Memoirs of A Second Life

Audience with the King

The following morning, Master Teo knocked on my door at 7:00 am sharp.

Prompt as always.

She told me that we were to seek audience with King Zeldris today, and that there was a two-hour waiting time before we could see the most important man on the land.

I have to say, the rich elite are just as stuck-up in this world than my old one.

But today might be officially my first day of work, so I must oblige. I have to admit that I am excited to meet the king. I had never met royalty back in my old life, because my business had never been that successful.

Right now, I had the seem feeling I had on the very first day I got a job. I was fresh out of college back then, twenty-one and filled with hopes and big dreams. There was nothing on my mind back there other than to prove that I was smart, gritty, and tenacious. For a time, I did.

And my passion for my job as a marketing professional back then led me to start a business of my own. But that business soon fell into oblivion when I made a terrible mistake...

While I was indulged in thoughts of my past life, I didn't notice that Master Teo had already led me to the waiting room before seeking an audience with the king. The room was just large enough to be comfortable for a dozen people, but not big enough to fit more than fifteen at once. It was less decorated than I imagined a palace waiting room to be, but nonetheless luxurious. Even the seats looked like they cost a fortune.

There were several other people in the waiting room, all of whom looked at me with contempt. It was as if seeing a child in this room was an insult to their prides. I tried to pay them no mind, but one of them actually struck up a conversation with me.

The man looked like a pompous jackass. Pardon my language. But the mink coat, numerous rings and other jewelries made it obvious he was a man of means, or perhaps that was what he wanted people to think.

He brushed his slick hair back, revealing a tawdry grin and lustful eyes. "Young man, is this person beside you your older sister?"

I looked at Master Teo as she silently sat beside me with a straight face. From the look on her face, I could tell that she was terribly disinterested in engaging in a conversation with this creep. And so, I emulated her behavior.

Little did I know that it would only serve to infuriate the man trying to speak to us.

Enraged by the fact that he was ignored, he raised his hand, clearly getting ready to strike my face. I readied myself for what was to come. I knew full well that I would probably try to take this man down, but I also knew that doing so would besmirch the name of the Van Astrea household.

Fortunately, the door of the waiting room opened from outside before anything bad could happen. One of the guards called out my name, so Master Teo stood up, held my hand, and led me to the door. She didn't even cast a glance at the creep who was bothering us. I noticed that the creepy man gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, and I stuck out my tongue at him to goad him even more.

I may be an middle-aged man in mind, but I still enjoy vexing people who deserve it.

When we were at the door, I heard him shout "You little brat!"

At the same time, I noticed that Master Teo was chuckling. She told me, "Sometimes, I forget that you're still a kid as well."

"As do I, Master Teo. As do I."

Not a minute later, we were led to the throne room's entrance. Its large ornamented doors dwarfed our petite bodies. I  imagine even ten men entering the door at once wouldn't be a problem for that door. There were two rows of guardsmen standing at either side of the door, all holding halberds, which were firmly planted on the ground, standing as tall as the guardsmen, themselves.

When we entered the room, a herald announced, "Young Master Altair of the Van Astrea Household has arrived, your majesty!"

From way across the room, there was a man seated at a throne made of pure black metal. His hair was golden like Marius', and he had similar facial features to the prince, albeit much older; perhaps forty to fifty years older. But despite his age, the man on the throne looked like he was still in the prime of his life.

He must be King Zeldris Liberio XII.

I could feel his majestic presence the moment I entered the throne room, and I was both excited and nervous to meet him. Slowly, I followed Master Teo forward. I resisted the urge to look away from the king, and the urge to look directly at the king, for I wasn't sure which one was appropriate or not.

Once we were a few meters away from King Zeldris, Master Teo genuflected in front of him, bowed, and planted her right fist on the ground. I emulated her movements, and bowed my head in silence. Perhaps it was the proper decorum when being in the presence of the country's king.

"Lady Teofila Ludica, it's been a while," said Zeldris. "I must say, your appearance makes it seem like you're aging backwards."

Teofila shook her head and put on a faint smile. "Not at all, sire. But I thank you for the compliment."

Then, she paused for a moment and said, "This is Young Master Altair, son of Azlan the Lionheart and Esfir the White Witch. He'll be the one replacing his father as Prince Marius' instructor in combat arts."

Her declaration of my identity earned a few gasps from the guardsmen and other audiences within the throne room. But the king remained unfazed. He was still resting his head on his left hand with a blank stare and a placid smile.

"The Van Astrea household, huh?" Zeldris remarked. "Altair, raise your head for me."

I obliged to the king's request, and when I did, he looked at me as if he were examining my very thoughts. I must admit, I was quaking in his presence, but I couldn't show him that I was afraid or nervous. Knowing prince Marius, king Zeldris might want someone dependable and stalwart to be his son's instructor.

And so, I gathered my composure and made a courtly bow. "Altair Van Astrea, heir to the Van Astrea household, at your service, your majesty. I may be young, but I have been trained by both my parents, and Master Teo as well. I shall not let you down!"

"What makes you think you're qualified to be my son's instructor?" Zeldris replied flatly. The tone of his voice was no longer as kind as it was when he was speaking to Teofila. "From where I'm sitting, you are naught but a child, thinking that he's man enough to instruct my son. You're even younger than Marius, himself!"

Falling silent, I gritted my teeth and let the insult pass through my ears. I didn't want to feel offended, and I didn't want to get on the king's nerves either.

Suddenly, someone from the door of the throne room shouted, "I can vouch for him!"

I recognized that annoying voice right away. Marius marched past the guardsmen who were trying to stop him from interrupting the king's audience. He was accompanied by Lance and Bea, and they also ignored the guardsmen trying to stop them. Their blank faces and stoic gazes were so intimidating that everyone's eyes fell on them.

I could somehow sense that the king was amused by this sudden turn of events.

And just as I had expected, when Marius and his companions reached the throne and knelt before the king, Zeldris said to Marius, "You seem quite sure of yourself, Marius. What grounds do you have to claim that this boy can teach you to be strong?"

Marius raised his head and said, "I've already fought him once and I can say that he might've won that fight if he wanted to."

My eyes widened in surprise at the way Marius admitted inferiority. I was quite shocked that he would tell his father that I was not only good enough to teach him, but I was also strong enough to defeat him in battle.

Zeldris chuckled and replied to Marius, "That hardly means a thing, boy. Lancelot, Beatrix, what do you think?"

They both exchanged glances first, and then Beatrix spoke for both of them. "We have witnessed him fighting against some bandits at the outskirts of the capital, and I must admit that the boy indeed has potential. Considering that Prince Marius, himself, acknowledges him, I have no complaints on letting him become the Prince's peer instructor."

Her words intrigued Zeldris, and it seemed that he respected Lancelot's and Beatrix's opinion. "Altair Van Astrea, I will humor you for the time being. You may work as my son's instructor. Do not let me down."