POV: Ruen
I was driving my car as fast as I could to my foster father’s villa. He had one on the outskirts of Since and luckily, today he was there for a three-day vacation. Talking with him shouldn’t take a while. Lianne would be flying back to Fortville this afternoon, so I still had time to talk to him.
Inside my coat’s pocket was the emerald necklace… or should I say the fake one. The minute I saw it on Lianne’s neck, I knew it wasn’t the original.
Mr. Rafael handed the original to me a day after he found me on the side of the road, a kilometer away from my rest house now. I was admitted to Since Medical Hospital for four days, with all the bills paid by the owner himself, Mr. Rafael, of course. He was a wealthy man, very wealthy in fact and at that time, he was looking for new ventures in the economy and commerce of Since.
Although I was still confused at that time, he took me to his household as a guest, and eventually, I became his personal bodyguard. It was just five years ago when he made me the sole heir of his wealth after finding out of my true birthright.
‘That damn old geezer.’
When he first gave me the original necklace, he said he knew right from the very start that there was something mysterious about me. He used the term ‘magical’ being that he was an avid fan of extraordinary stuff. He said that I was holding the necklace in my hand when he found me unconscious, slightly covered with snow on the ground, had a deep cut on my forearm but no traces of blood.
I took the necklace of course. This was the only reminder I had of my existence in the past. Whatever its work of magic, I realized then that it must be working on Princess Lianne too. She might be somewhere; transported in the present time just like me. When I realized the possibilities, it gave me hope.
Having trusted Mr. Rafael of my past, I shared with him also my purpose in life at the present. That was exactly the reason why he advised that I should donate the necklace to the Since University Museum. He had a theory that if Lianne sees the necklace in the museum -being that it was a public place-, we might be together again. I conceded to that and I did hope that it would happen.
It was a big mistake, however.
After two days in the university museum, the necklace was stolen.
Shit.
Maybe thieves took a liking on it, but I had a notion already that it wasn’t the case…
Now my suspicions were confirmed. Cain must be behind the stolen necklace and I am heading towards my foster father to talk to him about it and request him something.
***
“Who would have known that your rival had the necklace all along?” Mr. Rafael commented as he sat on his favorite couch in the parlor room. He was facing the fireplace with a tobacco pipe on hand. The smoke from the pipe rose slowly, condensing into clear air before it hit the crystal chandelier.
The room was dimly lit by the fireplace. Thick curtains covered the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and an earthly wood scent surrounded the room. Ruen was standing inches away from the hearth, staring at the charred remnants of the fake necklace. The flames were dancing vigorously, teasing the once-king to toss some more offering to their incinerating touch.
“Fate… is playing its game on us. Lianne. Me. And now… it has included Cain. He shouldn’t have been reincarnated! Now that I know that he has the real necklace, it brings me great fear.” Ruen’s eyes smoldered with anger. He clenched his teeth and spat out a silent curse.
“I am just wondering, Your Majesty. You did tell me that the emerald stone only holds power when it is merged with Lianne’s blood or descendants of her family. That was in the past. Centuries ago! Isn’t her blood unacceptable now, knowing that she is already reborn? The blood running in her veins now isn’t from the Vhillana family. Isn’t it considered void?” Gillard explained in exasperation. Seeing his adoptive son be in such a precarious situation didn’t comfort him at all.
Ruen cleared his fogged mind and inhaled the room’s earthly scent. “That is possible. But we can’t know for sure. Right now, what is important is that Lianne shouldn’t be with Cain. I don’t want history repeating itself again.”
“Then you should go to her now. Protect her as much as possible.” The old man’s voice was raspy. He stared at Ruen and in just a second, he could see the turmoil in his soul.
“I need to ask you a favor, ” Ruen said, turning his face to his foster father. It was weird for Mr. Rafael to call him a son, but it was even weirder to be called on his past title – Your Majesty.
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
Ruen’s brows flinched slightly.
‘There it is again. That old geezer is surely enjoying it.’
“I need a few of your men to mobilize soon.”
Ruen pertained to Mr. Rafael’s spies in Cain’s corporation, and his own fellow bodyguards -slash- special agents to whom he was taught modern combat skills in his first few years in Mr. Rafael’s household.
“Yes of course!” Gillard willingly stated. “They are always willing and ready to accommodate you, Your Majesty. Just say the word.”