Lucian wasn't sure what had happened, all he wanted to do was to make peace with his sister after a disagreement between them. But somehow, he woke up and now he has to make peace with the kingdom?
He remembered that he was walking home after buying the new book his sister loves. The series 'Strike A Heart', one of her absolute favorites. Although when he grabbed the book, he squinted his eyes, before buying the series. Buy one, get the rest in a discount. It was obvious it was more of a money grabbing scheme, but he wanted to indulged her, especially if it gets her off his back for a bit and hide in her room for weeks.
Looking at the cover, it was the typical female orientated, romance plotline with a long story line, handsome dudes and whatnots, and money grabbing merch. He was sure his sister had a game of the book, but he really didn't want to see it, not even know of it after walking in on his sister's mid gaming section and hearing a gasping, injured man full screen and all.
Ignoring that mistake, Lucian didn't really care or choose to understand his sister's rants, long essays or even cries of the series. But all he needs to know is that he had a great advantage of a way to appease her whenever she gets angry.
Which was what had happened after breakfast.
It was something small and stupid, the typical scribbles on the book and the blame was on him. Although he was sure the slimy cousins did that, he did remember his aunt giving him a twitchy smile before chatting with his mom. Lucian could only stare at the ruin room, sigh, clean the mess, and go out and buy new books for his sister before she comes back from school and cause another argument.
Although all of that sounded simple and easy, the question is why was he standing in front of a man who looked like the typical tyrant king from his sister's favorite series?
He couldn't exactly tell what happened. How it happened or even why this is happening. But he was sure he saw this man in one of the covers.
And if he squint enough, and die a little inside, the man look suspicious like the gasping, injured man he saw in his sister's screen.
"Give me a reason why I need to see your unsightly face in front of me again?"
Lucian blinked, his eyes becoming focused on the man again. He felt his back break into cold sweat.
Was he talking to him? What is he supposed to say?
This is just a dream right? Can he just say something and his brain suddenly makes the king start to levitate and then the scene changes?
"…"
It didn't work.
The king let out a sigh, the type of sigh that came more of the chest than the need of air. His finger tapped on the seemingly golden, and, squinting, abnormally sparkling throne under his hand. Lucian could see his own face reflected by the gold ting of the seat. "I do not like repeating myself. Answer me."
Lucian was glad his body felt stiff, if it wasnt, he would already shakily kneels down and accepted his death right here and right now. All with a smile on his face.
No.
Think! Think!
Lucian could only frown as he tried to rack his brain to remember the .000001 second he allowed himself to process whatever nonsense his sister talked about the series.
Wait!
Isn't this series about just dating men? This is like a million copied and paste series! He just needs to pick a cliche thing to say and say it, especially when the King looked seconds on having a headache as well.
"Do I need a reason?" Lucian said, feeling his body sweat already seeping through this clothes. He could only repeat the only information he could get. Which was basically nothing.
"…You have always been a dirty man, " The king didn't look amused, "You have been banished and now you're in front of me? Is this your way to make fun of the kingdom?"
Oh.
M'kay…
Lucian wondered if he could just stop breathing and allow his body to shut off at this moment. Perhaps he could bite his tongue, finally proving himself if that fun fact was an actual real fact and not something to trick kids not to do.
But at least he got something. Not the greatest information but something.
Okay, so now he really needs to dig deep in his head. Lets see, who is banished and labeled a dirty man who had made fun of the kingdom in the game?
Think.
Think.
Honestly, all he can think about is that this seems oddly like someone his sister would completely drool over. Like her total type in fiction. What more would his sister love than a total scum of a handsome man-
Scum.
…
"Ha." Lucian could only say, even if it was more of releasing his last peacefully breath away. Even if it was technically a sigh, he was still answering, feeling the silence reach a point where it was socially not accepted.
Also, it seems like Lucian has reached a point of complete downfall. Not even the Kings deadly stare could bring him down, he's already on the last, very last floor.
He had figured out who he was.
He was the scum, whats-his-name, Ghost? Or whatever his name was, he was him, wasn't he?
The man who was nicknamed 'Ghost' for his inhuman features and cruel nature that no human could have. No human or mother could love. Drifting to place to place like a ghost putting curses in everything he sees.
The same man he had seen his sister drooled over and called him her 'little baby wabby scrunchness' after he had destroyed a whole village and betrayed some whatnot big shot. The man his sister would cry over when the developers still didn't give him a route after each update. The man who absolutely had no merch that his sister would make her own, not sell any, and have an overpopulation of that man's plushies everywhere.
Oh, he knows this man for sure. He even remembered making fun of him just to tease his sister! Who then covered his whole room with handmade Ghost posters and almost impossible to peal stickers.
And now! He's might be the little sugarbear, swiggily scrumptious his sister likes!
He's sure about this. After all, he came to realize he held no heartbeat after he had tried and unsuccessfully hold his breath. Because he couldnt even take a deep breath in!
He knows this! It was one of the main points he would make fun of Ghost. He remembered telling his sister that Ghost could never be able to function downstairs because of some medical term he can't remember in this moment.
Fun times.
The king suddenly slammed his fist on the throne, as if he was second to standing up and throwing him out. "You dare laugh?"
Lucian felt like Ghost wasn't that bad to possess or something, after all, he literally could not feel anything if the king did want to throw him out. But still, Lucian subconsciously held his hands behind him.
"Of course n-"
"Excuse me, sir!" A new voice came from behind him. It took him all his strength to not jump when he saw the boy run towards the king. The boy was holding a letter, his hand shakily showed it to the king, who looked seconds of exploding. "W-we found the letter sent on behalf of Sir Ghost!"
Well.
It's confirmed, it seems like he was Ghost then. It gave him no comfort of hearing this. Lucian could only watch as he saw the King wave his hand and the boy quickly opened the letter.
"To King Lotte, I am writing this letter to tell you that I have… made peace with the evil Ghost who has cursed your kingdom since day one. I will be sending him back to help you with any of your fights and battles…" The boy's face began to filled with sweat, "Love.. your lovely love…. Heart.."
He wanted to throw up, perhaps that will get him kick out again. Lucian began to rub his hands together, a weird feeling of nerves in an unfeeling body.
He could hear the king hum, his original anger was nowhere to be seen. Rather the King looked, quite joyful. If he squints enough, he could just see flowers flying around. The boy looked like he was seconds from passing out. Lucian would feel the same if he was forced to say Lovely Love Heart out loud like that.
"Mmm, it seems like the situation has changed. For better or for the worse." The king suddenly laughed, but it sounded more like his throat scraping with his skin than actual joy once he looked at Lucian. "Of course you didn't say anything, you are too proud for such words! Wasting my time, foolish, ugly thing!"
Did Ghost know this man? The King spoke like a those tv drama's grandfather who are seconds of kicking out their rebellion grandson.
"…"
The King continues his laugh, "Well! How amusing! Boy, let the others come in! Make sure to have them hold down their weapons before entering! No need for another unnecessary drama, go now!"
The boy holding the letter squeaked and ran out of the door behind Lucian. He would have peeked back if the King wasn't looking at him if he was the most amusing thing ever. He really didn't want to have his back facing him.
…What is going on?
Like actually.
Lucian was sure nobody wasn't going to answer him anyways, perhaps he should had just stay quiet, get executed, and that's all.