4. Kane
'They seemed to be in conflict, indeed, in this kingdom divided into two factions: one supporting the Third Prince and the other supporting the Crown Prince. In this tale, my family remained neutral, but it was known that soon Claude would choose to stand by the Crown Prince as his supporter, just before Claude met his demise due to that decision,' mumbled Claude.
'That means I should remain neutral.'
"I want that table!" Suddenly, Xavier pointed to the table where Claude was hiding.
Claude was surprised to see the Crown Prince's shadow pointing to his hiding place.
"I want that table burned. Can you burn it?" Xavier said, glancing at Amber. His aunt grinned, and her hands immediately unleashed a burst of red flames, hurling toward the table.
"Ah!" Claude quickly ran out, panicking and almost getting engulfed in flames.
People there promptly extinguished the fire after Claude left the table.
"Oh, so you were there!" His mother grinned. Claude's eyes widened in fear, and he quickly fled.
But his mother stopped him; Amber imagined a large fire would devour Claude, shaped like an angry Phoenix bird.
"Aren't you afraid to apologize? Apologize now! A young man must be accountable for his actions, not hide like a coward; you're not a coward!" Amber yelled.
Claude, deaf to it all, continued to try and escape.
"Do you hear me, huh? Apologize!" Amber pulled Claude to face Xavier.
Claude grimaced in pain.
"Don't you know how to apologize? Apologize!"
Claude was thrown towards the King; he closed his eyes, thinking he would fall, but suddenly, a bench appeared, making Claude fall smoothly into the seat.
'Kane?' Claude muttered, realizing the power. He remembered Kane's story about saving him.
Kane immediately moved towards the King and bowed.
"I've damaged his hearing so that I will apologize on his behalf," Kane said, feeling guilty.
"Pr-Prince, what are you doing?!" Kane's guards shouted, trying to wake him up, but Kane refused.
"I apologize," Kane said again.
"Ka-e!" Claude scolded Kane, saying the Prince shouldn't do such things for someone like him.
"How dare you address the Prince by his name!" Amber didn't like Claude being disrespectful, and she immediately pulled her son's hair.
"Don't mention anyone with your filthy mouth," his mother threatened, hitting Claude's body in front of everyone in front of the King, the Queen, and the two Princes.
"Stop, Amber, you're going too far. I'll take your child if you continue like this," the King said, displeased. Despite being Amber's brother, he wouldn't hesitate to punish anyone hurting his children.
Amber grew angrier. She dragged Claude's body, taking him home. "Go home! Shameful!" Amber snapped.
"Mom ...! Mom ... mom ...!" Claude tried to break free, biting his mother's hand and pushing her until she fell.
The little boy quickly ran to seek refuge with the King.
"Did you dare push me, huh?!" Amber chased Claude, who ran, but guards immediately restrained his body under the King's orders.
"Amber, Duchess of Iceroyal, I'll revoke your status with your husband if you continue like this," the King said, ordering the guards to escort Amber out of the palace.
Amber panicked because her husband was not with them, and they left earlier due to some business.
'Beware, Claude!' Amber threatened silently, swearing to make Claude regret this.
After that incident, Claude collapses from exhaustion and is taken to a guest room in the palace. Xavier also stopped crying as the Queen persuaded the Crown Prince.
After the big commotion, everything returned to silence. In the guest room, Claude, after regaining consciousness, remained silent on the bed. He couldn't hear anything as healers treated his wounds, offering comforting words even though Claude couldn't hear them.
Claude felt refreshed; his body relaxed after being treated. He was pleased to see servants bringing in numerous snacks and biscuits. Claude enjoyed them thoroughly, having not tasted such snacks for a long time since he entered this body.
"Cough, cough." Claude coughed up blood. He didn't dwell on the negative and continued eating his biscuits after wiping away the blood on his lips.
'Kane...' Claude saw Kane entering the room with a guard, the little boy smiling at him, carrying a small gift box.
Kane climbed onto the bed, opening the box he brought. "I had someone buy this for you; I apologize." The box contained two new blue hearing aids.
"Where do I put them?" Kane asked kindly. The Third Prince stroked Claude's ears before finally putting on the hearing aids.
"Can you hear now?" Kane asked again.
Claude remained silent; he still couldn't hear anything.
Kane instructed his guard to reinstall the hearing aids.
"Hello, can you hear?" Kane waved his hand. Claude's eyes sparkled at hearing Kane's voice.
"Uhm!" Claude nodded.
"What's your name?" Kane asked casually, approaching Claude closer until they were only a few centimeters apart.
Kane brought his ear close to Claude's mouth to hear his voice.
"Cla-deu," Claude struggled to speak.
"What?" Kane brought his ear even closer.
"Clau-e," Claude replied, even more unclear. The boy held his throat, trying to explain his name.
"Are you mute?" Kane asked, surprised.
"Ma...ma..." Claude shook his head, trying to convey to Kane that he could speak, repeatedly pointing to his burnt neck and opening his mouth.
"Is your mother responsible for this?" Kane asked, realizing that the burn on Claude's neck was caused by the fire manipulator, Claude's mother.
Claude nodded while stroking his warm chest.
Claude smiled at Kane.
"Do you want to tour the palace?" Kane asked casually, diverting his gaze to the wall, not daring to look back at Claude.
Claude nodded, getting off his bed, but suddenly, he collapsed, feeling an extraordinary tightness. His body convulsed, veins in his neck protruding. Claude couldn't breathe; he tried pulling at his clothes and hitting his chest, but it didn't end, and all his vision turned dark.
'Ah, I should have remembered that those biscuits were poisoned. How could I create the story and forget about it?' Claude thought, feeling foolish.