But how?
He had followed the Wind way, and nobody in thier right mind would follow it.
The door was still locked as he didn’t hear any sound of it opening.
He tilted his head slowly to see if he could see this person. As his eyes slid gradually along with his head he began cussing because he still couldn’t spot this person.
Where was this person? He was really trying to be discreet here, did this person want him to really turn all the way back?
Just as his eyes were about to catch the silhouette of the intruder it caught something else of interest that caused his very bones to doubt the skin that covered them— the doors were wide open!.
What!?
He would have wanted to stay on this matter and have his brain process this whole thing and explain it to him how the heck that was real, but he knew he had other issues — like who was this intruder?
After the brief moment of deep-bone shock his eyes continued their journey till it finally landed on the figure, but at this point it was almost pointless what he was doing, because his entire body was almost already all turned now, and it was... Liah?
Why...? How...? What...? His crises had just gone A-level.
What was Liah doing here? But before he could get his answer another shocker hit him, there was another figure way to the side slightly away from his proper view— he now would have to turn fully to see this figure.
It had better not be mother, he thought.
Although it was almost pointless whether it was the Queen or not since Liah was here.
If mother did not find this out then the world had ended, but still ’it had better not be mother’, not surviving a spanking this night was the least of his problems— matter of fact, surviving was the main problem— royal prince or not that was his problem not Mother’s.
Just at the corner of the room a young figure stood there, his eyes filled with uncertainty mixed with curiosity, but that was only with a closer look.
Outrightly this figure looked like a Death Bringer. His eyes had dark circles round them, his brows were furrowed— it was uncertain if it was a result of anger, curiousity, or something else— his lips were dry.
Was he sick or sent to kill? Choose one— why be so confusing?
Ajab could recognize him, it was Elmah.
’I know I’m comfortable with your face, but that doesn’t mean I want to be seeing it all the time, especially now’
Why was he suddenly here too? How did he even get here?
"How...?why...? What are..." Forming a complete sentence became a strange element to His Highness.
"What is Your Highness doing here?" Liah interrupted
"Ah hah" His face lit up as he thought of how to salvage the situation "I was going to ask that. What are you doing here, you too Elmah?" He pointed at Elmah
Elmah would have loved to answer but he was caught up in a more pressing matter.
He wasn’t sure how to fully make heads of what he was seeing now that His Highness was facing him— his hands covered in cream, his mouth still stuffed, the whitish insides of the treats surrounding his mouth like a strong city, some creams on his nose, some cakes well placed on his arms like a pampered baby— the sight was...
"Your Highness is the one not in his chambers" Liah answered, somehow not allowing this sight swipe her off course.
"This..." Ajab wasn’t sure how to respond to that
"The Royal Bake had once complained of missing pastries, it was ruled under ’rat assault’ and actions had been taken, it was quite odd though, since they had not been any living rats in the palace since the High Eunuch became a High Eunuch, and that your Highness has been quite some time, so is there a reason why your Highness is bearing similarities to this our ’rat assault’ problem right now?"
Listening intensively with his eyes rolling from side to side, and trying to swallow the remaining things stuffed in his mouth, Ajab could only improvise "Which one of you got here First?" At this point he had to know too
Liah squinted her eyes and narrowed her gaze towards Elmah
"Got here first? " She had to ask
"Didn’t your Highness come in here with Young Master Elmah?"
"Ehn...? Come here with?" Looking at the quiet Elmah at the side, Ajab didn’t know if to actually cry.
If you were already here why didn’t you just say so, my life is literally on the line here, did you have to quietly watch?
"But wait..." He paused in his grumbling
"When did you open the door Liah?"
Yes Elmah somehow was there before her, he’d get to that, what was more concerning to him now, was how that majestic door got opened without him noticing, he has just gotten in, surely he could have noticed.
"Moments ago, Your Highness. You seemed ...busy when I first arrived"
"Moments?" He raised his brows "But I’ve barely..." He was about to say ’barely done anything nor barely moved’ but looking now, he realized the door looked further than it should.
Did the door move?
He wondered.
Or did...His eyes spread wide open, as he realized something rather odd —he was the one misplaced.
Taking a closer look now, the shelf he started with was now about three shelves away.
Okay maybe I just skipped the rest and ran for this one. Unfortunately, that was far fetched, his ’signature’ left on all the shelves were very clear and evident. so how long have I been here for then?
He worriedly thought to himself before turning to Elmah.
Knowing that whatever answer there was, was not going to come from his head, he had to ask ’the reliable’ Elmah.
"Elmah how long have I been here for?"
"Urm... Your Highness has..."
Not sure she was ready for the episode that was about to unfold before her, Liah dropped it—
"Your Highness, The Queen calls for you"
BOOM! Immediately Ajab’s face grew dark falling to face the ground, despite nothing changing about his ’unique’ appearance — creams everywhere— he looked like a general that just heard his wife had been taken by the other general — gloomy, the darm calm before the storm, before the spewing of death everywhere.
"Mother?" His voice was soft and clear, like the dark clam it was.
"Yes, Your Highness" Liah answered unhinged
The atmosphere around the Prince became tensed, internal temperatures began rising — probably his— and slowly his head joined suite— the death spew was set.
Like a ’slit’ the Prince’s eyes meet Laih’s —she wasn’t sure what a baby dragon’s eyes looked like, but if it looked cute in anyway, that was how she would describe the Prince’s eyes at the moment — unbelievably adorable.
Ajab wasn’t sure what his life was going to look like there on after, he could barely hold back the tears trying to break free his eye sockets.
Did mother already know? Had Liah already sold him out?
This thoughts began evading his mind
He had thought he could at least bargain his way out of this, even though he had less than a one percent chance, it was still something, but now he really had no choice?
Was he really going to die?
But how did mother know so quickly...? Why? No wonder today’s journey was fraught with difficulties, he really should have gotten the signs and aborted mission. If only he was humble enough to have caught the signs... WHY?!!!
"She asked you come right away"
"I see..." His heart sank in total defeat, a wounded beast could have sworn it could look way better than the Prince appeared even if it lost it’s mother.
Like a beaten soldier carrying a boulder each step Ajab took seemed like a struggle.
"Do you plan on going with that?" Liah pointed at the pastries his Highness still held in his arms like some cuddled paddlings.
Paying no heed to the question, Ajab continued in his ’glorious’ steps. He was going to die anyways, he had better take as much as he could before his last breath.
Getting close to the exit the party who’s fault this undisputablly was — Elmah— remained planted where he had been all this while, Ajab shot a stone peirceing glare at him, if this figure had at least spoken up since he got there, he wouldn’t have found himself in such a miserable situation with no solution at hand, now mother was calling him.
"This way your Highness" Laih gestured at the opposite direction of where he had intended.
He turned to the direction she was now pointing at "That’s not the way to my chambers, Liah"
"It’s the way to Her Majesty’s" she clarified.
"If the Queen is calling me, answering in my night robes wouldn’t be civil now would it?" He had to protest, this was his last chance to find a way to save himself. Ethically maybe he needed to appear ’civil’, but in reality he just wanted to reinforce his behind, he barely had clothes on, if he was going for this war he had to at least have armour on.
"I don’t think Her Highness would mind, My Prince"
Of course she wouldn’t mind, isn’t that the whole point of getting a body armor?
Seeing as that wasn’t going to cut it he added
"I at least need to appear decent, I’m covered in ’external elements’" that had to at least take him somewhere.
"That wouldn’t be a problem" She made a clap and a few maids came uniformly with bows of warm water
Ajab’s eyes twitched uncontrollably, where did they come from, he could swear they weren’t there moments ago, and do they go about with bath water? What sort of unholy effectiveness was this?
Absence to the Prince’s torment, they brought the bow to him
"Your Highness"
He wanted to resist but couldn’t find grounds to.
"Ahem..." He dipped his hands into one bowl, after washing, another was brought for his face, after which he wiped with a towel, before matching to his conceived death.
Liah lead the way, with the prince following, the maids accompanied them closely behind, Elmah followed, but at the back of the entire array.
"The Prince has arrived" His arrival was announced as they got to the majestic door of the King’s Chamber.
Something seemed odd and Ajab could tell.
Firstly this wasn’t the Queen’s Quarters, it was The King’s. When they took the turn here he had asked why the detour and was told the Queen was waiting for him there— first stroke.
Getting closer to the entrance it had more servants lined up than usual.
Even if mother wanted to give me a pummeling I’d never forget, surely she didn’t need to bring the entire palace for the spectacle.
The last section they had happened in his room.
If anything it would be hosted at her quarters, what was with the King’s quarters now? Was this what they meant by ’innovation is the only permanent innovation’?
Whatever was the case he was till Ajab, if this was the fire he had to blaze through for his passion, bring an entire lake of it.
"Come in" the soft voice of the Queen rang out into the ears of those outside.
The doors were gently opened from the outside for the Prince to make his entrance.
Laih made a bow to the open door and made way for the Prince.
"Ehn...?" He was the only one going in? Looking around him, everyone’s heads were in a bow, he really was going in alone.
If not that this was The King’s Quarters and he just heard the Queen’s’s voice, he would have thought he was being set up.
He took in deep breaths as his eyes shone with determination. Looking at what lied ahead he walked in in large stride, if he was going down, he was going to do it standing.
Getting inside, the doors were shut behind him, the room’s lightning was dim and the room had a cold feel.
At the center of the room was the Queen, standing with both her hands placed properly upon the other, she was quiet.
At the inner end of the room was the silhouette of a figure, he wasn’t sure who it was.
"Ajab"
Kong!... His heart rang as he swallowed hard. Whatever little confidence he had managed to mutter dissolved instantly.
It really was easier spewing nonsense about dieing fighting when one was away from a disaster, now he was here, he just really wanted to be a little baby.
"Ajab..." Her voice was heavy and her words lingered, which just caused more torment to the Prince.
Was all this necessary? Why the drag mother?’
He knew he was in the face of death but did death have to be savoring the moment, it’s my life we’re talking about here.
"...Your Grandfather is gone"
His eyes lit up in relief.
Phew.... Woah.... Yes...! I really thought... Wait...What...?!
Then the words sank in, his relief froze as his pupils tightened...