Retrieve the Kingdom

Getting Closer

The councilor was frozen for a bit with the little teenager’s question. Phoebe thought she could have hit the bullseye but the councilor suddenly giggles, which made her downright confused. “What a funny question, little missus. Where did that question come from? Are you one of those teenagers that were exposed to adults who keeps insisting on that issue in Hawthorne? Oh, you really make me laugh, I don’t know how you made it in this school when you are believing in such things.” 

Phoebe felt offended, really offended. Her hand was already clenching as she was been embarrassed by the councilor in the classroom. He was still laughing like it was a comedy show and his face is starting to annoy her. Belle holds her hand and tries to calm her down. “I think she doesn’t mean to raise up the issues around that place sir, she was just asking what is your take about s*****y and issues related to that. After all, the Hawthrone issue is not the only topic that can revolve around s*****y. And you just degraded her, isn’t that a right conduct for a councilor like you?” 

The room fell silent, Eric was feeling the tension already so he decided to end the class once and for all. “I guess that will be the last question for our class discussion today. Thank you for joining us, sir Desmond, and thank you for sticking around for questions from the students.” The councilor smiled again and let out a giggle, “I am happy to be here too. Maybe, see you soon!” The two took their leave as Phoebe caught the councilor glaring at her before going out of the room. 

“That’s what I would call bravery! You wrecked his ego, Belle!” Melzar joked as some people giggle. Belle just ignores it and looks at Phoebe. “Are you alright? That councilor’s words don’t have any brakes. He literally attempted to degrade you, well he did, not attempted, really.” Phoebe sighs, “I am fine, it’s just a bit saddening. But, I am alright, those words don’t mean anything.” Phoebe smiles at Belle which she responded with a smile back.

Lunch has come and the two friends arrived at their usual meeting spot. A few seconds passed and Andrei has arrived as well. Phoebe noticed that Cledwyn was hanging around Gerald and Kyran, which is a rare sight to see but she guesses that it would be the everyday sight now since Cledwyn is all brand new. 

“You gotta get used to councilors involving with your political class.” He said as he starts to eat his roasted chicken. “Well, he just offended Phoebe in front of the class! Saying that she doesn’t deserve to be here because he assumed that she believes in Hawthorne being under s*****y. Which the councilor perceived as fake and believing it makes you dumber than dumb.”

Andrei chuckled, “We are the ones who literally saw that. If I can slap him what we saw on his face, he would be a traumatized child. I am sure he knows it and he might be an underling of my dad. Don’t blame me if I don’t know, he has so many that I can’t memorize all of those.” Phoebe sighs, “He is the one who is bringing problems on my best friend too back at Mires, he is one of my targets.” 

“Mind telling what happened?” Belle concernedly asks which made Phoebe sigh once more. “Dara’s dad was being enslaved because of his debt. It’s been months since they are like that, and her dad rarely comes home.” Andrei looks at her, “s*****y is common for debtors. I don’t know how can I help, but I’ll try.” 

“Well, does anyone knows his location?” Phoebe asks them which made them confused. “Are you gonna stalk him to his house?” Belle asked and when they saw Phoebe’s smile they know it was a yes. “You know it’s dangerous to wander around places that are like the lair of slavers.” Phoebe sighs, “It’s the only way we can know more about him.” 

“How can we know more about him if the thing we need in the first place is to know more about him?” Belle asked, making them confused more. “The only thing we need is his location and voila, we or I, if you don’t want to be involved with this plan, I totally respect that. I can observe him.” Belle sighs and puts her palm on her face, “You know you are already in his hot seat, right? If he ever saw you or even one of the residence in his place, he wouldn’t have a second thought of making an action to you. You are already on his suspicion list and also me.” 

“I will make sure everything will run smoothly. I am doing this for my best friend and justice can wait no more. All I need is the location.” She looks at the prince who was a little bit confused at first but sighed when he understood the gesture. “Don’t blame me if something happened to Phoebe. Although, I will blame myself anyways. I’ll try saying it to you tomorrow and you can go through your little operation.”

It was another day for Phoebe and there’s only one thing she is waiting for, the location of the Desmond she is targeting right now. She arrived on the campus quite so early, she was stopped in her tracks as she heard a familiar voice. “Good morning, Phoebe, early today, huh?” Cledwyn greeted her as she smiles. “Yeah, just got a bit excited. How about you? You don’t go to school this early a lot.”

“My sister needs to go early at school and I couldn’t say no to going with her because mom is pushing me to go so that the travel wouldn’t be a hassle.” Phoebe looks at him, “Gladly you don’t have a fight so the travel isn’t awkward, I suppose.” Cledwyn chuckles, “Had a recent fight or not, it’s always awkward and annoying when I am with her. If we could afford another carriage and another coachman I would like one so I couldn’t have a bad time early in the morning and late in the afternoon.”

“Is that what makes you grumpy while at school?” Phoebe giggles at her joke while Cledwyn smiles and giggles a bit too. “I guess so, my sister is really the best—and by that best mean the worst manipulator I ever met. I don’t know how can she do this really, it seems already her craft since she was conceived in the world.” 

“How was your redemption doing?” Cledwyn smiles, “Well, it’s harvesting some good feedback. I think I just need my sister out of my life and I guess I will live the most perfect life I could achieve. She is like a leech in my life, she is sucking the motivation, my aspirations, and the living hope out of me.” 

He looked at Phoebe, “I am sorry if I keep saying my sister is the worst, blah blah blah, all that narrative. I think this is the burden I kept for several years and keep making my life much harder.” She smiles at him, “It’s fine, I got a question for you.” Cledwyn raises his eyebrows. “Do you love your sister? Deep inside that hatred, is there still love wandering around?” 

“For a human-like her, there is absolutely none. She taught me to hate her. I don’t even know if I love her before as my sister or at least a human being close to me and literally my closest relative. She just taught me how to perceive the world in its worst and she taught me how to distance myself from her. She did it to herself and I think she has no remorse even she thinks that her brother hates her to death. And it’s just a win-win situation for us, only if we get separated.” 

Phoebe bites her lips, “Do you want your sister to change?” Cledwyn chuckles, “I want but I couldn’t. And I couldn’t care less about her changing because it’s more fictional than Greggy the Talking Doll. She had all these years to change, she’s already 22 years old, she had her all adolescence and childhood but she couldn’t be bothered even a single time to even change her toxic attitude. Her changing is a dream that even the gods can’t be bothered to grant. She is the definition of evil and no one’s gonna change my mind.” 

Cledwyn looks at her and sighs, “Look, our relationship is just simple to look at but it’s really complex. If I were you, cherish your relationship with your brother. You are lucky enough to have one loving brother. I sometime wish I had a brother than a sister, though thinking of my luck, it would be the same except it’s just Cledaire but have a lot more power and charisma towards others. I am sorry that you are hearing all these rants, and I promise I won’t anymore.”

“No, no! It’s fine, I am privileged actually to hear your thoughts. And, I am quite surprised that you are trusting me with that kind of information, it’s pretty personal to vent about with your former foe who you just befriended like 2 days ago. I guess it’s that too heavy that you are just venting to random people.” Cledwyn sighs, “I think you are right and I thank you for sticking around to listen.” Phoebe smiled at him as they both entered the classroom and sat in their respective seats. 

Several days have passed, it was already the weekend. After having a meeting once more with several of the officers, Phoebe knew it had to be done. The archduke and his wife don’t know this. She just hopes nothing would happen that bad, she doesn’t want the couple to be a burden if something ever happened to her. 

She took a cart bus to her destination and it was just a few minute-long ride. She walked to the street that Andrei specifically told her, engraved in a street sign that said Carnation Street. She knew she was in the right place and with a glimpse from the corner, there stand the big home of the councilor. It may not as big as the archduke’s mansion, but it surely cast a shadow on the other houses in the area.

With the hood covering her hair and face slightly, she approached the walls around the house. Based on the noise coming from it, it seems there’s a celebration going on within the building, she was right. There were few people outside, it was the perfect opportunity. 

She wander around to another street to see the mansion from the back, there was an entrance here and it was flooded with people and few guards. She decided to take off her robe and set it aside on a box lying around. A maid went out and look at the teenager, Phoebe was shock for the first time and she thought this could be the end of it. 

“Little miss, come back inside, your mother is finding for you.” She was confused, but she had to go with the flow. “I am sorry, I’ll be going.” She said as she slowly makes her way through. She walked into the crowd, she was thankful she was mistaken by the maid to be the daughter of one of the guests. She walked, trying to act normally. 

She was suddenly been pulled and was spun around. “Your dress is perfect for a dance, join us!” A middle-aged man said as he puts her hand down. “No, thanks, I just want to find someone.” She walked out of the scene and hope no one takes her as suspicious. 

She walked near the small door with a portico and a little bit elevated on the ground. Some servants rushed out of that door. “Come on! Deliver that quickly to Opdahl. Master Desmond would be mad if he arrived there without that.”

A smile formed on Phoebe’s lips.