Ajab’s face kept changing colors amidst his internal turmoil.
Seeing as His Highness’s face kept changing colors Elmah wondered if that was an ability too.
Rubbing his temples with his head bent, Ajab slowly began to calm himself down. Then it struck him. How?
Yeah, how exactly?
Tilting his gaze towards Elmah, He thought’He had to have answers right...he didn’t just stand there for those hours knowing nothing right...?’
"How Elmah?" He asked
Elmah’s face tightened "How what your Highness?"
"How is it midnight?"
How was it midnight? Was his Highness also troubled by this question? He himself had often wondered how midnights come about, one moment he had things to do, and for sure it would be evening, but before one could tell, it turned midnight.
His Highness’s Tutor did mention the causes of day and night, he had mentioned something about the sun moving. Elmah himself had also wondered what caused the sun to move firstly, also what caused it to even pick specific days to mess with him by moving even more absurdly.
He had put off these thoughts to ponder on them first before raising his concerns, but to think his Highness also had such concerns.
But didn’t His Highness seemed to have understood this lesson, why now ask him? Was he trying to test him, or he really wanted an answer? But that would prove difficult, cause even he didn’t have an answer.
Seeing Elmah’s face twist in deep thoughts, Ajab grew puzzled’Was Elmah finding the right words to put him at ease? Why was he seriously thinking?’
"I can handle whatever it is, just tell me"
Elmah’s face contorted even more.
What did his Highness mean by ’handle it?’ When did he say he had the answer to the question? Did his Highness have that much faith in him to have discovered this great mystery?
With eyes still hungry for clarity, Ajab kept his focus on Elmah, but seeing as the face Elmah had seemed somewhat to what he’d describe as distorted, he became perplexed.
Was what he said earlier not supposed to make Elmah have an easier answer? Why did he look like he was trying to end a war, but his opponent was giving him a tough time? Did the world end?
"Elmah, why am I only awake at this time, what happened to me?"
The expression that crept out of the face of Elmah wasn’t one of relief— his lips curled and his eyes became squinted.
"Is that what his Highness meant by his question?"
"What else would I mean?"
Elmah took in deep breaths, his face had no trace of contorting as his face went back to default expressionless.
He knew his Highness was a genius, but he never said he was one. So why did His Highness expect him to understand that he meant ’why was he asleep till midnight’ by asking ’How is it midnight’? Besides he was very sure when he blanked out, his Highness was standing wide awake in front of him, he also had just come to, so why was this being thrown at him?
"Did his Highness expect the answer to this question from me, when he asked ’How was it midnight?’"
Ajab became puzzled "What else could be expected?"
Elmah eyes remained fixated "The actual answer as to how midnight exist" He answered bluntly
"What?"
"The actual answer as to how midnight exist"
"I’m pretty sure I heard you"
"Then why did your Highness ask ’what’?" Why is your Highness causing all these confusions?"
What!? Wasn’t that an expression?
"Wasn’t that an expression Elmah?" He asked out loud
"Your Highness said it while straining to hear, as if you had missed it the first time was that not obvious to His Highness?"
If Ajab’s face were a puzzle book, it would have been in shambles by now, because his face had lost all sense of expression to hold with all the flying emotions and shakings
"How else can I make this expression if not like that?"
"Is Your highness really asking this time?
Ajab abruptly raised his hands in a ’stop’ sign
"Forget it" He had to catch his breath, but still asked again to really be sure
"Did you really think I meant how midnights exist?"
"What else could your Highness have meant?"
"Amongst the two of us, I am in a position to be the one with the question, seeing as how your Highness was wide awake when last I saw you, only to wake up to find myself in my chambers, and coming out to find your Highness soundly in yours"
"Tsk..." Ajab huffed. What did Elmah mean by soundly? How could his body sleep soundly whilst knowing he had a lot to accomplish that day— a whole planned ’
schedule’.
Taking another look at what Elmah said it began to make sense to Ajab why he didn’t get the question. ’
But on second thoughts why would he ask why midnights existed, what was with that?
’ he couldn’t help but think.
’Also why didn’t he ask anyone else?’
"But wh--" He was about to ask before remembering he was the only one Elmah talked to in the entire palace, so of course he wouldn’t know.
"You really need to start being free with others Elmah"
Elmah didn’t budge — just stared emotionlessly.
Ajab sighed deeply, whilst pinching his nose.
"I’m too young for all these’’
Snap! Yeah how could he forget? Liah.
Like a burst of water, she slammed into his mind —the one person who could save him from this ’unknowingness’.
He turned towards her— bam!
Her eyes were wide open. Wide awake. She remained seated, serenely calm and observant.
Why was everyone trying to give him seizures—?
’His blood almost crawled out his skin, when he met her unfazed gaze, it was ’dazzling’, had she not have her soothing aura things would have been different—It was a wonder she hadn’t found her way around Elmah, given her demeanor it shouldn’t be that difficult, but it was Elmah, he himself had an aura of antisociability round him, so whatever she threw at him would probably just get canceled out. Though his blood probably already reacted even before it noticed her aura.
But of course none of these made its way to the surface, as all could not be shown on a Prince’s face — no, on Ajab’s face.
Meeting his Highness’s gaze. Liah gave a slight bow.
"I can see your Highness is awake. My apologies for leaving Your Highness unattended to due to my sloppiness"
"I’m sure you were only tired, no need for apologies" Ajab reassured with a smile.
"Your Highness is indeed gracious"
"Disturbed actually. Liah, how exactly is it mid-- " He took a pause as he glanced at Elmah before redirecting his focus on Liah.
"Ahem... Why am I waking into a midnight?"
Elmah nodded in full agreement, why couldn’t his Highness be this clear when he asked him earlier?
Seeing as Elmah nodded for whatever reason, Ajab could not be more bothered, as he was more interested in what Liah had to say.
At hearing the question, Liah’s face fell, seemingly finding it hard to say what she had to say
"I too am not sure of what exactly happened" the disappointment in her voice could be seen on her face.
Elmah’s brows rose, even he wasn’t expecting her response.
"Ehn?" Ajab’s eyes contorted "Then who knows what happened?"
’
What was with everyone today?
’ Ajab thought
"I’m not sure your highness, the Queen maybe, but after learning from the physician that you were only asleep, she left for the court room, leaving me to attend to you till you wake"
"I see" he nodded "She choose her husband again"
Liah was short for words "I’m... certain that wasn’t the intention of Her Highness. It would be great if Your Highness didn’t see things that way"
"Did she or did she not leave me for her Husband’s business?"
"She had her duties to attend to your highness"
"Did it or did it not revolve around her husband?"
"It was a royal duty"
"That involved her husband"
"It involved the King"
"We’re saying the same thing, Liah"
"I’m not sure I’m with His Highness on this"
He scoffed " Of course you’ll speak for Her husband"
Liah could only force a gruesome smile, why did his Highness always have to put her in this sort of squabbles.
If Elmah had his materials with him, he would have sat to scribe in his thoughts on this matter, because he’ll need extra time to place things in order.
It was only his Highness that could boldly scold his mother for being a wife, yet not want her to dote on him, but still spout when she goes to her husband, and yet acts indifferent when the King broaches the subject. This sort of unique trait, was worth noting down no doubt.
But it probably was something only his Highness could accomplish...