CHAPTER 7: Family meeting

vera called out the family physician while escorting me to the living room and there I saw the whole family waiting for me. father looks so anxious while balm fixing his hair on the mirror and basil who just on the slept on the chair. 

I enter the room, all eyes are on me. Even Basil just woke up from a nap. their eyes widen in shock as they see my cheek swollen. then father come running at me and say "what happen? did the king do this to you" in anxious tone

then vera interrupted by saying "nah, it's because of me". then father slapped him on his right cheek and holding his shirt. "how could you hit your sister, I taught you better than to hit a woman"

"Father it was not on purpose" I said

"what do you mean not on purpose?"

"it's.... because.... there was a mosquito on my face... then vera saw it, then he hit me accidentally."

father felt a little bit of relief, then he slap vera in the head and said "you idiot, why would you hit your sister for a harmless mosquito"

"mosquito are not harmless, if it continue to bite me, I might get malaria," I said

"malaria?" said by balm in a confused face

"Malaria is a dangerous disease that is transmitted by an infected mosquito through the blood vessels, which releases a parasite that can cause fever, rashes, and even death if not treated right away."

balm and father was confused by my response, even vera is a bit confused then he shrug it off by saying "yes, that is right. I am a doctor. you should thank me". 

Basil then started to laugh and said "what kind of imagination are you saying, valerian. there is no such thing, a disease caused by a mosquito bite, HAHAHAHAHA"

as father heard those words, he then redirected to me and said "Valerian, I know you are trying to protect your brother. but he need to be taught a lesson for such a foolish act."

"father can you just give vera some space". father agreed to my request and he go back to where he seat and ask me to sit beside him

then he said "I have heard from vera, that you have an afternoon tea with the king. so how was it?"

"it was fine, the food was good and the tea was also good and the castle--" father listen to my conversation and nodded to every word, as he sip a cup of tea I then blurt out "the wedding will be moved to 3 days instead of 2 weeks"

*cough* "in 3 days?" father said

balm said "Whoaa, so what about the wedding plan, there is still so much to work on." 

then basil say "why isn't on a rush?"

"the empire is going to be on war with the gelvic empire, so he want's the wedding before he goes to war" I said

"father do you have any idea about this?" balm asked

"yes, this morning's meeting, there was a discussion with the general on claiming the gelvic empire territories. they claimed that land belong to the benzene empire from long generation ago, all the way from Queen Lindane." father said

"who's queen lindane?" I whisper to vera and he whisper back, "She is the 18th ruler of benzene empire. she was the greatest queen, uniting the 8 empire in one"

Then Father continues, "But I know what they want. they are just a bunch of greedy pigs wanting to claim more land and kill more innocent" 

I know what Father meant by those, in the real world, I thought that the war was started by an insane man who became the leader of a cultist country. but no, it was all about greed, stealing land to benefit themselves, killing the innocent, and spreading propaganda that they were the enemy, then making themselves look like heroes. in reality, there is no enemy nor heroes or who is the rightful owner, we are all doing this for greed, to make the man on a pedestal happy. 

"HAHAHAHAHA, those fuckers know what coming for them. I wish I could be there on the battlefield, killing those bastard for stealing our land" said by basil

"our land?, haven't you considered that maybe we are the one who is stealing?" I said

"what the fuck are you talking about?, that land belong to us. which even belong to queen lindane. our great queen of all benzene"

"maybe queen lindane also steal that land, remember queen lindane was a tyrant who wage war at 8 empire to claim it is one. and now gilvec empire is just protecting its own" 

"the benzene empire was the original empire, until those selfish bastard want to claim their own land. I hope they all die"

"what is wrong with you?" I said, as basil said those word in menacing act that scared me a bit. "why would you wish their death, if we are aiming for their land?"

"look valerian, those people does not fit in our society. have you seen the dyesean race (civilian of dyes kingdom). stealing, killing, begging on the street of benzene. I hope the king will immediately wipe those bastards off" 

"those people have no homes anymore because we took their land, tell me, if that happens to you. I'm sure you will be begging on the street too" i said those words while looking directly into his eyes. He has this horrible glare that looks like a killer, the same way King Harold look at me

"enough both of you, it is not your responsibility to debate on the war. what's important is valerian wedding. valerian why don't you go to your room and get some rest?" father said

I then walk toward the door then basils says before I leave "if you are gonna become the queen, this kingdom will be in ruined". 

ruined huh?. I don't even have plans on becoming queen. I need to escape this.