Magic Of Mana Book 1: The First Tragedy
Chapter 4: Old News (Part 4)

...Chapter 4 (Part 4)...

...Old News...

Queen Stephanie's funeral ended at noon. The king entertained the higher-ups who had come before them to return to their respective provinces tonight. Shumi prefers to stay in her room and keeps remembering the memories with her mother. He was no longer able to shed tears, but making his heart return as it was still difficult.

He wonders if he can make the potion faster, the possibility of his mother can he save. Or if he had the ability to heal, maybe he could also save his mother. He kept wondering, until finally the day began to get dark again even though he knew that the clock was still showing at four in the afternoon.

Dug Dug's..!

The sound of the room door being knocked.

“Iya?” shumi replied before the person who knocked on her door called out to her.

“Your Majesty the King calls you, Princess,” says a woman behind the door. Shumi knew his voice.

“Good, Shukoi!” reply Shumi, “I will be out, briefly!” Shumi then got up from her seat at her reading table and walked towards the door of her room.

Shumi opened the door. Shukoi whose eyes were slightly swollen stood up and then looked down respectfully. “You must be reminiscing about how my mom saved you first huh?” ask Shumi.

“Iya, Miss,” she replied, “how can I forget the services of Her Majesty the Queen who saved me and my family from those Elves?” Shukoi still lowered her head, “and I have not been able to avenge that, Miss.”

“You are one of the pride of my mother, Shukoi," Shumi said. “Come, accompany me to the hall, the dukes will definitely return home,”.

“Good, Miss,” replied Shukoi.

The two of them walked towards the main hall of the kingdom.

“How is Father's condition?” ask Shumi.

“Your Highness seems to be still very grieving, Miss,” replied Shukoi, “he looks sober, I have never seen His Majesty drink as much as tonight.”

Upon their arrival, they saw the dukes sitting before a long, magnificent wooden table. At the end of the table, King Victor sat down and sipped a glass of wine. He looked messy and drunk. To the right of the King sat the great commander Arthur.

“Shumi, My son!” greet the King. “Please sit!” her door pointed towards the bench next to her which was empty.

Shumi just nodded and walked towards that bench. Shuko followed. They passed through the gap between the dukes and their respective guards standing behind him. Then, Shumi sat down and Shukoi stood exactly like the other ducal guards behind him.

“Thank you, Dad,” praise Shumi. He saw all the dukes looking at him.

“Mr Princess is getting mature and beautiful, Your Highness!” kylen said with a smile.

Shumi looked at her at a glance, then turned her face away. He looks a little disgusted.

“You scared the Princess, perverted duke,” replied Xhavier while laughing a little and followed by several dukes.

“Ha.ha.ha..” laughter King Victor, “you always have, Kylen! Looks like that pretty girl in the Eastern Province has bored you, huh?” All the dukes laughed, including Kylen himself.

“I'm sorry, Mr Princess!” kylen slightly lowered his head. “I just want you not to be sad anymore!” he added.

“Tak What, Mr. Duke,” reply Shumi. He still felt awkward because it was very rare to meet with royal officials like this. But he wanted to start. He recalled his promise to his late mother to become a capable leader someday.

“My son, why have you been locked up in your room all day?” ask King Victor. “Do you have no pity on your mother? He will be sad if you continue like that" he continued.

“Ti..no Dad,” replied Shumi, “I just want to calm down. I also remember my promise to Mom the night before Mom died and I still doubt if I can be what Mom wanted.” to be

Slowly everyone fell silent and looked at Shumi as if something was taking them all by surprise. Shumi looked back at all the dukes one by one.

“You..An..da definitely can, Tu.tuan Putri!” phicato replied suddenly in a somewhat shrill voice and made all the dukes and Shumi glance at him. It looks wrong behavior.

“What promise did you give your mother, son?” ask King Victor.

Shumi looked towards her father. “I promise I will be a capable leader for this kingdom, Father," he replied, “like a woman mother told me about that night. Women who want to create peace throughout Arez's!” Shumi began to reminisce about those times again.

“Hah?” Shumi was surprised, “what's true so Dad? Shumi's too introverted, huh? Shumi just heard that story from Mom yesterday?” It became quite wrong behavior. Only a few people know that story.

“Of course, Princess,” suddenly Charlie cut, “that's a very proud story! We should all have the same dream as that woman!” All the dukes slowly began to agree and began to chuckle.

“Yes, She is a tough woman,” continued Franz smiling.

“Of course, the Princess can be a capable leader in the future" Charlie said. “We as the people of the trust of the government, will always support you, so no need to worry,” he added.

“What if the Princess goes to visit our province? We will show the city of Baland is very beautiful,” said Fanish. All the dukes nodded in agreement.

“Or to our province, or where does the Princess want?” greet Xhavier. “Have come your time to know the condition of the kingdom more broadly, right?” he continued, looking at King Victor.

“Yes, I and we think it is a good idea Your Majesty,” Frans said and followed the approval of the other dukes.

“With strict care of course,” added Arthur, “I am ready to escort the Princess." Once again the dukes agreed.

“Please don't go to your house, Phicato!” robberty and the other dukes laughed, except for Pasilic. Phicato also looked a little forced smile. “What's the matter with you, Pasilic?” ask Robberty then.

“Maybe it would also be better if not to my province,” replied Pasilic and fell silent for a while. “Or more precisely next time after going to another place first,” he added. This time everyone who was sitting there laughed, except for Shumi who was just smiling sweetly.

“All depends Dad,” said Shumi, “I want to do that, if allowed.”

Slowly the laughter in the room stopped. All are waiting for an answer from the King.

“After I have good news from his son Arthur, this input will be considered,” replied the King. Suddenly, all the dukes looked delighted.

“Mari toast!” take Kylen and be welcomed by all the dukes there.

“Before!”, cut off King Victor, “I called my son here because there is something you should watch!” All fell silent and slowly put back their cups.

“What's up, Dad?” ask Shumi.

King Victor took out a silver ring from his pocket and stood up, then showed it to everyone there. Cintin was no stranger to the dukes, especially to Shumi. “This ring is a symbol of the power and wisdom of the Queen who has left us all. And as the successor to the throne of this kingdom and the peace of this kingdom, in front of all of you, I will hand it over to my son, Shumi Mediane," he said.

At once all the dukes and Arthur rose from their seats, then they placed their right hand on their left chest, followed by all the guards who were there. King Victor gestured to his slightly bewildered son.

“Please, son!” king Victor said.

Shumi got up from her seat and faced her father head-on. “Does Shumi deserve it, Dad?” ask Shumi.

“It's so fast!” answer the King. He then takes Shumi's right hand and pairs the ring. “Be happy, Princess Shumi!” smith again.

“For the sake of Princess Shumi and Her Majesty King Victor! Wishing the Earth Kingdom!” charlie said aloud and took back the cup of wine. King Victor, all the dukes and Arthur also took their cup.

“Supervise the Kingdom of the Earth!” king Victor shouted and was greeted with the same words by everyone there, then drank wine in his own cup, except Shumi and the guards who stood behind them.

Suddenly Shumi remembered the parchment his mother had given him. Without thinking anymore, he immediately spoke to his father in a soft voice. “Dad, Shumi was given an old parchment by Mom that night and Mom said I could only open it after mom or dad had died" he said.

King Victor was shocked to the point of choking. The dukes suddenly looked at him. All speechless.

“It's okay, I just drank too much. Continue drinking!” king Victor said as he sat down, then everyone sat back and talked to each other. “What camper? Did you open it?" king Victor said to Shumi.

“Not yet, I want to open it with Dad,” replied Shumi.

King Victor was silent for a moment. He seemed to think hard, then went back to pouring his wine and drinking it. “I'm starting to understand what your mother talked about that night. I thought about him, it was not,” he then stopped for a moment to drink in front of him. “Alright, we'll talk tonight, it's probably an old news parchment, Shumi. I don't know what our condition will be like after you read the contents, but maybe this is the right time,” he added.

The dinner was rolling until the time showed at nine p.m. All the dukes begged for his leave and went to their respective cities. After that, Shumi goes first to his room, and King Victor promises to catch up with him soon. That night will be a very long night and the determinant of the next trip. The journey of the future destiny.

...-Chapter 4: Old News - End -...