71 Seeking Answers (5)

"Alright." Arkenvalle nodded, and then moved to sit beside Lancell, and leaned on his shoulders.

Seeing the intimacy of the two, Aria's eyes twitched for some reason, but she held the urge to retort as it seems Lancell wasn't bothered.

"So? What did you mean?" Aria asked again.

Arkenvalle then sat upright, separating from Lancell, and then began to speak.

"It's exactly as I said. Lancell was worried that time."

Both Aria and Lancell frowned, as the answer certainly didn't satisfy them.

"You mean THAT can also get worried about others?" Aria asked without malice, as she pointed at Lancell.

Meanwhile, Lancell was silent as he seemed waiting for more explanations.

Arkenvalle nodded at Aria's question.

"I don't exactly know about what happened as his senses were a jumble from that time, but I sensed an emotion reminiscent to worry that time."

"Wait up," Lancell suddenly spoke up, "Why didn't you tell me this before, Valle?"

"Because you wouldn't care. . .I guess?"

"I see." Lancell put a hand on his chin as he nodded. "That makes sense."

"No it doesn't." Aria suddenly interjected, "In the first place, what do you mean by his senses were jumbled? And how could he worry about others in that kind of situation?"

She then shrugged, "It doesn't answer anything."

Arkenvalle looked at Lancell as she seemed to be asking for understanding. Lancelot nodded.

"I get her point," he said. "In the first place, I'm not even sure if I still have sentiments other than the connections I have with Arkenvalle. So this is an interesting matter for me."

He shrugged, "I have emotions, and I also have feelings. However, I mostly ignore those as those are just fleeting matters. They get in the way of fighting."

A look of understanding appeared on Aria's face.

"I see," she spoke, "but it only serves to further increase confusion. Why would you worry about them if that's the case?"

"I don't know," Lance answered, "but more importantly, why are we discussing this? I don't see the reason why we'd talk about me."

"Well, there's so many things unknown about you, and there's no guarantee what factors would make you snap one day." Aria shrugged, "but I guess this topic can also be continued for next time. At least I have an idea about you now."

Lancell sighed at the pointless talk. "Well, I'll get to the point of the matter." He then looked at Aria with a solemn gaze,

"I want to have a talk with the king."

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day, Lancell stood in the middle of the throne room, as he faced the Margilus. Tension filled the atmosphere as Lancell could feel the bloodlust emitted by the king. It seems that the king hated him far more than her thought.

Lancell put a hand by his chest and bowed, "Greetings, your majesty."

The king ignored his bow, as he only looked at Lancell with hatred and hostility. "What brings you here, heretic."

Lancell inwardly tensed at the king's words, as his wariness began to increase. But he kept his expression from changing, as he raised his head, and spoke. But before he could. . .

"Who told you to raise your head, heretic." Margilus spoke with malice in his tone, "commoners should bow their head to the king."

Lancell's eyes narrowed as his calm expression began to shift into a cold one. He didn't like being looked down upon. He crossed his arms and then spoke.

"Then make me. KING." He then grinned a fierce grin, "If you can, that is."

"You!..." the king went red at his words, but he didn't lash out. It wasn't time yet. . .

Margilus calmed himself down, and after a bit of while, he sighed and asked. "State your purpose."

Lancell also sighed as it seems there was no pointless fight that was gonna happen.

"I want to clarify something." Lancell spoke. He then looked around at the several knights who were visibly on edge, as he then continued, "You think I'm the one who killed your son, right?"

Margilus grit his teeth as anger welled up inside him. He shouted, "Then are you saying it was someone else?! Do not attempt to fool me, heretic!"

"Don't get the wrong idea." Lancell told the king, "I am not here to deny anything. I told you didn't I? I'm here to clarify things."

The king's eyes widened in surprise, and then asked, "Then what are you trying to say?"

"Where's the guy who told you about that?" Lancell asked.

A bit of silence took over, until a loud voice screamed out, "A-Are you trying to shift the blame on me?!" it said, "I did no—"

"Shut up." Lancell cut off, as he looked at the knight speaking. "I'm asking who saw me do it, I'm not here to shift blames."

The knight sighed in relief, but his expression was far from relaxed. He then spoke, "It was me."

"Then let me ask," Lancell spoke, "can you really say it was me who killed the crown prince?"

"Huh? What are you saying. Of course it was you. No one else was covered in blood and wielding a silver sword during the War." The knight answered.

Lancell paused for a while, as he contemplated. He then shifted his gaze into the king, and spoke, "Then it's settled. I'm the one who killed your son."

The entire room went silent as no one was able to comprehend what he was trying to do.

"What are you trying to do?" Margilus asked.

Lancell shrugged as he sighed. "To think you still don't understand. . . For the third time already, I'm here to clarify things

And I'm clarifying that I'm the one who killed your son." He added.

The king glared at him, "And then?"

"I want to settle things properly. From your expression, I can tell that you dote on that guy, but I don't care." He said, earning him another hateful glare with bloodlust from the king.

"However. . ." Lancell continued, "I am willing to take punishment for what I did."

Margilus frowned in suspicion, "Even if it is execution?"

"Yes." Lancell nodded, "However, that will be after the Great Shift ends."

Margilus frowned further, as the talk seemed too convenient. "I don't trust you."

"Yeah, I know." Lancell agreed, "But you can trust your own power right? You have an entire kingdom, and I am just by myself. I doubt I could take on your forces should you survive 20 years later."

"And if I don't survive?"

"Then the deal's off." Lancell said casually, "I can't make promises to a dead man."

The king contemplated for a while, as he closed his eyes.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

"Alright." He agreed, "After the Great Shift ends. . .

"I will kill you. Heretic."