(Nathan POV)
It had been a week since when I woke up as Kizen and It all had been hell. Why? Well, the list never ends. For example, being stranded in an unknown world not knowing how or when I will be able to return.
Secondly, becoming the king of a nation about which, I did not know a freaking thing.
Third, like, being a king was not enough, they had to turn me into Kizen. Why? I could have been Cecilia or even the prime minister Valkis Rumbert but no. They had to make me Kizen Von Gazell Arcadia. The only person in the royal family who was hated by every-one equally. So even when I was passing through a corridor in the castle, I would often hear whispers like
"He should never have ascended the throne"
"He will be the end of Arcadia"
"Now he will just flood aur beloved country with wine or whatever is left of it"
"I Wish Cecilia were made the queen instead"
And honestly, it was all fine. This was never a real world to begin with. Just a simulation made to give me a trial. Not that it mattered anyway. I was satisfied. If no one trusted me then I had no obligation whatsoever to trust anyone either. Things were working out for me. I did always love to work alone. But the greatest problem was not the trust issue. It was the paperwork. Due to the constant war and the mismanagement the kingdom was in a crisis. And all the work was like a nightmare. I was a good fighter, I was smart. No seriously, without bragging. But the things I was not good at were sitting in a place for too long, being confined in a room, not being able to practice my skills and keeping me anger in check. All the paper work was making me cranky. And after a week I was at the point that I could have snapped a neck or two if someone one bothered me. So, don't even ask the level of happiness that I felt when the commander in charge of the army protecting some fort in the north-east came barging through the door.
"SIRE!!!!" he shouted as he entered. The royal knights that were responsible for my protection were on him tout de suite.
"SIRE YOU HAVE TO GET AWAY!!! THEY HAVE BREACHED THE FORT!!!!! IT HAS BEEN A WEEK ALREADY. I WAS IN THE JAIL AND ONLY NOW DID I HAVE A CHANCE TO ESCAPE SO I THOUGHT THAT I MUST WARN MY KING. THEY ARE COMING. YOU MUST RUN MY LORD" he was shouting even after he had been confined to the ground by the knights.
I got up and walked near him. I crouched a little and ...…
"Just lower your volume. I am here and not deaf." Then I straighten myself up. Pointing towards some random maid I said, "Bring him a glass of water." And then to the knights and some minister whose name I could not remember, I said, "Leave him, and you stand up and give your chair to him to sit." At this all around me were flabbergasted
(Oh shit. Did I say something I should not have?)
"B-B-But sire ...….. he is just a lowly soldier. How can I give my seat?"
(Ah so that's it)
"Yes!!!!" I made a comeback. "He indeed is a lowly soldier. A lowly soldier who has been fighting on the front lines to protect the kingdom unlike you who has been sitting on his ass in his comfortable chair and eating through the resources of the kingdom"
"W-W-Wh-What are you t-t-t-talking a-a-about sire" visible droplets of sweat formed on his forehead.
I may not know much about politics or economics but I knew a corrupt and unfaithful person when I saw one. So, I brought my face near his ear and whispered.
"Don't think for a second that I do not know what you have been up to. Haven't I told you countless times already, I am not my father" Now there was a flood of sweat on his forehead
"I-I-I-I d-d-do not k-k-know what you are talking about." He shuddered.
"I did not want to do this since in the times of war we are already short handed but" I turned towards Valkis "hey Valkis, I want this guy's properties confiscated and him out of my sight right now"
"But sire, Rufus Chard has been in service to this kingdom for about eight years now. He had been working for your father f....." Valkis wanted to say more but I never let him complete
"And ...… where is my father now?" now, if it were possible to kill someone with glares only, I would have died several times over.
"Do you even know what you are saying my lord" Valkis growled at me
"Oh! And do you know how you are talking to your king ...... Valkis?" I walked near him. "You see this? ....... on my head" I pointed towards the crown "This thing on my head depicts the power that I hold. Power that I hold over all of you. This crown is the embodiment of power and right now it's not on my father's head but on mine. So, you will do as I say or you will suffer the consequence." I made myself clear. There was visible hate in his eyes.
(Huh! so what. If you guys do not trust me, it makes every thing much easier. I will use you all like pawns and I will pass the test)
Not wanting to, Valkis got up and moved in front of the guy I had just fired.
"Mr. Rufus Chard, by the royal decree you are no longer the minister of finances. You have been striped of all your privileges and your post and all your land and treasures are to be confiscated. You are no longer a member of the parliament." Then he moved towards the royal knights. "Move him out"
"No no no no no SIRE!!!!! PLEASE HAVE MERCY!!!!!" Rufus shouted as the guards dragged him out.
"So, what is your name commander?" I asked
"Corman, my lord. Corman Hayasirow" He replied
"Okay Mr.Corman. Tell me what happened"
He began the tale about how their fort had been invaded in the dark of night and taken over. How there were spies among there own ranks. I lost interest in the middle so most of it just got over me. I was no king. Just a twelve years old kid. I guess this was the reason why such trials were only allowed to those who were seventeen or above. The only part that piqued my interest was the fact that the main army of Norigana had already cleared a path to the capital. Somehow they had managed to capture all my spies and now I was deaf and blind. If not for Corman escaping, I would have never known about the main army of Norigana that was going to reach the capital in about ten days.
"You did well Corman and you shall be rewarded." I assured him. "I want all my ministers and all the available commanders in the legislative chamber in three hours. You are all dismissed." All bowed their heads and did as were ordered. I patted Corman's shoulder and gave him a slight nod. It was then that it happened. I don't know if it was due to my instincts or something Corman did but never did I trust him even for a moment. So, doing as I expected him to, he pulled out a knife and jumped on me. All the ministers, all the knights, everyone around was slow. None could react to this sudden turn of events. his knife was aimed towards my heart. The moment it made contact,
*CLANG*
the knife deflected as if I were wearing a metal suit of armor. It flew out of his hand and he fell backwards. On a moments notice, the guards were on him again.
"YOU YOU.... ILL KILL YOU. I WILL KILL YOU IF THAT IS THE LAST THING I DO. BECAUSE OF YOU NOW MY FAMILY IS DEAD. ONLY IF YOU WERE NOT THE KING, ONLY IF YOUR FATHER WAS ALIVE, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. HE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED IT. YOU SHOULD DIE" Corman was shouting and if there was one thing I noticed it was the fact that no one in the room tried to correct him. I gently walked towards him and crouched so that he might be able to listen to even my slightest of whispers.
"Your plan was good. Better then I would have expected but there was one thing you forgot." I flicked the crown on my head. "as long as its here I can not be harmed by my own subjects." I smiled and stood up. "Lock him up and the schedule will not change." I swiftly got up while wrapping my oversized royal clothes and left the room.
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I was walking through the corridor thinking about Corman.
(These guys do hate me a lot)
"His highness seems different"
"Yeah, I know. He has been different since that headache he had a week ago"
"It's like he is totally a different person" were some of the few whispers that were sounding around me. Turns out that Kizen used to flirt with every single woman he could find. Be it noble women or maids. And since it had been a week nothing like that happened, it arose some questions in the minds of the ladies.
"You are going to cause another coup d'état if you keep up like this"
(Finally, the person I wanted to meet)
"So, what do you suppose I should do?"
"I don't know. maybe try acting like a king for once"
"I already am"
"No, you are not brother"
"Then you should have thought about it before making me the king Cecilia."
"Yeah, my mistake. Sorry for that. But this does not mean that you would go and destroy our kingdom or at least what's left of it" She almost shouted
"Yes, my point exactly. It is your mistake. And what are you doing to fix it, NOTHING! I think I sent you the invite to join me in the legislative chamber but where were you. I was in need of some intellect that you could have provided."
"INTELLECT????? There were commanders, ministers and other people with years of experience and you are saying that you lacked intellect. Besides what could have I done. I am just twelve" She pouted and played her young card.
(HAHAHAHAHA)
"Seriously? Don't play dumb with me. I know that there is more to you what you let on. And what of twelve years old can have a chat like this with her king."
"You do have a point"
"Exactly. Now listen to me Sis, I do not know what's on your mind but let me tell you this. We have heard a report that many spies have infiltrated the walls of the capital. You are to come with me. This is an order." I said in a tone that left no room for negotiation and walked away but then something clicked in my mind, a memory, my own memory.
A little boy on the ground. A man with a stick and another boy trying to protect the little white-haired boy on the ground.
"Please don't hit him anymore. He has already suffered a lot"
A single tear tickled down my face.
"I want you to be ready in an hour. This is important." I said without turning.
"Yes, my king" I heard her kind of dejected voice.
"We will be going to the city. I cannot do this without you. SO ..... please!"
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(Cecilia POV)
I could not believe my own ears. It was so shocking that I kept staring him from the behind for like a minute straight. Only when he took a turn and vanished did I move from my position.
"Rena" I called
"Yes princess" A maid walked out of the shadow where a moment before, no one was present.
"Did I hear it correct?"
"Yes princess"
"I can't believe. The obnoxious, uncaring and prideful brother of mine said ...…. Please !!!!!!!"