Monarch's Rebirth: Chapter 35

It was a dark and menacing night. The day passed by quickly in darkness, covered by dark and grey clouds. The clouds were still here, covering the moonlight and stars in the sky from shining down. The perfect time for a secret meeting.

"Zenith, you understand the dangers of this mission?" I said quietly, as Zenith stared at me with confidence and determination.

He nods and says, "Yes, your majesty. I can match his speed and strength in sword fights. I cannot guarantee magic though, he is much stronger than me with magic."

Zenith Cyrus was a prodigious swordsman that I had known since he was only twelve. I found him in the ruins of a small village that had been burnt down due to a raid by the Aberdeen Kingdom. He lost all his family and has no home. He only works for me and no one else.

"Good. Be ready on the 40th. If anything goes wrong, deal with it and make no ruckus about it"

Zenith stands up and leaves the meeting room, leaving me with the five spies that I had set up for the plan.

"Now this leaves us with the main topic. Spying on Artorius. Be cautious of him at all times and keep an eye on him. You will act as nobles from different empires and kingdoms. The papers in front of you all include forged stories that we have. You have to act like a noble and blend in."

The spies read the papers thoroughly and memorise the stories in just mere seconds. These are the best spies we could hire for this job. Spying on Artorius would be easy if I higher the odds of this mission succeeding using the highest quality spies.

"If you all have understood this you may take these papers with you. Remember these are confidential files, you can be executed if you fail to keep this a secret." I told all of them, a warning rather than a threat.

All the spies looked at me with a blank expression, they understood the risk of the mission and were willing to take it. "We understand. This mission will be a success, my lord." One of the spies spoke out.

"Good. If there are no further questions then you all are dismissed."

All of the spies left in formation through the doorway into a darkened hallway. It was past midnight by now and everyone would be asleep. The spies hid their names for their secrecy. They all go by nicknames.

Owl is a forest elf that has the unique ability to be hyper-aware of his surroundings. He knows how to blend in with the surroundings.

Aurora, from the dark elf kingdom. He also has hyper-awareness and can notice the smallest details no matter how minuscule they seem.

Scorpion. Like his name says, he is a master at poison. He can detect and make poison like no one else. The poison he makes cannot be detected by anyone until it's too late.

Chess, his code name reflects his strategic thinking. He is the strategist of the five, the smartest of the five and the oldest. He's seen as the leader of the five. Even better, he comes from the Tenebris kingdom, he has great chemistry with Aurora and Scorpion.

The last one on this team is Mule. A horse tamer who joined the team. He can pretty much tame any horse no matter how feral it is. He can make horses run faster just by being around them. He is one of the spies that I have had since I was king. He will report to me if anything goes wrong or the team betrays.

"Sire, it is getting late. You must go to sleep to not grow any suspicions with your family." Sylas said as I read through the spies' code names and abilities.

After hearing his recommendation I stood up and walked to the door. "Goodnight, Sylas. Rest up well." I told him before walking through the dark hallways.

ARTORIUS' POV

It was past midnight but I was wide awake in my office room. I put Amelia to bed and started to work in secrecy since Felix said he had something to show me.

Since I had to wait in my room till he came I just spent my time working away till he arrived.

A gentle knock came from my door that broke the silence that was in the room. "Come in." I simply said to let the person who knocked come in.

Unsurprisingly it was Felix who came to me with a few reports. It was odd seeing him bring reports so late at night. It must be something confidential.

"Artorius, I need to keep it really low around here. This report that came will be burnt once I read it to you and you read it." He said in a hushed voice.

I stared at him with skeptical eyes. "Tell me about it."

"This report is something our spies caught wind of when spying on King Alaric himself. It seems that King Alaric is growing suspicious of you. There's no reason for you to be suspicious but he is planning to send spies after you. We have to be careful at the party."

There was no blaming Alaric. I knew this would happen soon enough. People would grow suspicious of me. Most people trust me within a heartbeat because of my smooth talking and behaviours. I act as a king but also as a commoner, I act nobly yet as trash.

"Give me the report. Let me read it." I said before putting my hand forward to take the report. Felix gives me the report and stands at ease.

It was a recount of what he had heard from today at the capital of the empire. Many rumours regarding the party that would be held and my marital status, the usual talk around town that people would do. The big news was the secret meeting that Alaric had later at night.

Secret spies were seen entering his castle at night. The castle's lights were dimmed or turned off and most of the staff were asleep. Only his assistant was awake and an unknown soldier.

"Huh, I predicted this. So Arnold and Alaric both do not trust me." I said out loud. Felix takes the papers and burns them using fire. "Indeed. Arnold might've grown out of the suspicion but Alaric hasn't this can mean death."

I thought for a moment about what I should do. All I could do was not make any big moves. Then again I have already done so many big things that it's difficult.

"Do you have any idea what I can do to get on his good side?" I asked Felix, hoping for a quick and easy answer to my problem.

"You might need to work with him. Acting arrogant is something you should control from now on." Felix suggested. It wasn't a bad suggestion either. It was true I was acting quite arrogant with him, yet I did try my best to keep a level of respect with him.

I nod in approval of his idea. "Hopefully he trusts me more with that. Is there anything else I could do?"

"Taking two guests to the party. King Theo always took two guests. It will only make you stand out less." Felix suggested once more.

He isn't wrong again. If I took two more guests he would be more comfortable, knowing I wouldn't harm the people I trust. But who do I take other than Felix?

"Who do I take? Alexander, I suppose is one of them but whose the second?" I asked him, hoping for a well-thought answer.

"Lady Kathlyn~"

"No," I said straight up without a thought.

I cannot drag Kathlyn into this mess. She was once a noble but now she's just a florist. She seems much happier as a simple florist living in her small house than going to rich parties and such.

"King Alaric must've read the newspaper today. It's best if you take her." Felix said once more, even though I disagreed.

I shook my head in disagreement once more. "Nope."

Felix sighs in disappointment. "Artorius, it is a matter of life and death. I really suggest you take her to the party to raise less suspicion."

I thought for a moment about what Felix is trying to say. His suggestion is not a bad idea but it also is dangerous bringing an innocent bystander into this. Usually, I don't mind involving the harm of innocent people but I do not want Kathlyn to get involved in this.

This does leave the question of how effective this idea would be for us to use. There is no risk to it but there is the risk of what people think of Kathlyn. As long as it doesn't make her uncomfortable I can take her, only if that is.

Not only that but my public image. People are already speculating about my marital status, then again I'm too far gone for this. How harmful can it be now?

"Sure, whatever you say then," I told him after quickly thinking of this. If there is no other way I might as well go with it.

Felix seemed pleased with my decision to go with his suggestions. "Very well. That's all I had for the report. Good night, Artorius."

He leaves and I was left in my room with the ashes of the papers that he burnt. I wasn't used to him calling me by my name and not a title. It felt strange.

I sat in the office room for a few minutes just wondering what to do. No one trusts me because I was good for nothing. Even after changing my ways I still cannot be trusted by people like Alaric and Arnold.

If I wanted them to trust me I would need to work my way there. Alaric is going to test me at the party and see if I did change. If I act too harsh I will become a target, if I act too nice they will think that I am an imposter.

Alaric thinks that I want to betray him, and Arnold thinks that I cannot lead the project. Yet they both act oddly kind to me, trusting me in some aspects. What are they thinking of?

"This is frustrating~ Whatever, I'll just deal with everything as time goes on."

I turned off the lights and walked out of the room. The hallways were dark and the only light was the moonlight that barely shined through the clouds.

"Papa! Where are you?" Amelia suddenly asked me through telepathy. "You can still talk to me from that far away?" I asked her back through telepathy.

"Yes, I can! But where are you? I wasn't expecting you to be out for so long."

I sigh and keep walking back to my room. "I'm coming. It won't be long."

"You seem stressed. Shouldn't you be taking a break?" Amelia asked me.

"Not yet. Maybe soon but not yet."

After a long walk, I finally made it to my room and opened the door. Amelia rushed at me as I walked in. I expected her to be asleep since I left her on the bed, half asleep.

"I thought you would be asleep. Why are you still awake?" I asked her while picking her up. "I missed you!"

I put her back on the bed and took off my shirt. "You shouldn't wait for me. I work late into the night so it's best if you fall asleep before me."

"But I can't sleep without you! It's hard falling asleep…"

Why is she acting like an actual child? It feels strange when she acts as if I was her father.

"You know I'm not your real father, right?" I asked her directly. I wanted to know how a dragon, known for being prideful and arrogant, is acting so childish to me.

"I know that. You're a human and I'm a dragon. But you still care for me like a father, right?"

She isn't wrong. I still have yet to think of her as my child, yet I do cater to her needs and wants whenever.

I give her a gentle smile before sitting down on my bed. "Well, if that's how you view it. Just remember that one day I might get an actual human child and you have to care for them like an older sibling."

She jumps on top of me as I lay down on the bed. "When will that time come!? I want a sibling!" She exclaimed happily. "Not soon, that's for sure."

I never felt true romance in my life, this life or in the past. The closest romantic experience I had was with Ha Yun, and that was in middle school.

Amelia jumped off my chest and curled up next to me, making herself comfortable and falling asleep in an instant. I turned to my side and closed my eyes, tired of all the thinking I'd had to do for the past few days. I just hoped to not dream about anything anymore.

"I'll be leaving next week.

"W-what? But aren't you supposed to stay a few more months?"

I couldn't accept the fact that Ha Yun would be leaving so quickly. We only shared a few weeks and grew close in that short time. But she would be gone so quickly… It's unfair.

"My parents decided that I should continue my studies in the eastern region. It's much safer for us there." She said, sounding quite regretful and unhappy with this sudden splitting.

A tear rolled down my face as I stood across her on top of the school roof. "So soon…" I muttered before wiping the single tear off my face. "It's been nice knowing you then!"

Her expression changed to a shock. "So you won't miss me?" She asked me.

"I will! But since it's something I cannot change I must accept it, right?"

Ha, Yun didn't expect a reaction from me. She expected something different, seeing from her reaction. "I see. I will miss you too. Let's spend this last week together and make as many memories as possible!"

A joyful smile broke out on my lips. "Sure! I would love that!"

"Artorius. Wake up. Alexander just sent reports on the project."

Not again.

Every day it's the same for me. Wake up, deal with paperwork or some issue that happened and go back to sleep, dream of my past life and get interrupted.

"Get the bath ready…" I told Felix as I got up from my bed. Amelia has been sleeping a lot recently. She used to wake me up before but now she sleeps through just like me.

Felix enters my room as usual and starts preparing the bath. I cuddle Amelia while Felix prepares the bath.

"I don't wanna get up! I wanna sleep and eat!" Amelia exclaimed as I pulled her closer to me. "Neither do I," I replied to her.

She growled and yelped in frustration from me waking her up. She's growing up quite fast.

"The bath is ready," Felix said before heading for the door. "Is there something more important today?" I asked him, hoping to have something planned today.

"Wilkins is returning today. You might want to go meet him." Felix told me as he opened the door. "Finally! Something to do!"

Felix leaves the room and I walk over to the bathroom to freshen up before starting the day.

"Papa! The water is too cold!"

"It's the same as before! What are you talking about!?"

"It's cold!"

Amelia has been quite reckless nowadays. I didn't expect her to start making so much fuss so soon. Am I spoiling her?

It was the 34th of Spring. The date system seems a bit odd in this world, nevertheless, I have to somehow learn how to use it. In about six days is Amadeus' birthday and I would have to talk to Kathlyn about it.

Alexander will surely go but I was unsure of Kathlyn. She must've read the newspaper yesterday and if I ask her now she would not come with me. This is so annoying!

With everything that's happening it feels quite hectic. The locomotive project, Alaric not trusting me, and Amadeus's birthday party possibly be a way to reel me into an assassination attempt. Speaking of which, there are possibly more of them in the makings already.

"Papa… you seem quite out of it today. Is everything okay?" Amelia said as I thought to myself while eating breakfast.

I jolted back to life and shook my head. "What? Yes I'm fine. I was just thinking." I told her back through telepathy.

"I forgot to mention. Vincent will be coming back today." Felix says as I talked to Amelia through telepathy. "Oh, I don't have any work for him. Wait actually, there might be work for him"

If Vincent and Wilkins both come back together, I can start the liquor business I planned with Wilkins.

The season will end in a few weeks. This means tax collection is also coming. More and more people started to migrate to the Faunus kingdom. It's becoming a hotspot for people to immigrate to.

Next season's report will reveal if it's true or not. It was only a report I found in the newspaper, revealing a survey of around a hundred people around the other three empires. The survey showed that the Faunus kingdom ranked the highest for travelling and living.

Faunus kingdom is also ranked the highest in terms of living conditions. All the cities, towns and villages are thriving in terms of economy. They always have space for new people to start living in as well.

Everything indicates that I've successfully dragged this kingdom out of ruins, even after a war. Now all I have to do is keep myself out of trouble and I could live an easy and wealthy life.

"A-Artorius… You've been thinking for quite a long time. You should probably eat before it gets too cold." Felix chimed in as I sat at the table, thinking of everything that was happening.

"Oh… right," I said before quickly finishing the steak and finishing half a bottle of wine. "Time to get to work."

I left the dining room and headed for the office room. Amelia followed behind me and Felix is just left bewildered.

VINCENT'S POV

The kingdom's capital came into view as I raced through the path towards it. I was travelling all night through the Aberdeen kingdom and only made it to the Faunus kingdom in the daytime.

When I presented the body of the assassin that tried to kill Artorius she was horrified. She quickly took action and did her best to stop any more assassination attempts. She's taken the role of queen quite easily.

After the war, the Aberdeen kingdom was suffering. Many hated the Meyer family and wanted them to step down. Lady Alyssa knew of this which is why she did her best to make the people happy, telling everyone that she wouldn't be a tyrant like her father.

Even still many people were unhappy with the Meyer family ruling the kingdom. Hopefully, this will soon change.

"Vincent. You're finally back." The guard scoffed as I got to the gate.

"Sir Vincent, if you may," I told him back with an arrogant smile. "Oh really? When did you become King Artorius' assistant?" He asked me, sounding quite displeased with my new job.

"Just a few days ago. Second assistant, right beside Felix."

The guard gave me an annoyed expression in response before the gates opened. I trot inside the city and find it completely changed. It seems like they were busy while I was gone.

All the roads were fixed and a new sewage system was put into place. The city walls also had no more moss on them. Another significant change was the number of guards patrolling the city. It seemed that Artorius would not be mucking about when it comes security.

Both of the kingdoms seemed to have grown a dislike towards me, possibly due to me betraying Lukas midway in the battle. Many recognized me, gave, and seemed annoyed just by the sight of me trotting through the city.

At the Aberdeen kingdom, the only reason I was not killed and thrown into a pit with hungry wolves was because of my connections with Artorius and Lady Alyssa forgiving me.

"Isn't that Vincent? Lukas assistant that betrayed him in the middle of a war?"

"Is it? What a coward! The Meyer family has fallen apart."

"How could King Artorius trust him? Is he sure he won't betray him as well?"

Do people not realise how loud they are!?

After the long walk through the city of hearing people make speculations about me.

The palace was the only place where they trusted me. Even the guards that stood outside the gate were merciful towards me and called me sir rather than just making annoying expressions at me.

I saw Felix waiting for me at the entrance as I trot through the courtyard. I give him a wave and he gives me one back.

"Welcome back, Vincent. How was your trip back home?" Felix asked me as I got off my horse.

"Don't get me started. I could've been killed multiple times. People hate me!"

Felix laughs at me venting about my trip. "Who would've thought betraying your king is a bad idea? Let's have some tea and breakfast while talking more about it."

I smiled at the idea of having time to relax with someone I can trust. Felix is the only person I can trust so far other than my own family. He's been quite helpful and forgiving of me.

"I'm starving! Let's eat!"