Chapter 13: Freedom

Why? Why is this happening to me?

 

"Good evening, your highness. Did you have a good time at the library?"

 

"I did. Thank you, Zahra."

"I brought you your favorite sandwiches, your highness. Please make sure you eat more than one tonight. You seem to be losing weight."

 

"You're too kind. You really don't have to do this."

 

"Don't worry about it. I insist."

 

What did I do to deserve this?

 

"You're back early today, your highness. Would you like help carrying those books?"

 

"No, thank you, Zahra."

 

"I made soup for you today, your highness. It's a bit chilly today. You'll have a bite, right?"

 

"…..if you insist."

 

Why? Why? Why?

 

"Would you like me to pick you up from the library in the evenings, your highness? I always feel bad when I see your arms shaking from holding those stacks of books. You look like you're going to pass out."

 

"No thanks, Zahra."

 

"I made sure your dinner tonight has extra protein, your highness. You'll be eating some, right your highness?"

 

"…Sure. Thank you."

 

As Caellum took the offered tray and began eating the delicious meal, he was screaming angrily inside.

Why?

Why the hell is she still my guard? 

Why the hell is this poisonous woman still around?

Don't you have a job in the kitchens?

Aren't you supposed to be mingling with the 12th prince?

Please go do it and leave me alone!!!

 

To be honest, he was completely fed up.

It was now several WEEKS into his month-long confinement. 

 

Weeks, not days, and not only had Zahra been the only person guarding him each night, but Yaga had also made herself an integral part of his daily routine.

 

During the day, he couldn't read properly in the library because of the prickling sensation on the back of his neck he got from her staring.

 

Without his asking, breakfast and lunch were always delivered with two portions for him and Paigel, and fearful of consequences, he had no choice but to eat it.

 

When he came back to his room, he still couldn't even isolate himself because Yaga was always waiting beside Zahra like a ghost, with food he was forced to eat, as she commented on everything he did throughout the day.

 

It was like having an unwanted personal assistant who could kill him at any point she wanted if he aggravated her.

 

Additionally, his plans to continue bribing other guards and going on night tours of the palace had come to a complete standstill because Zahra was honest to a fault about following the rules, and her mother was always lurking around. 

 

At some point, Caellum just gave up on trying to bribe Zahra, focusing solely on Masha and her maid friends for information while ignoring the fact that Yaga might be listening. If she was upset at him hearing news and rumors, so be it. 

 

It's not like he could do anything about it anyway.

 

But finally.

 

Finally, it was almost the end of his month-long confinement!

 

"Zahra, a question," Caellum finally asked.

 

He was sitting on the floor outside his door eating, and since it was his last night of confinement, he thought he might as well have a conversation with the guard who had accompanied him for so long and would thankfully not be accompanying him for much longer.

 

"Yes, your highness? Please go ahead and ask." 

 

"Is there a particular reason why you've been my night guard for 4 weeks straight?"

 

Like usual, Caellum waited for Zahra to quickly devour her food before starting on his own.

 

Not that it would make a difference since Yaga made them both, but who knows.

 

If Yaga was poisoning him, maybe she accidentally poisoned the wrong one this time?

 

"Are you dissatisfied with my performance, your highness?" Zahra asked as she stood up straighter.

 

After chatting with Zahra for so long, Caellum knew her well enough to hear the quiet nervousness in her voice.

 

"Not at all. I'm just curious why the person on duty isn't rotated like the day guard is. What's the real reason? You can be honest, I won't get upset if it's something demeaning about me, like people thinking I stink or something."

 

"Well…" Zahra was silent for several seconds before eventually saying the truth, "Firstly, it's the night shift which is the worst, but it's the shift that nobody wants because there's no benefit from guarding you, your highness. No praise from the king or queen, no visibility, no path to recognition. Rather, it's basically punishment, especially because it's you. No offense, your highness."

 

Made sense. 

 

Caellum lived in a forgotten corner of the palace where the only people he saw were Toenail, his guards, and Masha.

 

The servants didn't even wander in this direction and avoided the hall leading to his door like the plague.

 

If he didn't go to the library daily, he wouldn't see a single soul.

 

"None taken. I appreciate the honesty. So, is that why you're guarding me? Are you being punished so you have to guard the unwanted, useless 13th prince?"

 

"…no. I'm doing it because somebody has to, and I'm hoping the commander takes note of how diligently I've been working and sees that, no matter the post's importance, I put in the same level of effort. As you've probably heard, I want to become a knight with my goal being the personal knights of one of the younger generation of the royal family."

 

Why?

 

Why the hell would you want to be the personal knight of royalty?

 

Isn't it much better to be a palace guard? 

 

You don't have to deal with spoiled brats sending you this way or that way on stupid errands, and you actually have rights, a proper work-life balance, in addition to your benefits and protection from the king.

 

When Caellum thought about some of the stories Masha told him about some of his half-siblings who lived in the palace and treated their personal servants, it only renewed his vow to get out of here as soon as possible and to never, ever become the servant of anyone.

 

"Besides, I don't think you're useless, your highness. It's been a pleasure guarding you. You're very different than the rumors." Zahra added quietly.

 

"I see. Well, good luck. I hope your dream of being a knight comes true."

 

Caellum truly wished her good luck and hoped she would succeed, because she seemed like a good person, even if she had that… woman as a mother.

 

But in his heart of hearts, he was pretty doubtful that it would succeed.

 

In his experience, those who expected the higher-ups to see their hard work and reward or promote them accordingly were as stupid as stupid could get because that's not how the world worked.

 

Everything was founded on traded favors, on who had the most money, power, and authority, and on who could leverage them best.

 

Zahra would have had better luck if her mother had threatened the knight commander into giving her the position she wanted instead of grinding foolishly in the corner of the palace.

 

But hey, it was none of his business.

 

The sooner she got out of his hair, the sooner her mother would do the same, and the better for him.

 

"I actually wouldn't mind being your knight, your highness. So that at the very least I could stop the people here from abusing you." Zahra muttered as she stared at the finger mark bruising on Caellum's neck.

 

"What was that?" Caellum asked as Zahra muttered something.

 

"I said my mother is probably coming back soon, so you'd better finish your food."

 

"Understood." With a renewed sense of urgency, Caellum quickly threw all the food in his mouth, temporarily choking before forcing it down with water.

 

"Haha, I don't know why you're so scared of her." Zahra laughed as she watched Caellum scarf down the food.

 

Usually, he was very laid-back yet methodical, eating only after she had eaten, breaking everything down carefully, and watching with those observant purple eyes of his, but when her mother was involved, he seemed to stiffen.

 

As a matter of fact, the two of them did, and they watched each other like wary cats.

 

Zahra truly couldn't understand why they were so wary of each other, but she thought it was quite a funny development.

 

Truly, she would miss guarding and chatting with this surprisingly kind and polite prince.

 

But starting tomorrow, it was back to her regular duties.

And he would be alone once more.

 

She was a bit sad.

 

And looking down at Caellum's solemn expression, she thought he was too.

 

***********

 

"I'm freeeeeeeeeee!!! Finally!!!!! No. More. Prison! No more guards! Amazing!"

 

As he read the letter brought by Toenail from the king, which announced the end of his confinement with a bunch of superfluous words, Caellum couldn't help but cheer happily.

 

He could finally move around the palace as he pleased.

 

"Did you need anything else?" Caellum arched a brow at Toenail, who was fidgeting in the corner while staring at the lantern being swung around by Caellum.

 

This was the dangerous weapon that had knocked him out repeatedly and had been used to cow him into submission each time Caellum thought he was being disrespectful.

 

"Today is the day to collect your allowance from the housing department. Would you like me to bring it to-"

 

"You can collect it for yourself as usual. Anything else? If not, get out." Caellum ordered, switching the lantern he was using as a dumbbell from one hand to the other.

 

Despite eating well for the past couple of weeks, he felt as if he had lost weight and his body had grown even weaker.

 

Was Yaga really poisoning him, too?

 

Thankfully, he wouldn't have to eat her food anymore.

 

"Ah…uh…additionally, the queen has ordered that you come see her."

 

"At what time does she want to meet?"

 

"W-what do you mean by what time? You have to go to her waiting room to wait all day until she decides to let you in. Did you forget?" Toenail explained as he watched Caellum swing the lantern threateningly.

 

On the other hand, Caellum was flabbergasted.

 

Wait all day?

Who the hell did the queen think she was?

So she just plans to waste my whole day just like that?

Do I say no?

But it's a bit too early to go against the queen, and I don't particularly want to since I plan on never seeing her again once I leave.

But if she frames me again, I might have to.

Uggggggggggghhhhh

Caellum swung the lantern in annoyance as he thought about this and that, while ignoring the flinching Toenail, before making a decision.

 

Let's just go and see what she has to say.

 

But on my own time.

 

"On average, around what time does the queen actually see me?"

 

"Uh….after she's had her dinner usually." Toenail wracked his brain for an answer as he saw Caellum cock back the lantern as if he were going to throw it at him.

 

"Got it. Then I'll be back by dinner. You may go."

 

"What-? You're not going now?" Toenail yelled in shock.

 

He couldn't understand why the prince, who had once been so cowardly, had become so rebellious and violent.

 

Although his body still looked frail and sickly, the venom that was sometimes visible in those eyes was scary.

 

But the queen was scarier!

 

Did the 13th prince understand what he was doing and how angry the queen would be if she found out that he wasn't kneeling and waiting for her permission to enter?

 

He would be worse than beaten.

 

Actually…

 

Maybe this was for the best.

 

If the queen beat some sense into the 13th prince, then he could climb back into his rightful spot of dominating him, and then he could repay the prince for the humiliation of the past month.

 

Especially because of all the times the prince called him Toenail instead of Tonil.

 

"Heheheh~"

 

As Toenail began snickering like a maniac, Caellum truly didn't care one way or another about whatever nonsensical thought was going through his ugly head.

 

Pointing a finger at Toenail, he gave an order. 

 

"Get out."

 

"Yes, your highness, heheh~."

 

Toenail left.

 

And finally left to his own devices, Caellum washed his face and stretched his body.

 

When he stepped outside of his room, nobody was standing there.

 

When he walked to the royal library to return the books he had borrowed, nobody followed him.

 

When he walked to the palace gates, nobody bothered stopping him.

 

Essentially, he was free to leave and never return.

 

Amazing.

 

After showing the guards his royal identification, Caellum finally walked out of the palace gates and, for the first time since he arrived in this body, began walking alone through the streets of the capital of the Emberfield Kingdom.

 

Phlegrei.