With everything unfolding as Zeun had envisioned, a sly smile played out in his thoughts.
He understood the harsh reality that awaited him outside the castle walls – a mere walking bundle of Platinum Coins for the hungry nobles.
This world is cruel and Zeun, recognizing the game being played, he requested a personal audience with the King in his 'Emotional' tone.
As the royal court wrapped up and the king concluded the proceedings, Zeun was granted the privilege of staying as a guest in the palace.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zeun decided to explore the palace's enchanting garden. As he strolled through the pathways, he couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur and beauty that surrounded him.
The vibrant colors of the flowers, the soothing rustle of leaves, and the intricate design of the garden captivated Zeun's senses, offering a moment of respite in the midst of the court's complexities.
Zeun felt wonderful after strolling in the lovely garden. The garden's beauty and peacefulness had a positive effect on him, making him feel lighter and giving him a break from all the complicated things in the royal court.
The calm surroundings and the beauty of the garden helped ease his emotions. It was like a breath of fresh air, making him forget about the court's complexities for a while.
In the embrace of solitude amid the natural beauty, he cherished the quiet company of the untouched surroundings. Yet, an unexpected intrusion disrupted his tranquil moment.
In the distance, a breathtakingly beautiful girl strolled gracefully, attended by maids. With a well-proportioned body that highlighted her graceful curves.
Her blue hair flowed down her shoulders like a tranquil sky, and her chest and hips were perfectly balanced, enhancing her regal poise. She carried an air of both youth and sophistication, leaving a lasting impression on those who saw her.
Their eyes briefly met, but he wasn't captivated by her beauty. Instead, an unexpected irritation flared within Zeun, as if someone had trespassed on his personal sanctuary.
Although the garden wasn't truly his, the unwelcome feeling persisted. With a resigned sigh, he chose to evade her presence, seeking solace in the confines of his designated guest room.
Upon witnessing Zeun's nonchalant demeanor and his apparent irritation, the princess, intrigued by the unusual response, felt a mix of curiosity and amusement.
'Interesting , someone not swayed by my appearances for a change.'
Intrigued, she decided to delve deeper into this mystery. Turning to her maid, she instructed
"Find out more about that boy over there. His calmness caught my attention, and I want to know what makes him so indifferent."
The maid nodded and swiftly went off to gather information, leaving the princess contemplating the intriguing encounter in the vibrant garden.
"Who are you, little boy, unaffected and unintimidated by my presence? Not even putting this Princess in your eyes... Interesting... very Interesting... I shall also see how long can you be like that."
Zeun, unaware of another looming headache was sleeping soundly in his room after dinner.
In the middle of night;
Zeun jolted awake in the eerie stillness of the night, drenched in cold sweat. The haunting nightmare from his childhood had revisited him, clawing its way into his restless sleep.
He involuntarily screamed, "Moommmmm....."
his heart pounding with the echoes of a past that refused to fade.
"..huff... uff....huff huff...."
He sat up on the bed gasping for breath.
To calm down, he grabbed a cold glass of water.
"Gulp... gulp...glup.. glup... haaàahhh hahhh.. Not again.." He murmured to himself.
Looking around he finding himself in the fancy guest room in the royal palace ; "Oh!! Now I remember I am at the palace..."
Wanting more peace, Zeun went outside to the palace garden. The moonlight lit up the green plants, and each step on the stone path felt comforting. The nice breeze and sweet smells of flowers helped him relax until he felt calm again.
Lying on the gentle touch of the grass, Zeun pondered
"Things have changed. I'm Zeun now, and the world has shifted."
With hands covering his face, he whispered, "Wake up, Zeun! Aahhhh!"
"No more Earth's safe haven or the comfort of your mom'er's embrace,"
he consoles himself...
"You've got to transform, man up, yaar!"!!
Taking deep breaths, he focuses on his surroundings before meditation to regain composure.
'I can't be a pussy anymore nor can I crumble under 'simple' obstacles. Life is simple after all. What's the point of all those mangas and webnovels if I can't apply knowledge from them, right? Any sane person would do that. Let's take things slow; I'll try not to be overly sentimental (slips may happen) and I will be...he he..."
"hahah haha ha..."
Thinking like a maniac, Zeun burst into loud laughter, the echoes dancing in the silence of the garden.
Zeun's Thought : 'Life is unpredictable, who knows the future? You just have to work hard and focus on your goals. Let the world get fucked up.'
The next morning, Zeun found himself in another part of the garden at a tea table standing before the King. He dismissed the maid serving tea before locking eyes with Zeun. The King's tone was colder and sharper than usual.
Zeun flinched momentarily, sensing the invisible pressure the king directed at him. He could tell something was wrong, inwardly sweating.
'Did I get caught? Will I get executed? Is my identity exposed, or...' Before he could think further, he heard King Russell's cold voice,
"Zeun, a commoner, huh? Residing in Kroton village for over 8 years, his earlier whereabouts unknown. He lives with his mother, never leaving their wooden house.
The only sightings of him were during his infancy with his mother. She used to be a hunter but stopped after getting pregnant with another child. The father is unknown. Both the mother and sister vanished on the day a letter reached the auction house. Last seen at the periphery of the Everlost forest."
Russel frowned as he read the last part of the paper in his hand.
"Don't you think something is fishy? It's as if she deliberately wanted to avoid this meeting with us?" The King inquired of his loyal guard standing behind him, casting a scrutinizing glance at the child before him.
The guard respectfully responded, "Your Majesty, it does seem unusual. Perhaps there are reasons unknown to us, but caution is advised in such matters."
Inwardly heaving a relieved sigh, Zeun expressed gratitude to the guard in his thoughts, remembering her beautiful tanned face and promising inwardly to repay the favor one day.
Observing the nervous and stiffened child before him, King Russell sighed as he eased off the pressure.
Truth be told, this amount of pressure meant little to Zeun, who had trained his body for years and developed a saturated mana vein before his tenth birthday. Thus, he avoided any form of resistance.
Honestly, it would be suspicious if a barely ten-year-old, who hadn't even gone through his awakening, could remain calm under the pressure of one of the strongest individuals in the Kingdom.
Russel de Voldemort understood that life as a commoner was not simple. His grandfather was a commoner before his father became the King, overthrowing the last Voldemort king who was evil and cruel to his subjects.
Passing the ring back to Zeun, the King conveyed, "The blacksmiths who appraised the ring stated it's not made in the Adel Empire. It's likely from the Huanfu Empire."
The King sighed before continuing, "The situation is a little complicated, and an imminent war may break out at the borders between Voldemort and the Rosewood Kingdom."
As he uttered those words, the female guard attempted to interrupt, considering the information was a top secret of the Kingdom. She couldn't fathom why her wise King would share such sensitive details with a ten-year-old kid..
Voldemort and the Rosewood Kingdom were adjacent, separated by the Everlost River, which originated from the Everlost Forest. The forest spread for more than 300 km in diameter, covering over 40 percent of the border between the two Kingdoms.
Voldemort Kingdom belonged to the Adel Empire, while Rosewood Kingdom, Zeun's family's Kingdom, belonged to the Huangfu Empire.
Surprised by the sudden revelation and confused about why he was granted the privilege of such sensitive information, Zeun looked puzzled at the king.
Zeun : "????"
Zeun thought, 'Why is he telling me this secret information? Is he trying to determine if I'm a spy or not?'
Shaking his head, Russel continued,
"Whatever, let it be. Since your village might be involved, I just wanted to inform. Anyway, what are you planning to do with these papers? We invited you because I thought you discovered something new, but since that's not the case, I shall buy these papers. It's nice quality."
Nodding his head, Zeun said, "I too want to sell these papers, but I don't want to take coins. Instead I have a request for His Majesty."
King Russell's eyes held a mix of intrigue and doubt, reflecting his curiosity about Zeun's additional request and a hint of skepticism. Leaning forward with a raised eyebrow, inquired
"And what might this additional request be?"
"I want access to all possible books related to curses." Zeun said with determination momentarily pausing before..
"If you can fullfil this condition, I won't take a penny for the 2 tons of papers in this ring."
.
.
.
After Zeun left, the female Knight's composure changed as she turned to look at King Russel as if demanding an answer.
The King, not at all offended looked at the distance where Zeun's back was still visible..."Lady Mira, you know my 'skill' right?"
Miraina replied,"Its called Eye of Doom, if I am not wrong."