Lloyd had been relaxing for the past two days, lounging around his guest room in the palace. But he wasn't waiting for the queen's response to his grand offer, imagining a greater future for himself, nor coming up with a smarter ruse with his political insight by studying the atmosphere of the palace.
"Ouch... Argh... My back," groaned Lloyd.
"Does it hurt here that badly?" asked Javier.
"Yeah, and the other side too. Yes. There."
"Then why did you duel Her Majesty without any plan..." Javier kneaded Lloyd's sore body.
"Ouch!" screamed Lloyd. "Easy! Like I wanted to do it."
Lloyd screamed in agony on his bed. He was not exaggerating. Every part of his body ached and throbbed with excruciating pain. His joints and muscles felt like they had been separated into individual pieces and randomly jumbled together again. Lloyd remembered the person who was responsible for his hellishly sore muscles.
Ha. I thought I protected myself from all of her attacks.
He appeared to be doing it for real. Lloyd believed he put up a good fight when considering that it was a fairly long and intense duel against none other than Queen Mangentano, a formidable swordmaster. Despite her endless attacks, only a few of them directly landed on him.
There were only two direct blows, which were when she kicked my solar plexus with her knee and strangled me by the neck.
So, Lloyd was satisfied. He thought he did an amazing job fighting against Queen Magentano, who was basically a human weapon and arguably the second strongest person in the world after Javier.
But I was wrong...
It was fine even as he came back to his chamber, washed up, and slept with a satisfied glow. But the next morning, he realized that the aching muscles he received from Queen Alicia were far worse than an aching tooth or head.
It was delusional of me to think I did a good job.
As soon as his eyes opened in the morning, he felt like he'd been beaten down with a hammer. He was unable to get out of bed. Every inch of his body was in pain as if he'd been in a car accident.
Just blocking her attacks put a heavy strain on my body.
It made sense, Lloyd thought. It would be ridiculous to expect a human body to endure the monstrous vigor she manifested. In any case, Lloyd had to spend the last two days in bed or on a sofa.
"Speaking of..." Lloyd muttered, "Can you be gentle when you remove the gauze?"
"I cannot," rejected Javier coldly.
Rip! Javier sharply refused and tugged, ripping the gauze glued to Lloyd's back. The gauze was soaked in a medicinal herb mixture used to treat muscle and joint pain. However, it would dry throughout the night and caused searing pain every time it had to be ripped off from his back. Laying on his bed, Lloyd begged for mercy as he clawed at his hair from the burning sensation.
"Aaack! Get it off in one try if you're not going to be gentle!" squealed Lloyd in pain.
"That won't do, either."
This time, after his cold rejection, Javier removed the gauze as slowly as possible, ripping out hundreds of short hair strands from Lloyd's back.
"Ack! Yack! Eek! Hey, you!" Lloyd suddenly half-rose from his bed and faced Javier.
"You were not about to curse at me, Young Master, are you?" casually asked Javier. "Of course I was!" huffed Lloyd indignantly.
"But I will still not change my method," defied Javier.
"Why not?!"
Javier shrugged. "The physician offered a few words of assurance to me yesterday."
"What did the man say?!"
"That it is better to slowly rip out the medicinal herb mixture dries out and hardens the gauze."
"Better for what?!"
Javier met Lloyd's eyes and grinned. "Better for improving mood."
Lloyd gaped in disbelief.
"Looking at your reaction now, Master Lloyd, I see what the physician meant. Surely, he is an amazing physician of the imperial palace."
"Hey!" bellowed Lloyd, "Amazing, my foot. You are lying about him, aren't you?"
"Ah, you got me." Javier then gave a tug, slowly this time as well.
"Ouch!!!"
Lloyd fell flat on his bed in pain, and Javier guffawed in amusement. But the laughter didn't go long.
"But Master Lloyd," called Javier gravely.
"Yeah."
"I have a question."
"Not answering you."
“...”
"Properly remove the transdermal patch... I mean gauze, and I'll talk. What is it? What are you curious about?"
Javier said, "It is about the rumor that has been circulating around the capital for the past two days."
"Yeah."
"I heard the rumors say an angel descended during your meeting with the queen and delivered a prophecy. Is that true?"
"Yeah."
"And that the prophecy was about bestowing the Tears of Summer to you?"
"Yeah."
Javier gulped. "Then, the thing you agreed upon with the Minister of Angels back then was..."
"You are right," affirmed Lloyd. "That was it. That was what I asked for to the Minister of Angels."
Javier sighed.
"What? Why? What? Why are you narrowing your eyes like you have another complaint?"
"It is not that. I am simply dumbstruck," remarked Javier.
"Dumbstruck?" Lloyd frowned.
"First, let me say that I will not nag you about something a trivial matter, like how you perverted the angels into some sort of demonic existence. Even if I do, you won't change anyway. But what I want to say to you is-"
"What?" Lloyd urged.
"If it was your intent was to strike a deal with Gabriel to deliver a prophecy for you, you should not be just lying around like you are now."
"Hmm. Why?"
"It is not the time for you to be lying around, as I said." Lloyd was lying on his stomach, so Javier couldn't see his expression. But he could see this young master smirking like a devious pervert, as he always did when he had a sly scheme in mind. "The entire capital is in uproar," he said solemnly. "As a result of you and your prophecy."
"Why? Did a fight break out or something?"
"Yes." Javier nodded. "The capital is divided into two opposing groups."
Lloyd wasn't surprised. "Let me guess. On one side, there are those who insist on following the prophecy and giving me the Tears of Summers. But on the other side, there are those who argue that thoughtlessly handing over one of the divine items of the imperial family would be a poor decision. That's all there is to it, right?"
"Did you... see that ahead as well?"
"Yeah, somewhat." Lloyd shrugged. He scowled at the sharp pain that followed from his shoulders. "When you think about it, it's kind of obvious. The absolute prophecy from Heaven, or the divine item of the imperial family. They have to choose between the two."
"That is exactly the point," Javier seconded gravely.
"Looks like it has stirred the pot in the capital."
"Of course," affirmed Javier. "From the merchants and loaders in the markets to the farmers and patrol guards, children, and nobles, everyone is divided into two groups and voices out their concerns."
"Hmm," mused Lloyd playfully, "What a debate-friendly culture this capital has, I say."
Javier narrowed his eyes. Then, he ripped another piece of gauze.
"Eek!" screamed Lloyd in pain. "Hey!"
Javier shook his head. "How can you still joke around after creating this situation?"
"Well, how can I not make jokes?"
"Get yourself out of bed instead, Master Lloyd."
"You mean go outside?"
"Yes," said Javier in a grave voice, "At any rate, your goal is to attain the Tears of Summer. Isn't it?"
"Well, yeah. You heard what the Ice Dragon said, right?"
"I did. He warned you about the side effect of absorbing the Heart of Winter and that you would need the Tears of Summer, which possesses the opposing nature of the latter. I am telling you this now since the public opinion has been divided in half."
Lloyd sat up. "Are you suggesting I go around persuading people since both sides are strongly spirited about the matter?"
"Yes." Javier gave a nod. "At a time like this, you have to draw more people to your side to achieve your objective of obtaining the Tears of Summer."
"Well, you're not wrong," chuckled Lloyd, "But go deeper, and you'd know that you're slightly wrong, perhaps." "Slightly wrong?" Javier cocked his head to the side.
"The more I try to campaign for myself, the opposing side will gain the same amount of influence that I do."
"Oh..." gaped Javier, finally understanding.
"Do you see what I mean?"
"I was being small-minded," admitted Javier. "Your proactive efforts to shift the public's opinion to your favor would be viewed as an act of greed for the Tears of Summer."
"Yes, yes. That's it. And my opponents will not stay still when that happens. They might even try to pin me as a traitor, and my efforts would backfire on me instead." Lloyd forced a wry smile. It was a possible scenario. Though, of course, it was impossible for him to be considered a traitor because of his title "Magentano Carrier."
The opposition knows that my public image will be shattered the moment the argument pivots to whether or not I'm a traitor. That's what they'll go after in that case.
They would not be interested in whether he is officially punished as a traitor. All they needed to do was slap the label of a traitor on him, destroy his public image, and eventually prevent him from being bestowed the Tears of Summer. That was likely what the opposing side hoped would happen in the end.
"So," Lloyd said, "I don't have to go and do what they so wish me to do. And besides, I'm in quite a bit of pain. This sort of situation calls for a complete rest. Doesn't it?"
"Then, do you have any other plan in mind?"
"Yeah," replied Lloyd casually. "The House of Peers will summon me soon."
"The House of Peers?"
"Oh, looks like they've arrived right as we speak. That was a day faster than I expected." Lloyd grinned brightly.
Javier shot a gaze toward the door. "Do you mean the footsteps coming this way?"
"Yeah." As soon as the nod came, someone tapped on the door. Knock knock knock.
"Excuse me," came the voice. "Is Young Master Lloyd Frontera inside?" The voice belonged to a palace official. When he entered the room, he immediately got to business. "Please pardon me for interrupting your break. The House of Peers has sent you this, Young Lord."
"Hmm. I see. Thanks for delivering it to me."
The envelope bore the words "Request for Attendance." It was exactly as Lloyd had predicted. When the palace official walked away, Lloyd laughed as he swayed the envelope.
"Did you see that?" said Lloyd. "This is it."
“...”
"Okay." Lloyd clapped his hands. "Time to put on some real clothes and take off. Argh. My body aches."
Javier became curious as to what kind of thoughts ran through this man's mind. And more importantly, he wondered what kind of mindset someone must have to calculate such minute aspects of their life. Javier's gaze widened toward Lloyd.
Seoul. What kind of life did you live there?
Just then, memories of Seoul flashed through Javier's mind. The city with musty air and a bustling nightlife. Presumably fake Lloyd's hometown. Javier became fascinated by Lloyd's life there because he couldn't understand how such a place could produce such a monster. But he didn't dwell on his thoughts for long.
"I will help. Your arm. This way."
Now was the time to assist Lloyd and help him achieve his goal of contributing to the family. Javier ushered Lloyd to get ready and eventually hopped into the carriage that the House of Peers had prepared for them. It didn't take long to arrive at the historic structure. Lloyd and Javier were led through the building until they reached the Senate Chamber, where piercing and screeching voices greeted them.
"Come on! Count Peruza! You cannot speak that way! We have yet to hear from the very individual who received the prophecy!"
"Ha!" huffed a man who seemed to be Count Peruza. "Do you imply that there is any extra reason to hear the self-defense of Lloyd Frontera? So, what are you saying? We must gladly give away the divine item of the royal house to the son of a count?!"
"Gladly give away? You are over the line! May I remind you that this is a prophecy? You saw the angel descend down to the kingdom with your own two eyes, and delivered the prophecy, Count Peruza."
"Are you accusing me of blasphemy now?!"
"Barely worse than when you treated me like a traitor of the kingdom."
"Oh now? You've crossed the line, you fool!"
"Did you just say fool?!"
The exchange of shouts between nobles. Their plush seats and elegant attire did little to keep the place quiet. The entire room resembled a rowdy bar, which was the first thing that Lloyd and Javier noticed when they entered inside. Javier crinkled his brow elegantly, in contrast to Lloyd, who grinned contentedly.
Ah. The smell of home.
The House of Peers reminded Lloyd of a construction resource management agency where tough guys grabbed each other by the collar to get the daily job before anyone else. As he went over his plan, Lloyd felt a sense of familiarity inside the room. The debate. Dispute. Quarrel. Clash. The schemes and tricks amidst it all. And the final result that would slam down on everyone. Everything, from his preparation to his plan, was perfect.
