Chapter 22: Tell Me Your Price
Ezekiel was thoroughly overwhelmed by His Majesty's question once he had shown him the piece of modest jewellery. He began to question or somewhat find answers to why his Lord, Briceus, was feigning ignorance at this time.
Subject to this, Ezekiel wallowed in his very thoughts...
'Has it not been merely some minutes to an hour long since that maiden was escorted to the Dordragon prison and in the most unconventional way? Why then is the king asking me such a delicate question as though he did not hear her cry one last time with even the echoes doing justice to her words when she had said that she was only lost from searching for her jewellery? Or was he onto some other reason to punish her for trespassing? Or is it that I am simply being more of an overthinker?'
By now Briceus had grown impatient of expecting Ezekiel to answer his question.
"Are you going to keep your eyes fixed on that item? Or would you rather anticipate that I repeat the question I have afore asked?" questioned Briceus.
Immediately the King's words resonated in his senses, Zeke got his act together and preparedly went ahead to reply his Lord— Briceus.
"Milord, I am sorry for offensively prolonging my answer to the question you had asked but I would that you gave me an opportunity to clear my doubts," said Ezekiel.
Briceus said nothing, neither did he contort his beautiful face to mean anything but Ezekiel understood the king's countenance to mean that he could go ahead with what he intended to say.
Next, Ezekiel let his lips part separately to allow for speech.
"Thank you, milord... Now, with your permission, I will go on to refresh the king's memory. I-"
"My memories do not fail me, Ezekiel," said Briceus as he intercepted his aide's speech and went on to explore his private Royal bedroom space leaving Zeke to sink deeper in his solo confusion for a minute or two.
Without saying or troubling his mind to think anything, Ezekiel was patiently waiting for the king to get around his speech and liberate him from his(Ezekiel's) confusion.
During those times that Briceus perambulated the breadth of his available walking space, he had his own thoughts clogging his mind in order to draw his own conclusion.
Truthfully, once Ezekiel had brought the modest silver piece to his sight, his mind had immediately flashed back to the maiden's last words: "Your majesty, I just wanted to find my jewellery. Please reconsider. Pleaseeee..." and then her broken voice had trailed off, becoming fainter as she got hurled further away from the noble hallway.
Briceus remembered this but he was determined to decline the fact that he had made a mistake in pronouncing judgement on Elizabeth.
Hence, his thoughts instantly took a different turn...
'What now? Only my first day in rulership and I have already made this grave mistake? No! I must think of a more sensible approach than to succumb to the truth of my miscalculation,' concluded Briceus.
Next, he let his eyes dart off to meet Ezekiel's by tilting his head alongside, only to catch Zeke looking in his direction.
As Briceus's lips opened up to let out his words, Zeke concentrated more on what the king's explanation would be.
"You have come by my room, and made a beautiful speech of how the aristocrats should be considered in order for me to save face," Briceus spoke as he walked stealthily towards Zeke.
He then continued.
"Also you have brought up the topic of the maiden and have also searched out this modest piece you now present before me, all of which are applaudable..."
"Thank you, milord," said Ezekiel.
"Good. However you have omitted one tiny detail...What evidence can you show forth to connect this item with the maiden of before?" asked Briceus.
Ezekiel however was expectant of this question and for a second there he wished His Majesty had went on to ask him this from the very beginning instead of going about in circles. Luckily for him however the court lady had hinted a response to this very question he had asked her himself so he knew firsthand the reply to give the king.
Thus, Ezekiel took the step to answer his Lord at once.
"Milord, you have asked a good question and I will suggest something in reference to that," said Zeke.
"Well then, go ahead with your suggestion. I would like to know your thoughts, Ezekiel."
"Thank you, milord. I will suggest that the maiden be secretly questioned about it in order not to raise more public awareness about the king's mistake."
Briceus gritted his teeth within his jaws once Ezekiel muttered the last words.
Ezekiel who was ignorant of the King's countenance because he wasn't looking at Briceus directly, went on with his speech.
"...and if it turns out that she is indeed the owner then you may have to compensate her!"
"Compensate her?" asked Briceus, then he laughed boisterously as though he had heard the most pleasurable joke just now.
Seeing Briceus laugh so much caused Ezekiel to become confused at first. He had it hard trying to make out the reason for the King's demeanour but he soon understood by fitting the dots together.
It was pride!
The same virus that seeped deep into every Royal member's arcana as far as the castle of Barad-dûr was concerned. Thus it was no surprise to Zeke that Briceus was not exempted from being infected by the same royal-tagged virus; an information Ezekiel had acquainted himself with even whilst Briceus was still a prince.
"Compensate her you said Ezekiel. Why in the world would I want to do that? And who is she to deserve so much? Hahaha."
"She is a somebody, milord! And it is in the rule book that once a king makes a mistake with regard to whomever, that someone should and must be compensated," Ezekiel spoke in a tone that seemed like he was reprimanding a child.
Pride or not, Zeke was of the opinion that Briceus had a great deal to learn especially if he wanted to prove to everyone else especially his stepmother, Queen Athena and his uncle, Duke Wauter and some aristocrats of divided mind, that he—Briceus, was indeed deserving of his place as king over Aegremonth.
Zeke's words caused the intensity of the king's laughter to die down. But what Briceus planned to say next, was the least of Zeke's expectations.
"Then I will compensate her if I am wrong indeed!"
Ezekiel's eyes shut wide open while he mumbled, "You will? Milord?"
But Briceus kept silent for a minute while Ezekiel tried so hard to wriggle his way into the king's thoughts.
"I will, Zeke. What now, do even you doubt my words?" asked Briceus with a strange smirk on his face.
"I don't doubt your words, milord but I can't mistake that smile on your face," Zeke paused for a bit.
He then continued.
"If you may, milord, then tell me your price."
"Easy, if she is who she says that she is then," Briceus halted while Ezekiel's eyes shut out a meaningful glance as if to mutter, "Then what, milord?"
After a single minute that felt like several winters and summers had gone by within that time frame, Briceus let his lips give way.
"...she shall become my person!"
A/N : 📚 This book is now contracted 🎉🎉🎉 but do not fret my lovely readers I'm not going premium anytime soon.🎈 We still have lots of free chapters coming our way.😅 Also to celebrate our victory, anticipate a mass release of two chapters tomorrow. Love you guys 😘
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Nancy_Jim
Nancy_Jim Hahaha Briceus keeps giving off conflicting emotions and if I were Ezekiel I would have resigned from being the personal assistant of such a twisted-minded man. Haha!
Oh well comment your thought.
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