Chapter 25: Fire
Erwin was writing a letter to one of his subordinates in his room . Zen and Neil were coming out of the royal Chamber . Alisha stood before them with her long hair waving left to right .
"Do you need something ?" Zen questioned removing his eyeglasses .
"No.... actually yes . Erwin keeps complaining that you don't give him much time . So I was hoping if you could meet him like he came all the way from Edolas to meet you right ?"
"Now is not the time for that . I'm busy I have an important meeting with the vice chancellors. I'll talk to you later . "
"But .. Zen ! I know . You can just postpone it right you are the king after all !" Her eyes glowed . Neil sensed she wanted to say something . Zen was in a hurry he sighed and marched forward .
"Come on Neil we are getting late !"
"Yes My lord . "Alisha caught Neil by his sleeve and flashed 2 fingers indicating she wanted to talk to him something . Neil managed to avoid Zen noticing him not following him .
"What is it My lady ? Is there something you want to talk to me about ?"
"Oh yes . Neil I know this is out of the blue and you will probably not believe me but this is just a hunch , an internal feeling . I want to support for this . Will you perhaps help me out ?"
"My lady ! What's on your mind ?" Neil stood there speechless. What Alisha said was something nobody would even attempt to think about. Worst comes worst she would have to face Zen's wrath if she were to be wrong.
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It was dinner time . Zen was exhausted with meetings and addressings . The grand dining hall was quiet . Everyone took their seats. Mihaya prepared a delicious looking dinner . Salad and desserts also not to mention the side dishes smelled good. Lamb was the key ingredient . Earlier dinners were considered to be just times or means that would full stomachs and satisfy the basic physiological functions but now it meant much more . It was to spend times , share one's events of the day . Meals would seem incomplete if Alisha wasn't present.
All of a sudden....Something happened . A strange smell. Smell of cellulose . Burning paper. There was smoke covering the walls of the palace . Zen realised it was a fire . Neil ran towards the approaching smoke . Black . With great difficulty to breathe he went in and shivered . A fire in the most crucial parts of the palace . The forbidden place . The department of royal Intel and heritage was at fire. Neil froze but seeing Alisha take action put off the fire he gave her a hand as well. With a fire extinguisher the fire couldn't calm . Erwin used his powers to completely shut down the burning flame. He was proficient in the use of ice and water . Complete contrast with Zen.
"What the hell happened here "
Zen spoke clenching his teeth he couldn't begun to imagine the loss .
The maids stood aside .
"How did a fire broke out here ? Wasn't the safety already ensured ?" He asked looking at Neil .
"Your Majesty ! This can only happen if someone else other than yourself has access to this room . "
"How can that be ? The lock to this room is Saraha's. ... and only Erwin and I are the only ones who have it then how is it that it was unlocked ?"
"Then could it be that Sir Erwin tried to open it . Or should I say that all this was your doing ?" Alisha spoke folding her arms.
"Excuse me ! Are you blaming me ? How dare you ? If it was someone else I wouldn't care their life for putting such a blame on me. How can you even think of it ?" He said raising his brow .
"Obviously you have the key . Zen wouldn't possibly want to burn all his treasury . Who would want to do it unless they hold something against him ?"
"Miss what are you plotting ? It's utter nonsense !"
"Alisha ! I'm not speaking doesn't mean you blabber anything !"
"But Zen... I have ...."
"Just shut up ! Go to your room at once ! " He said pointing on the other side .
He won't listen to me . I should probably wait for a perfect time when he is ready to listen . Now he is frustrated . Tensed . I understand . I have to wait to explain things to him .
Alisha goes to her room . Everyone stood silent . The maids were worried . Ashia was worried . Drops of sweat covered Zen's forehead .
"Damn it ! How did it turn out this way !"
"Zen . I know it can't be denied, unintentionally may be but you might come to doubt me . I really have nothing to do with this and I'm not sure what key you are talking about . "
"I trust you Erwin . I believe you have nothing to do with this . Still who could attempt to do it . Right now the thing is that I can't doubt you or Neil . As we three are the only ones who have access to this room. "
"Wait how do we even unlock this room ?"
"Saraha's last tears became pearls remember ? And we each decided to keep one for ourselves . Dropping that pearl into the socket unlocks the gate . Question is which pearl was used to break open the gate ?" He said with eyes scrutinising every little thing before him . The grand gate was open all files and folders were set ablaze . Turned to ash . The air blew the burnt ash outside. Zen clenched his fist. If word were to be out his position was sure to be in danger .
"Let the maids clean up the mess . Anything remained unburnt will be brought to me immediately . " He headed towards the royal Chamber . Red cloak fluttering with the wind . The windows were open. It was cold. Running his fingers through his hair he banged the table . Neil stood behind him .
"Your Highness! ..."
"What the hell is going on ? How am I supposed to answer the judiciary, the elders! Damn it ! 76 years of history ! All data ! What am I going to do ?" Zen sat on his chair holding his head . Lines of frustration ok his forehead . Too much stress was not good for his health . It would weaken him . He would lose him calm . Alisha silently stood by the doorway. Neil allowed her in and shut the door.
"..Zen.... " She called him smoothly .
"Why are you here ? Didn't I tell you ?..."
"Yeah ! Listen . I know you are angry . I understand your situation ! Please let me just explain ....." Zen rose from his place and took his sword placing right next to her neck .
"Don't let me lose myself. Or I will ..."
"Kill me . If that would ease your mind . " His eyes slowly shut . Bringing his hand slowly downwards he kept back his sword.
"Your data is safe ! You don't have to worry . "
"Did you do something Alisha ? What the hell is wrong with you ?"
"I just did what I thought was right . I'm the culprit here please don't blame Neil or Ashia . They just did what I asked them to do . Erwin is not your friend Zen ."
"That again ! Why are you doing this ? I'm fighting with every single person to make you my damn wife and you are ! ..."
"Shut up ! " Alisha was in great fury . She pushed him back on his chair. "Listen ! I know as his friend you would never attempt to doubt him . You might take his side but I strongly feel he is not what you think him to be. He is definitely hiding something and I'm pretty sure he is behind all this fire and the cut on my neck . Also I took Ashia's and Neil's help to shift those documents to my room . I assumed something would happen to them so I did it in order to avoid any such incident . I apologise for doing it without your knowledge but .... "
"But what ? Do you understand Alisha ? How can you do it without my permission ? And most of all how can you open the door to the resource room without my permission ? Who gave you the right to do it damn it ? "
"Zen... I ..."
"Just get lost ! Or go anywhere ! Don't ever come to see me again I was wrong on my decision ! An outsider is and outsider after all I shouldn't have trusted you . It's all my damn fault !"
"Yeah right ! I Do something good and this is what I get ! Forget it I don't want to see you as well first cool your hot head and then talk .Huh !!!" Alisha strode out banging the door behind her . Both of them were at peaks of their anger . Zen threw everything that was on the table with one wipe. Neil didn't knew how to explain him . He just stood silently .
"I don't care if you are older to me ! What you did this time is unforgivable! How can I overlook this most of all who am I supposed to blame you Erwin or myself ! " Zen's voice echoed the room . Strange vibrations passed within Neil giving him goosebumps . It was futile to explain himself . Zen wouldn't try to understand him .
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