Midnight Royale

Chapter 33: The great Master of Hope

I am confused why do we have to wait until midnight before we can talk again with the villagers. I am quite confused and thought that everyone will be asleep when night comes.

But I was wrong. The village was lit up and everyone was celebrating for something.

"People will talk if you joined with them with alcohol," he chuckled. "Act like my wife and our story was just traveling. Like a bypasser."

My face wrinkled. I didn't expect the sudden role. "Why did you just informed me now? You..." I looked at him in disbelief.

"What is wrong with acting like my wife? You know how to act very well."

He pull my hand to hold it. "Let's join with them."

How, my heart thump because of our hands togethere. I tried to take my hand back but he is just holding it tight until it hurts!

"Hey!" I hissed on him.

"Don't try," he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes to act like a fool and just let things happen. I look in front of me and I saw a village lit up in fire and little lights. Some are singing, some are just dancing around. They are all loud—as if they are celebrating.

"Can we just join them?" I asked Lazarus when unsure. The guy just chuckled on me.

"You'll see." He told me.

What is he even talking about...

"Hey!" Someone called us after passing a group of people. "Are you two lost?"

Lazarus looked at them with a smile and nodded his head slightly.

"I think we are lost..." Then his cute smile started to turn into something... awkward—like he was looking so uncomfortable.

The great prince scratch the back of his head and pull me closer to him.

"I am so sorry, but my wife and I don't have anything to give... if that's what you're after." He suddenly said.

My jaw dropped open and look at him in disbelief. Wow... He looks... really convincing!?

The villagers started to laugh. "Oh, we are not like that! We just wanted to greet the two of you!"

"Pablo, you scared them! I said stop greeting people with that kind of tone!" An old lady hissed, but her mood suddenly changed when our eyes met. "Have you two eaten? Do you want to eat in our small celebration? We don't have that much, but I am sure this can make you full!"

Lazarus laughed and shook his head. "That would be lovely! We won't reject this kind of offer, right my wife?"

They all looked at me—that confused me alot. Lazarus pinch me a little to bring me back to earth.

It took me a minute before I nodded my head and gave a smile on them.

"Yes, yes! Of course, we would love to eat! Thank you for the generous invite!"

"Oh, I thought your wife doesn't like us!"

They all clapped and laughed with that remarked.

Lazarus shooked his head. "Oh no, please don't think of her that way. She's just a little tired because of our long journey that's why she's quite sleepy."

Wow, he is a really good talker?! I cannot believe that he can carry them all away like this!

And how can these people not recognize us? We didn't even bother to cover our face with anything! Our hair is just... awful... Clothes are baggy, dirty, and also far from what we wear earlier.

Also Lazarus put some charcoal in my undereye! He also did it and I loathe him for that!

But I guess, this is really an effective way because now, I am sitting with the villagers and will now just wait for his next move.

I am eating a dried squid while Lazarus proceed to drinking. They are talking about how unfair the system of the vampires and how they loathed them.

Why do they hate the castle so much? Did that guy who teach them just tell the bad thing?

I looked at the silent ladies who is just sitting with me—nodding their head with the assumptions of their husband.

"Do the king is really this bad?" I asked the lady beside me.

Base from their stories, I think they never once saw how considerate the king was to its people. Personally, he is the most calm person in the castle and the others was just pure chaos!

She nodded their head. "The king is this bad. We never really felt his majestic ways of serving people. He only cares for people who have use for him. Like those people who knows how to work and bring gold. While us who is servant, or just poor... The king wouldn't bother helping us."

I want to disagree with her but that would just cause confusion. Another thing, I was never in their shoes so I wouldn't know where are they coming from.

"We thought our life is just helpless, and what we are to blame is only ourselves. We thought life was like this just because of us."

That caught my attention. I looked at Lazarus who looking at the speaker intently. I wonder how the prince feel?

"But when master Elizar came and give us free knowledge about how to make a living, and how the castle should provide us opportunities to work... It gave us hope."

"But how can one hope if no one can hear you?" Lazarus asked. "I think this is such a problematic kingdom. I wonder if that master Elizar can help you?"

I wanted to clap with that smooth entrance. How, he done it good!

The man just shook his head. "That man is a very intelligent person but he told us—the only way that he can help for now is to teach us what we should do."

"For now? Does that mean he may help you?"

He nodded on me. "That's what we are holding into. But we cannot just forever put our back on master Elizar. We also need to move alone."

What they are planning will just put them in danger.

"What are you planning to do then?" Lazarus asked them.

"We are planning to go in the kingdom as a group. We are practicing some chants now so the castle would at least look at the peasants."

So.. they are planning a rally!? Oh god, in the world full of magic, there is still a rally!?

"But going against the kingdom is something dangerous to do, right?" I couldn't help but to ask. "I am concern for your safety."

They all stilled—before showing me a faint smile and shook their head.

"We are better off dead if let things be. If we go against the kingdom and fight for our right–at least we have the chance to be hopeful again—and if we die... At least our death can be worthy because we fight for our lives... at least."

We became quiet after that. People fell in silence. So people here who are celebrating... dancing and laughing... Are going to risk their life for something unsure?

"What kind of air is this!? I hate it! Let's just be happy! At least we are all going to die that we try!"

Are all of them wanted to die anyway? This is... so absurd.

"That is so brave of you... I wonder what master Elizar teach and all of you plans to end the cycle and tried.to be heard."

"He is a nice guy but you cannot just see him around like the other person. He is a guy with full of mystery. We thought he is also just a bad person. But he cares for us in a different way and see the hope in life."

Lazarus and I just looked at each other. They... respect that man... so much. I want to know master Elizar too!