His consciousness continued feeling his severed throat and windpipe, as gurgles of blood oozed out from the severed opening. His amputated leg had grown numb from the blood loss, and slowly that numbness spread to whole body.
Everything was consumed in apathy as the outcome was clear.
Just like anyone in the same situation,
Shugel kasane was also—
"—have no objection, for any concerns you are free to treat him however you like, just not harm or kill him—"
"Stop!" A loud human voice reverted.
Everyone was perplexed to see the source of the voice, the one who had screamed those words at the top of his lungs. A hint desperation and panic clearly added unnoticed weight to his voice.
He didn't understand what was happening to him. The events till now had thrown his mind in a swirling disarray. This was his third time experiencing this scene—The moment when he was brought in the kings court—and that's when he realised, he was sent back in time again.
The question still remained how? And by whom? He was pretty sure he was dead in previous loop—that's what he prefered to use for his overlapping memories. But how was he still sent back?
Everyone was looking at him—Shugel Kasane—with a perplexed look on their faces, no one aware of the silent doom that awaited them.
He didn't wish to die, the clock was ticking. If he didn't do anything the worst would repeat, something he had no idea about.
In the swirl of disarray Shugel had came to atleast one conclusion, he couldn't afford being thrown into that prison. His mind ran through all his memories to find any hint—a hint to change the course of events—as everyone waited for him to fill the silence he had created.
Celena looked at him as an non-existent clock ticked in atmosphere.
"There is something I must reveal." Shugel lips finally opened.
Currently he was under the effects of the Truth Seal—which meant whatever he said would be trusted, but if he lied he would die.
Having already died once, and twice sent back in time, his psychological state reflected in the seriousness of his tone.
"There are certain things that I can't reveal as princess Celena may have already guessed."
The king signalled the knights, who had took out their swords, to step back.
Shugel wished to thank the king for making his knights to take back their swords.
The king and queen and princess Laya, all were looking at Celena, as if waiting for her to say something. But Celena simply ignored their gazes and just nodded to Shugel.
"Princess Celena your life is in danger. No, not only yours but also the king's"
"Wha—" he could almost sense someone murmer that above. was it the king? He had no idea.
Celena maintained her composed approach, and asked "and why would you reveal it now?" As if representing everyones doubt.
A valid question. Shugel had expected this question not only this but many.
He had to speak only truth.
"Because I won't be able to do anything if I don't stay close to you." His reply was bold. Bold enough get to response from even the person standing behind him—Ulius.
"Do you have a death wise..." Ulius who had remained silent all this time, put his sword on Shugel's neck, "my apolo—"
Ulius was met with a cold gaze from Celena. He took back his sword from Shugel's neck, and bowed down before stepping back.
The sword to his neck had made Shugel sweat cold.
The king too looked perplexed from Shugel's bold demand. Celena had already proclaimed him as someone she didn't knew personally, but he had still revealed something that anyone would raise their eye on in scepticism.
Shugel noticed that for some unknown reason, even though everyone had skeptic and confused expression on their face, everyone was waiting for Celena to decide the flow.
"You are quite bold demanding something only trustworthy would be allowed to." Celena seemed bit impressed with his answer.
"If it's her I don't expect anything normal anyway..." She murmured, loud enough for Shugel and others to hear.
With a sigh, Celena looked towards the king and then towards the queen. "I know you may have many things you are worried about, but queen—no—Aunty, I assure you nothing is going to happen to me so you can trust me on my words."
Celena's gaze was soft as she seemed to convey something words could not. Queen seemed bit worried but proclaimed, "I understand, if you wish, I will agree."
After the queen had agreed to let Celena be responsible for the boy named Shugel everything proceeded normally.
The king seemed statisfied with how it turned out. Though the information which had been reveled in court left many more questions to be asked. The boy who was complete mystery to him, had revealed something that couldn't be ignored.
The way he had revealed everything in vague manner. And how Celena had refused to ask anymore questions made him think that this weird situation was even more complex.
It was better postpone the questioning for a private meeting where there wouldn't be anymore ears.
—And with that the kings court came to an end and Shugel escaped a certain abyss of dead end.
***
The room Shugel was led to was on same floor as Celena—or so he was told by the maid who had led him there after the guards had escorted him to the second floor.
The maid told him to not leave the room, and pointed at the bell near, "If you need anything please use that."
Shugel nodded, and she left the room.
The room he was in right now had plain aesthetic. There was a bed, table next to it, a wardrobe, and a bathroom attached to it, though it also made room quite spacious.
"It's better if I clean up." Shugel murmured to himself as he looked himself in the mirror on the wardrobe.
He checked to see if there were any clothes in there and found two black plants and plain clothes that he had no idea what to call. When he tried to check the size it they were way bigger than his frame.
*Guess I will have to make do with what I have right now.*
When he checked the bathroom, The shower gave him a pleasant surprise—he found that there was constant fountain of water flowing from the cealing which drained back out from the floor. An indoor waterfall seemed to be pretty accurate for describing the scene.
After checking the place, he took off his clothes and put them somewhere dry before hopping into the shower. He was bit sceptic about the pressure but surprisingly enough the it was not overwhelming.
After he managed to clean himself up he was putting on his clothes when he heard a knock on the door.
He didn't remember ever locking the main door but then something clicked his mind.
"Wait a minute I am changing!" The knock stopped.
He quickly put on his clothes and ran towards the door and out of breath opened the gate—it wasn't locked.
"Bathing and putting on same dirty clothes seems kinda counterproductive." Commented Celena as she looked at Shugel's attire.
He couldn't tell if she was being humours, or condemning him from her bland tone.
As she said that, a maid came from her side as she revealed the clothes which she had brought for Shugel.
"Dress up quickly. You have a lot of questions to answer." Said celena before taking a pause and continuing with a brief tone. "Uncle has summoned a private meeting."
The words rang in his ear as blood surged into his mind. He maintained a non-reactive face and simply nodded before taking the clothes from maid's hand.
"Just give me a second." As he said that he closed the door.
—Her red eyes met with his black eyes before the wooden door creaked shut.