NoGift 187 AFTERMATH OF THE FESTIVAL I

Heinz was walking back to the house he shared with his brother.  He just got back from the bakery and was carrying a bag of bread.  He looked around and he could see knights stationed everywhere.  It wasn't that much of a surprise anymore.  It had been like this for days now.  Five days since the festival, to be exact.  

Honestly, he was still shocked about what happened.  He wasn't near the plaza when it all happened, so he didn't witness it first-hand.  But hearing everyone talking about it and watching that trending video, he almost felt like he was there himself.  Who would have thought that during the year's most celebrated holiday, something like that would happen?  The Holy Temple being disintegrated into almost nothingness.  And then after that, the appearance of the image of that woman.  Who the people now thought as the goddess – Gaia.  Then there was that heavy rain that almost resembled a storm.  As if the goddess was indeed showing her displeasure to the Temple.   

Because of that, the whole town was now in lock down.  And tomorrow, all the Archbishops would convene here to have a meeting with the Pope.  Definitely to discuss the countermeasures they should do to lessen the negative impact of what just happened to the Temple.  Although he truly wondered what they could do to fix this mess.  Because it looked like things were getting really out of hand.

Especially after that video had been released.  Even now, it was still trending.  Although the Temple disapproved of the sPhones, Heinz and his brother still kept one for each of them.  Because it was truly more convenient than using a defaro crystal.  

He finally reached the house he shared with his brother.  When he opened the door and went inside, he saw his younger brother drinking milk.  

"You're up early," he said, putting the bag of bread on the table.  It was only six o'clock, usually Heath woke up about seven.  

"I have an early shift today."

"Then I better make breakfast quickly." Heinz pulled up the sleeves of his shirt and began taking eggs and bacon from the pantry.  "Hey, Heath.  Do you think the woman who appeared that day was really the goddess?" he just suddenly thought of asking.

"Who cares if it's her or not.  The fact is, a lot of people in the world think she is," Heath answered carelessly.  "If you ask me, the Temple totally deserves what's happening to it right now."

"Heath-!"

"What?  The Temple isn't exactly teeming with saints.  Most people part of this phony organization are worse than your run of the mill criminal," he said, taking a piece of apple from the table and biting it.

Heinz sighed.  He wanted to refute, but sadly he truly couldn't.  Because no matter how much he believed in the teachings of the Temple, some part of it were just truly rotten.  "And we're part of what you just called a 'phony organization'."

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Kingdom of Albion.

In one of the gardens of the palace, the one solely dedicated for the use of the King, two figures were sitting inside the gazebo and were drinking their tea.  The two were the King and the second prince.  

Arthur put down the teacup on the crystal table.  "I heard that video is still, what is that term?  Ah yes, trending."

"It is," Winter only said.

"You could really feel its effect.  Now everyone thinks of you as some kind of hero.  Even the image of the royal family improved because of that.  Now, almost all the people in our kingdom have already forgotten what your foolish brother and greedy sister did." The King picked up the cup and sip the tea.  "It's fascinating, how a simple video could bring such an effect.  One should really admire Argent Blackbourne for creating such a thing.  Speaking of the duke, was he there at Victoria City when all that commotion happened?"

"No, he's not."

"Oh, I just thought he was.  Considering the quality of the video, I thought he was even the one who recorded it."

Winter almost choked on the tea he's drinking.  At times like this, the King could really be as sharp as a knife.  Because the one who took the video was definitely either Lady Aurum or at least someone related to Argent.  But of course, there's no way he would tell that to the King.  "With the way sPhones are built, anyone could take a high quality video like that."

"Pardon me, I'm not really well-versed in the way these sPhones work.  I just assumed that since that video was spread that fast, it had something to do with the duke.  After all, he's technically the one who made those, what are those called again? Ah, Apps." Again, really sharp.  Well, he probably wouldn't be the King if he wasn't at least this sharp.  "Anyway, you should take advantage of the current situation while that video is still fresh in everyone's mind.  Go and show yourself more often to the people.  I've already arranged activities for you.  All you have to do is follow it.  Continue to do well and soon, no one would even try to complain once I announced you as the crown prince."

That was something Winter had been working so hard to attain.  But at this moment, he didn't feel a shred of happiness after hearing that announcement.  He wanted to sit on that throne because he knew that he could do so much for the people of Albion.  He could be a good king.  A better king.

Thinking of that, he couldn't help but remember the message he received from Argent the day after the festival.

[I just saw the footage of what happened at that plaza.  You did really good.  I never thought you had it in you.  You could seriously give my sister a run for her money.  As I've promised to you, I will make sure to spread your amazing feat at Victoria City throughout the five continents.  But what will happen afterwards would now be up to you.  You will receive a lot of attention, probably not all of them good.  Knowing you, you'd probably just ignore them.  Still, do prove to your future detractors that you deserve all the goodwill and the love of the people supporting you.  Use this chance to secure your position as the crown prince.  Because there's no one else better suited to sit on that throne.

P.S.  I think you'd be a much better King than your d*ck father.]

The corner of his lips couldn't help but turn up just remembering that.  Only Argent could say something like that.  

"By the way, Winter, has your Mother contacted you?" the King suddenly asked.

Winter's small smile immediately disappeared after hearing that.  So, this man was still looking for his mother.  It seemed like the trail Winter purposely left for him to find already reached a dead end.  So he just needed to make a new one.  There's no way he'd let him come in contact with his mother again.  The King already caused him too much suffering.  Why couldn't he just let her be?

"She sent a message to my [TalkUs] account once, saying that she arrived safely at her destination, that I don't need to worry about her, and that he would send me a message from time to time," he answered.  Because saying that he didn't would just seemed too unrealistic.  

The King looked sharply at Winter.  "Is there a way to track that message back?"

"No, I don't think it's possible.  That App, [TalkUs], doesn't have that feature."

Arthur stared at his second son, but he couldn't read anything from his expression.  He smiled.  Out of pride or disappointment, he didn't even know.  "I see.  You can leave now."

"Yes."

Winter stood up and walked out of the garden.

Chapter end