The King's Beloved

[Music Recommendation: "Somnus" by Yoko Shimomura (instrumental only - FFXV OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the true atmosphere of this scene ~

After the banquet scene, the surroundings changed again. This time, it changed into the throne room where the king and queen sat beside each other. Judge Amare knelt in front of them, with a worried-stricken face.

"Amare," the kind King Eli called her. "The man you mentioned is my very own brother. It is impossible for him to wish for my destruction. He is a very wise man—full of honor. He will not betray me. There must be a mistake," he insisted.

Sighing, Amare replied, "But my charms don't lie, your majesty. Dark black color means death itself—either the wearer saw death, experienced it, or killed someone! And my charm is directed to you so the color will change according to a person's true feelings towards YOU. It means he wishes to—" she hesitated a bit but continued either way, "kill you."

Queen Alice gasped in disbelief. Tears began to form in her eyes.

"My beloved king, I understand he is your brother but… we should not ignore what Amare speaks of."

"That's why he didn't agree to me changing his hair color—he knew! He knew there was more to it," Amare continued.

King Eli felt contradicted. He trusted both Amare and Sanguis, his brother. 

"Then, what do you suggest that I should do to my brother?" he asked with a wretched face. He clenched his fist tight, trying to mask the torment in his heart.

Amare felt the king's heart break. To soothe him, she replied kindly. 

"Innocent until proven guilty, your majesty. I'll just monitor him and if he does something he shouldn't, then I'll carry out my duty of protecting you both".

King Eli smiled bitterly. "Yes, please. Thank you, Amare."

After the conversation with the king, Amare started wide-casting her Pandora's charm. Each and every Magi's hair had been enchanted with it. And this time, the charm she cast was an "Everlasting Pandora's charm"—one that would pass itself generations to generations. And so, everyone's hair color changed according to their feelings towards the king who sat on the throne. One after another, green-haired, dark-haired, grayish-haired Magi revealed themselves. Amare strictly monitored everyone belonging to the latter category.

"As for the next," Ducis spoke and turned to King Calum, "I believe it would be best if you shared your memory."

King Calum breathed deeply. "… Yes, I understand."

He then waved his hands and sparkles of light began to form the surroundings into that of a pavilion—none other than the one near the Forbidden Forest, the place where Rania and Elliot first met.

Everyone paid attention towards the little Calum who was prancing merrily from the west wing of the Forbidden Chambers, a few steps away from the pavilion. There was no barrier in between and he was free to go towards the pavilion as he pleased. He only stopped his prancing when someone called him.

"Calum!" a tall man called the little child from the west wing.

"Hm?" little Calum turned around and saw that it was Avarus, his father's friend. "Oh, Mr. Avarus! What can I do for you?" He walked back towards the man.

"Have you seen your father?"

"Hmm… I'm afraid not yet," little Calum answered. "He's been busy with state meetings lately so we haven't had the chance to talk yet. I'll see him later at lunch though. He promised to eat with me."

"Oh, really? Isn't that great?" Avarus chuckled and patted the little child's hair. "In that case, would you mind giving him something for me?"

"Sure. What is it?"

Avarus pulled out a small box from inside his coat. It was black and tied in a scarlet ribbon. Little Calum marvelled at the sight of it, curious as to what's inside.

"Can I open it?" little Calum innocently asked.

"Please behave and don't open it. It's meant for the king."

"So it's a present to the king!" little Calum grinned mischievously. "Elliot will be jealous. I can ask father what this is later while he won't know what it is until his majesty opens it. He-he-he. I won't tell him what's inside."

"Ha-ha-ha! Yes, no need to tell him. It can be your secret."

"Yes! And my father is still lazy as usual. Asking you to pick a present instead of doing it himself. Where's the point of sending a present that way, huh?" little Calum pouted. "Anyway, I just need to give it to father, right? Or should I just give it directly to his majesty? I'd have better luck finding him than father these days."

With that question, Avarus pondered for a moment.

"Hmmm… whichever you meet first. If you meet the king first, then you can give it to him saying it's a present from your father. And if you meet your father first, then tell him it's the present he asked me to get. How's that?"

"Alright! Sounds fair."

"Goodluck, then. I'll be on my way."

And so, Avarus bid his goodbye. Little Calum turned around and continued his prancing. In his mischievous mind, he thought of showing it to Elliot first before going to the king to make him jealous. The innocent child giggled as he thought of it.

A few moments passed as little Calum sat on the pavilion. He summoned Elliot through telepathy magic, asking him to come to the pavilion. Little Elliot agreed and after a few minutes, he could be seen emerging from the Forbidden Forest with a practice sword at hand.

"Calllluuuumm!" he shouted from afar and waved his little hands. His mouth grinned from ear to ear.

"So there you are! Practicing again without anyone accompanying you!" little Calum reprimanded him.

"He-he-he… It's fine. I can protect myself."

"Yeah, right," little Calum replied, obviously not believing him.

"What's that in your hands?"

"Oh, this?" little Calum looked smug. "It's a present for the king!"

"For father? Let me see! What's inside?" little Elliot reached out his hands, wanting to grab the box.

"No, you don't. You're not allowed to open it. It's a present for the king, not you."

"Hmf! I just want to see what's inside. We can put it back together later. They won't know we opened it. Please…"

"If I'd known you'd be so pushy, I shouldn't have shown you."

Little Elliot pouted. "I just wanted to see a little bit."

Little Calum sighed. He really had a soft spot for his cousin.

"Fine. I'll let you see it. I'm curious, too, what's inside."

The two laughed at each other.

"Ready?"

"Yes, ready!"

And so, little Calum undid the ribbon, and slowly opened the box, not knowing the danger it contained…

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