering here? Don't you know how dangerous this place is for you? I'm sure you already experienced what I was trying to say." he said while having a warning tone. Shaking his index finger.
"Hahaha!" Alice only burst out of laughter within his warn. She found it funny because the king wasn't really wrong about this allegation. The only thing that is different was it already occurred on Alice many times and she's quickly adapting it.
"...?" the king was left out of curiosity, "Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?"
"It's not like that. But you were never wrong, Sir. I've already experienced it actually. Though, I don't really mind now."
The king halted from walking. He then grasped the lady's shoulder as he asked him curiously.
"Experienced it you say? But how could you still laugh like this? It must be hard for you." he worriedly muttered. "Yeah. Did you already forget when we first met? Back then I was seeking help but no one really helped me but you. I was very thankful to you that day, however, it turns out that the doctor in that place is rubbish."
Alice sounded a little disappointed when she explained things. "Look at me now, I lost my cat. Because of that man, I have to find him. Although I heard that the man was already punished. I wasn't happy at all. All I need is my cat after all."
"I'm sorry to hear that. The cat must be really important to you." the king clucked. He was so down to witness how Alice looks downcast of how the world works.
"Kinda…"
Everything went on in silence, even every footstep of the people who come and go. Who passes them by. It has been silenced as if they are the only person in that place.
Alice sighed.
But then the king thought of a great idea that can help Alice to find her cat.
"Ah! I will find your cat instead. Since it was my fault that you got separated from your precious cat. I will find him for you."
Alice was bugged out when she heard something new. Slowly, a curve on her face began to draw. She was very happy to hear the words she never expected from the man.
"Really? You'll do that?" she asked, doubting the king's decision.
"Oh gosh. I don't take back from my words. This lady. Of course, I will. There is nothing that I can't do for this kingdom. But before that, tell me your name. How can I even look for you if I don't even know your name."
"My name is... Alice."
To be continued.