The next day, receiving Noah's letter, Nehdean quickly answered back. As he had some free time on his schedule today, he decided to visit the stone oil source with the young nobles.
"That's enough, thank you.", said Nehdean to the butler who was brushing his hair.
"It's my duty, Your Majesty. You don't need to thank me every time.", answered the old man.
"That would make me look arrogant and like a bad king. Also, how long do you think I have known you, Yatiq? You saw all my embarrassing moments of childhood, do I really need to look noble even in front of you?"
"I just wish Your Majesty cared about how others acted around him instead of how Your Highness looked physically."
"The fake respect they show when in front of me doesn't bring money to the kingdom. Other's won't judge me on how respectful I demand them to act but how respectable I look. Also, acting friendly helps negotiations a lot, you know."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I know.", said Yatiq as he put the brooch of the Butaldhi family on Nehdean.
The golden brooch was in the shape of a wolf spider holding a shining stone with it's legs. Nehdean looked at himself at the mirror for a bit while touching the brooch. The memory of the first time he wore the brooch in front of the same mirror came back to his mind. He saw his younger self staring at him through the mirror, with disapproving eyes. Eyes filled with disappointment and anger.
"...How long has it been since I changed the symbol of our family?"
"About six years, Your Majesty."
"Six years... All that time and the biggest change I could make was only this meaningless symbol."
"That's not true, Your Majesty. The corruption of the Armilat Kingdom was defeated by your excellent leadership."
"And yet, I couldn't trust the people I was trying to help, and ended up only replacing the old kingdom with three new ones. Nothing has changed in Aleanakib. Kings rule, nobles eat and the people starve to work at infertile lands."
"..."
"But, it's not fair for me to complain about it, isn't it? I was the one who couldn't give up on the power. A man only friendly on the surface, an actor playing as a noble king. If the people knew what they could have had instead of me, they would never let me stay here for this long."
"..."
"I was young, scared and greedy. I did a mistake and took the power for myself back then. Even though I tried to change things, I only ended up a prisoner of the throne. Now, I can't do anything without being threatened both from the inside and the outside. I couldn't even change myself. I am still the same kid who studied and trained because he was scared. The same kid who got greedy for power because he was afraid of death and pain."
"Your Maje-"
"I am going to play a gamble, Yatiq. I am an actor who knows how to act like a good king, nothing much else. The kingdom only looks peaceful on the surface, but there are big problems. So I will bet my everything on those teenagers. Maybe, this is because I see a better me in them, and I want to see that better me succeeding, I don't know. But, I will try to change with them. Maybe I am wrong, and just expecting stuff impossible for teenagers like them to do, or maybe they are also actors like me. But I will try nonetheless."
"..."
"I see a new future ahead of us, Yatiq. A future that will come with hardships. I predict lots will change in the future. I don't deserve to lead that change, but I can hopefully help the people who will do that. As the person who has been with me more than my dad and mother, I want you to help me, Yatiq."
Yatiq got on his knees and lowered his head.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Thank you. Now get up, let's go meet with them."
"Yes."
*****
Just outside of the Euyn Palace, Nehdean got into the royal carriage. Yatiq sat next to the coachman and ordered where to go. After a few minutes, they got close to the inn Corvin and his friends stayed at but because the streets were too narrow, they waited at the wider street.
At Yatiq's orders, two knights turned their horses towards the inn and went to bring the guests to the carriage. The first one to get out was Noah, who quickly walked towards the carriage and got in.
"Good morning, Your Majesty."
"Good morning. Where are your friends?"
"Oh, they were working on something and they all overslept."
"I see. You didn't work on anything?"
"Oh, no. I am used to staying up late because I usually lose track of time when painting, so I made it a habit to prepare the night before."
"Oh, that's a good habit to pick up as early as possible as a noble. I used to struggle with timing when I was young as well.", said Nehdean, smiling slightly.
"During the civil war, right?"
"Yes. Are you interested in that war?"
"Slightly."
"Let's talk about that later, okay? Look, your friends are coming."
Noah nodded and looked outside the carriage. Three backpacks, slightly shining green, were floating in the street towards the carriage. Behind them was the three they were waiting for. Corvin quickly walked towards the carriage and got in, with Clair and Amy following him.
"""We are sorry, Your Majesty. We overslept."""
"Don't worry about it. You were working on the sample I sent to you, weren't you?"
"Y-Yes."
"Then it's no problem. Let's go to the source and see what we can do there."
Nehdean gestured the knights outside the carriage and the coachman started driving the carriage to their destination.
Behind a dark corner at the narrow street, a pair of sky blue eyes were staring at the carriage.
"Are you sure? Why couldn't we attack just now?", asked Janeen.
"Positive. The city isn't suited for fight and city guards would pose a threat. The less people around, the better it is for the owner."
"But, they have the royal guards with them."
"The royal guards are less in numbers, it would be easier for the owner to use her authority on them."
"...I see. Are we going to follow them now?"
"Positive."