คืนค่าการตั้งค่าทั้งหมด
คุณแน่ใจว่าต้องการคืนค่าการตั้งค่าทั้งหมด ?
ลำดับตอนที่ #34 : Chapter 34: Prince Felin
Chapter thirty-four
Prince Felin
“Could you please tell us what exactly is going on, Master Godome?”
Princess Vivien, her eyes brimming with anxiety, was the first to speak up, as she felt she could no longer put up with anymore waiting. A day and a night had passed. All of them had made numerous futile visits to Princess Feliona’s door; they were not allowed inside to see her and there were no news on her condition.
“It was all my fault.” Godome answered, his large, scarlet eyes overflowing with grief.
“And?” Vivien pressed.
“We have been fooled! Someone has swapped the blood of the Nine-Tailed fox I have prepared for the blood of the Kelbelos. That was why the ritual failed!”
“Prince Arthur said that there’s a chance Sister won’t ever regain her human form, but at the hall, we’ve all seen she was back.” Vivien bit her lip, then soldiered on with the negotiation, “A human. Not a girl, but obviously human! There’s nothing wrong with letting us see her, is there?”
“You do not understand.” Godome sighed softly, “There’s still more to the matter.”
The door flew open, revealing the King of Demos, tall and imposing. His black eyes swept over the crowd, then he closed the door behind him.
“The palace of Demos does not enjoy welcoming visitors. I see your work is done, and would see to it that you all leave soon.”
“But Sister…”
Vivien hesitated. The events in the hall had instilled in her a great fear of the Demon Lord. Evides smiled.
“I suggest, Princess, that you call him Brother instead, as Feliona can no longer return to a girl, not after what has happened.”
Evides spoke as though he were discussing the weather, as the revelation stole the breath of all who had heard.
“You must be lying,” said Prince Rowen tensely, “If there really were no hope of reclaiming her true form, you wouldn’t be so nonchalant.”
“I take it you have forgotten, Prince Rowen. Daughter or son, the words mean the same for me so long as the child is mine.” Evides shrugged, then chuckled lightheartedly, “A son? So? All we’ll need is an adorable bride. All the better if she brings with her a hefty dowry.”
“You have decided, your majesty?” Godome asked. For his trouble, he received a glare that sent him jumping.
“Just you wait; I’ll make sure you're held responsible for all this mess, Godome.”
Godome quickly realized he should steer away from the subject as soon as possible.
“If so, then I’ll have to make a change in the order for all his highness’s clothes and belongings.”
“Hmph!”
“What about his name, your majesty?”
“Well, what do you think? He calls himself Felin, so be it from now.”
“This is crazy! Downright crazy!” exclaimed Arthur, his eyes darting about in frustration, but he couldn’t tell what so frustrated him.
“It’s crazy, I know, but it happened. It’s no use crying over spilled milk, Prince Arthur.” Evides reminded him, “Back there, it was all I could do to reverse the enchantments. To be honest, if there were still some foxes, if there were just a little blood left, I would have done all I could to bring my daughter back. But there is none. So why waste your thought over it?”
Evides’s mysterious black eyes bore into Arthur’s, and, for the first time, the lionhearted prince sensed the existence of weakness inside himself, the fear, the wavering.
“Perhaps there is still a fox left, somewhere…” Kalo muttered.
“I wish there were, too, but nothing can change the truth.” The Demon Lord sighed softly, “Anyway, you can all dismiss yourselves whenever you feel ready. I and my daughter—no, son—This is where we leave you.”
“Do let me see Sister just once.” Vivien pleaded finally.
“Apologies, but my son is not in the mood of seeing anyone. And, Princess, I would like you to change how you refer to him. If not, I shall interpret it as disrespect to the Prince of Demos.”
Evides’s monotone was fueled with a will so strong, it discouraged Vivien from trying further.
“But he must go back and continue his studies.” Kil spoke up as well.
“He'll resign. I will notify Edinburgh myself, as his father.”
“Why resign?”
The Prince of Kanoval burst out. The two met eyes, and Kalo glared right back. Not that the lad wasn’t afraid, but he was so afraid he forgot to be. He feared for something else so much, he forgot to fear the Demon Lord himself.
“So what if he’s a boy? Or for some reason he can’t study at Edinburgh if he’s a prince?”
“I can’t afford for such an expensive school.”
The exasperating reply sent the others fuming, but the Prince of Kanoval remained calm as he pushed forth with his negotiation,
“Then let me see Felin just once.”
“No.” Evides shrugged, turning to Godome and issuing his order,
“Send them off!”
Evides made to leave, then stopped in his tracks; the young prince had disobeyed his command, striding straight for the closed door. Evides stared at him, and his eyes gleamed with both fury and affection.
“Halt where you are, Prince Kalo.” Kalo ignored the cold threat and strode on, “Don't say I haven’t warned you.”
“Master Kalo, please, His Majesty means it!” Godome rushed over, frantically trying to dissuade him, but Kalo’s eyes flashed fiercely as he walked right on. Fortunately, before anything happened, a voice bellowed from inside the room.
“Don’t do anything, Father! Let him in!”
The Prince of Kanoval disappeared behind the large door.
*
“Do you have any idea how much you love playing the hero?”
Felin’s familiar voice teased him, his familiar face lit by the late morning sun. Kalo hurried over to his friend who had had him so worried, eyes scouring his face for abnormalities. Suddenly, a strange sensation overtook him. He reached out and pulled Felin into his arms. Felin struggled against his chest, but Kalo’s brain was working too feverishly for him to notice.
Thin shoulders. Small arms. And then there’s…
That very second the realization dawned upon him, Kalo pushed Felin off and let go as if she were on fire, his cheeks burning, especially at her accusation,
“You pervert!”
A faint blush blossomed on the prince's snowy cheeks. He swiftly looked the other way, not daring meet her gaze the way he used to, for his heart was thumping fast. Putting on a stern expression, he asked tensely,
“What exactly is going on now? You’re already a girl, but your father said you’re a boy. And he said he’s not letting you return to Edinburgh.”
Felin pulled at the wrinkles on her shirt caused by Kalo’s hug and veered off.
“The curse was broken, thanks to the blood Kil had saved. As for Edinburgh, that depends on the situation.”
“What situation, Felin?” Kalo asked.
“Well, as you already know, right now there’s some lunatic who’s probably thinking of ruling the world who’s stolen the Wand’s power, and I’m standing in his way. We've no idea how safe it will be in Edinburgh.”
“I agree.” The princess froze at Kalo’s comment.
“What d'you mean by that?” Felin demanded, her eyes gleaming dangerously.
“Perhaps you’d be safer here.” Kalo replied. At that, Felin drew close and jabbed her finger onto his chest.
“You think Felin Debereaux is that much of a coward, hmph?” The brave one growled, then grinned and explained,
“'Cause there’s that moron who wants to kill me for the wand’s power, Father said it might be safer if we let everyone believe I’m not that princess with all that power anymore. Even better if I never returned to Eden for good. Thanks to that, we’ve been arguing for a whole day and night with no progress.”
“But, you’re a girl now. How can you tell them you’re a boy?”
Kalo pointed out. Felin nodded slowly.
“This is a secret between you, me and Kil, okay? I don’t trust the others.”
“And your father trusts us?” Kalo asked.
“Oh, come on! If it were his business then it would be up to him whether he trusted you guys or not. Unfortunately, it's my business. So it's up to me whether I trust you guys or not.” Felin retorted then chuckled softly, striding over to grab a gold ring on the bedside table.
“All I have to do is put on Father's ring,” said Felin as she slipped the ring onto her pinky, as Kalo looked on, puzzled, “And voila, I’m a boy again. Go on, prove it.”
Felin moved closer, egging him on with his eyes. Kalo studied his friend, hesitating, making no move to take up the offer. Impatient, Felin grabbed the prince’s hand and rested it on his chest.
“So, there you have it. This one of my fathers is scary, so don’t you go picking fights with him that much, okay? I'm scared for you.”
“And what about Edinburgh?” Kalo asked.
“Well, what do you think? Of course I’ll go back! You know Demos’s not really my cup of tea. Can’t stay for long. Occasional visits might be fine. But I feel sorry for Father.” Felin veered off, “He’ll probably be lonely without Mother around. Right, you and Kil stay here with me first. Then we’ll find a way to sweet-talk Father into letting me go back.”
Kalo looked at him, his blue eyes gentle, then asked on,
“What if we couldn't?”
“Then we sneak out, obviously! Piece of cake.”
“Huh? You think you can run from the Demon Lord?”
“Madus Debereaux's already done it, mate. And you should know I'm a right little chip off the old block.”
And, with that boastful announcement, the troublemaker threw back his head and laughed triumphantly.
ความคิดเห็น