Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 49: A Fan

Leui, Mhir and Gie were surprised. “The king wants to meet me?!” Leui exclaimed in disbelief. He looked at Mhir and Gie who also can’t believe it. After all, they were just talking about how to enter the castle when Melton suddenly told them that Leui can enter the castle.

“… what’s wrong?” Melton asked when he saw their complicated expressions like they were suppressing something but also are about to explode. “… are you all okay?” he added when none of the three answered.

Leui was the first to recover from his shock and he immediately recovered his expression. “We’re alright.” He calmly spoke. “But, did you just say that I can enter the castle?” he asked as he looked at Melton.

Melton nodded. “Yes.” He answered, confirming Leui’s suspicion, though he doesn’t know why Leui would be suspicious. Is he not trustworthy enough? He thought. Although he is puzzled as to why Leui, Mhir and Gie are behaving strangely when they acted completely normal yesterday which was the last time he saw them, but he suppressed his bewilderment. “As I’ve said, you’ve made a contribution to the kingdom by saving its citizens from the harm.” He explained.

“Oh…” Leui muttered in a daze. This world is really magical! Just when they were talking of some methods on how to enter the castle, here Melton arrives! “Okay!” he answered and smiled. “Thank you.” He told Melton.

“When will you take Leui to His Majesty?” Gie asked.

“Can I also go?” Mhir asked, feeling very excited. She has always been curious about humans because of Loheiruchel. When she and her father has found Leui, her curiosity increased. That’s why she followed Leui here. And she wasn’t disappointed!

Like the other races, there were also male and female humans. They also have a leader, which they call ‘king’. But, unlike the other races, the humans are more organized, and their daily lives are done in an elegant way.

As she guessed, humans are really fascinating!

“The captain said that you can go tomorrow, as His Majesty is still planning on how to deal with the thieves.” Melton answered.

Leui nodded in understanding. He can’t just go and meet the king whenever he wants. Everything has to be scheduled. “Do you have any customs when meeting with the royalties?” he asked. “Do I need to prepare a gift?” he added.

In the Other Shore, the other races have their customs. For example, when meeting with the emperor of the beasts, you have to bring it a present like cotton felt, and that you have to speak in their own language when you are in their territory. This is one of the reasons why Leui had to study the language of the other races.

“No. You don’t need to bring any gifts, as His Majesty have heard from the captain’s cousin – the head of the knights, Fedrey, that you have lived in the Other Shore for five years and has an amnesia.” Melton answered. “Though, of course, if you want…” he meaningfully looked at Leui.

Leui nodded, indicated that he understood. “I understand.” He spoke. Wherever it is, the monarch remains the same. You have to please them in order to show your loyalty to them.

Melton grinned. “As for the custom…” he muttered. “You don’t need to kneel. Just slightly bow and place a hand on your chest, and say the words, ‘long live, His Majesty. Long live, Heiruche’.” He told him.

“’Heiruche’…” Leui muttered. “The kingdom was named after Loheiruchel the Wizard, right?” he asked.

“Yes.” Melton nodded. ‘the Wizard’ is one of the titles of Loheiruchel.

“Since the kingdom was named after him… there should be the paintings of him in the castle, right?” Leui asked. He didn’t say about the records in the royal library since he knows it isn’t possible for him to be granted access there. And if he would ask Melton about it, Melton would definitely be suspicious of him.

As expected, Melton didn’t sense anything wrong of what he asked. Instead, he grinned and patted him on the shoulder, seemingly pleased. “Are you also a fan of Loheiruchel the Wizard?” he asked.

Before Leui could answer, Mhir spoke in an animated voice. “Me! Me!” she said as she raised her hand. “I’m his fan! I like Lord Loheiruchel!” she said.

Melton turned to look at her, feeling surprised. After all, the other races are known to hate the human race. Actually, he was already surprised of Mhir’s presence beside Leui and even her following Leui to the human kingdom. It turned out that she actually is Loheiruchel’s fan?

“Young lady! You’re so good in hiding!” he said and smiled at her. “So, you’re actually his fan, too! You really surprised me there!” he told her.

Mhir blushed and clasped her hands on her back. “It was my grandfather who told me about him… lord Loheiruchel is really, really a great man!” she said. Her eyes are sparkling and bright, showing her fanaticism towards Loheiruchel.

“Yes. He’s really a great man…” Melton said as he looked around the peaceful Capital. Because Loheiruchel has restored the peace for the human race, he, as a knight, would dutifully fulfill his responsibilities to protect this peace.

…

“The library?” Gie spoke as he looked at Leui.

They are currently having lunch. They invited Melton to eat with them, but he refused, saying that he still has other tasks to do. Being a vice-captain is really being busy.

“Why?” Gie chewed the slice of meat. “Shouldn’t you buy a present for the king first?” he asked.

“It’s always good, and not bad, to have an information at hand.” Leui spoke. This is one of the reasons why he managed to live that long in the Other Shore.

Gie pondered over it and then nodded in agreement. “’know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll be undefeated’.” He said.

Leui helplessly laughed. “It’s not as if the king is my enemy…” he muttered. “I just want to know more about the human race.” He explained.

Gie nodded in understanding. “How about your present for the king?” he asked.

“I already have something in mind. I found it when I was procuring spices when I was working in the Rogues’ Inn in the Other Shore.” Leui answered.

“That’s good.” Gie sincerely said.

“Do you want to go with me tomorrow?” Leui asked him. Then, he turned to Mhir.

Gie’s smile disappeared. “I won’t.” he answered.

Leui turned back to him, surprised. “Why?” he asked.

Gie helplessly smiled. “The king asked only for you. Even though I’m your friend, but I don’t have any reason to meet with His Majesty, right?” he asked.

Leui frowned. “That’s not…” he said and stopped when he saw Gie smiled.

“If I really want to meet with the king, I would’ve already done something to do so.” Gie said. “There’s really no reason for me to see the king, and it’s not that I really want to meet with him.” he shrugged, then made a pause. He suddenly grinned. “But, who knows, maybe there would really be an opportunity for me to meet with him.” he told him.

Leui was taken aback. Then, he smiled. That’s right. The future is still long… “How about you, Mhir?” he asked as he turned to her who was nibbling on the corn.

“Me?” she spoke as she chewed. “I don’t want to. It’s not necessary.” She said.

Leui’s brows raised. “I thought you’re curious about the human rulers?” he asked.

“But compared to the food, I like to meet with new foods!” Mhir said.

Leui and Gie. “…” what a foodie… they thought.

“Also – “ she spoke. “ – the other races are known to be hostile to the human race. Although the human race is open minded to the other races, but I also came from the Other Shore where most of the other races have gathered.” She said. “If I’d meet with the king, who knows what others would think?” she turned to them. “They might think I was sent here to assassinate the human king… or that we abducted Leui and are demanding a ransom…” she sighed. “Anyway, I don’t think it would be good to meet with the human king.” She finished.

“You have a point.” Gie spoke as he contemplated. “As I recall, even though some other races were here in the human kingdom, but none of them has ever met the king.” He said.

“Really?” Leui was surprised.

Gie nodded. “Yes. Also… did you hear Melton answer your question if you can also go with Leui to see the king?” he asked as he turned to Mhir.

Mhir froze. “You’re right… he didn’t answer my question…” she said when she remembered what happened earlier. “So, there really is a problem if someone from the other race would meet with the human king?” she asked as she tilted her head.

“I don’t think it’s that complicated…” Leui spoke, but his voice is low. Actually, he also isn’t sure. After all, he has never been in the human kingdom.