NOVEL WEB Chapter 29- The reason
[Next Morning]
[Kyle's POV:]
Apart from me, there was only Alatia in the room. We sat in silence, but this silence wasn't as peaceful as it was last night.
I was stunned.
Alatia confessed everything that happened after I fell unconscious after being hit by that dart.
Canonically, this never happened. Alatia originally shouldn't have ever hurt her brother Edmund in any manner...yet, for me, she nearly killed him yesterday.
Someone who wants to spend his life as a side character and doesn't want to affect Alatia's life much...I sure am not doing my job well.
"Kyle..." My focus shifted from the monologue to Alatia, who pulled my shirt and pleaded in a meek tone,
"...please don't hate me."
"--!!!"
Those eyes...I have never seen Alatia this scared before. She wasn't asking me to not hate her, rather, she prayed to not get abhorred by me.
For Alatia, even her family members could not arouse such deep emotion that she was displaying currently in my presence. To hurt her brother to the point of nearly killing him without a second thought and now, after all this happened she isn't blaming me but rather asking me to not leave her...
Right now, she must be so insecure about how I would react to this incident. She already has committed something irreversible and possibly soured her relationship with many people. And even if I also.....no, that would never happen.
"Hey, Ala...come here." I held her hand and urged her to sit on the bed.
Dazed, she did as I said and sat with her back facing me.
I checked the door whether it was locked before wrapping my hands around her and pulling her in a tight embrace.
"Uh..." Her cute yelp made me grin as I held the adorable Ala closely in my arms before conveying my thoughts,
"How can I ever bring myself to hate you, Ala? You are so adorable that my affection only grows for you passing every single day."
Holding her hand in mine, I continued, "Although you shouldn't have attacked Prince Edmund, I am happy that you got angry because I got hurt. It makes me feel that I am not truly an orphan anymore."
"I have my Ala."
I know what I am doing right now would surely affect the plot a lot and my relationship with Alatia would not remain the same as it was. However, I couldn't help myself. This girl was so sweet and scared just now, that I had to hold her like this and tell her what I honestly felt.
"...I will always be by your side...." Alatia's muttering broadened my smile as I replied,
"The feeling is mutual."
*******
After comforting my little princess for the next half an hour, I took a light bath and changed into fresh clothes. I told Alatia to freshen up as well since we were going to have a chat with Prince Edmund.
Although Alatia looked reluctant, she agreed upon hearing my reasoning.
Alatia couldn't just sever her ties with her brother like this. I knew something was going on with Edmund or maybe something with Royal Capital to allow Edmund to set up such experiments that could possibly harm Alatia.
Delaying breakfast, I and Alatia arrived at the room where Edmund was staying.
Naturally, no guard stopped me from pushing apart the doors and letting Alatia and myself in.
Inside the room, there were two maids, and on the bed laid, a seemingly fine Edmund.
All of them turned to look at me and Alatia; Edmund in surprise and the maids in horror.
"Alatia...."
I am not sure what it takes to make Edmund hate his sister since nearly losing his life hasn't affected that fond smile he wears around her.
"You two, leave." Alatia didn't respond to her brother but rather told Cassie and Martha to leave immediately.
Although Marth seemed to be wanting to just disappear, Cassie looked reluctant.
"It's okay, Cas. We will be just talking." Edmund persuaded his maid with a dazzling smile that only a protagonist material could summon.
I was nearly blinded.
With a subtle blush forming on Cassie's cheeks she nodded before bowing and walking out of the room.
Left alone, I pulled a chair and placed it near the bed for Alatia.
"How are you, Kyle? Sorry, I couldn't come to see you this morning."
"Please don't be, Your Highness. I am aware of your condition and for just a mere butler like me, just the thought is hefty enough."
"Mere butler you say. I am sure Alatia doesn't see in you, just a butler." Hearing Edmund's half-sarcastic and half-serious comment, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
That comment was followed by Alatia's icy glare Alatia directed at her brother—much to Edmund's nervousness
"I am just joking, Tia. Just a joke." Seriously, this man was regarded as a prodigy and a worthy successor for the throne....and here he was behaving like Alatia's discontent was equal to the world's doom.
Since Alatia didn't seem to want to talk, I asked, "Your Highness, please excuse my impudence but can I ask you something about yesterday?"
Edmund's expression sobered up upon hearing my words as he directed a tired glance in my direction before heaving a sigh.
"Why did I allow Alatia to get attacked, right?"
I nodded.
Edmund looked conflicted about whether he should answer or not, however, once he took a glance at Alatia he seemed to have formed a decision,
"....actually, it was me who suggested letting Kyle have the family treasure so he can protect Alatia better. However, since my elder brother and father were against it, we argued...and in the end, we decided to take some tests to ascertain your loyalty and devotion towards Alatia."
This was too much information he dumped all at once.
Firstly, what was this family treasure he was talking about? The capital treasure vault is full of wonders and even Logan gets benefits of it in the later part of the story. However, canonically Kyle never gets anything from the vault at all.
Then why this sudden change of heart?
Secondly, it was surprising to hear that the second Prince went against his elder brother and his father just for my sake. And because of that, all these tests are conducted.
"My words weren't enough? Didn't I write in the letter, how important Kyle is for me?" Alatia voiced her disappointment.
Edmund let out another sigh, as he said, "I know what you must be feeling Tia, but you have to understand....the artifact I am talking about here, couldn't be offered to anyone other than our family members until that person isn't purely devoted to serve you."
Now I am very curious to know, what this treasure item is.
"So you targeted me to see whether Kyle protects me or not?"
"Yes...but I wasn't in direct control of how you would be targeted yesterday. It's Brother Ray who sent that assailant yesterday."
Hearing Edmund's statement, a look of frustration crossed her face as Alatia clenched her fist.
Edmund looked troubled at what he could say to comfort his sister...and in the end, he turned to look at me.
Exhaling a sigh, I called out for Alatia, "My lady, isn't it reasonable for your family members to test my loyalty when they would be handing their most treasured person in my care?"
Edmund nodded to assent to my words.
Alatia's grip loosened as she breathed heavily and asked her brother, "Can I know what treasure item are we talking about?"
Although Alatia didn't sound too approving of this whole situation, she at least was willing to ascertain the fruits that I might bear if I could get through these trials.
Edmund nodded before he snapped his fingers and a dark violet smog erupted out of his body.
The smog surrounded the three of us, and the surroundings disappeared.
I was unsure of what his skill actually does, but from what I have witnessed back in my previous world through some small scenes, Edmund can summon this violet fog and use it like an extra pair of arms. He can use it as a barrier and a weapon. In summary, some sort of psychokinesis.
The way he surrounded us, it seemed he didn't want anyone else to hear what he was about to say.
Once he was done forming the sound isolation barrier, he uttered some words that made my mind numb,
"The mythical armor of the Lost Warrior Eric Bloodflame."
I have heard about that armour....since later in the story, it was Alatia who gave Logan that armor.
*****
A/N:- Goddamn.