His First Adversity [ VI ]

Meanwhile at the palace, Noname's father, The King, had just concluded a meeting with his council and allowed himself a few seconds of mental relief by looking outside through the huge windows in the room. He then spotted the cheerful sight of his beloved son in the levitating hot air balloon, and just as suddenly, Lady Chan barged her way forcefully into the room with a high sense of urgency, getting instantly the attention of the King and his council members.

"My King!..." she yelled in tears. "...Your son!"

"Oh, don't worry Chan, it's called a hot air balloon." The King replied in a rather calm demeanour, thinking that she was ignorant of the existence of flying machines and probably had it in mind that the Prince was being kidnapped.

"For royalty's sake, I know what it is; I don't look dumb, and I'm not dumb." she replied. 

"Okay then, what about my son?"

"He is in the balloon, and they are flying towards the capital city!"

"I don't get it, Chan. It has never been a crime to fly above the capital city. Besides, he is the crowned prince, the rightful heir to the throne; there is nothing so wrong with showing the whole kingdom his luxury, knowing fully well his forefathers had generously and painstakingly worked for it."

"I'm not talking about the prince!" Lady Chan exclaimed even louder, and the King instantly got the message she had been trying to pass all along. He immediately, but slowly, turned his head to its former position to confirm what she meant, and even though they had gone quite a distance, he could see naught but twin brothers in a hot air balloon, and in an instant, the excitement that filled the atmosphere diffused away, giving space for a cloud of anxiety that completely shadowed the King and his council members

"Quickly..." The king swiftly ordered his general, who was also a member of the royal council. "...Ready my fastest racehorse, take off all its hill work and equip it with its racing plates!" ...and the general speedily went on his way to carry out the assigned instruction as soon as it was given.

As Lady Chan, the King, and his council members were trailing the general from a distance, they met the Queen on the way, and in an instant she contracted their feelings of worry, even though she knew nothing, for she saw the anxiety clearly written all over their faces.

"What's the matter?" She asked as she approached the king.

"No time to explain my dear, but just know that the coffin that encases the forthcoming chaos of this kingdom is out of its graveyard!". 

Of course, the queen needed not an interpretation, nor did she need to be told twice what the king had just said; she instantly got the message, and she could hardly believe what she had just heard. She stood there still in confusion, and the group left her behind in her deep thoughts of how such an incident could occur. 

"Is there any serious problem my Queen?" The voice of the adjutant, who was a very close and frequent company to the Queen and whom the Queen had been secretly having an extramarital affair with, was heard.

"There is a devil who must not be seen in public with my son..." she replied with a deep-seated hatred in her voice. "...If things get out of hand ... Kill Him!"

"Your dearest wish is my command, my Queen." He responded and left for the stable, riding through another route out of the palace.

Lady Chan and the King got on separate horses and were just about to leave when Humphrey and his son arrived.

"My king! your son..." Humphrey tried to explain, but the king interrupted him, saying—

"I know Humphrey, I know! Now if you would excuse me, I have a balance to maintain!"...and he swiftly left the scene with Lady Chan.

'^Balance? What is the king talking about, and how is he aware that the prince is in great trouble? Does this mean that he knows the old man who is with the prince?....

... .I smell a rat somewhere!^' Humphrey deeply thought to himself, for he was baffled by the King's immediate but deep response.