Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 53: Distrust

“My hair and my… temperament?” Leui muttered as he looked at Gie with a bewildered expression.

“Yes. Your hair was very long, up to here.” Gie spoke as he stood and placed his hand that was facing up to the side of his waist. “Really, are you a girl or what?” he asked and laughed.

Leui frowned. He doesn’t remember what happened. But, he can’t help but feel a sense of familiarity. Did I really grow my hair that long? He thought.

Gie saw his doubtful gaze and he grinned. “Don’t worry. Once you’ll remember everything, let’s see if you can still cast me with that gaze of yours.” He said, feeling triumphant even though that day still hasn’t arrived. “It’s not like I was the one who forced you to grow your hair that long.” He added and laughed when he saw that Leui frowned.

Leui snorted and then changed the topic. “How about my temperament?” he asked.

Gie sat down on his seat. “Your temperament, hmm…” he muttered as he pondered.

Leui’s back straightened as he stared at Gie with rapt attention.

Gie looked at him. “I have to say first that I was surprised when I saw you this time.” He said.

“Huh?” Leui was taken aback by what Gie said and Gie’s expression as he stared at the other.

Gie suddenly smiled. “You now look calm. More mature.” He said.

Leui felt entangled. “… was I not calm before?” he asked.

Gie chuckled. “You were such a brat before.” He told him.

Leui frowned. “I’m not…” he retorted, then stopped when he remembered that he has amnesia. But, he felt like the words were conditioned reflex.

He suddenly felt his heart beating faster. My memories… I’ll definitely remember them all! It’s possible that I will remember them all! He thought as he clenched his fists.

“You’re not a brat?” Gie spoke as his brow raised while he looked at Leui. “You were very childish before, fighting over another brat with the last toy sold.” He said.

Leui suddenly felt his face becoming warm. “I… I just…” he said, but he felt powerless. How can he explain himself? He wanted to, but he didn't know what to say.

Gie laughed when he saw his bitter expression. “Fine, fine. You’re not a brat.” He said as if he was coaxing a child.

Leui’s eyes narrowed and he glared at him.

Gie almost broke into laughter once again. “But…” he said. There is a smile on his face. “Your liveliness… I missed it.” He told him. There is a nostalgic look in his eyes.

“Gie…” Leui muttered.

“Alright.” Gie rose from his seat. “Let’s go look for Mhir. She still hasn’t come home. I’m starving!” he said and walked towards the door.

Leui watched as Gie left. Obviously, Gie was trying to run away. “Hey…” he muttered when he suddenly remembered something. “You didn’t tell me how my temperament has changed!” he said and ran after Gie who had already ran away.

Meanwhile, in Fedrey’s residence, the atmosphere was tense when Melton returned.

Melton felt beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he fought the pressure overwhelming him as he approached the pair of cousins. “Captain. Sir Fedrey. I have already sent Leui back.” He reported.

“There was no problem?” Fedrey asked.

“No.” Melton answered. “He… didn’t ask anything and was just silent throughout the whole ride.” He explained.

Fedrich sighed. “Cousin…” he called as he looked at Fedrey’s back.

Fedrey cut him off. “Do you want to know why I am suspecting him?” he asked.

“Yes.” Fedrich answered. “Because you think he is colluding with the other races.” He said. Suddenly, he thought of something. His eyes widened. “Cousin, what if the other races are threatening him?” he asked.

“It’s possible, but that is not happening.” Fedrey answered and turned to Fedrich. “Have you lost your mind? He can communicate with them properly and has a friendly relationship towards them.” He said.

“Yes…” Fedrich muttered.

“The reason why I am suspecting him isn’t just this.” Fedrey spoke.

Fedrich turned to him. “Is there another matter?” he asked.

Fedrey nodded. “Yes.” He answered. “He… is making me feel uneasy.” He said.

Fedrich’s eyes widened in shock and Melton’s mouth was agape as they looked at Fedrey. “’uneasy’?!” Fedrich exclaimed.

Fedrey nodded. “Yes. This is what I feel…” he said.

“But, why?” Fedrich asked. “He is just an ordinary person.” he said.

“Him living in the Other Shore and with the other races, and for five years, makes him anything but ordinary.” Fedrey told Fedrich.

Fedrich then shut up.

Fedrey sighed when he saw his cousin’s unconvinced expression. He was about to dismiss them when he remembered something. “Didn’t you mention to me before that he has a human friend?” he asked.

“Oh. That’s right. Gie.” Fedrich muttered.

“’Gie’?” Fedrey spoke. He felt that the name sounds familiar.

“He is a famous doctor. He is known for his altruism.” Melton explained to Fedrey.

Fedrey’s brows furrowed because of this. “Then, don’t you think it’s strange?” he asked.

“Huh?” Fedrich muttered as he looked at his cousin. “What’s strange?” he asked, confused. His brain is working sluggishly today.

Melton is sharp and he already can guess what Fedrey is trying to say. “The head knight means… that doctor Gie is suspicious?” he said.

“Yes.” Fedrey answered.

“Huh? ‘suspicious’? Even doctor Gie?” Fedrich asked as he frowned. He rose from his seat and faced Fedrey. “Cousin.” He called. His voice is serious. “You suspect Leui is one thing. But for you to also suspect doctor Gie…” he took a deep breath. “Doctor Gie is very kind. Not only would he cure a criminal’s doctor without pay, but he also helped the criminal’s wife by giving her a job so that she can support their family while her husband is still in prison.” He explained. “I can’t have you slander the kind doctor!” he said as he gnashed his teeth in anger.

Fedrey frowned in displeasure. “Then, tell me.” He spoke as he suppressed the anger inside his chest. “His friend went missing for five whole years and he never heard anything from his friend. Why didn’t he report that his friend is missing, if he really is his friend?” he asked.

“That’s because they have fought!” Fedrich answered. “Leui must have told doctor Gie to not contact him before he left, that’s why doctor Gie send a missing person report to us!” he explained.

Fedrey’s face darkened upon hearing this. “His friend vanished like thin air. If he really is his friend, he would have already reported his friend’s disappearance!” he told Fedrich.

“Forget it!” Fedrich yelled as he kicked the couch.

The old butler was alarmed when he heard the pair of cousins yelling at each other and he immediately called the other servants away for them to not offend anyone and increase the anger of the two masters.

“Fedrich!” Fedrey’s voice rose because of anger.

But, Fedrich’s expression is cold. “Cousin has always been distrustful of everyone.” He said. “Might as well also me.” He told him and then stormed out of the door.

“Fedrich! Come back here!” Fedrey called. “FEDRICH!” he called.

But, as if he didn’t hear anything, Fedrich left. The knights on the side didn’t dare move since their superior didn’t order anything. Meanwhile, Melton stood in place, frozen. He can’t believe that Fedrich and Fedrey would fight.

Fedrey saw Melton was there and he sighed in relief. “Melton.” He called.

“Yes, sir?” Melton answered.

Fedrey suddenly felt helpless by Melton’s address. Only the two of them are present, yet the other is still formal. “Forget it.” He muttered in resignation. “You also leave. Make sure that i***t won’t do stupid things again.” He told Melton.

Melton doesn’t know what to say. He just nodded, uttered an excuse, and then left to follow his own captain. Fedrey saw that Melton had left and he breathed out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there is still Melton. Melton is a smart person, so he knows that he will definitely keep his stupid cousin Fedrich in check.

Outside, Melton saw Fedrich marching out of the compound. “Captain.” He called as he walked by Fedrich’s side. “How is it?” he asked when he saw that there was no anger in Fedrich’s face and instead he was smiling.

It was all an act.

“As expected. Even Fedrey is suspecting them.” Fedrich spoke. Yes, ‘them’. When he saw that Gie is related to Leui, he also suspected the other.

Fedrich’s instinct tells him that Leui’s origin is not simple. His relationship with Dan’s family is shallower than his relationship with Mhir. But, Gie’s the exception. Gie is very familiar with Leui. And as they interacted, Fedrich felt that there was something strange about the two. The strangeness that he felt from Leui became stronger after he saw him interacting with Gie.

“Also look into Gie’s background.” He instructed Melton.

“Yes.” Melton nodded.

When they reached the gate, Fedrich acted very angry again before they hailed a carriage and left.