Another World Story

Day Thirty-Three: Royal Capital

Inside a well decorated room.

The sunlight peeked from the gaps of the curtain illuminating the face of the person sleeping on the fancy looking bed.

Upon contact with the light, his empty onyx-black eyes slowly opened.

A familiar wooden ceiling with a talon engraved as decoration met his eyes.

Seeing the now familiar ceiling, he sat down, looking around the fancy room.

'It's been a week already since I started using this room' the boy thought.

After recovering and regaining his strength, the owner of the manor lend the room to him. The boy without a second thought, gratefully accepted the offer, he needed somewhere to stay for the time being as well.

The first few days of his recovery, he acted as a guest, walking around the huge mansion, taking all the information he could get.

One of the few things he got was the name and background of the Count that helped him. Rudolf Von Vinceral, one of the five Counts of the Memphis Kingdom.

He was the second son of a baron household, but became a Count due to his outstanding merits during the previous war. His wife died when she gave birth to their first born, he grieved the death of his wife, but due to his responsibilities as a father and as a count, he didn't mourn for long. But just 2 years ago, his first born died at the age of 26, during an invasion from the other kingdoms.

The Count, Rudolf Von Vinceral, was greatly shocked at the lost of his one and only son. This lead to him to hole himself inside the manor, not answering any calls from even the King himself.

The King upon learning the cause of his long time friends' sorrow, visited him. This lead to an uproar within the nobles of the Memphis Kingdom, some even dared to say that the King favored the Count too much. But the others who knew the long time relationship of the two, visited the Count themselves, two of those were the great Marshals of the Kingdom.

They did their best to soothe the sorrow Count Rudolf felt, some even tried to give their daughters to replace the family that he lost, this on the other hand, left with the proposer's regret. No one knew exactly what happened to the one who uttered such disrespectful words, but they knew, that the person who said it, wouldn't be able to live for long.

'I was more curious about the rumors more than the Count's background though' the boy thought to himself.

There were countless rumors surrounding the Count. Good rumors pertaining the kindness of the Count, helping commoners from the slums, teaching them how to read, write and even to calculate.

There were also good rumors that said that during the war, he helped opened the gates of a fortress so that the people from the surrounding villages could take shelter.

'That sound more like an idiotic thing to do than good...' the boy sighed 'Well, those are just rumors anyway'

The bad rumors that the Count's enemy use against him were anything but truthful.

'According to the maids and the soldiers that I heard them from that is'

The rumors said that the Count sent his son the battlefield so that he would die, and his bastard son that he love more than his son from his wife, would inherit his title. Those rumors was easily destroyed as the King himself said that the Count was faithful to his better half even up to now.

"Count Vinceral is a faithful man, he dared not embrace another woman, for his love for my cousin, Count Vinceral's beloved wife, Elaine Ascorte Von Vinceral, is far too great"

'And that statement of the King created another rumor that if the King were to ever hear it, the person who uttered such nonsense would be beheaded no question ask' the boy once again sighed 'Creating such rumor... hays... I would appreciate it more if the rumors was about the Heroes'

One of the few goals the boy wanted to get upon staying in the mansion, was to get information about the summoned heroes, as the Count himself is a direct subordinate and a close-friend of the King himself.

'But... there's nothing, not even the word 'Hero'... Hays...' the boy once again sighed.

The boy got up from the bed. He then changed from the nightwear that he was using to his new clothes that the Count provided himself.

"He said that this were his son's" looking over the clothes he was wearing, the boy bitterly smiled.

The clothes he was provided was a perfect fit that he even doubted if this was given upon taking his measurements. The color; black, was to his liking as well, there was no excess decorations as the long sleeve clothe was just an innerwear made to compliment the fancy vest.

"I won't wear this one though" The boy muttered to himself.

Carrying the purple vest adorned with golden lining, the boy left the room.

-----

"Hmm? Why aren't you wearing the vest, boy?" A man spoke.

The boy immediately knew the owner of the voice without looking back.

Turning around, the boy called out to the man.

"Sir Count"

It was the owner of the manor and the one who gave the expensive clothes to the boy, he was also the one who saved him from another near-death experience.

"I'm very thankful for the clothes, Sir Count, but I'm afraid I can't pay for such expensive clothes if I were to ever stain it or destroy it" The boy spoke.

"It's fine, no one's going to wear them anymore..." the Count spoke sullenly, his eyes gazed at the far-away distance.

"Plus, today I would take you around the capital as per your request the other day" he added.

The boy, upon hearing all the information he needed, tried to leave the mansion after informing the Count himself. But the Count upon hearing the words, wore a face full of disappointment.

'He was not disappointed at me though. I could tell base on how he looked at me, as if I was the lover that tried to leave his partner... Welp, I guess, he still can't get over the death of his son, no loving father would be able to recuperate that fast' the boy thought.

The two left he mansion, the boy lead by the Count infront of him. They then rode an extravagant yet simple-looking carriage.

-----

"I thank you, Sir Count. I don't know how I would be able to repay you" the boy spoke upon the carriages' march.

"No, Kaiser, I was the one who held you off from leaving, I should be the one to thank you for accompanying this old-man" the Count replied, sitting on the opposite side of the boy.

During the boy's stay in the medical room, the Count asked for his name. The boy, John Kaiser, decided that saying his real name accompanied by his full name would only create trouble.

Thinking up to that, John decided to use a fake name, well... not really. Kaiser, his surname was the name he decided to use. Not only will he have an opportunity to move freely especially as his status does not show his name or class, he would also have a chance albeit slightly to have an encounter with a summoned hero from his class.

'Alex would surely realize something if he heard the name' John. No-, Kaiser thought.

"Then, should I count this as 1 debt down? What say you, Sir Count?" Kaiser spoke, raising his index finger to the air.

"There's no such debt, Kaiser. This old-man willingly did it for himself, and wish nothing for return" the Count answered, his eyes gentle as he looked at the boy infront of him.

'Ah, f*ck' Kaiser, upon hearing the Count's answer, grumbled internally. 'I need to show him that I'm a good child, but if I act too much, he would be suspicious... What to do?'

"Sir Count, there's a saying from my hometown. If a person threw a stone at you, throw them a bread, and if the person threw another stone, throw them a drink"

"...What does that mean?" the count asked his brows slightly furrowed.

Kaiser gave a bitter smile, before answering.

"It means to return whatever you received with good will, Sir Count. In my own opinion that is"

"That is a good saying, yet a naïve way of thinking, Kaiser. You should know that the world isn't a pretty place for people who thought light of the world, most of those foolish people died without knowing what killed them, some were betrayed and some were killed without a reason" the Count peered into Kaiser's eyes, his eyes showed how serious he was.

Kaiser upon understanding the Count's words, nodded his head.

"I knew it very well. Was I not subjected to such torments when you saw me? I know full-well how dangerous the world is, especially if you're alone, weak, and above all, ignorant"

"Hmm. I'm glad you understand. But, did you know? The dangers not only lie outside the walls, but also inside them?"

"Yes, Sir Count. There are different kinds of people in this world, corrupt people, killers with no distinction on their targets, lecherous people, who assault whoever they fancy... And their opposite"

"Hoh, I see. Were you really born in the slums?" the Count asked, teasingly.

"It is precisely because I was born in the slums that I was able to witness such things, Sir Count" Kaiser answered not letting his lie surfaced.

"Was it also the reason for why you are so knowledgeable? Even knowing how to read?" the Count with a grin plastered on his face said.

He looked at how the boy infront of him would react to his words, but to his disappointment, the boy didn't even twitch nor flinch, he only calmly blinked once.

"I learned them myself, it took time but I was able to learn" He calmly answered.

The Count, upon seeing the boy's react pouted, before speaking.

"You're no fun, you know that?"

"I was born like this, Sir Count"

"Hmm... Where are you're parents? Do you know if you have any relative around here?" the count asked, careful not to say anything insensitive.

But upon hearing Kaiser's answer, he regretted it quickly.

"My... Parents..." He muttered.

"Ah, no, you don't need to answe- " the Count tried to stop him from talking, but Kaiser spoke faster before he could finished his words.

"They are still alive, they are working hard doing their jobs. I don't have any relatives here, Sir Count, not that I know of"

The Count hearing the Kaiser's words, sighed in relief, he knew full well how much it hurts someone dear to you, and if the boy had lost someone and he ask without concern, he would be mocked by hid wife.

"I'm glad. What are their jobs?" he ask.

"Farming, Sir Count. I started working at an early age to relieve my parents of their previous jobs. And after saving the humble salary I received, I bought a small farming field and a small hut, for my parents to live into"

"Quite hard working lad you are" the Count said, his face was all smiles.

The two continued to talk. The Count speak of only questions, but the boy didn't mind and continue to answer without getting irritated.

Or so the Count thought.

'F*ck! I'm Running out of ideas! Why does he keep asking questions after questions?!' Kaiser grumbles internally.

'Please someone! Make this mad-man stop!'

Perhaps the gods heard his plea. A knock was heard from outside.

*Knock* *Knock*

"We've arrived My Lord" the coachman spoke from the front of the carriage.

"Well, I guess we'll continue our talk for a later time" he count said, moving outside of the carriage, Kaiser followed after him.

Noises. The area was filled with noise.

Kaiser, was shocked by the sight upon leaving the carriage. Countless people were walking from here and there. Carriages lead by mighty looking horses and a lizard looking creature pulled another carriage.

Houses made of stone brick, that are line-up together looked like a wall more than a group of houses due to their heights.

The voices of merchants selling their goods can be heard even with the noises of the surrounding.

Kaiser looked around, his void-like eyes flicker with light for but a moment.

'Now, I could put a check on my 'Another World things to see: The Royal Capital' list. Kaiser thought.

"It looks like this is your first time in the capital of Memphis" The voice of the Count woke Kaiser up from the indescribable joy he felt.

"It is, I've never been into a city before" He answered.

"Well, I'll take you around, make sure you don't get lost" The count said, teasingly.