Chapter 75 - The General Talks to the King (Part 2)

  Aside from the person who had died, there were only two other people in the world with these special eyes, and one of them was a woman nearing 200 years old. Yes, you guessed it... my teacher, Adrihna. That woman was more extraordinary than I had imagined, and her abilities to read mana were sought after by the three kingdoms and by nobles who wanted her to train their mage children. She and her brother were the only other two existing users of these special eyes. Now you uand why my family wants to keep the existeny eyes a secret? There are only two people in the world with these special eyes, and I would be the third. That’s ao keep my eyes hidden.

  My au out a relieved sigh.

  “It would be ironic if the awakening happened right here,” Aunt Margie ughed, taking a sip of her wine.

  Chloe squeezed my hand.

  “If it starts tai me know.”

  I he worst of the pain had passed, but there was still an annoying disfort every time I blinked, like a sharp pain as if my eyelid was scratg my pupil.

  “Finally, we've made it to you!” a familiar voice called out.

  “Grand Duke!” Aunt Margie stood up, and we followed suit.

  The painful, burniiourned, but this time it felt like someone lunging a heated spoon into my eyes.

  This damn pain is getting worse!

  It felt like a seari, and my head started to throb.

  Is this really happening in front of the Grand Duke? This has to be some kind of joke!

  “Just call me Ryan,” he ughed.

  We bowed, aurhe gesture.

  “It’s been a year since I st saw you two, and you’ve grown so much!” he said, looking at Chloe and me.

  The Grand Duke then turo Kinue.

  “You must be that apprentice maid. Your ears are very cute, young dy,” he said.

  “T-Thank you,” Kinue replied shyly.

  The pain surged again, and I had to focus hard not to cover my eyes with my hands. The light in the room felt like it was burning my vision.

  Notig my disfort, Aunt Margie quickly intervened.

  “This party is wonderful; I’m in love with this wine,” she said, pointing to the bottle, steering the versation away.

  She knew Ryan took pride in overseeing the logistivolving the beverages, and a smile spread across his face.

  “I personally selected each bottle delivered as a gift for the tables, and since I know you... I made sure to piething special.”

  Aunt Margie ughed.

  “Handsome and a skilled knight,” she teased, stepping in front of me to hide my struggle.

  Ryan blushed, clearly buying into her fttery.

  The pai intensifying, and my mother looked at me, but there was nothing she could do. I had to remain still like a statue while enduring that burniion. I even heard something craside my head, a sound simir to the awakening of my Mana Gem.

  “The king approaches!” a guard in golden armor announced.

  Ryan stepped aside, and a group of people began to make their way toward us.

  Thank god! Fuck! It’s easing up!

  Aunt Margie shot me a quid positioned herself in front of us.

  The king was ing, fnked by muards in golden armor. He had several women with him and more unfamiliar people trailing behind.

  The king approached and began speaking to us, but no sound came from his mouth. I couldn’t uand what was happening until I realized that the entire world had stopped making that moment, it hit me.

  WHAT!? I’M DEAF!

  Panic surged through me as all the sounds of the enviro vanished, leaving me in plete silence. I didn’t know how to react, and the fear was rising fast. Occasionally, I’d hear a sound, but it would quickly fade, and my entire head felt like it was burning as if hot liquid was flowing through it.

  The king talked to my aunt, who had positioned herself in front of us. As the head of our family, she o take the lead, while the rest of us stood in a line acc to our rank. Chloe and I were behind my aunt, and Kinue and my mother stood behind us because they were oners. The king greeted Chloe, who responded shyly, but there roblem... I was .

  FUCK!

  The king stopped in front of me, smiling, and spoke, but even though his mouth was moving, I heard nothing.

  I’M SCREWED!

  I g my aunt, who had no idea what was happening to me, and she tried to signal with a raised eyebrow not to leave the king hanging.

  The king ughed and reassured someone before turning back to speak to me, but I didn’t know what to say since I hadn’t heard him.

  I’M FUCKED! They think I’m disrespeg the king!

  Some guards approached me with serious expressions.

  “He must just be shy, right, young man?” the king said, smiling, though I could see impatience creeping in.

  “Yes, sir. I’m just a bit overwhelmed by your presence…” I stammered, trying to sound like a nervous child.

  FINALLY, I HEAR AGAIN!

  The ki out a hearty ugh, and the guards rexed.

  “I told you, he’s just nervous. It’s alright, isn’t it, my friend?” he said, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder.

  “Yes, my lord…” I replied, almost ving myself that I was shy.

  “It’s normal for them to react this way around us,” said a boy standio the king. It was Dun, the king’s son ao the throne.

  “You must be the family’s servant,” the king said, greeting Kihough he didn’t touch her hand since she wasn’t of noble birth.

  “There’s one more person.”

  The king moved on.

  “My goodness! What a beautiful woman,” the king remarked.

  “Thank you,” my mother responded.

  WHAT!?

  The king approached her.

  “Are you, by any ce, the daughter of a great noble family? You’re very beautiful,” he plimented.

  I ’t believe this… I’m going to kill this bastard.

  “I’m of on birth.”

  “So, you’re a personal servant to this family as well? We could always use more help at the pace,” he said.

  My aunt stepped in.

  “She’s the mother of my nephew.”

  The king’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Mother? She has a child? She looks so young…” one of the guards ented.

  The king smiled widely.

  “Lady, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble... there's a table reserved for some of the royal family’s cluests. I’ll be dining there after I spend some time at the main table,” the king said, clearly flirting with my mother.

  THIS SON OF A BITCH IS HITTING ON MY MOM!

  My aunt gave a fake smile, but I could see the fury in her eyes.

  “I’m with my family, and I’ll be staying with them,” my mother replied firmly.

  “This is an invitation from the king to di his table. It’s not something just as,” a soldier added.

  DID HE REALLY JUST TALK TO MY MOM LIKE THAT!? I MUST BE GOING CRAZY!

  “It’s alright, Phill,” the king said, ughing.