"Fritz," I called out, leaping back into the dim corridor. He emerged, stepping lightly over the bodies strewn across the floor, his expression unreadable.
"You didn't kill them, did you?"
"Nah, doesn't do good for my conscience. Where's Joshua?"
"He should be in the room to the right of that junction ahead."
We moved quickly down the hallway, our footsteps barely making a sound on the thick carpet. As we neared the end, where a grand window cast fractured light across the floor, I didn't hesitate. With a swift kick, the door burst open, revealing the 1st prince with his hands locked around Joshua's throat.
"Oi, unhand him." I crossed the room in two quick strides, my hands moving to pry the prince's grip from Joshua's neck. Fritz was there in an instant, catching Joshua as he stumbled free.
"Get your dirty hands off me, you filthy Ubuian!" The prince spat, thrashing wildly. He kicked and twisted, but I held firm. Then his fury twisted into crazed laughter. "You really think you can just become the king because you want to? I've already informed the citizens, you fools. You think you can overthrow us without causing chaos?"
"Fritz," Joshua rasped, and with a quick, decisive motion, Fritz knocked the prince unconscious. His body crumpled to the floor.
"Matthijs… what now? Got any plans?" Joshua asked as he steadied himself, brushing the dust from his blazer before carefully placing it back on the table.
I walked to the window, staring out into the night. The faintest breeze stirred the curtains as I considered our options.
"So… if we hold the coronation tomorrow with you as the successor instead of the 1st prince, there'll be unrest from the citizens… and the other nobles… they won't take this lightly."
"Delay the coronation, and we sit down with the other nobles behind the scenes," a voice called from the doorway. I turned sharply, recognizing the ragged figure.
"King's Advisor?!"
He stood there, barely upright. His body was a mess of bruises and cuts, his right eye swollen shut, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His right arm hung uselessly, the bones clearly shattered, and thick chains clinked around his ankles.
"No time like now," he urged before his legs gave way, sending him collapsing to the floor.
"Oi, your arm… it's bad. Needs to be amputated," I said as I knelt beside him, taking in the sight of the mangled limb. His breath was shallow, his lips stained with blood.
"Jean," Joshua murmured as he crouched beside him, gently ruffling his hair. "There's no such thing as a healing rune…"
I clenched my fists, staring down at Jean's broken arm. Just like before—just like in the war—when it matters most, I'm powerless. All I can do is let my emotions always spiral out of control, and now, even with this rune-crafting ability, I'm still that same person who can't protect anyone. I should be able to do more and craft something that could save him. But all I feel is this crushing weight of failure.
Everything I've been through, all the regrets, is boiling back to the surface.
But I can't afford to fall apart. Not now.
I forced myself to focus, to shove those feelings down. There's no time for this. I need to be strong, to push through the helplessness, because the situation demands it.
"Fritz, do me a favour… I can't watch this," I said, glancing at Jean's mangled arm.
Fritz shot me a flat look. "You want me to handle the amputation? Seriously?"
I shrugged. "You've got the strong arms for this. Besides, I'm dealing with Joshua and the council."
Fritz sighed, heavy with sarcasm. "Perfect. Just what I wanted—chopping off limbs. Thanks a lot."
"Hey, you're the only one who can handle it," I said with a sheepish grin.
He rolled his eyes, reluctantly moving toward Jean. "You owe me big time for this."
"Deal," I replied, nodding before turning to Joshua. I urged him out of the room and shut the door firmly behind us.
We made our way through the corridors, and I directed Joshua to gather the barons in the council hall. After ensuring everyone was on their way, I followed him to the hall and stood at attention behind him.
"What are you going to tell them?" I asked, my voice low but steady.
"The truth," Joshua replied, his tone resolute.
"They can't handle the truth."
"Better than the citizens not being able to handle it," he muttered, leaning against the table's edge. His eyes wandered to the window, where the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, before returning to meet mine. "You might not know how it works, but each baron oversees a specific part of the kingdom. They report to the king, and decisions are made by majority vote."
He sighed, drumming his fingers lightly on the polished wood of the table. "I can't override their decisions unless I either remove them all or completely overhaul the system. Neither of which is ideal—it would only stir up more unrest."
Joshua turned to face me, noticing the rigidity in my stance. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he gestured for me to relax. "Don't look so tense. You're the king's aide now. No need to be on edge."
His eyes sparkled with mischief as he added, "Besides if you're this uptight, the barons might think you're the one who's planning a hostile takeover. Though, their frightened faces will definitely be entertaining."
"Wow, you're so dumb," I said, shaking my head with a grin.
Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Wow, what did you just say to the king?"
"You're very smart, my lord! The best in the kingdom, which is why your plans always work out," I replied with exaggerated reverence.
Joshua burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the hall. As the barons finally entered, their expressions a mix of shock and disapproval, Joshua's laughter grew louder. He slapped his hands on the desk, thoroughly enjoying the scene. The contrast between his amusement and the barons' discomfort only added to the humour of the moment.
"Apologies, my barons. Is everyone here?" Joshua asked, his gaze sweeping over the table, taking in each face and every detail.
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Joshua continued, "Alright then, let's begin. Any guesses on why we've called this meeting?"
Their eyes remained fixed on me, each stare sharp and critical. "Okay, let me summarize the situation you've likely noticed on your way in. I've overthrown Prince Jacob and the Royal Alchemist." Murmurs erupted again as I dragged the unconscious bodies into view and tossed them near the desk. The barons leaned in, their curiosity piqued.
"Barons, let me ask you this: What are your thoughts on Ubuians? Baron Thorne?"
"A plague on humanity. No doubt they are responsible for these atrocities," Thorne said, his eyes narrowing at me. "With all due respect, Prince Joshua, involving Ubuians does not inspire confidence in this room."
"I see… Baron Ravenscroft, what about you?" Joshua shifted his attention to the other end of the table.
"I—"
"There's no need to be anxious. Your responses won't cost you your lives," Joshua interrupted calmly. I won't kill anyone for their answers, no matter how unfavourable."
Ravenscroft hesitated before speaking. "Personally, I don't care much about them. If they stay within their bounds, fine. But if they overstep, they should be punished."
"I understand… Are you more afraid of them or their strength?" Joshua probed, his gaze sweeping over the room.
The room buzzed with whispers, which gradually faded into silence.
Joshua sighed and turned to Baron Stukov. "Announce a delay in the coronation. Meanwhile, I want to integrate the Ubuians into our kingdom gradually. Each section will have one Ubuian working within it, and we'll monitor the response. Barons, you are to ensure your citizens adjust well."
"Prince Joshua, this is a colossal mistake. It will cause chaos and unrest. The church will confront us."
"And what of the church? Will the clergy run the country?" Joshua countered. "I will address them respectfully. Any other questions?"
"What will their roles be?"
"Nurses. Heh."
. . .
I sipped on my drink, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spread through me.
"Matt! How's the drink, dummy?" Fritz said as he slid into the seat beside me.
"Getting awfully comfortable with calling me 'dummy,'" I chuckled, lifting my glass in a half-hearted toast. "Thanks for everything. I know you aren't comfortable with fighting; Vadek left me a note about it."
"What did he say?" Fritz asked, draining his glass as he leaned back to watch the sun sink behind the castle towers. The sky blazed with orange, casting a crimson hue over the liquid in our glasses.
"You're cowardly," I said, nodding. "And I agree."
"You—"
"Haha…" I took another sip, feeling my vision start to spin. "Fritz, are you also from Eart—"
Suddenly, everything went still and faded to darkness. In front of me floated a single interface window:
Oops, that word isn't supposed to be used here. I'd appreciate it if you focused on your own redemption rather than digging into the details of this world. It's not really your business. Keep your head down and stick to your path. I'm keeping an eye on you.
Understood!
As Fritz clicked the button, the world snapped back into view. The sunset, the colours, and the ambient sounds of the castle resumed their place as if nothing had happened.
"Am I from where?"
"Oh, uh, nothing."