The pope died?!

"What is it father."

William knocked the door, opened it and asked.

"You're finally here, have a sit."

The king pointed at one of the two chairs in front of his worktable, the chairs was a softly cushioned sofa with an extravagant design which made the sofa expensive.

In the middle of the two chairs was a little table which is often used as a place to put served drinks whenever someone visits.

"You should already know why I called you here William"

"Is it about those rumors that has been circulating in the kingdom, if so then yes I do know."

"Correct, but you are wrong about one thing... This rumor has already became an international crisis and isn't kept in the kingdom anymore."

"What?!? how did the rumor spread so fast!"

If a rumor becomes an international talk, then that would mean that the rumor will affect the reputation of the entire kingdom and would lead to cut offs from trading.

"How did the rumor spread so fast? There is also no strong evidence that proves them."

"It's all because of one thing, you being the first child of the king. The first one born is always the one to sit in the throne which makes the people who wants to usurp the kingdom unsatisfied."

"But–"

"Being the king makes you the center point of the entire kingdom, the people who you met and trusted will one day greed for control one-day so be careful."

It is obvious that William should be careful, after all the people who spread those rumors are obviously aiming for his downfall. But that begs the question, Why? William can't remember hurting someone nor offending them, then why? Is it because his the first in line to the throne, if so... it is obvious who spread them.

Those who supported the other princes.

Now that William has a lead on the people that spread those rumors, he asked to himself "How can I save myself" He could start by trying to subdue the people that spread those rumors, but subduing people with no concrete evidence could only lead more rumors.

If only people can somehow see the future one day and know that I'm not a tyrant like the pope.

That's right! the pope, if the pope could prove that I wont become a tyrant then I will be free. William thought

"If you're thinking that the pope could save you, you're too late." The king muttered

?

How did he know what I was thinking about, did it show in my face?

"Yes it showed in your face."

"!!?!"

William is maybe a prince, but he has a really awful poker face. In fact his really awful that when he lies people immediately knows.

"You really are like your mother." King Ezekiel whispered

Then all of a sudden William caught on something that his father said.

"Father what did you mean by i'm too late?" William asked.

It's not like the pope will just die out of nowhere, I mean he has the ability to see the future, William thought

"Yesterday we got a report from our intern, the information stated that the pope of the temple of dalios died on the way here from the kingdom of lazaroush."

"The pope died?!?! he has an ability to see the future... So how did he die?"

If the pope died there no other way for William to save himself, the pope was the only thing left to try to save William, without the pope William has no evidence to remove the rumor which spread like wildfire.

With this thought William slowly got frustrated, he slowly began to lose his temper, without the pope he has to go out there and get rid of the rumor by himself.

"There's no need for you to be that frustrated, I your father the king will take care of that rumor so don't worry." King Ezekiel tried to calm William down.

After what his father said William began calming down, he has his father King of Grissha at his back, he could unite the entire western continent why couldn't he beat a rumor, William says to himself to reassure himself.

The space inside the room slowly got quiet, the atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, William tries to say something but was cut off by Ezekiel.

"Now that our talk is over how about you return to your room." Ezekiel suggested.

But to William what his father just said was more of a command that he can't refuse. William stood up from the chair and went for the door.

he returned with scowls and glares from the staff of the castle the same as before, but it lessened because of Aisha's intervention.

William was just walking around the palaces massive corrider when he stumbled on something that he never expected.

In front of his eyes is Houro who was wearing a robe knocking on a door, that door belonged to someone who despise William the most, the head maid of the palace, Rosaline.

"What is uncle Houro's relationship with Rosaline."

William hid in the corner to avoid being spotted by Houro, the door which Houro was just knocking on opened revealing Rosaline with her usual maid getup.

Houro then entered with no reservation inside the room of Rosaline, Rosaline then looked left and right at the corridor then immediately closed the door.

Since when did Rosaline and Houro have a relationship that could enter each other room with no reservation, and what are those two hiding? William thought to himself confused.

William was just about to go closer to the room and use an eavesdropping skill at Rosalines room when all of a sudden he was interrupted by a sudden noise behind his back .

"What are you doing William."

William then looked back swiftly and saw a familiar face.

"Oh it's just you Aisha."

William sighed in relief.

"I was looking for you everywhere since I heard that you left the king's room just a while ago, but to see you hiding in a corner and acting suspicious are you sure you're a prince–" Aisha mumbled with a annoyed look.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah What did you find me for." William cut off Aisha's long speech.

"I received two letters for you from your friend the duke of Reinhart, and was looking for you... what were you doing in the first place."

"Nothing much, let's go back already." William says as he turned his back and walked back to his room.

Aisha however didn't follow William immediately and stared at a door for a few seconds then walked away, that door that she was staring at is the door which Houro just entered