"Yup, it's me. Your handsome fiancée~"
Kai responded, as he winked at Mono. This surprised her, but not cause of Kai's boldness, but to the reveal that he was talking. Even Maximus, Celestina, and the other nobles were shocked; as the whole crowd erupted in unison.
"YOU CAN TALK!?"
"Yeah, I can talk," Kai looked around the group of people. Meeting all their gazes, he responded that he worked along with Ray to make a magic tool for his voice to be delivered. And to his words, everyone turned their looks to Ray who stood by the side.
"Why drag me into it…?" Ray questioned internally, but looking at the crowd; he nodded as he expressed about working with Kai on finding some magic tools to have Kai's voice travel through the tool for others to hear.
Maximus then turned to Hiro, looking at his face and then to Kai's face. He kept glancing between the two as he recalled back to his days as a student; and a slow realization hit him.
"Wait," Maximus walked off the throne towards Kai. On Kai's side, he carefully placed Mono down, asking her to be careful with her footing. And as Maximus came in front of Kai, he looked carefully into Kai's facial features.
"Now that I see up close, his face is identical to yours Hiro. If he had those red eyes and blonde hair of yours; then Kai would be the exact copy of you."
Following Maximus's point of view, the other nobles as well began to run their memory to recall Hiro in his academic days. And as the memory recollected, they all were sure that standing in front of Maximus right now is surely Kai. They all agreed to it.
"The height and body build are similar to Hiro's, when he was a student," One of the nobles came forward speaking with a soft smile. But as he went on, his smile vanished to a gloomy expression.
"Especially that face which… which… charmed my wife…"
At his last words, a heavy silence fell onto the room. While Ray and the rest younger ones were both shocked and confused to what was happening, the other nobles were one by one coming up; saying that they too had faced the same experience. Hiro had an awkward smile on his face, as he averted his gaze; only to end up making eye contact with an angry Sakura. Celestina on the other side was covering her mouth as she giggled; with Maximus sighing deeply as he expressed his worry for the future.
"That same face… which ruled the girls' dormitory for six years in my academy days." He sighed again, as he placed his hand on Kai's shoulder; "You were better with the long bangs, Kai."
As Maximus expressed his concern, the other nobles as well nodded with a grim expression on their faces. And in the corner, Hiro was trying to please Sakura; who kept her gaze away from him, pouting.
Just then, Celestina walked next to Maximus as she pulled him up; saying he shouldn't blame Kai for his 'handsome' looks. Saying such, she glanced towards Hiro; making eye contact with him as she said that the real source of all this is someone else. And just as she said so, Hiro quickly turned his back on them; addressing the nobles that they are shifting off the topics. He quickly gestured towards the guests of the neighboring empire.
"Aren't we suppose to welcome the guests who travelled a long way here, have them rest instead of talking about MY past."
"Please don't worry, your grace the Archduke," the first prince of the Isolde Kingdom came forward; expressing that he's actually delighted to see the friendly atmosphere around him.
While the prince engaged in contact with Hiro; Ray walked next to Kai's right. But to Kai's left, Mono was still having a long time to take in on Kai's actual look; mesmerized by his face.
"Who's that?" Kai asked leaning slightly towards Ray. To the question, Ray was about to answer ; but before he could response, a figure came in front of the two. The two slowly looked ahead.
"I think that should be answered by the person you asked about."
In front of the two, stood the first prince of Isolde Kingdom. Kai and Ray slowly glanced forward, looking at the first prince.
"I'm Lorant Aranor, the first prince of Isolde Kingdom of Frost Guard Empire." With a smile too sharp to be friendly; Lorant introduced himself with a tone smooth as ice. He extended a hand, and Kai took it — firm, steady, the way a king greets another. But then the grip from Lorant's side tightened; with Kai slightly looking down to their hands but quickly looking back up.
Not enough to make a scene, but enough to speak volumes which Kai got a grasp of.
Others, including Ray next to Kai watched the two; same height and same poised stance. Both Kai and Lorant had an unreadable calm to themselves. "Since the three of us are of same age, I hope we all shall get along well together," Lorant's words made the crowd nod in acknowledgement.
Kai glanced around for a bit, as he spoke up with a similar smooth tone to Lorant's; introducing himself.
"The name's Kai Hamada… Pleasure to meet you."
But then, Ray nudged him from the side; asking Kai that he should properly greet Lorant since he was a prince. But then Lorant spoke in between, saying that it doesn't matter about the formalities. They both got to know their names and that's all.
But then, Lorant slightly leaned forward — not enough for anyone else to notice. His voice sank to a whisper that only Kai and Ray could hear.
"After all, you're just a cripple," Lorant murmured, with a smirk playing on his lips. "Raised in poverty… unable to learn the noble standards."
Lorant's mocking rang clear to Ray's and Kai's ears; both had their eyes widened at him. But Lorant's expression came back to normal as soon as he raised back up to others.
Ray was furious; taking his step up to confront Lorant. But Kai told him to stop through the ear-piece. And when Ray turned to him in surprise, Kai had a calm smile on his face. Both Kai and Lorant let go off their hands, as if the silent mocking didn't happen just now.
But then came the sound — a single, cracking note that silenced the hall. The sound echoing through the silent hall.
Kai's right hand lingered mid-air, his smile never leaving his face.
But on the other side; Lorant's head had snapped to the side as he laid on the floor, a red mark blooming against pale skin.
For a breath, no one moved. But then a collected number of gasps echoed through the hall. The nobles stared — at Lorant who laid on the flood; holding his jaw with a shocked expression. Everyone was left stunned. Maximus, Hiro and the rest all looked at Kai with astonishment. Even Ray was in an inner turmoil to Kai's action.
"THE HELL!! Why did you had to slap him in in front of everyone!? You could have just taken him to a corner and beat him secretly!!"
The duke of Frost Guard empire was too shocked to move, but as he gained his thoughts; he took stance to pull out his sword. But before he could, Kai spoke up in between.
"Sorry for the commotion, but my actions are justified." Kai said so confidently, as the others looked at him with questionable gazes. Kai slowly raised his hand — a small mosquito crushed against his skin.
"Relax. My problem...," Kai said, half-smiling, "...was him. I was just protecting our dear guest here." He then furthered continued, saying how a mosquito; who has bitten lots of other people around could pass on their diseases to Lorant.
"After all," Kai turned his gazes down to Lorant, cold and distant. "How dare a mere mosquito think that it will buzz around me and I won't do anything."
The crowd present there just listened to him words in silent, but Kai's gazes and words sent a clear message to Maximus, Hiro and Justin. The three exchanged glances between each other; then slowly turning back to Kai.
Kai on the other hand just turned back slowly, going towards the exit. "Don't thank me," Kai said, brushing his palms together. "Just doing my civic duty."
Saying so, he went away while others stared at him in shock. Slowly, even Ray slipped away from the hall; saying he will go train for a while.
After a few seconds, the duke of the neighboring empire and a few nobles came to Lorant. Asking if he was alright, while unable to say both good and bad about Kai's actions just now. Just then, Lorant raised his hand and spat something onto it — a tooth.
He stared at it, as everyone else looked over as well. Among them, Justine stared at the tooth and muttered with a sly smile, "A tooth for a mosquito… fair trade, I guess."
Outside the hall, Kai was moving through the hallway as Eva's digital screen played in front of him with a collected amount of data in a proper format. He was reading through them all when Ray caught up to him from behind.
"OI! OI! Kai!!" Ray called from behind as Kai turned back towards Ray. And as Ray caught up to him, he began shooting questions at Kai. Asking why Kai had to slap Lorant? Why in front of so many people? And finally, how come he doesn't fear being pointed at by others when the words of him slapping the prince of the neighboring empire are spread around!?
But to all the questions, Kai just stared at him with a blank expression. But after a few seconds he replied; turning back to move forward.
"If we keep worrying about what others will say, we'll never move forward… Society often tries to pull us down, but it's in our own hands to carve our own path and shape our own destiny."
Ray paused with confusion to his words, wondering what Kai meant by it. But in front of him, Kai who was moving forward with a calm expression was in a deep thought. In his mind ran a memory of the other Kai, being bullied and unable to fight back in his village; and could only cry.
Kai had his fist clenched. His own past replaying in his mind; where a five-year-old Kai, wearing a baseball hat and holding up a baseball bat stood on the ground. And in front of him were three other kids. The three were bruised, holding their stomach and groaning in pain.
Back in the present, Kai gritted his teeth as a word left his mouth.
"Pathetic."
After the slap event, the palace was in chaos. Everyone was worried sick; Lorant was in a dazed state as he just kept staring into the space. Most of the time went on in taking care of Lorant. And soon, it was the night for the banquet.
"Hmm… This sems nice."
Kai stood in front of the mirror; looking himself up and down as he had worn a deep black suit while styling his hair. And as he finished up, he brought up the cape; putting it on as he slightly levitated up in the air.
"Your surely dressed up well this time, huh,"
Ray stood behind Kai by the door, waiting for Kai. He stood tall in a white suit coated with golden linings. And a brooch of a vermillion bird, forged in gold and inset with a single white gem, clasped on his black wool cape at the shoulder. He had his arms crossed, sighing as he asked how Kai can be so calm and taking his time to dress-up, after slapping Lorant.
But to this, Kai just softly chuckled; saying he be tensed up when Lorant was the one who provoked him.
"If he does something again, this time I'll make sure to break more than one tooth of his. And for my dress-up, who knows we might meet someone special tonight," saying so, Kai turned back to Ray as the two made their way to the banquet hall.
And as the two entered the hall, everyone's looks were turned to them instantly. Ray had a confident vibe around himself; just that of a true prince, catching the eyes of the nobles. But the more curious gazes were landed on Kai, as the crowd wondered who he was. Without his fake hair set and wheelchair, people were unable to identify him. But among the crowd, the noble women were slowly starting to recall their past as they began to whisper among each other. A realization hitting up to them.
"Hey… Doesn't he resemble him…"
"It's been a long time now, but… that face of his…"
"He looks just like the Archduke, Hiro. Back in his teenage years!"
Everyone's eyes were locked on Kai, slowly realizing it was him in a new look. The young ladies of the noble family were slightly blushing while looking at him, while the madams of the house whispering among each other with a bubbly smile.
"Now I get what uncle meant back then," Ray talked to Kai through the ear-piece with a knowing smile, while Kai sighed and responded back; that he too is slowly getting to know his dad better now.
The two took a corner by the hall, with fruit drinks and desserts served to the two. Kai asked if the announcement for the agreement between the two empires is going to be delivered at the end. To which, Ray nodded saying that Hiro and Maximus will handle the announcement details; so, Kai, him and the rest should just enjoy the feast tonight.
The two then clinked their glasses, when Nino's voice came up to them. Turning their gazes up, they saw Nino by the first-floor walking down the stairs. She worn a scarlet silk dress, with golden embroidery wove across her bodice in the shape of blooming roses, and a thin belt of gold chain rested around her waist, gleaming softly against the rich red fabric.
A whistle escaped Kai's lips, as he gently gave a pat on Ray's back with a teasing smile; "Doesn't she look great in that dress?"
Kai asked, but Ray was too mesmerized to even hear his words. His eyes were fixed on Nino; with the world around him and her slowly fading in front of him.
Nino on the other side was smiling with a bright smile, walking up to Ray cheerfully as she took his hands. She confronted him, asking why didn't he wait for him and also gave Kai some jealous look.
"PFFT-!"
Kai turned to the side, covering his mouth as he suppressed his laughter. But then, the hand of Ray's Nino held turned back and took her hand. Nino turned to Ray, but before she could see his expression; Ray turned to the entrance way of the hall as he took Nino with him. Nino, confused but followed him. But behind the two, Kai raised his glass towards their direction.
"Your time starts now," he said, watching the two go out of the hall. Turning back, Kai called out a maid and took the plate of sweets she had; a playful smile playing on his lips.
"I should feed some sweets to my princess as well~"
Everything was going well so far, the sounds of glasses clinking, joyful chatter and peaceful banquet.
But some time later, by the second-floor of the palace.
"N–No…! Stop… please—!"
Lala's cries tore through the hallway, desperate and trembling. Lorant had her pinned against the cold wall, his shadow looming over her like a predator's. His eyes gleamed with a twisted intent, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Tears streamed down Lala's cheeks, her voice breaking as she struggled against his grip. "Let me go…!" she pleaded, her trembling hands pushing against his chest in vain.
A thin line of blood traced down her forehead, dripping to her chin as she fought to break free — the scent of iron mixing with her fear. The corridor seemed to close in on her, echoing with the sound of her breathless sobs and the quiet, chilling laugh of Lorant who refused to let her go.
-To be Continued