Dinner With The King

Nicholas and Thomas had figured out a way to disguise the fact that it was Nicholas healing the king. He held up the king's arm for Thomas while Thomas let harmless power flow around the king's arm.

It was through that way that the King couldn't tell that Nicholas was pumping in his own magic in order to rid his mana mark of the poison that had taken root in it.

The whole procedure took roughly 2 hours to complete and at the end of it, both Nicholas and Thomas were worn out. The king on the other hand was the complete opposite.

Nicholas watched as his father stood from his throne-like chair. Bending his knees, jumping, and casting Cruor magic all over the room.

The king laughed and acted like a child that was finally allowed to play.

"Amazing!" The king exclaimed. "Just amazing, I've had so many Corporali Mages take a look at me and none have given me the results you have."

"The prince helped as well, your majesty." Thomas said as he bowed at the king, earning him a glare from Prince Nicholas.

Nicholas knew that Thomas believed he was doing the right thing, but the risk of people thinking he was hiding some magic or knowledge was far too dangerous.

"Oh, he did?" The king asked as he looked at his weakest child.

"He was the one that diagnosed the illness, I described it to him and he helped me figure it out." Thomas boasted.

Nicholas couldn't help but feel relieved that Thomas had simply given him the credit for identifying what was wrong. At least this way that king could think he was smart but weak.

"Yes, Nicholas has always been one of my smarter children." The king said, beaming with pride as the son he thought was a failure helped cure him.

"Father, we must go, it is late and I know my brothers have been waiting to see you since I arrived." Nicholas informed the king in a humble voice.

"Yes, yes, your brothers, but let us have dinner together first. Have the guards inform the other princes that they may return tomorrow." The king instructed as a servant left to do as he asked.

"If you majesty and your highness would allow me, I must take my leave as well." Thomas informed the king as he kept his head down as a sign of respect towards the monarch. "The procedure drained me, I need to rest your majesty."

The king nodded as he dismissed Thomas.

He led Nicholas out of his chambers where they were greeted by Nicholas' and the King's ministers.

Outside, Edward was also still waiting.

"Father!" Edward shouted in a relieved tone as soon as he saw the king.

"Do not pretend that you are relieved that I am well for my sake, Prince Edward. You forget, I was in your position too." The king told his eldest son in a threatening tone.

Nicholas couldn't help but feel bad for the king, all his sons were eagerly waiting for his death. Plotting and planning about what to do as soon as he was declared dead.

But then, Nicholas also felt no guilt in thinking that his father deserved it.

He knew that the king had forced his mother to marry him and have Nicholas. The king trapped Lady Liira against her will in a palace that became her prison.

Even in death Nicholas' mother suffered from the lies and rumors that the other wives continued to spread long after her death.

"Father, we were truly worried about your health." Edward answered, any onlooker would have assumed that the prince was truly worried about the king.

Everything from the tone of his voice, to the expression on his face showed a worried son. But Nicholas knew the truth.

Edward's biggest worry was that his father would die while most of his men were injured and still recuperating from the attack.

"I will speak to you tomorrow, Edward." The king said as he dismissed his eldest son and walked away with Nicholas following him.

Nicolas looked back to see Edward glaring at him as he carried a scowl on his face. It was clear that the king eldest son was not happy with the added favor that Prince Nicholas had just earned.

"I'd like to have dinner alone with my son." The king declared as he stood outside the royal dining hall. "You can have a servant stay to summon you should the prince need any of you."

Nicholas turned to his ministers and nodded to them, telling them he would be fine with his father.

"Very well, your majesty, your highness." Dion said as he bowed to the king and Nicholas. "Regina will stay, she is familiar with the prince's needs and will escort him back to his chambers after supper."

"Good, good." The king said as two guards pushed open the doors to the dining hall for him and Nicholas.

Once the king and Prince Nicholas had entered the room, servants brought in food and drink.

The king gestured for Nicholas to sit on his right. To Nicholas' surprise, the king had not invited anyone else to dine with them.

He had at least expected some of the wives to join them or maybe a minister or two, but no one came as Nicholas and the king began to eat.

The meal was mostly eaten in silence. Nicholas didn't have the energy to begin a conversation with his father.

It was the king that had invited him to dine, so Nicholas found no reason for him to start or encourage conversation.

"I assume that Dion and the other ministers have been serving you well?" The king asked as they finished their meal.

"They have." Nicholas said with a nod. Nicholas couldn't help but wonder if his father knew that Dion was Lady Liira's brother. He was sure that there were still a lot of things about his mother that the king did not know.

"Good." The king said as he nodded and returned to eating his meal.

An awkward silence took over the room once more as Nicholas and the King continued to eat their meal.

"Nicholas, I won't live forever." The king frowned as he looked at his son who didn't seem to mind what was happening around him.

"I know that, father." Nicholas told the king as he kept his attention on his food.

"You are aware of what will happen after, right?" The king asked his son as a look of worry spread across his face.

"I do, father." Nicholas sighed as he placed his knife and fork down and shook his head. "You had me educated on the laws of the land and on our history, how could I not know what would happen after your death."

"We both know you barely have a chance." The king pointed out, admitting for the first time that Nicholas was his weakest child.

"I know." Nicholas admitted, choosing not to deny what most people thought about him.

"Is that why you are desperate to see me well?" The king asked his son.

Nicholas shook his head. Of course that wasn't the reason.

Just like Edward, Nicholas was selfish, he needed the king to stay alive until he remembered how to use his magic to its full potential.

He was no fool to try to save a man who had done nothing good for him.

He wasn't a hero, nor was he a martyr. He was helping the king for his personal gain and no one else.

But of course, that was not something he could tell anyone else.

"I did that because you are my father." Nicholas told the king. "You are my king, and I owe my life to you. I didn't do it because I want to live longer."

"Nicholas, I am not an idiot you know." The king told his son. "I know that your prodigy of a mage is also your minister, I remember him."

Nicholas turned pale at the king's words hit him. Did he actually realize that it was Nicholas that had done the healing?

"Don't panic, I'm sure you only meant to help me. If it's any consolation, I wouldn't have rejected the help from any of your ministers." The king told Nicholas, confusing his son. "Although I can't help but wonder how he became so much more powerful."

"You've seen him do magic in the past?" Nicholas asked the king as he tried to clarify what the king said.

"Yes, he was learning alongside you at one point." The king pointed out. "Whatever temporary solution you and your ministers have done, I know it won't last. This illness of mine if feels like it is what will end me."

Nicholas realized that the King merely thought that what magic they had done was a patch up work, he didn't think that it was Nicholas that had healed him.

He was relieved that the king didn't realize that his own son was much more powerful than he thought. Nicholas couldn't deal with more complications in his plan.

"Nicholas, I think you should take what time I have and leave." The king told his son with a serious expression.

Nicholas looked back at the king, confused by his words.

"I know I will die soon, I want you to run. Your brothers will come after you first because you are the weakest. I want you to live as long as possible, even if it means that Merlen will have to wait a little bit longer for its new king." The king told his son as he looked at him with pity.

Nicholas balled his hands into fists as he shook his head. He knew he had chosen to portray the weak prince, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt when his father believed he would not stand a chance against his brothers.