Kanstiv ceased in his steps. His surprise was palpable.
Koul's words had come so shocking to him.
"The academy? Why, your majesty?"
"Looking at me, how weak and useless I am, do you think there should be a reason to ask why?"
Koul continued slowly while Kanstiv trailed behind.
"I heard the academy is a school to nurture the talented. Is that not true?"
"It is, your highness."
Koul paused, then turned to look at Kanstiv.
"My siblings, are they all talented?"
At this question, hesitation flickered across Kanstiv's face. He took a moment, but he answered.
"Yes, they do."
That leaves only me.
"And me?"
"No," Kanstiv blurted.
Then he continued quickly as if to not break Koul's spirit.
"But you are not past the age of awakening your ability or magic. There's no set age for it. As I'm sure you already know, people awaken it themselves while some get it drawn out for them at the academy."
Is that why he wants to go? Kanstiv thought inwardly.
"Your highness, being a talented isn't all there is. Even people without talents excel perfectly in life."
"Are you already concluding I cannot be a talented?" Koul fired.
Kanstiv's steps faltered. He flinched backward, surprised at the way Koul took it.
Since Koul's siblings awakened at very young ages, the probability of Koul being a talented was slim. So he intended to console him in case he turned out not to be like them.
But he realized he didn't think about it properly.
"Pardon me, your majesty. I have spoken out of turn."
He bowed.
Koul turned away and resumed walking.
"Is there a finance manager or whatever he's called, here?"
"The treasurer, yes. He oversees the palace needs."
"Including my wives' needs?" Koul questioned.
There was a moment's delay but Kanstiv responded.
"Yes, including them."
"I want to see him. Do I have an office?"
"You do, your highness. Though you never use it and left all the work to your assistant."
I'm not surprised.
"Take me there."
Koul was escorted to his office. It was a vast room with a table nestling at one end. There were also couches and a chair for whatever reason.
Over the table sat a slender, young man. His hair was green. It looked messy and dry, screaming it hadn't been taken proper care of for days.
The man himself looked compressed with fatigue. His under eyes were baggy and dark. And there was a foul stench oozing from him like he hadn't taken a bath for a while, nor smelt the refreshing air outside.
Koul's brows twitched at the sight. Guilt was slowly welling up inside him.
The man was hunched over the table, and scribbling things hurriedly on papers. On one side of the table were a stack of paperwork, presumably works yet to be finished.
"Ah.. your… highness," the man's voice was slow as if he had no energy to even speak.
He slowly rose, then bowed before sitting back and continuing his work.
He's a weird one.
Koul had not really thought thoroughly about running things properly in the palace. He's had it easy because somehow, things were being handled by the people around him.
I don't know, but…
He stepped forward.
"Go out there and take a break," he told the man.
The man briefly gazed up at him then back at his work and continued.
"I can't do that."
An angry vein popped up on Koul's forehead.
"I'm not being nice or anything. It's just that you stink and I will like to keep my nose as healthy as possible."
The man's face flushed with embarrassment. But beneath that, anger could be seen.
If given the chance, he wanted to yell in Koul's face, asking him whose fault it was that he was stuck with all these works.
Nonetheless, he sighed and rose.
"Then I shall take my leave for now. Please call for me if you need me." He bowed, then started leaving.
When he reached Kanstiv, he also bowed slightly and Kanstiv did the same.
Looking at the mountain of files, fatigue immediately hit Koul.
I didn't come here to work. I just wanted to discuss things with Kanstiv to put things in order before I leave.
"Clear the table," he ordered with an exasperated look.
Kanstiv didn't question him and got to work.
He cleared away every file, pen and left the table empty.
Koul walked over the table and sat.
"Take a seat, Kanstiv," he said.
It was the first time he called out Kanstiv's name. This made Kanstiv a bit proud and happy.
Face to face, Koul leaned over and rested his chin against his clasped hands that were wedged on the table by his elbows.
"While I was in seclusion, who ran the palace?"
"Everyone, I'd say. We played our parts, and everyone else did. We tried out best to handle conflicts well, the treasurer tried his best to make the palace run smoothly and your assistant made sure every paperwork was done."
I see. But we can't leave it like that this time.
"What if I leave the palace to you when I leave for the academy?"
"I'm sorry, but that can't happen. I have to follow you everywhere you go."
Koul's eyes squinted.
"Come to think of it, you're the vice captain. Then where's the captain himself?"
"My lord, when you were away in seclusion, the royal kingdom in the capital requested warriors from other kingdoms to help them fight in a war that broke out with monsters. Since you weren't around, we didn't want to make an enemy of them, so the captain volunteered."
"But I heard it won't be long before the battle ends now," he said.
Hmm, so I need to find someone else.
I can't leave the palace just like that. I need someone capable.
"But your highness, I don't think the academy will even accept you. You're a king… with a bad reputation. By doing this, you'll only spark more hatred and spread more bad in your name."
Koul's eyes darted to Kanstiv's in question.
"Who said anything about enrolling as a king?" He questioned.
"I might be a king seeking to go to the academy, but I will enroll there as a mere 19-year-old commoner."