The Duum had enough time to explore the room with his eyes. An uneasy room with a bed, a small table, a couple of chairs (one was decorated with chalk). Someone was diligently writing on it, trying to draw something picturesque, but it turned out to be a child's doodle.
[A simple peasant family. I've seen them on my father's rounds. My father, the late king, often helped the poor. Heh. His subsequent fate is very ironic.] The soul of the Duum was filled with a reflection of darkness.
[I hope my son Glau will be able to manage and will not miss the reins of power. It will be sad if my beloved kingdom disappears. I have made so many sacrifices for him, ] the Duum snorted helplessly [Glau, my son, my father wishes you good luck.
You will cry, and maybe even laugh, that you have become the ruler of the whole world. But please, save yourself and the kingdom for as long as possible! Do you have a deal, son?
So, I got into a new unknown world, in the house of a modest family. First you need to learn their language, then-a letter, find out who rules these lands. How the world works.
And find out if I can at least theoretically return home…
Yeah, it's easier to reason than to perform in practice, isn't it, baby king Duum?]
A stove was burning in the corner. The aroma of meat and vegetables made the room very cozy, despite its modesty.
"Hahahaha! What a quiet little boy. I never cried once. Is he okay?
"I don't know, Henry. We'll have to wait for Dr. Chu, dear.
"The doctor?" Henry snorted, stirring the soup, "If I were a doctor, I wouldn't dare leave a pregnant woman and go to the mountains for some incomprehensible herbs. Eh! Okay, let's not get angry, when cooking-it spoils the dish."
The man smiled and sang a song about a brave hero and defender named Romula.
The Duum did not understand a word, but he felt the warm atmosphere.
The sun was setting. A squeaky and puny voice came from behind the door.
"Sir Henry, Lady Susannah!"
The host smiled broadly. Duum saw the strong, sharp fangs, and raised an eyebrow: [ I do not know who came to my parents, but he is not welcome here. ]
"Honey, you're not going to kill Dr. Chu, are you?"
"Susannah, I swore not to kill anyone else. I'm not in the habit of breaking oaths. I'm just angry, that's all."
Henry went to the door with heavy steps. He was already preparing to scold the doctor for negligence, but changed his mind after what he saw.
Dr. Chu could barely stand. The white coat was soaked in mud. His face was covered with abrasions.
"Sir Henry, what's wrong with Suzanne and the baby?"
"And you look for yourself" the man patted the doctor on the shoulder.
Chu quickly entered and stared at the Duum.
"The Great Supreme! Is there really a place left for God's mercy in this broken world... and I was already thinking ... sorry, I had no right to be late… I'm a terrible doctor… U-u-u-u-u-u…"
"Why are you crying? We should be happy! To be happy as never before that the Supreme did us a favor and replaced you for a couple of hours."
"Seriously, you did a good job with the birth. I can't even believe it."
"Well, I've been reading literature on this topic so that I don't have to sit idly by while you and my wife are working hard to 'make' me a child," Henry burst out laughing. "By the way, you look shimmery. Sit down on my favorite chair. I always don't want to get any easier. And tell me more about where you disappeared."
Henry pointed to the chair with the colored scribbles.
Chu obediently sat down.
"While collecting pain-relieving herbs, I fell into the river. The current carried me straight to the Fiery Avalanche."
[ Thank the Supreme, I avoided meeting with the gobs, otherwise I would never have been able to return.]
"Now it is clear why there is such a delay. I sympathize, from the Fire Avalanche to our Village of Mushrooms I know firsthand, because I myself once tramped on foot. And you're tougher than you look," Henry slapped the doctor on the shoulder.
"Mommies! My hand… Aaaaahh!" for a couple of seconds, an incredible spectrum of pain washed over my shoulder.
"Dear still be angry, Dr. Chu."
[And there is something for that. My husband clearly could not bear the loss of a third child.]
"No, I just didn't calculate the strength. This happens in the evening, especially because of fatigue."
[Do you think I'm a professional obstetrician?! I almost gave birth myself out of fear while I was getting my son out of my wife! Supreme, now I will donate you a cup of mushroom soup every day. I will starve, but I will definitely find a piece of mushroom as an offering.
And as for you, Chu. I am truly sorry for your bad luck. But, man, a warrior is obliged to defend the fortress, despite the loss of his legs. This is the duty of a soldier, a doctor, a king or any other person who protects human lives.]
***
The Duum sat down on a bench. The Spring Park was blooming all around – one of the most picturesque and safe places in the kingdom.
"Where to?! Stop!" a little girl was running after a naughty ball.
The king stopped the ball with his foot.
"Oh, mommies! Did my ball stop by itself? Mommies! Mommies! The owner of the park? Is that you?!" waking up from the shock, the girl bowed, "Thank you, the invisible Owner of the Park!"
[You're welcome.]
The Duum picked up a leaf from the ground.
[Hmm, gaping? What an impressionable child. Probably, she is one of the simple peasants who do not have art. Eh, and for me, the use of invisibility is a common thing.]
The wind stroked the lush crowns. A streamlet ran around the bench. Snow-white fish with tiger stripes swam along it.
The Duum got up and walked on. Children and adults enjoyed the weekend. The girl's family was one of them.
A loving father, a kind mother and two cute twin brothers.
"Launa, dinner is ready!"
"Dad! Dad! I just met the Owner of the Park!"
"Oh, and what did he look like?"
The girl puffed out her cheeks:
"Dad, the Owner of the Spring Park is invisible! Everyone knows about it!"
"Heh, I'm sorry."
The family began to eat: the fresh air awakened a strong appetite. The Duum could barely contain his saliva.
"How do you like the lamb, kids?"
"Delicious!" the brothers answered in unison. There was always a frightening mutual understanding between them, turning into an amazing synchronicity.
"Delicious-s-s-s!"
The Duum, standing in the distance, smiled. The king wanted to leave and continue his walk, but the girl suddenly called out to him:
"Sir, the owner of the park, try it! The meat is very tasty!"
The king frowned: [Did a child's intuition work or was it just a coincidence?] He turned around. The girl was looking directly at the Doom.
"Please, Your Majesty! You must be hungry!"
The whole family was looking at the king. It's impossible. Even if they were the best experts in the kingdom, it is almost impossible to bypass the Duum's disguise. Everyone who could pull this off is long dead.
"Come on, try it!" the girl held out a piece of meat. "Your subjects have a devilishly sweet taste!!!"
The trees in the park have crumbled. The soil cracked and fell to pieces. An abyss appeared under the king's feet.
The Duum's smile faded, gave way to indifferently closed lips.
"Why are you moping so much? Are you really squeamish?" the girl's voice changed. She herself has grown to the size of an adult woman.
"You're a clean-mouthed hypocrite! I will make you eat the meat you cooked to the last crumb, two-faced Sharon!"
bloodstains spread out under the "girl's" dress.
The cute family turned into sinister monsters with numerous holes. The Earth's cracks burst into flames.
The Duum sighed. [Another nightmare,] the king concentrated. The fire only receded a little. [ I can manage dreams 90% of the time, but this one is quite complicated. It must simply be ignored, or the dream must be destroyed through awakening.]
The monsters screamed, howled, and cursed the king. They sent fire whirlwinds, but they passed through the king like a ghost. Claws and teeth also could not harm the master of the dream.
The duum turned slightly gray. [ They're infuriating!]
Some time passed.
[ It's time to wake up. Finally, glory to Dral!]. At the request of the king, the dream was destroyed.
The little Duum opened his eyes.
Dr. Chu and Henry were talking outside the house. The baby did not understand the meaning of the words, but the intonation of the father and the doctor was mournful.
Susanna, on the other hand, was sniffing softly, hugging the Doom like a treasure chest.
The baby began to toss and turn. [El-ludas! I'm a helpless child. I'm moving somehow.]
The Duum listened. Hours passed. Susannah woke up. A conversation began between her, Henry and Chu.
A young man in a white coat – a timid doctor – spoke slowly, in a quiet and gloomy tone. As he spoke, Susannah grew grayer and grayer.
The Duum tensed involuntarily.
The three adults were silent. And before that, a cheerful and energetic man was rubbing his temples. He took a deep breath and said something insinuating.
The woman suddenly laughed, the young man in the dressing gown became pop-eyed.
[And what just happened? But it seems that the energetic man found a solution, right?]