Months had passed ever since they took Aamon with them. He had increasingly gained weight. No one could deny his appeal to both men and women. Sometimes Briar wondered to herself whether her guards were for her or were for his errand boy. He easily became well-loved and well-known to Hiraeth's people much like Queen Briar. He was respectful, he knew his manners, and he knew more than to read and write as observed when he recited a specific article, in exact words, in front of a Cardinal.
"It is indicated in Article 6 Section 6 of Canaan's Constitution: Under no circumstances may cardinals, archbishops, bishops, pastors, priests, and deacons collect taxes for any nobles or public servants. If discovered doing so, the pope shall strip them of their titles and they shall remain as laities. Furthermore, His Majesty will require the offenders to pay thrice the amount of taxes they were presumed to collect to the offended parties. If the offenders fail to pay the indicated amount, His Majesty the King issued a penalty of lashes amounting to the presumed sum of taxes."
Cardinal Jozef Torric's scowl was frozen. It had sunk to him that this boy dressed in red silk robe sewn by the royal family's tailors recited Article 6 Section 6 flawlessly, but it hadn't dawned on him that it was meant for him. No one messed with an Elysian Cardinal except if it was the King or the Pope in front of them.
But who was he? Was he a noble? Cardinal Jozef wasn't in the main temple for months now. He was busy collecting taxes for the rich noble who was preoccupied with his mistresses and prostitutes. The old fruit vendor who he was tyrannizing earlier grew afraid for the young man who stood up for him. No one ever did that against a cardinal.
"And who are you? Are you a scholar?" Cardinal Jozef queried, he was as wide as Rorik but not as tall. His width wasn't because of a bulk of muscles, instead, it resulted from a buildup of fat from being fed ludicrous amounts of food from the noble he was close to. His hairline was all the way at the back of his head. He was in his late 50s. Once upon a time he was famous with the ladies, even rivaling Rorik and Pope Uri, yet he ate himself to his greasy downfall. His son Reysin wasn't far off.
"I am Queen Briar's errand boy. I came to purchase fruits from Mister Grant as per the queen's request."
Errand boy? ERRAND BOY?!
He was practically a carpet for Jozef to step on. "You're very gutsy, aren't you, boy? Reciting the entire Canaan constitution won't make you gain power over me. I've been doing this for years, boy, even before your parents imagined making you! Neither the king nor the pope would believe an errand boy or a laity. You oughta be one of the devils to be able to touch a hair on me," Jozef mocked.
Aamon smiled, bearing the pureness of an angel that momentarily dazed the cardinal and the people watching them.
"His Majesty should see for himself how big the pigs running the church of this country had become."
Jozef snapped. He swung his arm back, accidentally backhanding old man Grant, and striking Aamon down with his fist. He will destroy this boy's pretty face. He pinned him down, landing sluggish yet powerful punches to his face. This boy's skull was hard. He never felt his knuckles ache this much. He had to infuse holy power in his hands to be able to withstand the clash of his bones to the boy's face that merely sustained red bruises instead of a broken jaw.
There was chaos around them. Queen Briar's sweet boy was getting beaten up to a pulp and they were too afraid to do something. They were dealing with one of the cardinals. A cardinal was second to the pope. They were the most trusted ones, holding the power and authority of the heavens. They did not want to be cursed. None of those holding offices in the church wanted to interfere, if they did, they would end up the same fate as Aamon.
"Cease! What are you doing to Queen Briar's servant?!" Tallulah questioned, running to the scene. Jozef landed one more satisfying punch to Aamon's cheek and stood.
"He attempted to steal 500 cannites from this man's stall. I was doing my duty as the cardinal to punish him. I trust that Queen Briar shall be fair and punish him according to Canaan's constitution."
Aamon sat up, Tallulah supported him. "You are dishonest. You were illegally collecting taxes. The church should not involve themselves with the state revenue."
Jozef snickered. "Was I collecting taxes? Is anyone here witness to that accusation?" He pointed at one of the people from the crowd, his eyes widening as if threatening him. "You?" He pointed at another one when the first man cowered. "How about you, ma'am?"
Old man Grant stood. He gave Jozef an apologetic expression. "That child…That child tried to steal from me. The cardinal caught him."
Tallulah couldn't believe her eyes and ears. They were all afraid of this supposed holy man and turned against a mere child. Jozef heard the things he needed to hear to bring this case up to the pope and the king. This child would indeed suffer the consequences of "stealing 500 cannites".
…
…
…
The king stared at the peasant they brought with them from Swangate four months ago. His face was beaten up and bruised, yet considering that he was struck by a cardinal, he didn't appear to be that injured. The boy had his head down the entire time. He was pushed down to his knees by the glutton man smiling scornfully at him. This was his first time in four months seeing him again. He was buried with work and because he wanted to avoid Briar at all cost, it resulted in avoiding the boy altogether.
Briar had been pestering him with her dreams of producing an heir to the throne. He wanted that more than anything, to produce an heir so that he could fake his death and vanish, leaving the child to lead this nation to its doom. But he couldn't look Briar straight in the eye for more than a minute. Each time she stared at him with those loving eyes King Lycus only wanted nothing more than to run miles away from her and her fussiness.
"You had grown some meat in your bones, haven't you?" Lycus commented with an amused smile. To think he would end up being a thief, Lycus was slightly disappointed.
Pope Uri continued to read a book, not at all entertained by the cause of all of this ruckus.
"So, you are accused of stealing money. Can you guess what punishment you'll be having?" Lycus queried, leaning forward. Half of his face was concealed.
Aamon murmured something. Jozef frowned, yanking his head back to expose his face to the king. He really had grown more attractive. Briar had been taking care of him well.
"Have some respect, you are in the presence of His Majesty!" Jozef snarled.
Aamon's eyes burned with conviction. "Article 6, Section 3: An individual or a party found guilty of stealing and/or possessing things which do not belong to him would be lashed to the amount corresponding to that object."
Pope Uri raised his eyes from his book, leaning his head to the side and was impressed by the boy's intelligence. Lycus was amused. He knew he was interesting but not to this extent.
"If I may add my king. Article 1, Section 7: Elected public officials and high ranking officers in church abusing their power shall be stripped of their titles and as ordered by the king– shall be punished in accordance to the desires of the offended parties including but not limited to: death, torture, and labor."
Jozef grunted, readying his fists to pummel the boy to silence. "What are you–"
"Are you saying that Cardinal Jozef is lying and is using his power and authority to oppress you?"
Aamon closed his eyes. "I shall not deny or confirm anything. I shall leave my fate at your discretion."
The doors of the throne room flew open, revealing an upset Briar with Tallulah in tail. "He is just a boy! How dare you treat him this way, cardinal?!"
"With all due respect my queen, he is a liar and a criminal and not only that but he has shown indecency against a servant of God! If that is not punishable then I don't know what is."
"Take him to the dungeons. Until now, I shall do my own investigation," Lycus decided.
"What? The proof is the witness! What more are you looking for, Your Majesty?!"
Pope Uri frowned. "Stand down, Cardinal. Know your place, you are in the presence of His Majesty."
"This is absurd! Just because he is the queen's dog that doesn't mean you can—"
The pouch dangling on his belt exploded. Hundreds of cannite gold coins poured onto the ground, creating the sound of a metallic waterfall.
Jozef froze. He grew pale. After the last coin dropped, Lycus hummed. "You have more gold coins than what I have in possession right now. I didn't know cardinals get paid that much. Perhaps you should look into the Church funds more, Pope Uri," Lycus commented.
Uri sighed, his face was red from the shame Jozef brought to the church.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The case was left unsolved. While Aamon remained to be accused as a thief, Jozef was currently being investigated for corruption.
Tallulah had finished cleaning Aamon's wounds with the warm and damp towel while Briar watched with concern. The room was lit by the lone candle by the side table. The maids helped Aamon dress into his night clothes. The queen treated him as her younger brother. She was very fond of him.
"Rest well, I am positive that the truth will come out," Briar comforted.
Aamon looked at his hands. "Do you think Mister Grant will get in trouble for lying? Perhaps I should just accept the allegations so that no one else will get punished."
Tallulah pinched his cheek. "Nonsense! You shouldn't take responsibility for something you haven't done. That boar will get his karma one day. Honestly, Queen Briar's sickness of being too selfless is rubbing on you."
Briar pouted. "Sickness? That is not sickness at all, Tallulah!"
Aamon chuckled as they argued. Eventually, they left and Aamon finally had the chance to sneak out to return the book to King Lycus' office. He had been doing chores and errands for the queen and the castle that he didn't have the chance to visit the royal library before it closed. The only room open with books was King Lycus' office. He would leave the door wide open for some reason. He had only sneaked inside once, dispelling the barrier that acted as an invisible wall and picking the lock using one of the queen's fancy hairpins. He did copy the barrier perfectly and set it on after he got the book. But ever since then, the door had been wide open, allowing him to come and go as he pleased.
He slipped the constitution book back in place, looking into the shelf to see what book he should borrow next.
"If anything, I should be the one to accuse you of being a thief."
Aamon jumped back in surprise. Lycus was in his black silky robe, chest slightly exposed. He was leaning on his side against the door frame. His handsome face was no longer concealed.
"Your Majesty…Forgive me, I was only borrowing."
Lycus nodded. "I see you have been studying. I have my very own scholar by leaving the door open for you every night."
The boy smiled. "You knew?"
King Lycus smiled back. "I know when someone moves my things. You copied the barrier perfectly yet you didn't put my books back in the order where I left them."
"Does this mean you believe the allegations?"
Lycus walked past him but made sure to grab his wrist gently in the process. "No, after all, you're only borrowing, aren't you?"