Know Everything

I felt reluctant to let go of the child, fearing what might happen to him. However, Quentin smiled reassuringly at the kid, who willingly went with him without any resistance.

As I looked closely at Quentin's face, I realized he was one of the knights who had accompanied us before.

"Wait!" I called out to Quentin as he was about to leave with the child.

Approaching the kid, I knelt down so we were eye level. Though there were no visible wounds on his body anymore, there were still traces of blood that bore witness to Minister Lucas's cruelty.

"I have something for you," I said gently, smiling as I handed him the bag of food.

The child accepted it shyly but gratefully. I maintained my smile and continued to look at him until Quentin swiftly disappeared with the child.

Ludwig immediately came to my side as the curious onlookers began to gather around us.

A chill ran down my spine when I sensed someone's gaze on me. Turning, I saw Minister Lucas staring at me, his expression dark and angry. It sent a shiver of fear through me, as if his gaze held a threat more sinister than what he had done to the child.

As we walked in silence for several minutes, I couldn't help but notice the lack of shops along our path.

"What will happen to the child?" I finally broke the silence, my voice filled with concern. "Will he be imprisoned? Punished? He's still so young, Prince Ludwig." I bit my lip as I noticed Ludwig's clenched teeth. "And he claimed he didn't steal, but even if he did, it was just a loaf of bread. Hunger might have driven him to it. Perhaps there's something better we can do. Imprisonment doesn't seem like the best solution. We should address the root cause, not just the outcome..."

"Don't worry," Ludwig reassured me. "He's with Quentin now, and Minister Isaac will oversee his case. He won't be harmed by the knights, and because of his age, he won't be imprisoned but rather educated and guided. After a thorough check for injuries and Minister Isaac's inquiries, he will be placed in an orphanage."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me at Ludwig's words.

"Do you think I'd neglect the kid?" Ludwig's question caught me off guard. Despite the absence of anger in his tone, there was a subtle sadness that lingered.

I glanced up at him, but he avoided meeting my eyes, making it challenging to gauge his emotions.

His question prompted me to reflect, and after a moment of consideration, I replied with conviction, "No, I don't believe you would neglect the child. Despite moments of frustration and anger, I know you wouldn't abandon someone in need. Your dedication to the kingdom and its people is evident. I've witnessed firsthand how you ensure the well-being of everyone, as you did earlier with the other children."

I admired that characteristic of him. Despite not always being recognized, I could sense Ludwig's genuine care and love for his constituents. He had a good heart, evidenced by how he took me in without expecting anything in return, providing me with a home, food, and clothing, even though I was not a priority or a major concern for him.

As we walked aimlessly together, I let out a sigh, feeling a mixture of emotions.

"If that's the case," Ludwig spoke up, his voice carrying an unfamiliar tone. "Why you seem so anxious?"

"Well..." I hesitated, moistening my lips. "I'm just worried about the child facing punishment. While you're the prince, you don't have sole authority over everything. There are ministers and other figures of power. Even though you intervened to save the child, I still fear that he might face harm from others in positions of authority."

Ludwig's assurance brought a sense of relief, but his next words caught me off guard.

"I won't allow anything bad to happen to the child, so please don't worry," Ludwig's voice was filled with conviction. "While the ministers have authority in creating laws for the kingdom, as the crowned prince and future king, my voice carries power that you may not fully realize. I will use that power to protect everyone, including you..."

His last words were almost a whisper, but the intensity of his promise reverberated in the silence between us.

My heart raced at his words, and I couldn't help but swallow hard, averting my gaze.

We continued in silence, leaving the town behind and entering the wilderness at the edge of the forest on the other side of the town.

I looked at Ludwig, breaking the prolonged silence with a question that had been lingering in my mind.

"Can you tell me more about your world?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued after spending some time in silence.

I reflected on how I had initially been preoccupied with finding a way back to my own world, that the details of Quailsham, Etherealis, and Fortunalia had somewhat faded into the background. At first, I hadn't felt the need to understand everything about this world, assuming my stay would be temporary. However, as time passed, and especially after recent events, I came to terms with the likelihood that returning home might not be feasible, at least not anytime soon, possibly not even in my lifetime.

The thought was sobering, and I wondered what Ludwig's world held beyond what I had seen and experienced so far.

It dawned on me that in order to thrive and adapt to this unfamiliar world, I needed to delve deeper into its intricacies. Understanding its history, culture, laws, geography, economy, and more became imperative for my survival. Knowledge would be my key to navigating and integrating into this world.

When I asked Ludwig about learning more, his response was unexpectedly gentle, devoid of annoyance. It seemed he was eager to share, to extend our conversation and connection despite our isolated surroundings. This side of him was new to me, as he often displayed irritation, yet there was always a trace of warmth beneath it all.

"I want to know everything," I replied simply, expressing my thirst for knowledge about his world.

It was a captivating journey into a world I had only glimpsed, and with Ludwig as my guide, I started to unravel the mysteries that surrounded me.