The Lost Prince
CHAPTER 14 OVERLOOKING KING part.1: CONFUSING REPORTS
Dhafin and General Felix and Lieutenant Fidell have reached the Amerta Royal Palace. Join them Miss Carissa and her daughter, Ariesha Divya. But the second purpose of the mother-son women to the palace was to visit the Blue Crystal Palace, the residence of the King's Empress. Lady Carissa with the Empress was a close friend. Her goal of wanting to visit the Empress's residence was to introduce her newly discovered daughter.
Meanwhile Dhafin and General Felix continued to step towards Balairung Istana, where King Darian Cashel met with his officials. Behind him comes Lieutenant Fidell. But the 25-year-old did not come before King Darian Cashel. He immediately sat on the back seat of the palace officials who had already gathered in the Palace Hall.
As Dhafin and General Felix walked towards King Darian, everyone in the Palace Hall looked at Dhafin. Both those in the row of office chairs and those around the throne stage. Including King Darian Cashel who sat on his gold-plated throne.
Rumors were immediately heard from the officials and deputy officials while glancing at Dhafin. Various facial expressions shown by each of them. But Dhafin seemed to not care, he continued to go hand in hand with General Felix.
Once Generals Felix and Dhafin were close to the three cubits high throne stage, about two spears from the throne stage, they stopped stepping. They stopped right in opposition to His Majesty King Darian Cashel.
General Felix immediately knelt down giving reverence. The left leg with the knee docked on the floor following the left palm treading the floor. While the right leg treads the floor, the knee faces up with the right palm gripping it. The body follows the head down quite deeply. Then he heard his salute.
"Gift and salvation are abundant to His Majesty the King. Receive the salute of the servant."
General Felix has paid his respects, but Dhafin has not budged in the least. The boy was still standing upright while staring at King Darian Cashel unblinkingly. While the manly and wise king, being stared at so astonished him, but not offended at all.
While the palace officials and their representatives were immediately surprised not to play to witness Dhafin's disrespectful attitude. Some of them could only stroke the chest for Dhafin's courage to act so. Some were staring cynically, snorting annoyedly, growling furiously.
Including a little boy of Dhafin's age who sat not far to the right of the throne, near the Office of the Advisors of the Palace. His cynical eyes stared at Dhafin full of lowliness. His haughty looking face published a snarl.
While the little boy sitting next to the Royal Chief Official, not far to the left of the throne, looked at Dhafin somewhat differently. Children whose age is not much different from the child who was surprised to see the courage of Dhafin. Standing up straight while staring at the king is a really great guts according to him. Even his heart was happy to see the courage of the young man. Without feeling her lips smile.
Meanwhile, General Felix realized that Dhafin had not paid his respects to His Majesty the King. But just as he was about to rebuke him, the haughty Prince Adrian Carel had already reprimanded him with contempt.
"Hey, Little Boy! How dare you behave presumptuously in the presence of His Majesty Father! Not that you're acting like you're challenging His Majesty!"
Dhafin did not criticize the arrogant prince. He was still staring at King Darian without flinching. Who would have thought that it turned out that the gaze of Dhafin was not just an ordinary gaze, but observed around the face full of calmness and shade.
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"You talk, Prince Adrian!" the King of Darian. Not snapping, but full of emphasis. "Nobody told you to talk."
"But, Your Majesty...."
"Shut up!"
Prince Adrian Carel just grunted in annoyance. He looked at Dhafin with anger as if he was about to break his humiliation.
"What are you looking at me like, Young man?" King Darian turned to look at Dhafin, asking in a gentle, well-mannered tone. "Is there something you see?"
Dhafin did not answer King Darian's question. After feeling enough to observe the look on his face, Dhafin immediately knelt down giving reverence as did General Felix. Then he said.
"Much blessings and salvation upon His Majesty the King. Receive the salute of this despicable servant."
"You guys, wake up!" king Darian's word is full of authority.
Then Generals Felix and Dhafin got up from their knees. General Felix even though he was standing but still behaving in a reverent manner, a little head reserved. But Dhafin just act ordinary, but that does not mean he does not respect King Darian.
"I'm not sure that the Lowly Child took part in the arrest of the dirty official, Your Majesty," the grunt of Prince Adrian was not satisfied to oppress Dhafin. "He just wants to get face to face with His Majesty through Lieutenant Fidell. I'm sure it is."
King Darian Cashel did not pierce the Crown Prince's grunt. The mannered king looked at General Felix and asked.
"Is this your adopted son, General Felix?"
"Oh, Your Majesty. This young man is not actually a slave adopted son" General Felix said respectfully. "He's just a servant's friend."
"Where is your adopted son Lieutenant Fidell referring to?" asked King Darian still curious.
"Oh, Your Majesty. I do not understand why His Majesty suddenly considers me to have a foster child? Though I've never said anything to Lieutenant Fidell."
For a moment King Darian stared at General Felix for quite a while. As if looking for lies on the face of General Felix. Feeling that he got nothing from his efforts, he then let General Felix sit in his chair.
"Lieutenant Fidell, come here!"
Without a long time Lieutenant Fidell immediately stepped quickly before the King. As soon as it was close he immediately knelt down giving reverence as he should. Before long he knelt down he immediately got up after King Darian Cashel let him wake up.
"Clean Fidell!" ask General Myles. "Didn't you report yesterday that there was a little boy you said General Felix's adopted son took part in dismantling the great crime of the Pendar City Official?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. General," Lieutenant Fidell said like a confused person. "I feel like I never reported it to you."
What General Myles said is true. Lieutenant Fidell did report that yesterday, in the presence of King Darian at his residence in the Purple Crystal Palace. The only important officials at that time were General Myles and the Imperial Advisory Officer.
At the time of reporting that, the little boy Lieutenant Fidell was referring to was Dhafin. That was before his memory of Dhafin had not gone away. So King Darian told Lieutenant Fidell to tell Dhafin to face him with General Felix.
Lieutenant Fidell does not remember who Dhafin is. So that the thing he reported yesterday he did not remember anymore because it was about Dhafin. Then came the answer that was like confusion.
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It was a wonder then that King Darian and General Myles heard Lieutenant Fidell's confession just now. While the Office of the Advisory Palace was not surprised, but he felt that something strange had happened to Lieutenant Fidell. And Dhafin could see that the Palace Counselor had sensed something strange.
While other officials besides General Felix were not only astonished, but mixed with confusion at the recognition of Lieutenant Fidell who was the opposite. There was no way His Majesty the King would tell them a lie. Was Lieutenant Fidell the one who brought the fake news?
"You reported it before His Majesty, Lieutenant Fidell," said General Myles in a sharp tone as he stood slightly forward. "Continue now you claim to have never reported it. Are you going to play with His Majesty, Lieutenant Fidell?"
"Even so, Your Majesty, I dare not" said Lieutenant Fidell quickly in a trembling voice while kneeling as he gave reverence.
"I asked once again" said General Myles, further sharpening his speech. "You reported yesterday that there was a little boy you said General Felix's adopted son took part in dismantling the crime of the City of Pendar Officer. Is that right, isn't it?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. General, I never reported that" Lieutenant Fidell said. "That is the authority of Mr. General Felix, my superior. I have no authority on that."
General Myles could only fall silent while holding back furiously. Twice asked Lieutenant Fidell still did not confess. Is he going to play a trick on His Majesty?
"What exactly happened, Reverend Noman?" asked King Darian still astonished. "Why did Lieutenant Fidell deny his report yesterday?"
"Hamba also does not understand it, Your Majesty," said Reverend Noman, the Office of the Palace Counsel in a calm tone as he looked at Dhafin who was sitting next to General Felix.
The boy did not look at him nor did he see anyone in this Palace Hall. The boy closed his eyes like he was meditating.
"Is Lieutenant Fidell's report yesterday a false report, Reverend Noman?" general Myles was confused. "If it is so, it means Lieutenant Fidell has committed an offence, falsely reported and played with His Majesty's authority."
Hearing General Myles' words just now made Lieutenant Fidell tremble even more in fear. He felt he was reporting nothing. Why are you accused of giving a false report to Your Majesty? His heart was getting confused.
"Don't be so quick to conclude, General Myles," said the quiet priest who never looked back at Dhafin.
The Royal Chief official sitting to the left of the throne stared for a moment at Lieutenant Fidell, then asked.
"Do you know the boy, Lieutenant Fidell?" The Chief official pointed towards Dhafin.
Then Lieutenant Fidell turned to look at Dhafin. In his mind he had just seen the boy, while leaving for the palace. He did not know the boy, and General Felix did not introduce him.
"I don't know him, Mr. Chief Official," he said without hesitation.
The Royal Chief official who did not talk too much did not ask anymore. Then he turned to look at King Darian, then said, "Your Majesty. It might be a good idea to ask this to General Felix and the Young Man."
"Yes, let's ask them about this" said King Darian who remained calm, not rash to make a decision.
Then he ordered Lieutenant Fidell to return to his seat.
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