26: [Bonus chapter] The eyes of the King

[Bonus chapter] The eyes of the King

The two were engrossed in each other when a sudden commotion outside demanded their attention.0

"Adelaide de Lanark!"

The roar she heard was unnerving. Adela's heartbeat ran haywire, and her lips and fingertips tingled before going completely numb. She gazed regretfully at the man who was now unconscious on the floor, for there was nothing she could do for him after all.

Unexpectedly, the first to barge in was not the shouting Archduke.

King Emanuel's royal guards walked in sure steps wearing their golden armors underneath green capes, they formed a ring inside the enclosed space, each of them a brick in a wall destined to hold a trial. Once the golden river flowed through the widely opened doors no more, a silver river began flowing as the knights of the First Order followed forming a ring within a ring and further ensnaring Adela.

She squeezed her hands tight behind her back, memorizing their faces one by one, knowing that she would not be able to look any of them in the eye after her impending disgrace. The numbness spread all the way to her feet, and her last wish was not to faint in the middle of a scolding and humiliate herself irrevocably.

The last knight to make his way inside was an antagonized-looking Arkin. His hazel eyes barely touched Adela before drifting upward and exploding with anger as they settled on the man standing too close to her. He walked further inside not following either formation then stood between Egon and Adela and faced the door once again.

Adela who felt slightly better with her knight by her side braced herself.

The King's expression was solemn as he entered the room with heavy footsteps, and a purple-faced enraged Kaiser stormed in behind his brother with two clenched fists by either of his sides. The Commander of the First Order was the final person to follow, his eyes never leaving the figure of his son for a second.

Adela curtsied with humble eyes then winced when Emanuel de Lanark clicked his tongue.

"What do we have in here?" The King spoke dramatically, "A boy trembling like a leaf behind a reputable merchant... And a bloodied man next to a felon being treated for the wounds he rightfully earned?"

Egon shrugged, "What I see is a half-dead person on the floor, nothing more, nothing less,"

The king shook his head gravely, "Eyes that are not equipped with insight are misfortunate organs indeed. Isn't that right, Kaiser?"

The Archduke was preoccupied, glaring daggers at Egon von Conradie. Emanuel de Lanark did not ask the same question twice and paced around Adela's cage instead.

"I cannot blame you, of course. You are new here — it falls on us to teach, and falls on you to learn about our traditions. Though one would think that at least some facts are a given,"

"Do enlighten me, Your Majesty,"

Emanuel de Lanark paused, "Well, I for one am getting a little sick of opening portals and running to Lanark. However, no niece of mine is to be extorted while I am still alive to see and hear of it,"

"See and hear," Egon repeated with an emotionless tone that matched the emotionless expression on his face, "It is an honor to be the receiver of your influential interest,"

"...It is only natural for me to keep an eye on what is mine," the King's eyes drifted to meet Adela's before going back to Egon. "It is because of this so-called interest that I come here today with the most unfortunate news... I am afraid that your dear cousin has been abducted by the rebels of Lanark's Forest,"

Panicking, Adela could not help but turn around and look up at Egon, but the unconcerned expression on his face was outraging.

The King's face contorted in disgust.

"Such thick skin is a sight to behold actually," his eyes circled the room, and his voice rose an octave "You see men? Observe carefully! Watch and learn how gallant men deal with dire situations rationally, not a shred of sympathy for one's own blood!"

Adela fought the impulse to draw nearer Egon and shield him from her uncle's blunt disdain. But it was the King himself who drew closer.

"Do not fret, new friend. With our manpower and knowledge of these lands combined with your mana stones, we will surely retrieve your cousin in one piece... That is in the event of a planned collaboration, of course... I am a busy man with a kingdom to run, so you can schedule a separate appointment with my counselor to thoroughly discuss this, hm?"

The King did not maintain eye contact long enough to receive a comment, he leaned downward; his exhale brushed over Adela's ear.

"Hold your head up high as you have always done, Adelaide de Lanark,"

Emanuel took a step back then turned around and exited the room followed by the royal guards, and under the current circumstances, his absence distressed Adela even further than his obnoxious presence, for her fate was left in the trembling hands of her father now.

The Archduke stomped his way to Adela and grabbed her by the arm, "How dare you do this to me? Are you even the same daughter I myself have raised?"

Her father's words sounded like an exile sentence to her, his piercing blue eyes heightened the feeling when he regarded her as he does a stranger down the road.

"Now walk in front of me and never look back," the Archduke ordered.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she received the banning order, her mind's complaint rippled through her body as if someone was about to rip the skin off of her.

She felt rather than heard the sharp intake of air Egon drew behind her.

"Lady Adelaide and I have an ongoing agreement, I hope that she will continue to honor the word she gave me,"

"Adelaide!" The Archduke roared.

She cupped a hand around her mouth, too afraid of what words would come out otherwise, she wanted to look at the man behind her one last time but ended up storming off instead.

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