Chapter 860: Media


    “Child, majesty?”


    “What about the traitorous queen?”


    “We need answers, majesty.”


    The appearance of the child, especially after the Queen’s cheating ways were brought to light, didn’t shine much of a good spotlight on Igna either. An underlying thought of ‘-what if the king cheated on her?’ sparked curious onlookers. The questions exchanged ears to ears, kindly making sure the king to not hear what was being said. Phones pulled, the Arcanum-savvy youngsters leaped miles onto social media. The sudden jolt went so far as to reach éir’s attention, who sat at the royal court, standing on the judgment of spy from the Rebel’s army.


    Notification pulsed mildly, Yui summarized the situation on éir’s interface, who coincidentally, sat at the state’s side and admired thewyer’s abuse. Thereid no escape for the used, innocent or not, the scale of Tharis proved very much useful in exerting justice.


    “What should we do?” dinged Yui.


    “Send an escort,” the thought materialized into words. “-I’m busy tillter tonight.”


    .....


    “Understood,” her picture faded into grey.


    ‘Master, what trouble have you gotten into this time?’ harsh blinkedid upon Bleu, a man of strong intellect and charisma, ‘-there are more pressing matters to attend,’ he narrowed, the focus fluctuated from peer to peer.


    A strongly toned message shed, an AFR-equipped car toggled in a slow rumble – tainted ss rendered the interior a mystery, a horrifying sight, no driver.


    “Majesty...” The onught of questions grew exhausting. The king stood imposingly in front of the sleeping Vanesa, “-we need answers, did you cheat on the queen?” a mass flocked outside the fast-food restaurant, security was choked by the sudden increase – cries and shouts, fanatic followers stered on the window – any second and the wave could shatter the ss.


    “Majesty, please,” begged the manager, “-address the crowd... we’ve calledw enforcement.”


    “Understood,” the pensive silence broke, “-Hear me, people of Hidros,” the voice sufficed, a thunderbolt struck and brought tranquility, “-you deserve the truth,” a live-broadcast yed on Lokka and Thawn, “-Vanesa is my daughter, and I say so without care for blood rtion. She and her siblings are my precious gems, my family, heirs to what I’ve created and built. Don’t let the appearance fool thee for they bore the Haggard name. Let’s answer the questions, Queen Eia and I were married a few months back. Take a look at Vanesa, does the math add up? Obviously not. I despise the world adoption, to me, Vanesa and her siblings are my children, I will stop at nothing to protect them. Look at me, Hidros, I’m the same as you, however, my responsibility is to safeguard what Queen Gallienne has built. My private life is not for discussion – Queen Eia made it tantly clear where her heart belongs. Nobility is based on loveless marriages, such as the truth, brothers marrying sisters, keeping the bloodline pure, tis the heritage we hold dear to our hearts, tis the way the rich remain rich. And Queen Eia, I don’t me her, not do I hate her – I’m disappointed, that’s all, the same emotion I feel when my loyalty and character is brought into question,” he pointed at a customer, “-Miska, of the Andiel Gazette, the infamously anti-royalist paper. Instigating the public, forcing them to question their beliefs, how despicable,” the head shook in disappointment, “-and here I thought being open about how the kingdom moves forward would promote unity,” he moved to Vanesa and tapped, “-how low have your morals fallen. A child sits with a growling stomach, what do you do? Question the integrity of the parent.”


    Sirens shed, a special unit of public safety arrived in armored vans, they dropped and rose a perimeter, broke the dangerously opaque crowd. Security opened the doors for the unit, “-Majesty,” said the leader, “-we’vee to escort,” he said, to which, Igna and Vanesa left. The masses of differently colored and shaped heads parted, a nice car rumbled – settled inside, “-let’s go,” he said, “-no food, I’m sorry.”


    The impromptu visitor rose a debate about the privacy of those in the spotlights. éir and Yui released exnations on the Igna’s statement, further borating on Vanesa and why he hated the word adoption.


    “Earlier this afternoon, King Igna was spotted at Yenk’s Burg. Many presents said they first thought King Igna was a kidnapper, as shown here,” photos disyed, many of which pointed at Vanesa’s less than adequate clothing, many pointed to abuse in the royal family, “-the king’s entourage had this to say,” said the anchor, “-the adoption of Vanesa Haggard happened many years back, during a time of war. A babe was found abandoned and at the mercy of a Cult in worship to the Mistress of gue and mdies. King Igna fought to dispense of the cult, saving the child in the process. Her identity has remained private for security reasons. Under the sessionw, Vanesa doesn’t have ims on the Hidrosian crown. However, she has a legitimate im on Glenda and the associatednd,” the paragraph went on for much longer until, “-the King’s private life isn’t up for discussion. We, the humble protector of the crown, will ensure a repeat of said situation never urs. The King enjoyed the promenade around the capital, joining the conversation, making new acquaintances. Events of today have revealed the truth – royalty is best kept sheltered. sphemy to the king is a crime one paid for by the death of the sphemer. Newly added policies promote one to have their own opinion. s, the imntation will take a slower approach.”


    “Any opinion on the statement, Lord Esto.”


    “Saddens me to say, they’re right. Royalty is best kept from the public’s attention. We saw what happened, if it had been in a potentially dangerous part of town, the ordeal might have ended in tragedy. Andiel Gazette has tantly used the royal family. If the media aren’t careful, Hidros will truly be a ce ruled by fear. ountability falls in our hands, I dare say, the future is in our hands. ept King Igna’s rulership or join the rebellion of Queen Eia – who knows.”


    “Thank you, Lord Esto. In other news – five bodies were found-” the television toggled.


    “Watching the news?”


    “Well, before you turned it off,” narrowed Igna, “-cousin, how did the council meeting end?”


    “Badly,” they chatted in a room deep inside the inner-castle. An area crossed from public ess, furniture, and arrangements were done with a lounge-style in mind, a stacked bar, after the counter and stools, continued till a piano. Further forward were tables, arge television, vibrantly explosive sound system, and out-of-ce beanbags. Gentle lighting provided both a casual and formal atmosphere. Julius stopped at the counter, poured a drink, and shuffled to Igna, “-the Gaien council won’t break. It’s split into noble versus royalist, the former has an influence on part of the public businesses, whilst we have support from a majority of the provinces. We have influence, they have money, well, had money if we take the Bank of Arda out of the picture,” he sipped, “-where’s Vanesa, I heard you two made quite the show.”


    “Yeah, I saw,” preliminaries of another car tournament yed, “-it worked.”


    “What did?”


    “ying the victim card,” he chuckled, “-the sheer amount of sympatheticment left on the released statement, worth every word.”


    “What?” he leaned, “-exin, cousin.”


    “All part of a bigger n, once we’re ingrained as the norm, we won’t have to worry about rebellion or other headaches.”


    “Point about hating adoption?”


    “ys into the narrative of child abuse. It’s known the adoption of children is a fa?ade used by disgusting nobles to wrap their deeds in a coating of innocent and good faith. We know what they truly desire, and tis the torment of the weak. Don’t underestimate the thinking power of the Arcanum, they’ll piece together the intent ande to a conclusion I ultimately sowed.”


    “I see,” he smiled, “-very shrewd – the influence of the nobles will falter seeing the efforts of the Goldbergs in rescuing war orphans.”


    “How’s Malley doing?”


    “She’s fine,” he nodded, “-mother’s taking care of her at the manor.”


    “I see.” *Iing Call – Dyu,* “-nice talking, cousin, go spend time with Malley and check on Eira, she’s still at the hospice.”


    “Yeah, I know, we nned to visit soon.”


    “Catch youter, cousin,” a machine of many cogs, Igna’s inner-circle truly had the authority to do as they pleased, the eventuality of war increased distribution for Phantom. Selling weapons to their kin for the ughter of the same kin.


    Igna pulled into a manor in the middle of a residential district, high-priced property, lush driveways, clean streets, and peaceful aura, doors locked in the distance, Vanesa walked a few steps apart, her focus drowned onto her phone. *Knock, knock,* gates to the property closed automatically, the lock clicked. A valuable painting leaped at him, shuffles came from the right, “-majesty,” gasped Dyu, “-I’ve been waiting.”


    “I know,” said manor was built by a previously prominent trading family, their tale sadly ended tragically, upon crossing paths against Lady Elvira of Phantom, the prominent family, notorious for their mercilessness againstpetitors, were found dead in the massacre known as the Cto’s Butcher. The name spawned from the serial killer who targeted rich folks, the news coverages were continent-wide – echoes of which still resounds today on forums dedicated to murder mysteries. Links to Phantom were never established, nor did the name Elvira ever rose. Law enforcement clueless, the Cto’s butcher walks the street, many rumors point to the murderer’s death. The family’s businesses and fortune were mercilessly devoured by other sharks, and in the end, Elvira acquired their estate. The Cto butcher remains ominously mysterious, none know when he’ll strike or if he’ll ever strike. Such being said, the truth, a morosely nd exnation – the Cto Butcher was nothing more than a concocted story built in nearby viges. Death of influential people, a convenient eraser for Phantom and their rise, ‘-Aunt Elvira’s story is quite the hit,’ he shuffled deeper into the manor, ‘-good thing she stopped before it garnered more attention,’ a simple door unlocked to avishly open room. At the centerid Queen , timid and harmless under afy nket. Igna turned to Vanesa, “-the fridge’s stocked. Have Dyu make something to eat.”


    “Food?”


    “Yeah,” he said.


    “I need clothes...”


    “We’ll go shopping in a bit.”


    “Fine,” she mindlessly turned and headed towards the bar.


    “Here,” interjected a troubled Dyu, “-Vanesa, the kitchen is that way.”


    ‘For her cleverness... Vanesa’s grown into an airhead,’ a side-smile led into the silent room. Weeks psed since the escape from Elendor, and since then, she’d remained in a deep slumber. ‘-Marks on her arms,’ he examined, ‘-healed bites on her neck,’ he pulled down the nket and exposed less clothed , ‘-injuries from head to toe, they truly didn’t care.’ Daily healing by the best court-mages culminated in the current. Igna removed the nket – white lingerie kept her dignity at a minimum, ‘ constetion symbolize le relèvement,’ was scarified across her stomach, ‘-’s not an idiot,’ he paused, ‘-she must have meant something. Elendor uses the stars as conduits to utilize spells,’ arms crossed, he took off the sses, reality distorted, the bed vanished, emptiness leaked into the room, the queen’s figure lit into a ck-silhouette of many lines running from her heart to the limbs, ‘-the circle of Edth,’ dark dots at points of interest matched the constetion of Edth, a kite on top which ovepped across. ‘-If I press these points,’ he flicked specks – the dots imploded, the flow of mana restored, *Mana-Control: Healing Element – Full Body Restoration,* she levitated, the wounds regenerated, ‘-and that should do it,’ a potion sk was pulled from his storage dimension. Few dropletsnded in her mouth, the irresponsivedy’s pupils moved despite the closed lids, her chest lifted and dropped. The fallen nket drifted to its original ce, ‘-how old is she?’ he wondered beside the bed.


    “Unfamiliar ceiling,” said a faint muffle, “-who are you?”


    “Igna Haggard, King of Hidros,” he replied, “-you’re in Hidros. We’ve cleansed the body from remnants of narcotics.”


    “My spell’s broken?”


    “Yeah, it was pretty easy to figure.”


    “So much for that,” she sat upright, “-ack of clothing, why am I not surprised?”