The King's Pet

Chapter 11: All The Time In The World

Makita's P.O.V

After the lesson with Mrs. Xiuying I couldn't bring myself to do or say anything for the rest of the day. As she explained the situation to me in class I felt myself withdraw from the moment completely and all I could do was sit in silence as I kept my eyes fixed to my desk. And when we got to the castle, Hyunjin made sure to keep me company and support me as I dealt with the truth, which I appreciated. He didn't have to do that but did anyway, it almost made me feel better about it all.

But the whole time I was feeling hopeless, I was slowly coming to terms with it and I couldn't help the overwhelming anger I began to feel. It was the first time in my life that I'd ever been so viscerally enraged and all that was directed towards Jian. It was as though I'd finally registered just how horrible and abnormally cruel all the things he'd done to me, and others like me, were. It was also the first time I seriously wondered about my parents and what happened to them.

As children, all of us at the "orphanage" were told our parents couldn't take care of us because they didn't have the means or because they weren't good people. Personally I was told I was the child of criminals so I never thought too much of them, I believed I was better off without them in all honesty. But with the revelation that I wasn't an orphan but the result of forced breeding, I wanted to figure out what happened to them and reunite with them—maybe even bring them back with me.

So, without thinking too hard about it, I woke up at the break of dawn and executed my haphazard plan to find my parents. I packed some clothes and the food and water Hyunjin had set out for me the day I found out before sneaking out of the castle. Then I managed to get a carriage from Mr. Absahllah before making my way.

A month later I'd crossed into the South-West Kingdom and it took me another week and a half to get to the castle and surrounding town. As I said before, the plan was haphazard, so much so that I didn't think so far ahead. Once I got to the surrounding town I spent two days sleeping in the carriage, trying to think of how to start looking for my parents. I knew no one in the kingdom, I'd been gone for five years and the whole time I stayed there I was basically confined to the castle. At that point I started to deeply regret leaving Hyunjin and I was reminded of who I was.

I wasn't as strong willed as the initial rush of anger made me and I seriously considered just going back. The sheer idea of facing my abuser of fourteen years seemed unrewarding as I slept in the bed I made for myself. But then, I thought more and more about just what Jian had done to me, all the years of my life he took from me but not just that but also how horribly he treated me throughout those years. And, as in the beginning, my anger preceded my better judgement and I snuck into the castle to find the only person I knew could tell me the truth.

Considering Jian's personality and the history of how jester breeding started during his rule, I was convinced he'd remember what happened. Not necessarily because I was important to him in some way, though he most certainly took a disgusting interest in me while I served under him, but because he was awfully sadistic so of course he'd remember what really happened to them. There was no doubt in my mind that if I found him, I'd be that much closer to figuring out what happened to my parents. But, knowing Jian, I knew I couldn't just walk into his castle and demand answers from him. So I decided to sneak into the kitchen first to find something I could threaten him with.

Being in the castle after so long was, unsurprisingly, destressing for me. From every place I hid in I had a clear view of all the places I'd been abused, embarrassed and manipulated. But the worst place of all were the stairs that lead to the second floor where Jian's room was. I'd only ever been up those stairs once in my life but the trauma they held in them was still fresh in my mind. Thankfully I managed to get past the landmarks of my life and the various night time castle guards undetected, making my way to the kitchen.

There I found a knife and tested it to see if it was sharp enough, thankfully it was but I decided to test and take another one just in case. With two weapons I snuck back towards the stairs and crawled up them, swallowing all the nerves and emotions that were threatening to spill out from me. The closer I got to him, the colder I felt. In that moment I couldn't tell if the cold was the onset of a trauma induced panic attack or if it was always just that cold upstairs. Thankfully I made it up but the worst was far from over.

I walked to the door I remembered being the one to his room and twisted the nob gently. Against the thumping in my chest and the nausea swaying in my stomach, I walked in. I held one knife out as I navigated his large room. To my luck his curtains were cracked open slightly, allowing moonlight into the otherwise pitch black space and illuminating his bed. He was right in the middle, partially under the covers and fast asleep.

I moved closer, the heat of the anger I felt piercing through the freezing cold air in his room. I got to his side and watched his sleeping features intently. I looked between the knife and him, deciding which path to take. But what was there really to ponder? I mean, I had come all that way. I was standing right above him, looking down at him for the first time ever in all my years knowing him and still I was hesitant.

Though I can't be noble and say it was because I wasn't vengeful anymore. Truthfully I was just scared about never seeing Hyunjin again or, even worse, disappointing him by doing something awful to Jian. But, as was the trend with me lately, I went against my better judgement and put the knife to his throat which woke him up instantly. I guess it wasn't the first time he'd felt such a thing.

"Wha-what the hell? Who's there, wh—" He started in hushed panic before stopping when he saw my face. "M-Makita...?" He questioned. "Don't move or I will cut you open, I promise you." I spoke candidly and calmer that I expected to. "Get this knife off my throat." He ordered quietly, as if to give me a chance and as if he still had any authority over me. I chuckled softly and pressed the blade harder against his skin, making him wince slightly. "You're not in charge here, I am." I responded, feeling a slight smirk emerge on my face.

To see Jian so vulnerable and scared was comical. The man who'd mercilessly tortured me was now fearing for his life and it was because of me. It was an amazing feeling, and it only got better as the endless night sky passed by at its leisure. I had all the time in the world to get answers and justice.

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