Retrieve the Kingdom

Even More Precarious

Days have passed, and the problems just flowing and flowing. It was Saturday morning, Phoebe woke up from her sleep. She wishes she just slept for a long time and wake up when everything is already fine. But, she has no choice, she was sent her anyway to save the kingdom, yet, she hasn’t done anything. 

She sat on her usual seat at the table. “Good morning, Phoebe.” Greeted the archduke as she flashed a small smile. “Good morning and you too, Andrei.” She looks at the prince who just arrived. 

It was not surprising for her to see Andrei early in the morning even though she hasn’t seen him arriving in the mansion last night. But, judging on his clothes and his face, he didn’t just arrive in the mansion just now, he is in his pajamas, he slept here for the night. 

“Morning.” He said as he took a seat just in front of her. “Why are you here again?” She asked as Andrei looks at her, “Do you not want me here?” She shook her head, “Of course no, I am just asking why. Is it bad to ask now?” 

“I thought you are being like them…” He said as he took his first bite of the day. “He went here crying in the middle of the night, and seems he just rode a horse.” Phoebe looks and observes him, which explains his swollen eyes and messy face. “I still don’t know why, would you mind telling us, Andrei?” 

The silence ensues in the dining room, they let him take his momentum as they just eat their breakfast peacefully. “It’s nothing. I just hate it there. I hate hearing their voices, I hate seeing their faces. Their voice can even be heard in my room.

“Come on, Andrei, I know there’s something more.” Bermin insisted as he looks at his nephew who is just looking straight at his food, his head low. He is just now playing with it, piercing it with a fork, rub it on the plate, etc. “Andrei… Just eat your food. It’s okay if you don’t say it, just… Eat it, don’t play with it.”

He groaned as he took some bite. Phoebe was observing him secretly as she eats her breakfast. “Anyway, I’ll be gone for the whole day. I will be in a lot of places today. So, I’ll be trusting you not to do anything that can harm you or anyone. And Phoebe, if Andrei snapped, please send someone immediately. My messenger will be just wandering around here and you can send him right away if something bad happens. Not only if Andrei already loses himself, but if something suspicious happened.” 

“I get that, sir Bermin. I am sure Andrei will behave himself, he is not a kid anymore.” Phoebe finishes her breakfast as she looks at Andrei. “Still, I am worried about him. I don’t know what will happen if his baggage is already full. You can invite your friends if you want, or anything. Just don’t leave the house this day. Just stay here, alright?”

Phoebe froze before she can go and leave the dining room. “Uh… I have a meeting with my officers…” The archduke sighs, “It’s fine, you can invite them here. Just don’t leave the house, okay? Is that clear?”

“Why are we prohibited to go out? Is there some kind of plague going on that we can’t step outside or else we will be infected? You know one of the co-officers of Phoebe is Cledwyn. And having him in this mansion is pretty precarious. He is now even deadlier to Phoebe. And he might abuse everything he can do.” 

Bermin called all of his servants and let them stand in the dining room. “Everyone who will go here and have no exact permission to go in rooms, even they asked permission on you to enter rooms here, they can’t go in. They don’t have the right to go in and out of the rooms here except the dining room and the lounge. Even who are they, even they are the son or daughter of the rulers of other kingdoms, don’t. All of you here whom I trusted are witnessing this. The exception of this rule is all of you, and even if I don’t want this, the king’s direct servants, his knights, maids, his family, and he himself, are allowed here.” 

All of the archduke’s faithful and loyal servants nod. The servants have been keeping a lot of secrets that can bring honor to them from the king, but they chose to keep shut and obey the archduke. They were all dismissed as he looks at the two teenagers. “If that Cledwyn still slips pass through this, I don’t know what I can do anymore. Apparently that time, his father is higher than me if the king listens to them. And don’t worry, that will happen if pigs fly. They will come over my dead body. Anyway, I must go now.” 

Bermin left the room as both of the teenagers were frozen. “Oh well, I guess I have a better ace than Cledwyn.” She concluded as Andrei shooks his head, “You always have been. You just realized that by now?” 

“I don’t really want for sir Bermin to be involved in my problems, okay? Like he doesn’t want us to be involved in the kingdom’s problems, apparently.” Andrei stood and pushed the chair back, fixing the area he has taken his breakfast on. “And as much as we want to be involved, he wants to fix your problems. He is the one who took you away from your family, anyway.” 

“He promised my father to protect me and guide me at all cost. He never changed. It was just like when he was m—I mean, it was just like when he first met me.” Phoebe gulps as she almost hinted that she was reincarnated and the archduke was his uncle. Andrei looks at her, confused, “I guess…” 

“And… He seems tricked us and got away. He didn’t even tell us why we need to stay here.” She shifted the topic, as Andrei’s eyes widen a little bit. “He is just as cunning as ever.” She commented as he shook his head in dismay. “What do you think why he makes us stay?” 

“I don’t know… The things I came upon my mind are kind of a bit misleading and the strings are entangled and messy to connect it.” Phoebe looks at Andrei who starts thinking, “You, what do you think?” He looks at her back, “I can only think that he makes us stay because we can help to hide the rescued victims. Apparently, one of the things I heard last night that he is getting suspicious with uncle, which is bad news for uncle Bermin.” 

“Already? If I was his adviser, it’s a bit misleading and he is jumping to conclusions. I mean, his suspicion is right, but what does he got about the archduke to catch him red-handed? Does your uncle already screwing up with his secret good deeds to save the kingdom?” 

“Not really… I don’t know but I know my dad. He is getting paranoid these days which resulted more,” he sighs, “…deaths.” She raised her eyebrows at the prince, “Deaths? What happened?” He sighs once more, “Did you remembered uncle saying that some of the vacant positions have resulted in some dismissal of duty and… life.” 

“And?” Phoebe was getting interested and at the same time, concerned. “Apparently, it was not yet over, and that second time, I witnessed it all. Right in the throne room. It was not fake, but I wish it was. I wish I didn’t even witness it at all. Blood splattered in the most honored place in the kingdom, cries, and regret. It was chaos. 7 servants, knights, maids, and apparently the messenger was killed in cold blood.” 

Phoebe comforts him, “I am sorry for what you have witnessed. I mean… Witnessing those are terrifying, even if you get used to it.” Andrei nods, “I was already full that time. After all of that, while the poor maids were commanded to clean the bloody mess that I don’t want to see anymore, I just let it all out to my dad. Then, when my chest was so heavy even I am bursting it on him, I decided to go here with a horse, even though I suck at it a little bit. I just don’t know, but this mansion feels more homely than the castle.”

“There’s no home that is full of murderers. I am glad that you chose to just go away. You might collapse right there.” Andrei sighs, “Maybe you should be heading now to invite your co-officers. I will stay here while you are away.” Phoebe looks at the clock, she went to her room to prepare herself. She said goodbye to Andrei as she went to fetch Gerald, Kyran, and the devil himself, Cledwyn.

“Really!? Woah, this is so unexpected! Are you sure the archduke won’t really mind?” Kyran asked as his eyes sparkle with joy. Phoebe giggles with his reaction, “Of course, he just said to me not to go anywhere but in the dining room or lounge room, which he permits us to have our meeting. He said those are the comfiest places to have meetings with.”

“We will not, Phoebe. We are just visitors anyway, we will behave like the young adults we are.” Gerald smiles at her. “Let’s go then.” Cledwyn offered them as he leads the group behind Phoebe. Minutes later they arrived at the mansion. “Woah! This is just as majestic on paintings, but I am really now in front of it and standing just inches from the gate!” Kyran exclaimed which made Gerald and Phoebe giggle. 

“Let’s go inside,” Phoebe said as she leads them inside. Kyran was undeniably squealing but he stopped and just silently admires the mansion in his mind as Cledwyn glares at him. He was pissed with his squeals and was about to say something to Kyran as Phoebe spoke first, “Remember the rules, okay?” They all nod as she opens the mansion’s door. 

“Woah…” Both of Gerald’s and Kyran’s mouths gape when they see the inside of the mansion. “We are so lucky to enter the mansion!” Kyran exclaimed as he looks every corner of the halls. “Don’t be so distracted Kyran, we have important stuff to do.” Phoebe smiles at him as he nods. 

They went into the lounge, “Do you prefer here?” All of them agree, “The chairs are softer here, so I’ll take my chance to sit on it.” Kyran was the first one to sit and he was so glad and mesmerized. It was so himself that Phoebe just let him look around and just enjoy this day of his life. 

“Can we go to a comfort room? If  you don’t mind.” Gerald asks her as Phoebe froze, “Well, this is awkward…” She decided to approach one of the maids and ask if they can at least grant them permission to go and respond to nature’s call. It was a bit tough decision but they decided to only take the first floor’s and don’t go to the second floor.

Gerald went and take his time as the rest settled down in the lounge. “Do you guys want some snack? I’ll just grab some.” Phoebe offered them as two of the boys nod. “I’ll be back.” She left them alone as Cledwyn already thought of a cunning plan. As soon as he confirmed Kyran was indeed busy looking at the paintings and checking the books on the shelves. He sneaks to the second floor as the maids were busy cleaning the other rooms. He tried to find Phoebe’s room and navigate the halls. 

He peeks at every room as he finally saw a room that piques his interest. He slowly enters and closed the door. He looks around as he started to check the drawers. He confirmed it was Phoebe’s room when he saw the notebook on the bed. He grabbed it and checks it out. 

“Cledwyn, what are you doing here!?”