Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 38: Loyalty

Rainbow Village.

After one day, they were able to return to the Rainbow Village. The whole domain of the Dream Weaver Nem spans one whole mountain and the surrounding large forests. Leui and Fedrich don’t have a ride, so it took them one day to reach the Rainbow Village.

Fedrich hung his jacket over his shoulder as he and Leui walked down the road, completely tired. Their backs are hunched because of exhaustion. In order to reach the Rainbow Village as soon as possible, they rested only for an hour before they resumed travelling.

He turned and glanced at Leui who is using his scythe as a cane. Although Leui’s face looks pale and there are dark circles under his eyes, he can catch up with Fedrich’s pace.

He’s an admirable man. Fedrich thought and smiled. “Hey! There’s a wagon driver coming this way!” he told Leui as he raised both his hands and waved at the wagon driver. “HEY! Over here! We need a ride!!!” he shouted.

The wagon driver heard a loud voice from afar and was surprised. There are young people who are awake and already outside at dawn? He thought before he urged his horse to go in their direction. “Hup!” he yelled and soon stopped before Leui and Fedrich. Then, he was surprised by their haggard appearance. “You both… where did you come from?” he asked.

Fred took out his knight badge and showed it to the wagon driver. “Have you seen any knights in this area? Take us to them. I’ll pay you after we arrive.” He told him.

“Alright. Come aboard.” The wagon driver smiled.

Fedrich was about to climb when he saw Leui’s figure stagger. He immediately caught him before he fell and then helped him climb on the wagon. “You’re really tough, huh.” He grinned as he sat beside him.

The wagon then started moving.

“Right.” Fedrich muttered when he suddenly remembered something. “What made you decide to go to the Heiruche?” he asked, referring to the kingdom of the humans.

If Leui has been living in the Other Shore for five years now, he must be feeling comfortable there and his life is smooth sailing.

“Dissent.” Leui answered.

Fedrich stared at him.

“No matter how good I am going there during these five years, but there will still be others who are secretly uncomfortable with me living with them, or that finds me an eyesore.” Leui spoke. “After all, no matter how well I’d fit in with the way they are living, but I am still a human.” He said. “That will never change.” He told him.

“True…” Fedrich can only say. “In fact, you should’ve lived here in the first place. Why go there?” he asked.

Leui just shook his head, indicating he doesn’t know. Fedrich then remembered that Leui actually has amnesia. He told him that last night. And because of it, Leui can’t remember his objective of going to the Other Shore.

“Huh? Captain?!” They heard voices from a distance and cried.

Fedrich peeked his head out and saw his subordinates. “Hey!” he called and waved at them.

“It’s really captain!” they cried in pleasant surprise and ran towards the wagon which Fedrich and Leui are on in.

“Pay the driver first.” Fedrich told them when they reached them and helped him and Leui get off the wagon.

“Yes!” one of his subordinates answered and ran to the driver.

“Captain! What happened to you?” one of them asked. “We went back to fetch you after we sent the residents back to their houses. But, we didn’t see the entrance to the Dream Weaver’s domain again.” They explained.

“The Dream Weaver’s domain collapsed and we were sent to some random place.” Fedrich answered as he wiped the grime on his face.

“Captain! This guy fainted!” someone said.

Fedrich turned and saw Leui was unconscious. “Send him to our temporary base.” He told them.

“Yes!” they answered.

“Captain. Let’s go. We’ve already prepared food and a bath for you.” The vice-captain spoke.

Fedrich nodded. “Good work.” He said. “The missing cases and the Dream Weaver’s case have been settled. Now, let’s focus on our main task.” He told them.

“Yes!” they answered as they saluted. Then, they went back to their temporary base, bringing Leui with them.

Fedrich’s team were on their way to the Rainbow Village to investigate a case when Fedrey sent him a letter telling him to investigate the missing cases in the Rainbow Village that are linked to a Dream Weaver since Fedrich was already on his way there. Fedrich owes Fedrey and he never declined his cousin’s request before. So, he didn’t refuse his request, since, more importantly, it was a royal order of the king.

“So, have you found some clues regarding the thieves?” Fedrich asked as he soaked in the tub filled with warm water.

The steam coming from the water covered his naked upper body, leaving only his neck and head visible.

“Yes.” Melton, the vice-captain, nodded. “We’ve investigated all the wagon drivers. I asked the one who took you here.” he said.

“He’s clean.” Fedrich spoke.

“Yes.” Melton agreed. “He is living with his daughter and her son. His daughter is a widow and he starts working very early until late at night in order to support them.” He explained.

“Give him some money. He’s already too old to be working.” Fedrich said.

Even if it’s just one day, one week or one month, at least they’ll have these days living in comfort before life starts to torment them again using their current situation.

“Yes. I’ll find someone to arrange it.” Melton said. He can understand his captain’s soft heart.

In fact, Fedrich was born from a noble family, which is the biggest supporter of the monarch. Fedrey’s father is King Khander’s right-hand man. So, their family is influential. Their ancestors have all served the monarch, and this time it was their generation’s turn to serve the kingdom.

Fedrich, being born in wealth, should never understand the minds of the poor people. But, he did. He even requested to be transferred to the suburbs and serve there instead of continuing to work in the capital. Melton, the vice-captain, although was also born of nobility, but didn’t complain because of Fedrich’s decision. Fedrich even asked him to stay in the capital and look for someone to become his captain.

 But, Melton refused and went together with him. Some of their subordinates left, but most have stayed. They are loyal to Fedrich. To them, the place doesn’t matter. What matters is the people.

“The thieves have been disorganized lately.” Melton spoke as he neatly folded Fedrich’s clothes.

“’disorganized’?” Fedrich asked.

“Yes.” Melton nodded as he turned and saw Fedrich loosely wearing his bathrobe after he bathed. There were water droplets at the ends of his hair and fell on the floor. Melton handed him his clothes. “We are guessing that there might be an internal conflict. We caught two of them yesterday when you were gone.” He told Fedrich.

“Did they say something?” Fedrich asked as he changed.

Melton walked towards the kitchen and placed the rice and the dishes on the tray. “They didn’t confess.” He answered. “But, when we asked them some questions about their group, there was dissatisfaction on their faces. That’s how we guessed they must have an internal conflict.” He explained before he went to the bedroom and placed the tray on the table.

“Ask them how much they want for them to talk. Prepare the money.” Fedrich said as he began to eat. He and Leui only had fruits and some game that they found on the way. Fortunately, Leui knows how to cook in the wild.

Fedrich doesn’t know how to cook.

“Okay.” Melton nodded.

“Right.” Fedrich looked at Melton. “How about that guy with me?” he asked.

“He has already woken up and is now eating.” Melton answered.

“How about that female dwarf?” he asked when he remembered Mhir.

 “We sent her to a wagon driver’s house. She said she knows them.” Melton answered.

“Then, send that guy to his friend.” Fedrich said, then paused. “Oh. And give them money.” He added.

“Yes. But…” Melton hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” Fedrich asked.

“… they have more gold and silver than us.” Melton answered. In fact, they wanted to give Mhir some money yesterday for her to buy food and pay an inn for her to stay in.

But, they were shocked and almost blinded when they saw her open hers and Leui’s bags. It seems that they are actually poorer than them.

“… then, it’s fine. Just ask them if they are willing to go with us back to the Capital. We’ll give them a ride.” Fedrich said.

“Yes.” Melton nodded. He excused himself and then left. When he arrived at the other house that they had rented as their temporary base, he heard his subordinates talking to Leui.

“How do I have so much money…?” he heard Leui spoke. “It’s because the prices in the Other Shore are cheap. Even if some sellers would overprice for me because I am a human, but I can still afford it. I saved enough money to live for a lifetime.” He told them.

Those are the words of a nouveau riche.