The King's Nephew

After 4 days of practice and research, which mainly consisted of Elizabeth slaying wyverns, we return to Rosewood. The artificial mana stores would be drained of mana as Elizabeth used her weapon, but since they were in close proximity to me, they'd recharge quickly.

As we were about to pass through the gate to Rosewood, one of the guards pulled Vol aside and whispered something to him. I couldn't hear what the guard said, but hearing Vol's shocked reply was unavoidable.

"What?! Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt," the guard whispered back, "The council head told us himself."

Vol seems concerned, somehow. He walks back to Elizabeth and I, paused halfway through the gate.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

I see him glance over at Elizabeth for a moment and then back at me.

"Ah, I'll tell you later. When we get back."

Hm, how odd. Does he not want Elizabeth to hear? Could it be something about her? The strange situation piques my interest.

When we arrive back home, Vol stops by the door and pulls lightly on my arm.

"Elizabeth, if you don't mind, there's something I need to talk to Sebastian about. Is it alright if we join you later?"

Elizabeth looks blankly back at him before shrugging.

"Sure."

She closes the door behind her.

"Here, come with me."

Vol pulls me along quickly, down streets I've never been to, with next to no residents. Only once we've several streets away from our home, Vol stops up and turns to me. The look on his face tells me that he's concerned, but not exactly scared. He looks at me with serious eyes.

"So?" I ask, "What did the guard say? Something about Elizabeth?"

Vol shakes his head at my question.

"Not about Elizabeth. About you."

Huh? What in the world could a guard say about me that would make Vol look like that?

"Well, not about you, exactly. Which is to say, I don't think he knows, but everybody will soon if you don't do anything."

I really don't need all this word mincing.

"Just tell me what he said."

"He said..."

The king is coming to Rosewood to see us.

Damn. I thought the king was smarter than that. I *guess* it's possible that he doesn't know- no, there's no way. The king coming here in person? He must be absolutely certain that it's me.

"And you're sure that it's the king coming? Not just a servant?"

"The guard said he heard it directly from the council head. They're preparing a gala and everything."

Okay, let's think. What problems could this cause?

Well, the council thinks my name is Sebastian, for one thing. I ask Vol if there's any chance that they'll kick me out if they discover I lied to them to get in.

"It's definitely possible."

That's what I thought.

"There'll be a trial first, though. You would be allowed to argue your case in front of the council."

"Has anybody ever actually won the trial?"

"Of course! Once, I nearly blew up half the magic academy, and they were going to throw me out, but I won the trial because of my research," he says.

Hm, we might have to show them our artificial mana store to convince them to let me stay. It should be revolutionary enough, even if we show them the weakest possible version.

I suppose I could move, but it'll be impossible to find a place as good as this again, and I need to be able to continue my work with Vol.

Not to mention, Elizabeth seems happy here.

I guess that's another problem. She doesn't know that my name is actually Stencil, or that I'm the king's nephew. Would she be angry that I lied to her? I doubt it. She might be disappointed, though. It'll be hard to make up for, but if I dedicate more time to her, I think I can do it.

So then, the final problem.

What if the king asks me to come back? I have to refuse, of course, but what if he tries to force me? The king commands an army. I don't know the size, but without my usual large-scale magic attacks, it'll be a messy battle, and Vol or Elizabeth could get hurt.

I could kill him and usurp the throne, but that'd be too much of a hassle to do again.

What if I convince him that it's better to let me stay?

The artificial mana stores we've been working on could change the world. If the king is, at the very least, not a complete idiot, he should be able to see that. Even better, the kingdom is already on generally decent terms with Rosewood, from what I understand. Revealing it to both of them shouldn't cause any serious issues.

This could work.

"So..?"

Vol's voice pulls me out of my mind. I must have been silent for too long.

"We'll let him come."

I quickly explain my plan to Vol.

"That could work."

Exactly what I was thinking.

"There's just one thing, though," he says, slowly.

"What?"

I didn't miss anything, did I?

"Maybe you should tell Elizabeth now."

"Hm. I guess it would be better to hear it directly from me."

"True, but that's not really what I meant."

Vol's eyes dart around wildly. Is he trying to say something?

Suddenly, there's a flat, female voice from behind me.

‎‎

"That's okay. I've known for a while."