Chapter 111: Charles, The Magician
***
The addition of the young "Charles" brought some trouble to the Prince, but as he interacted with him, he understood that he just wanted to visit around the Palace without troubling himself to stick around Eleine that much. It was the hint he gained from the behaviour of the young boy who was mainly interested in the Palace, as he looked around with curious, observant eyes.
"Royal Highness, what is that for?"
"What about that? Mind telling me how it works, pretty please?"
Alos was annoyed and at the same time also at peace knowing that Eleine didn't drag this kid to block his attempts at conquering her, and instead started getting himself preoccupied with pestering him with questions.
The Prince did his diligence and wasn't a prick right in front of the woman he started feeling emotions, answering with some pride and arrogance when explaining to "Charles-kun" how various open mechanisms of the Palace worked, since they even had a proto-elevator.
'Boy, leave me alone for once. Stop asking me all this'
'I know, let's get him a small tour of the courtyard area, then the gardens, and later have Corl take care of him, as I go have a meal with Eleine.'
On the other hand, Vlad dragged on with useless questions for the Prince so he could better grasp the Royal Guards' patrols, and how well defended certain spots in the Palace were. There was nothing personal, just interests, for which Alos was generous enough to take him on a small tour along with Eleine.
Moving from a large room, to another as if the Prince wanted to flex on the old Ruler whose Castle and Royal Residence was far humbler in size then the Briss Royal Palace, but he tried not to think about comparing his Era with this World's Era, since the technology reached a far higher degree.
Room by room, where he saw all sorts of luxurious paintings, statues and ornaments, even some trophies of hunt, he was taken to the Botanical Garden of the Palace, a place overwatched by the Gardener, an old man in his 60s who immediately appeared to greet Alos.
"Young Prince, everything is in order, and cleaned some of the overgrowth."
"Good, thank you for the hard work, Alenfield. You can withdraw."
"I can offer the lady some explanations if she is curious. Just call me, young prince, I will be close by."
"Sure, if I need your help I will call."
Settling the old man, who took slow steps toward another direction of the Garden where a small brick house was located, which Vlad assumed was the place this old man was resting when there was nothing to work.
Then, with the Gardener taking his leave, Alos took Eleine and Vlad deeper in the Garden, talking about the various plants as if he was some cultivated Herbalist, with so much nonsense that Vlad's curious expression almost shattered.
Nonetheless, by ignoring him talking, he noticed some plants that instantly clicked with his memories regarding rare plants, and with a curious expression on his child's face, he stepped closer and closer, observing it attentively.
"Boy, watch your hands. That plant shouldn't be touched, it is very poisonous."
"Poisonous? Understood."
'While it is true that it's a poisonous plant, if you cure it using a certain method described in the Herbalism for Fools it will be a highly potent medicinal plant. Tch, I don't expect for this kid to know this much about those plants. Maybe, after I am done collecting the 2nd Key, I'll ravage this Garden and pluck all the plants in here.'
'They would be in better hands with me.'
{Shameless.}
There was a black ring on the young boy's index finger which started shrinking a bit, before stopping, as Vlad turned around at Alos and returned back to the tour, but his expression got slightly calmer and colder, having an argument with his "trusted" weapon in his mind.
'Better watch your mouth, scrap metal. I'll throw you in the Slums of Arcadia, if you complain about me being shameless and whatnot.'
{You know those petty words of yours don't work on me. I can use my willpower to return back. You'll dirty yourself with some scat, to my delight.}
'Has anyone told you … you are quite the annoying fuck.'
{... Many times.}
'It was for obvious reasons.'
As the garden tour kept on going, while Vlad and Anathema were arguing like some children, once he returned back in the entrance there was a man that Eleine get to know as Alos's butler, Corl.
"Your Highness, my Lady … young Sir."
"Ahh, you've come at great time Corl, I want you to continue giving a tour to Charles here."
"... Sure? Where exactly?" asked the butler confused by how careful Alos was with his speech.
"Just ask Charles here, and he will for sure have something on his mind, right?"
Vlad looked up at Alos, feeling himself taken aback by this initiative of giving him freedom to roam around the Palace, for good reasons since the brat wanted to have some alone time with Eleine. Suddenly, his expression morphed back into his childish ways, excitedly nodding his head.
"For starters follow me." added Corl who bowed respectfully at the Prince, while shifting his attention at Charles, who turned around at Eleine touching her tight, and patting her leg as he told her.
"Bye, sister, take care. I'll wait for you in the courtyard."
"You don't need to wait for me Charles, just ask mister Corl to take you home, I am sure he wouldn't decline this request."
"Ahh, sister intends to stay all night? Understood. Royal Highness, take care of my sister."
Alos who felt he was getting all the blessings needed to bang Eleine, could only chuckle a bit, waving his hand at Vlad whose smiling expression shifted instantly into an evil grin when turning to walk with Corl back in the Palace.
There was even a small chill that touched Corl, but only believing some wind caused it since the Garden was a shady place to relax in the Summer Weather.
"Young man, I think it would be better if I take you around the base floor. Want to see the kitchen and the dining room where even his Majesty might take his dinner?"
"Sure, mister. Anywhere you want to take me."
Vlad was so casual with this butler that his initial veil was melting, revealing a devilish young man, and the butler soon found his idea of taking Vlad around the base floor horrendous since instead of moving forward to other places, the young boy decided to take a break at the Kitchen and fill himself with the delicacies reserved only for Royalty.
"No, no, young sir. This isn't for you."
"What do you mean? This is food. Quite good if you ask me."
"Ahhh, noo, stop it. That food is for Prince Gunos who is again craving for some exotic food."
"Does he want exotic food?" asked Vlad while taking a piece of soft bread with a spoonful of caviar that melted in his mouth with an explosion of flavor.
"I am serious, young boy, stop eating the Prince's food." said the butler who extended his hand to stop Vlad, only to be dodged swiftly, completely ignored, or not since Vlad went along to insert a piece of bread with some butter and fruit gem straight in Corl's mouth.
"How doees it taste, sir? Good, right? You wouldn't wish to return to the bland food of peasants."
"... Give me some more."
Akin to a devil that was intent on corrupting humanity, Vlad managed to easily convince the butler to indulge himself in some delicious food, chipping away at the prepared food like some termites, that in a moment of awakening, Corl stopped, and even managed to grab Vlad by his hand.
"Young sir, we should stop immediately. Ahh, what is the clock? I was supposed to deliver Prince Gunos's meal by 11:45 AM. Shit, I am in trouble."
"Then let's hurry. I doubt he will notice. There's so much food here. Ahem, to make up for eating too much, I will help you out carry the food." said Vlad with a cheeky smile, which made Corl roll his eyes, but he had no other way.
It was quite low of him to be assisted by a 10 years old child, but to his surprise this kid took in his small hands four plates while on his head and shoulders he managed to balance three plates.
"Ahh, boy, are you insane? Take them down."
"My hands are full. Don't worry, I've been training a lot for my balance."
With his heart reaching his throat, Corl couldn't just take the steps forward also carrying himself six plates of food, and as they had to reach the first floor to get to Prince Gunos's private chamber, he didn't hear any plates breaking.
"Are you still there, young boy?"
"Yeah, this is easy."
"... Then don't get lost and follow my lead. Also, when you are in the presence of Prince Gunos, don't speak to him, or you'll suffer from his mood swings."
"Hmm, is he a retard?"
"... Wwhhat? No, non, you better don't speak such profanities about the Prince. What if a Guard heard you? It would be a pity if something happened to you."
"Thanks. You are not such a bad person, as I thought initially."
Corl heard Vlad's calm tone, which sounded genuine unlike any of the appreciations he received from the entitled Royal Members, but he didn't have spare time to bask in the child's appreciation because he entered the Lair of a Humongous Man lying in his bed with the layers of fat exiting his blankets and clothes.
"Goshh. What the …" spoke Vlad before even processing the visual information he was receiving when his eyes first met the huge beast in the skin of a human, lying there on his luxurious Royal bed, with layers upon layers of fat, imprisoning him in his gluttony and debauchery.
"SHHH, don't speak." whispered the butler
"Shitty Servant, you were late!! I told you to bring MY FOOD, AT THE EXACT TIME!! WHAT'S SO FUCKING HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BODY IS SACRED AND NEEDS SUBSTINANTE TO SURVIVE!"
"Indeed, Royal Highness, we encountered some problems with one of my assistants, and just in clutch time I took another assistant to carry the food. Everything is at your disposal."
The butler walked slowly and placed his plates of food on a large mobile table, giving space for Vlad to do the same, but there was clearly a delay with the young boy as he got gazed intently by the severely obese man.
*AHEM*
Clearing his throat, the butler gave Vlad the signal and while returning back to normal parameters, he placed the plates from his right hand, then from his shoulders, followed by the left hand and slowly playing a trick that awed the fat man using the plate on his heed where the flood seemed to levitate before dropping gently on the plate.
*Clap* "That one was interesting. Who is this dwarf? A new servant?"
"... Noo, Your Highness, at least not yet."
"How come? Hire him, haven't you seen that cool trick he did? That was fucking impressing, even brought my mood for food back."
Vlad stepped back, getting beside Corl as he watched the obese guy extend his hand toward his mobile table, but seeing him struggle, he returned back to assist him, not feeling any hard emotions by him doing that.
"You don't seem a midget."
"Royal Highness, I am only 10 years old."
Prince Gunos who had free access to his food, looked at Vlad with an observing look and it continued over the time he was eating in such a disturbing manner that Vlad got reminded of some stories of greedy nobles who indulge themselves in their greed so much that they got stuck in a bad habit.
"Here, do that trick again." said Gunos, who similarly of a vacuum cleaner wiped clean a plate full of delicacies.
Confused as he catched the plate with surprising agility and instincts, Corl was silent, stopping his attempt to help Vlad out from this circumstance.
"Same trick?"
"Yeah, the one where you used your head to hit it up, and catch it with the hand. Do that, and I will reward you."
"... I guess."
Clear of emotions, he placed the greasy plate on his head, and with a short jump he launched the plate on the air, and later on catching it midair using his right arm, continuing on playing around with the plate and doing all sort of tricks, getting the claps of the fat man that even tired himself in this act.
"Fuck, need to catch some air. EWWW, HAA, EWWW, HAA"
Breathing with some struggle in and out, making Vlad judge this Prince as such a vulnerable target that he started stirring up a plan midway he was juggling with one plate.
"A bit better. Here, boy, eat this." said the gluttonous prince who passed some appetizing pastries to Vlad, catching them on the plate to the delight of the fat man.
"That's some cool shit right there."
Casually eating the delicious sweets that reminded him of the Ottoman Court sweets, he was ogled by the fat man in a certain way, not long after making the first impression and taking an interest in this man, he was "ordered" to continue on his parlor tricks.
And before he realized, he was juggling around with six plates, akin to a Joker at Cirque Du Soleil, impressing the fat man.
Minutes passed, and not long one hour went by, where Prince Gunos finished devouring all of his food, but for his own selfish reasons when it came the time for the two "servants" to withdraw, he stopped Vlad from going, starting with a spoiled tone something that made Vlad to laugh deep down.
"Servant, you can withdraw, and tell the Chef's prepare my next meal with extra for my new friend here. As for you, Charles, you will continue entertaining me."
"Royal Highness … young sir Charles is a guest to the Palace … It wouldn't be honorable."
"I didn't ask your opinion, butler. Besides, do you have any problems Charles?"
"No, not at all."
Receiving his confirmation, the butler could only withdraw from the private chambers of the huge beast, thinking about the worst things that could happen to the young boy, since, unlike Alos who had crystal clear preferences in beautiful women, the oldest Prince who collapsed under his own greedy, debauchery and gluttony was an oddball, that if it weren't for his Royal Status, he would be fed to the dog for bringing shame to the prestigious House.
Only having to deal with the fat man, Vlad set in motion his plan of influencing the prince into making him spill everything he knew about the Royal Family, based on his "so-found" curiosity about the Kings and Princes, especially Prince Gunos.
He built his trust on him by doing as it was told, entertaining all sorts of parlor tricks that were easy for his swift, agile body.
It didn't take long for him to hit a sensible cord for the Prince, when he asked in a worried, emotional voice, about his health status.
"Prince, you should be the Crown Prince, but looking at you like this, makes me worry. Are you sure you don't need help? You look sick and weakened."
"... There's no point in saving me. I dropped in fighting back against the bullying of my father and little brother. Everyone looks at me as if I was some fool, unaware of their disgusted looks. Just because I wanted to make something to bring some joy in the lives of the Arcadia people, with the music I fell in love with when I was just a little boy."
"They say I am corrupted by greed, glutinous like some swine… But, but, when I eat I just crave for more and more. I can't stop at all."
Vlad who was intent on remaining cold, indifferent to the hardship of this young adult who might be in his mid twenties, far cry from the appearance of a healthy young adult brimming with strength and vitality. Yet, as he heard the struggles of this prince, he couldn't help but switch his position and bypass the fat man into reaching a "friendlier" stance.
The laments of this Prince, who if he wasn't wrong suffered from an Eating Disorder caused by stress of the heavy weight the Crown's Responsibilities surmounted over him.
Hours passed by, and Corl already abandoned any thought that Vlad would escape unscaffed from the lair of the beast, but inside this room, Vlad who assumed the personality of a child, listened calmly to the Prince's Laments, until he told him a piece of information that shocked Gunos.
"I know the story of a Magician that used to come and visit the Slum at times, before vanishing like a phantom appearing in various places in Arcadia."
"The Slum? I knew that place didn't have only bad people. But what could a Mage do for me right now?"
"The story of the people is that this Magician can cure any sickness and curse. I think he wouldn't mind helping you out, but for a price."
"A price? Little Charles, tell me more. I will do anything if it means escaping this shell of mine. I don't want to be looked down by those people, just because I am like this. Do you understand me, little Charles?"
"I do, this is why I think I can help you."
"What do I have to do? What is the price? Do I sacrifice my soul as I heard people would do when encountering those people?"
"Don't worry, I doubt the Magician would need your soul. Well, I don't know what he might want from you."
"... Where can I find him?"
"I heard stories from the Harbor that he lives in Briss Royal."
The slow, fatty, cogwheels of Prince Gunos started turning akin to a rusted mechanism, but there was clear hope in his eyes, and slowly getting some motivation with an easily accessible place for him, the owner himself, he pushed his fat body to get up from the bed.
"I'll go there right away. Once I get back to my normal shape, I will show it to everyone. All of those arrogant fools who rely on external powers to keep their arrogant heads high."
"Do you need help?" asked Vlad who saw the man struggle even getting up from the bed, but to his surprise and delight, this guy that most people abandoned in supporting, something he initially was guilty of, pushed ahead.
"No need, little Charles. This much … I can do it."
'Yeah, but your breathing is already heavy as if you climbed Yehimal Mountain in one day.'
Struggling to get some clothes on his fat body, it was Vlad that gave him a hand, similarly as when he started climbing the stairs down shocking the Royal Guards and even Corl who was swift to appear once news was sent along the Palace that Prince Gunos exited his Lair.
"Royal Highness!! What happened to you? Do you feel bad?"
"Prepare my carriage, I will go to Briss Royal."
"... What? But His Majesty forbids you to go out of the palace."
"I don't care what that man told you, but I will go anywhere I feel like it. Prepare my CARRIAGE!"
Vlad, who was behind the large, fat man, made his appearance and giving Corl a cold look, the butler suddenly had goosebumps that he couldn't explain. Without a room to say yes or no, he rushed toward the Stables to prepare the carriage, and by the time Gunos arrived at the Stables he was full of sweat and transpiration, with his clothes socket wet.
"Help me get in the carriage Charles, and don't forget to hop in."
Corl, who was the carriage driver, saw how effortlessly Vlad pushed the pig-like prince, with a strength that wasn't something a kid could achieve but not being given enough time to process this information, he started driving the carriage until he arrived at Briss Royal.
Their arrival stirred some eyes, but things calmed down when the fat man entered the hotel, looking at the small child for guidance who just told him the number.
"510."
Nodding while his body had enough time to recover for another exercise, he walked toward the Elevator, which shook the instant he got there, but with enough space for two more people to fit in, Corl and Vlad sneaked inside like some sardines.
Out of the elevator, Gunos who reached the 5th floor felt a strong wind blow past him, and when he turned to look back, he noticed that Charles was nowhere.
"Where is little Charles? He told me he would talk with the Magician himself. Corl, did you push him out of the elevator?"
"Nooo, Royal Highness. I wouldn't dare do such a thing for the young sir."
"Then where is he? There's no way people vanish like this as if he was a Magician." commented Gunos while squinting at Corl who only murmured.
"Magic tricks. A Magician?"
"... Tricks … Magic Tricks." said Gunos who for some reason had enlightenment, beginning to move with his quickest speed toward the 10th room on this floor, struggling and sweating, then beginning to knock on the door heavily.
Not long the door opened by itself, with no one waiting in the hallway for Gunos, only a cold, powerful voice that was heard from inside.
"Come inside, you, the foolish who desires the World."
There was no way out for Gunos who viewed the meeting with the Magician as his last resort for survival, and as he walked followed by Corl reaching the main room, he saw a man wearing a pitch-black luxurious suit, with a black top hat and a black cane in his hands.
His appearance was so devilish that he never expected to ever think a man could look so handsome, but for some reasons, his emotionless black eyes, ink-black hair and the way of standing reminded him of the small friend he just made recently who shared an ear for him.
"... Charles … you are the Magician?"
"Young Prince, why the troubled face? Didn't you hear that in my presence people get cured of their curses and diseases?" asked Vlad with a cold smirk while the fat man who started struggling breathing dropped on his ass, shaking a bit the room.
"EWWW, HAAA, EWWW, HAAA. S-Sorry, too much activity for me for an entire year."
"And yet, this is what you need so you can get healthy again. However, you want an easy way out from your suffering, right?"
"That's right, Charles. Come on, I've done what you've told me, and found you in the Hotel."
"Any service needs a price. The world is a vicious place where man eats man. Yet, before I tell you my price, let me sort out something."
Price Gunos who was staring intently at the man resting like some Final Boss on the luxurious chair, saw his figure disappearing akin to someone performing Magic on his eyes, but then he felt a strong wind around him, while a small sound delivered by Corl as he dropped on the floor slowly let go by Vlad.
"A Magician needs to keep his secrets, don't you think, young Prince?"
"You killed him?"
"No, why would I? He just went to sleep. Now back to where we were. A Price for a Prince."
"Yes, yes. Anything, if you make me look normal again."
Vlad crossed his legs, gazing at the fat guy with such dignity and elegance he only heard in stories, and as his heart started to pound, hearing it in his ears, the black-haired man stated a simple price.
"I want you to open the Tomb of Kings."
.
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