Intermission: The King, His Butler, and His Favorite Queen

Once Herscherik, recently returned from a kidnapping scare, had left his room, Solye let out a long sigh and slumped deep into his sofa. Even though he had finally been relieved of the dread that had plagued him all night and day, he now had a different problem to face, and he was exhausted beyond belief.

“He really does take after her...” Solye muttered.

His butler and childhood friend that stood beside him shrugged his shoulders. “Take after? He’s just like her, if not even more so...”

Her—the king’s most beloved queen, Herscherik’s mother, was devoid of any frivolity, manlier than most men. That was only describing her personality, of course. In appearance, she was a truly beautiful woman. The contrast of her feminine exterior and her masculine decisiveness and bold statements had often frozen these two men in their tracks.

“Hersch really is her son, all right.” Solye chuckled. Herscherik was just as stubborn as his mother had been, in stark contrast to his beautiful appearance. His tough backbone that never let him give up on anything he’d set his mind to was undoubtedly inherited from his mother. “Putting what do about Hersch aside...” Solye’s tone lowered. “We were complacent, Rook.”

Rook could feel the temperature of the room drop. “I’m sorry. It’s not that I was complacent...” Rook immediately apologized, not out of fear for Solye but because he knew that part of the blame lay with him. “I didn’t think Meria would do something like this.”

“Right... I do feel sympathy for Meria.” Solye understood that he was the ultimate catalyst for Herscherik’s kidnapping.

When Meria had pleaded with him to help free her hometown from the oppression of their new lord, Solye had failed to answer her plea. There was no incriminating evidence against Grim, only Meria’s claims. Solye had been searching for a move he could make, but there wasn’t enough time. Anguished by the current state of her hometown, Meria had reached for her last resort. Solye did feel sympathy for Meria, but her action was inexcusable more for the precedent she had set than the simple crime of abducting royalty. For the threat that precedent posed to the very foundation of their nation, Meria would be charged more harshly than she deserved if her crimes were to come to light.

She hasn’t done anything worse than he has... Solye snarled to himself. In fact, her crime was not so different from Barbosse’s, who had taken away his family and first daughter. In fact, Solye could forgive Meria’s crime in light of her dire predicament. None of this would have had to happen if only I had one solid piece of evidence... In Solye’s eyes, this was just another tragedy that he could have prevented by making better choices, somehow. The king grit his teeth from the overwhelming sense of powerlessness and self-condemnation coiling in his heart. Thanks to Hersch, I don’t have to charge Meria with a crime... That’s a silver lining, at least.

Since Herscherik had never admitted to who the perpetrator was, the case had been closed, unsolved. If details of the abductions were ever made public, part of the blame would fall upon Herscherik, too. With that at the forefront of his mind, Solye had thoroughly questioned his son to no avail. Herscherik’s resolve never wavered.

“I have to be honest, Solye... Prince Herscherik is no ordinary child.” Rook called to the king who was stooped over in silent rage.

Rook had reached this conclusion through secretly guarding and observing Herscherik over the past two years or so. The first indication had come shortly after Herscherik’s third birthday party. At Herscherik’s request to begin his studies, Rook appointed the appropriate tutors under Solye’s command. While Herscherik was exceptional in both language arts and mathematics, he had no knack for physical activity nor a drop of Magic Within. His tutors’ disappointment was plain to see. Still, Herscherik had delved into studies as if to compensate for those shortcomings until he could read literature too complex for most adults. Rook always found the prince with his nose in a book, whenever he had spare time—unthinkable behavior for a three-year-old. Rook found the sight of Herscherik reading the day away, buried in a mountain of books on his window seat, to be completely bizarre. He wasn’t the only one who took notice, either. Some of the tutors were so completely astounded by Herscherik’s unbelievably quick learning that they believed there must be some kind of supernatural element at work. Herscherik, on the other hand, paid no mind to such trivialities. He read book after book, soaking in every piece of knowledge along the way.

After some months, just as Rook had gotten accustomed to seeing Herscherik reading a thick book by the window, the prince had disappeared in the middle of the night. Once Meria had come to him in tears to inform him of this fact, Rook rushed to notify Solye, and they had immediately searched every nook and cranny in the royal palace. After a few hours with no sign of Herscherik, the dejected Rook had found the prince peacefully sleeping in his bed.

Rook spent another night secretly watching Herscherik when the prince slipped out of his room in the dark of night and into the castle, digging through all sorts of paperwork in the various offices. Rook had investigated the piece of paper Herscherik had spent the most time with that night to find that it was an invoice with a suspect detail. He could not figure out why a young child would show interest in such a thing. As he watched Herscherik sneak into one department after another only to return to his room after midnight, Rook noticed that all the papers the prince had paid close attention to showed some sort of discrepancy. Considering how Herscherik had been acting, it didn’t seem like Herscherik’s interest in those particular pieces was mere coincidence.

When Rook had reported Herscherik’s strange behavior to Solye, the king pondered for a moment before instructing Rook to continue to guard Herscherik from the shadows without interrupting him. Unbeknownst to Herscherik, Rook watched him night after night as the little prince plunged himself into danger. On one particular night, Herscherik ran into an intruder. Rook was about to emerge from the shadows to protect the prince when the little boy easily defused the situation. Even more impressively, Herscherik had befriended the intruder.

Rook had later discovered that the intruder was Shadow Fang, an infamous agent of the underground guild. He suggested to the king to let him stop Herscherik’s nightly adventures, but Solye never agreed.

Just as Rook was beginning to get used to the double life of serving as the king’s advisor by day and Herscherik’s bodyguard by night, the prince learned about a secret passage out of the castle grounds and began frequenting the town.

I might just work myself to death... Rook had contemplated, gazing out in the distance. And who could have blamed him?

Herscherik, through his cleverness, had gained the trust of a couple who ran a fruit stand, where he began helping out. But the couple weren’t the only ones who had accepted Herscherik. With each visit, Herscherik began to blend in with the castle town, and more and more townsfolk accepted him. Still, Rook noticed that Herscherik wasn’t going out into town simply for his own entertainment. The prince acted like an investigator when out in the town, to verify the information he had researched in the castle.

On that fateful day, Rook was reporting Herscherik’s ordinary outing into the castle town to the king when the prince was kidnapped by Meria. His complete faith in Meria had betrayed him.

Solye smiled at Rook’s statement. “Yes, I know. Hersch isn’t normal. He’s her son, after all, as well as mine... He was never going to be an ordinary boy, if I do say so myself.”

“I agree with that, of course,” Rook had to admit. “But that’s not what I mean...”

Solye understood the intentions behind the statement of his childhood friend. Herscherik had no magic, no physical talents... To boot, while he was the apple of Solye’s eye, his appearance was unremarkable, relative to the other princes. Still, Solye saw in Herscherik’s gem-like eyes, as blue as his, some boundless light that seemed to see through everything, all the way to some distant land that not even Solye could see.

“I told Hersch that he could make his own choices now.” Solye recalled the day Herscherik had asked to begin his studies.

It seemed like Herscherik had chosen a path of his volition. It was clear that the little prince had a goal in mind. Solye guessed that the path would not be an easy one to traverse. As a father, he wanted to keep Herscherik from following it, and perhaps he should have. It seemed like the most dangerous path he could take, one that was most likely to prematurely end his life. Even so, Solye couldn’t bring himself to stop him. He knew that her son would never back down, once he set his mind to it. The best this heartsick father could do was appoint Rook as Herscherik’s bodyguard.

Maybe it’s time to end even that, Solye considered.

Herscherik had begun taking his own steps down the path he chose. Solye was aware that his youngest son was already walking out of his protection. Just as he had told him to, Herscherik chose his own path.

“But who do we make his butler of service?” Solye asked with a frown.

He couldn’t very well trust any noble here. Any trustworthy men and women of status had been relocated away from the castle—all according to the minister’s plan, of course. Solye refused to call any of them back, lest they would be plunged into some terrible jeopardy.

“We have a great candidate, right here.” Rook grinned. “A cunning man. A potent fighter. He knows how corrupt the nobles are, so they can’t take him by surprise... Besides, he’s completely charmed by the prince. You know the poor black dog I’m talking about?”

Rook was talking about Shadow Fang, the intruder Herscherik had called Kuro. When guarding Herscherik from the shadows, Rook had seen the man countless times. While he seemed to always remain emotionless, Rook had sensed a shift in his attitude when he spoke with Herscherik. When doing so, Kuro almost seemed like a loyal dog speaking to his master. Rook had imagined that if Kuro had a tail, it would be vigorously wagging back and forth each time he spoke with the prince.

Solye’s frown reappeared. “That’s my son you’re talking about like he’s some kind of siren.”

“No, the prince is much worse,” Rook said, grinning. Herscherik had pulled Kuro in by just being himself. “That lone-wolf-looking Shadow Fang fell for him in no time. Oh, the hearts your son will break...”

Rook was aware of how perilous the kidnapping had been. While he had held himself back from his sense of responsibility as Solye’s butler of service, he had felt his world turn black for a moment when he’d learned that Herscherik was kidnapped. An overwhelming sense of urgency followed the initial shock, but Rook had held himself back from going berserk like Kuro had, drawing on his years of experience among royalty. Every member of the royal family possessed an appearance that was simply on a different level from that of ordinary citizens. In fact, the best artists in the nation had always struggled to paint them. It certainly wasn’t impossible for them to charm someone solely based on their appearance. However, Herscherik had something more than mere surface beauty—a certain charisma that drew people to him. His full-fledged charm was always active, unbeknownst to Herscherik himself.

“The prince should be safe for the time being with him around. I’ll take care of it. Just leave it to me.”

“All right,” Solye conceded.

With a bow, Rook turned to exit the room. Before he opened the door, he turned back to Solye with concern in his eyes. “Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine,” Solye feebly answered.

Nevertheless, Rook acknowledged the king’s reassurance and left the room. As he walked through the dim hallway, he recalled the words of a particular friend.

“Please, Rook. Don’t let him lose his mind.” The king’s favorite queen and Rook’s friend, nicknamed the Sunshine of the Royal Quarters, had left Rook those words on her deathbed. At the time, Rook didn’t understand half of what she meant. “Solye is so kind...” she continued, as Rook listened in confusion. “To everyone. He puts everyone else before himself... Always sacrificing... He’s always destroying himself for others.” The light in her eyes was nearly fading after giving life to Solye’s child. Still, she spoke with powerful conviction. “Solye’s kind... because he’s afraid. He has endured so much pain. That’s what’s so dangerous...”

A chill had run down Rook’s spine. Solye, the gentle king. To protect his family, he endured the disrespect and terrible reputation the nobles ascribed to him without a word of complaint. Solye was enslaved by fear that grew from having his entire family taken away when he was ten and then solidified by losing his firstborn.

Solye never intended to be king. He had brothers above him—a wise ruler and a fearless conqueror. While Solye was a competent ruler and fighter, he knew that his brothers surpassed him in both departments and had no intention of contesting that fact.

“When I grow up, I want to be a researcher so I can help my father and brother,” young Solye had confessed to Rook when he first entered the academy.

That Solye was gone. Having been thrust upon the throne through the loss of his father and brothers, Solye had, at first, fought the nobles that ruled the politics of the country with impunity. With Rook as his butler of service, along with a knight and a spellcaster, Solye had fought against the nobles both in the light of day and in the shadows, on any field necessary. Meanwhile, his First Queen, whom he had been arranged to marry for an alliance, gave birth to his First Princess. Although they hadn’t married out of any romantic feelings, Solye treated his First Queen and princess with love. When his First Queen became pregnant with his next child, tragedy struck. The mysterious diseases that had exclusively plagued royalty had taken the life of the First Princess.

After having a one-on-one conversation with the minister who came to give his condolences, Solye’s attitude completely changed. He no longer fought back against the nobles. Despite the repeated pleas of his knight and spellcaster of service, Solye remained subservient. Having lost faith in their king, both the knight and spellcaster left Solye. They had come seeking a gentle yet strong king, not a weak and feeble puppet. As Rook contemplated leaving his friend, Solye suggested to Rook that he do exactly that. This was the moment when Rook understood that Solye had chosen to try and protect the people he cared for by isolating himself and sitting on the throne all alone.

Rook resolved to never leave Solye’s side after that. Ever since that day, Rook had stood by and watched Solye rule. Just as his favorite queen had requested, he had watched Solye suffer through it all. Rook’s expression tightened at the realization.

“If Solye loses someone dear to him again...” the queen continued, “he’ll lose his mind from fear. That will break him... He’ll lose faith in everything and try to destroy this country with him... That’s how I feel.” Her words seemed like a prophecy—one that may actually be realized. “My child will keep him strong... Or torment him further. I don’t know.” The queen wore a faint smile, to ease Rook’s mind. “You’re the only one who can do it. Protect Solye for me... Stop him, if the time comes. Don’t let my beloved fall from his path...”

Entrusting her husband to his childhood friend, the queen departed this world.

Now, Rook turned back into the dark hallway, knowing that his friend was still fighting off his own fear beyond that door. The person most precious to Solye in the whole world could disappear in a single moment. That’s why Solye never let go and never crossed that final line, no matter how much torment and anguish befell him. All he could do was endure.

What if Solye crossed that line? Rook contemplated. If that were to happen, Rook would risk his life to stop his friend. That was the promise he made. For now, though, there were other things he could do. Prince Herscherik... I think you will become someone vital to the future of our country. Rook felt that Herscherik was the ray of hope his mother had left behind, at the cost of her life. That’s why he had to ensure that the prince survived. That’s why Rook had to do everything he could, before the minister caught on. Rook carried on through the darkened hallway without a sound, ready to make the first move.

After sending Rook off, Solye looked down at his hands. Irritated at the fact that they were slightly trembling, the king held his hands up to the fire. When Solye was told that Herscherik was kidnapped, he felt like he had been frozen solid. If Herscherik never returned, if the unthinkable had happened, Solye might have finally let go of his sanity.

“He’ll be with you, even when I’m gone.” Solye still vividly remembered the words his queen had said a few days after Herscherik’s birth. She had whispered them to him like a hypnotic verse. “He’ll be by your side whenever you miss me. He’ll help you.” She had smiled ever so slightly. A fleeting smile, completely in contrast from her usual vibrancy. “It’ll be all right, even after I’m gone... You’ll have him. I love you, Sol. More than anything in this world. My sweet, gentle king...” With those words, she had departed for the Garden Above. The child she had left behind grew more and more like her with age. Solye loved all of his children, but he especially adored Herscherik... perhaps from the sorrow of losing his mother.

“All children must grow up...” Solye muttered to himself.

The youngest prince, at least in mind, had already grown beyond his older siblings. Solye couldn’t help but feel a sense of bittersweet pride. In trying to protect him, maybe I didn’t realize how he was protecting me. He recalled his youngest son from earlier in the day. Herscherik had refused to give up any names, staring back at him with eyes gleaming with resolve. He was no longer a babe who could barely stand but a prince who had begun walking down the path he chose with his own steps. The only thing a parent could do now was watch and hope.

“He’s your son, after all. What am I worried about?” Solye kept telling himself. His favorite queen was a powerful woman who never succumbed to fear nor bent her will. She had always kept him on his feet when he could barely stand on his own from the fear and pressure. Her one and only child was departing on his own journey. “But...” Solye whispered, seeing that his hands had stopped trembling, “if I lose Herscherik, too...”

Solye was proud of Herscherik’s growth and wanted to support him. On the other hand, he felt the urge to lock Herscherik away so no one could hurt him. His conflicting emotions battled each other within the king. As if he was reaching for a helping hand, Solye whispered the name of the queen he loved more than anyone.