'Did he just say he fucked my mother?'
Whilst Ulfstead was confused stupid, the rest of the world had reacted at full speed. There wasn't any other reason for Netter and Kavesh to push the doctor's face to the ground except to inflict more damage on the profusely bleeding forehead.
How dare this man insinuate the Prince was a bastard!
"Wait, wait! No I didn't mean that!"
On top of the Prince's head, the little bird squawked, fluttering it's wings and further mussing up the silver hair into a chicken coop.
A calloused hand that wielded a brush all year round seized the sword of a nearby guard, pointing the tip to the man's neck. "Then you best hurry to explain to this King."
There was an audible hiccup before the devout doctor poured a confession like money in a gambler's hand. "The servant had known the the gir- the Concubine since she was a child-"
The room's suspicions turned into pure disgust as the King's hand moved a fraction, the blade lightly puncturing the skin.
A bead of scarlet liquid flowed down his neck, mixing with the nervous perspiration. "Not like that either! I-I mean, this servant was her guardian for a short while after her father passed. He was a good man, always attending Holy Mass. The two of us were pals since we were young. Once he-"
Again, the sword threatened with a light tease - His Majesty had never been fond of long stories unless he was the narrator. "A-anyway, his last concern before dying was that Le-Concubine Leena didn't become a child of the temple. She was his only child and the last of his blood after his son was conscripted to the northern border years ago... But then, a Terran businessman saw her on the street one day and took a liking to her... The man was lecherous with many wives..."
Subtle eyes cast their gaze to the King who possessed a harem of a thousand flowering beauties...
"The concubine didn't have any option but to be sold into the palace. I never anticipated that such a simple girl would catch the eye of His Majesty." The man blew out the rest as fast as he could.
The chamber was almost like the throne room where the King would look down upon hundreds of ministers each day. Cold and calculating, all of them had to choose their words carefully in front of the imperial power. Like a fight of greedy beasts wishing to live, they cannibalistically devoured friends and foes, boring the King to death.
The King's blade didn't move. "Those were a lot of words, but why does this make you guilty? What plans did you have against the Prince?"
Lips quivered like the legs of a deer. "This servant wished to ask the Prince to plead for his mother. It has been years since she had seen her child. Please, His Majesty... the concubine was just a simple civilian woman. Although she is pampered in the finest cloth and jewelry, these are not what can truly fulfill her. A mother that is stripped of her child will not have many joys in her life."
The listening ears and down turned eyes couldn't watch the farce any longer. This doctor with miraculous hands dug a ten foot grave in less than half an incense. From beginning to end, no pity was given.
The King didn't find the request amusing, nor did he appreciate the man's lecture. Not only were his blunt words a silent admission to his Son's low birth, they were said in front of the child. Also, that woman used the Prince as a way to display a sense of power. For what reason should he pardon her and why now?
To the last part of that question, the King had a inkling, but another cumbersome feeling weighed in his bones. How was such a stupid woman be the mother to his clever son?
Looking to the Prince, he saw the complexities forming and once again was irritated. In a sour gloom, the King commanded, "Take this man away and whip out a real confession. For such a little thing, he wouldn't be running like the Devil was chasing him."
The doctor had expected this much, his admissions were lackluster and uttered in a state of panic. Yet, they were enough to convict him while ensuring life after punishment.
His hopes still laid on the golden bird.
Yes, as long as he admitted his carnal sins and hadn't committed the act that'd grant him eternal damnation, he still had hope.
The blade withdrew and returned to the guard. In a familiar way, Ulfstead saw the man being dragged out of his room. The last Ulfstead saw of the doctor were his beseeching eyes gazing at the top of his head - the blubbering face dyed red as he chanted scriptures of an unfamiliar language.
In one majestic wave from the King, everyone but the Old Eunuch and the second prince retreated from the chambers. Of course, the second prince's unwelcomed presence hadn't gone unnoticed, so under the mild coercion of Kavesh and Netter, the child was also led out to have the door slammed in his face.
With the commotion ending, the King tiredly sat on the chair at the Prince's bedside. Internally, the King noted how the boy's pallor seemed better today. But did the good father open up with this? "Do you know where you were wrong?"
Of course not.
Ulfstead's mind was still stuck on what just happened, but it seemed the King wished to revisit the previous events first. The boy's gaze lowered in contemplation. "I was wrong to ignore you...." Reflecting on his actions, Ulfstead did believe this. His behavior was childish and not something he could assuredly claim he was proud of.
In agreement, the King nodded, signaling for him to go on.
"I was wrong to... not communicate with you..."
Again, another nod. "What else?" The King's chin tilted in a sense of appeased satisfaction.
As for the Prince, Ulfstead's self-reflective ideas were all plucked from his brain. He didn't know what else. Was there even anything else?
On the side, the Old Eunuch wished to interfere; he could feel in his old bones that the King was about to ruin the ceasefire again. And this time, it would be a wonder what the Prince might retaliate with.
"I... I don't know."
The bubbling of contentment returned to a low simmer. "You don't know?"
"Yes, I don't know" Ulfstead reiterated. His mind returned to the days when the King would rock him to sleep near the fireplace - the times were simple and as normal as he could be in such circumstances. The King was a no good scum - that much could be said - but he didn't wish to lose him over such a disagreement.
Tiredly, he admitted, "Maybe you think I was wrong, but I still believe what I believe. I still miss my nanny dearly. She was not just a servant to me. She was family..."
Ulfstead felt the air change as soon as he said this. As he expected, the King did not like the truth one bit. "However... I do miss you, Father. And I don't wish for us to have a cold relationship. You also are my family and I know that you care for me more than anyone else..."
The King's fingers touched the obsidian pendant at his waist, his expression imperceptible. Moments ticked by. Ulfstead waited for a response, anything that would let him know that the war was over.
Finally, the King gave response.
"Very good."
In a swift motion, he stood from his seat; it seemed as if he was taking his leave. Not knowing what his words meant, Ulfstead felt a pang of disappointment. He didn't expect the King to pick him up and spin him around like they were having a momentous reunion, but he still thought the King would express something... more.
Then, the hands that touched a pen, a sword, and the pendant that signified the unification of the country softly patted his head.
The movement slightly jostled aside the golden fledgling, but the King didn't care. "Get well soon. You mustn't allow for a simple illness to delay your studies."
~
When the door opened, the younger prince sprinted inside, unceremoniously passing the King who was coolly making an exit. Kicking off his shoes, his short arms and legs shamelessly climbed the bed and crawled beside his brother.
Everyone who had a renewed understanding of the child felt their face numb when they saw the vicious boy's eyes challenging them to try and remove him.
Bad people.
As for the King who had yet to forget the boy's delinquent words between the palaces...
Speaking to his Son, he kindly suggested, "Be sure to keep an extra set of eyes on your cousin. He might climb through your window again. Wouldn't want him falling to his death, would we?"
With this, the King elegantly scurried away. If the man had a tail, it would be proudly waving like a national flag.
Ulfstead was confused as he looked to the window overseeing the inner sanctum. And then he looked to his little brother who was flattering him with a nervous smile.
The eldest Prince's beautiful face couldn't have been uglier.