Christopher's POV:
I could say that Felix definitely looked so pale and tensed that, he almost became a statue. Why is he here in the first place? Is he also a member of this group? Well, it seems like whether he is a member or not, he didn't know about my presence here. But still, is me knowing his presence here, that much troublesome?
The awkward silence was broken by the leader himself "that's completely fine, Felix. We were just talking about prince Christopher's maternal family."
"He didn't know anything?" Incredulously Felix asked, looking at me with a sympathetic gaze.
What is he sympathetising for? Does he know everything about all these things already?! That only means one thing, he is definitely an internal member.
"Unfortunately no." With a grave expression, professor Klein warned him something.
So they're indeed hiding a lot again! Urgh! They and their secret protocols!
Successfully grabbing my attention back to himself, professor Klein spoke "Umm. Christopher, let me introduce, this is Felix Chase, the Lawrence representative in our group."
"Lawrence representative? That means he reports back and forth between you and the Lawrence royals?!" I asked, minutely watching Felix's reaction who had a stoic face all of a sudden.
While he sat on the newly added chair, just between Dr. Kaiser and Professor Klein, professor Klein spoke "exactly. Sometimes he works as our internal spy, sometimes even as physical force."
As I nodded in understanding, Felix presented a briefcase to professor Klein, saying "the documents you requested from my...umm his majesty, the King Lawrence."
So that's why he is so close to those Lawrence trio and his fighting styles and sword skills are similar to them.
It was professor Klein again who broke my trance "Christopher, we don't mind your presence at all, but from now on whatever we discuss, stays with our own souls. I hope you understand."
Giving a small smile, I nodded in agreement. Of course I needed to know their progress, our mother's whereabouts, probably about Felix too and most importantly about our father.
But this time Dr. Kaiser spoke "so Felix, this is your first official meet with us after the Gyanlo disaster. We would like to listen every details from you."
Saying that Dr. Kaiser looked remorseful? But why?
"Of course, I'll tell you everything. But check those documents first, if they are really relevant to use." Felix answered with the same stoic face.
As they took out the papers from the briefcase and started checking them out, Jeremy covered the 'Gyanlo disaster' for me, in a hushed tone of course.
"One year ago when the first four older members decided to move to Escortia after cleaning up the city of Gyanlo from the Khirigan hideout base, we three were here. Henry was the last one to shift here, he came here in March and then there was a sudden attack on Felix and he was badly injured on his right hand. We felt so devastated for not being there with him and protect him. Thankfully Simon and Jasper were there to look after him or..."
So it's indeed true that he was injured on his right hand, but still it's over seven months now, just how much injured he was?!!
As I looked at Felix with a soft smile of admiration, he looked away from my direction. Was he looking at me the whole time? Why?
"Is it Crown Prince Jasper Yeager of the Yeager royals, you just mentioned?"
"Yes. He is also a medical student and he is really close to Felix. Next year he is joining us here and I can't wait to see him here, you know. Only he can put some sensible care in that work-holic boy."
We were still talking with hushed tone, as we both kept our eyes on the other members who were now focused on the same papers. No, not papers. They looked a bit worn out. Are those scrolls? Like some handwritten letters?! From whom?
"What do you think?" Felix eagerly looked at every one of them.
"This is more than enough, Felix. We'll be able to detect the odds easily." Professor Jones replied with a soft smile.
Suddenly a stamp caught my attention, the official royal stamp of the Hammonds and I couldn't help but ask "is that a letter from our royal court?"
"Yes, your highness. All of them are and they were written by your father, his majesty the King Hammond himself." Felix really surprised me with his monotonous authoritative voice.
"Why do you have them? And how..."
And he had the audacity to cut me mid through "first of all, your highness, I don't own these letters. They're his majesty the King Jacob's property. They were sent by your father himself when they still had their old friendship intact. And secondly I borrowed them in-half of the group for some experiments, after that they'll be returned to their rightful owner."
Okay. He didn't have to be that much hostile, right?
"Sorry. I was just curious since the Lawrences broke the truce between them and the Hammonds, a long ago. Nothing much, okay?" I couldn't quite get his mood on point, so I decided to be honest.
However his next question surprised me.
"You also think that those attacks were done by the Lawrences, 15 years ago. Don't you?" His face looked so dark, his eyes so cold and his voice completely vacant.
"Christopher, how can you accuse such sin on the Lawrences? Don't you know that the Lawrences lost a prince in that very same attack that happened all over the royal families!" I've never seen Dr. Kaiser loosing his temper this soon, seemed like I touched a wrong point again.
"I apologise for my ignorance, Dr. Kaiser. I've lost my mother at the same time. So I could never judge properly what was happening around then." I just thought that they would drop the topic soon.
However Felix proved me wrong, as he asked "are you sure that your mom died at the same time when those attacks happened?"
"Yes. I mean just two or three days later I heard rumours about the broken truce and we all were told that the Lawrences had banned everything related to us."
Felix's eyes finally showed a new emotion, curiosity, as he sought after each eyes of the other members and it seemed like they were having a silent conclusion.
"Your highness, I can assure you that the Lawrences had every reason to cut ties with the Hammonds. They just had lost one son and every single evidence led to the Hammonds."
Felix firmly said his point but I couldn't understand why would my father go to that extend of killing someone innocent, he didn't turn this cruel back then.
Probably my hesitation was vivid on my face, as professor Klein commented, "Christopher, don't feel offended, but Felix just said the truth."
"But father had no reason to..."
"Chris, can you tell us, how did your mom die? I mean the exact reason."
Felix seemed too engrossed as he completely ignored that he just dropped my title. It's not like I don't like it, now he just made it a lot comfortable for me, I'm glad that he did.
"I was in my room, asleep, as it was already past midnight so I can't elaborate much. But what I heard from the maids and the guards that she was a bit drunken and fell from the balcony..."
Before I could even continue further, professor Klein asked, flabbergasted "just like that? And everyone just accepted it?"
As I nodded quietly, professor Jones questioned "what about your father? He didn't even bother to look into it a bit?"
Their deep frown getting deeper as I replied "no, father was so devastated, he couldn't even bear to see her for the last time." My voice trembling slightly in the past memories.
"Or maybe, he finally got rid of a big obstacle and didn't care to look back." Professor Klein's venomous comment caught me off guard.
"But why would father suddenly start working on..."
Felix didn't let me continue, as he spat "Chris, your mom was the target of Theodore all along, do you think these were just mere coincidences?!"
"What do you mean?"
"Christopher, please try to remember anything out of character behaviours of your father from that time." Professor Klein spoke with a much gentle way.
"There were a lot actually. But we thought that he was depressed that's why... Why? Is it concerning? I mean, right now, I don't care whether he got some kind of mental trauma but a whole kingdom is getting deceived by him. So?"
Professor Klein and Dr. Kaiser both exchanged a knowing look with Felix, Tristan and Jeremy. Are they voting for something troublesome?!
However professor Palmer surprised all of us with his sudden comment "If I am being extremely serious, l wouldn't have revealed anything."
Then looking at Felix, he added "yet."
Clearing his throat at such a crucial point, professor Klein clarified "Christopher, the matter is indeed concerning, and that's why we need more time to be hundred percent sure."
As I nodded my head in uncertainty, professor Jones assured "we'll do our best to solve this, we promise."
Finally I sensed the tension around me vanishing as Tristan stated "so Felix, now it's your turn to explain everything from Gyanlo."
Giving me a cautious look, he adjusted his posture, as his smooth baritone voice started with a slight tremble "the attack wasn't targetted for me, it was for Simon..."
He shook his head looking at Dr. Kaiser, "he didn't know that you had already left for Escortia then. That letter, he accidentally found in his majesty, the King Kaiser's bed chamber, is actually a handwritten letter from the King Hammond. However it has a Khirigan mention and a Khirigan official stamp. He just suspected it was illegal, so he wanted you to take a look, only if he knew that, that taking that decision would be a life endangering event, he wouldn't have kept it with him."
Letting a heavy, shaky breath out, he continued
"When he showed me the letter, I explained everything in my capacity to let him know what it actually meant, and on that very afternoon, the attack happened. Simon, Jasper and I were having a lazy stroll in the backside garden of the morgue building of the hospital, cause that portion was quite beleived as haunted and we used to hang out there always. However that day, few workers were there for cleaning purposes and we didn't mind them much and that's how we didn't notice they were equipped with weapons."
He stopped again, only to look at me with a soft weak smile, as if he was apologizing for something. His voice trembled again as he started again "a highly poisoned arrow was shoot, exactly targetted to his heart. They were professional killers, if the arrow actually pierced through his heart, it would've paralysed, stopping complete blood flow, a freezing sure death."
I witnessed, Dr. Kaiser heaving a trembling sigh, Tristan visibly shuddered, professor Palmer comforted him with a soft pat and Felix looked as if he was stuck in that moment forever.
He might haven't seen the reactions, as he mechanically continued "Thankfully, my ears caught the sound of the mechanism and I just could move him from the target in time. Unfortunately the arrow got a new target which was me, as while shoving Simon my right hand got in it's way and shooo! Here I'm still unable to use my right hand to do heavy works, even after seven months!"
"Lix! why didn't you tell us that arrow was poisoned? Moreover such a deadly poison which actually could disable your whole right side?!" Professor Palmer retorted with an aggrieved expression.
I only thought his injury was serious but it seems like I underestimated that. Oh, Nicholas! Now I can't even talk about this with you! Felix isn't guilty for your situation at all. These events.... How can he even reveal these things to you?!
Breaking my trance, Felix answered "because of this. I didn't want you guys to worry like this when you were already busy settling here, moreover his highness, Prince Matthew made sure that none of those assassins was left alive! And Simon and Jasper both took good care of me."
With a deep frown, Dr. Kaiser asked "who treated your wound then?"
"Jasper did it. He has a unique talent in curing poisons. You'll be proud of him when he'll join your league." While saying so, he had an unmistakable fondness glowing over his face.
So this Jasper Yeager is really a person about whom my brother should be warned, if he ever decide to court Felix.
"Of course! I'll be glad to welcome a prodigy like him." Dr. Kaiser remarked with anticipation.
The conversation shifted to many more topics, they thoroughly checked progression of the Khirigan activities running around many regions of the Kingdom of Kiyansy, and discussed some strategies to take them down. About my case, I came to know that they were searching for something through the handwritten letters of my father. But what? Don't tell me they're...
"Professor Klein, are those letters for handwriting comparison?" I couldn't help but ask and professor Palmer looked at me with amusement.
"Yes, they're." Professor Jones replied, much to everyone's displeasure.
"You guys are assuming that person not to be my father at all?!" Incredulously I asked.
"Christopher, it's just an assumption! We aren't assuring anything, neither it's been proven to us yet! As you see, we're working on it."
"But why that conclusion? I know, I've distanced myself from father a long ago, but still that doesn't mean that I won't know if there's really an imposter!"
"You don't know him! Even I don't know him! He owns the whole palace! He has his men all over the palace, maybe all over the country too! We can't get away from him! We can't get away from THE KING!!!"
"These were the exact words, her majesty, the Queen Hammond uttered, right before she lost her consciousness and memory." With the dead serious look, Felix retorted.
His eyes filled with a strange voide, as if he could see mother speaking those words with utter desperation and almost breaking down with fear. Wait! Those words! If those were said before she fainted, then only Felix Lawrence could know them, right? At least according to that head maid servant of mother, there were only three of them present, so that should be the case. Then how?...
"How do you know that?"
My question had an interest impact on every single person, specially on Felix, in amidst of his own whirlpool of feelings, my counteract seemed troublesome as he struggled to search for a right excuse and my consciousness concluded : He is Felix Lawrence!?
Professor Palmer broke the awkward tension "we all know that! And we took her majesty's words as a serious evidence, so we started working on it. Don't worry, we won't reveal anything, unless we get every solid proof!"
Since they were handling it personally, I can rest assured that they'll succeed. Another half an hour later we finally made it out of that shabby building, Dr. Kaiser went back to the hospital, professor Klein went to the security control room at the entrance, the other three professors headed to the teachers' dormitories. Felix was still avoiding me, his behaviours got so much reserved, as if everyone was seeing him with disappointment. But for what?
As we reached at the steep hill road again, which led to the academic intersection, Felix was about to turn towards an unknown road, that's when someone came running, screaming his name, with a baseball bat in her hand. Fortunately, Tristan and Jeremy was fast enough to hold her back in time or I can't imagine how much Felix would have been hurt, but that's not what bothered me, the intruder was the problem here.
"Leave me, I want to beat him to death! He is a bad ass person! He just bullies innocent people! I'll torn apart his that annoyingly innocent mask! LET ME GO!"
Struggling really hard in those two strong men's arms, she spat with venom dripping in every word.
And Felix? Well, except for that deep crease between his eyebrows he looked rather calm.
"ENOUGH, Janet Hammond!" I couldn't help but completely restrain her, she looked really relieved seeing me.
"Chris! What are you doing with him? You don't know what he has done to Nicky! He is a monster!"
"Janet!" I gave her a stern look and she understood I had my reasons.
"Can you explain what exactly happened to Nick?"
Pointing to Felix, she started "he ordered someone to harass Nick. That jerk dumped a whole bucket of mud and dirt on him, he was literally shivering from cold! I can't even imagine how much Nick had to go through to get rid of them! Chris, he'll be seriously sick!"
Complete worry clouding my senses, I was about to sprint towards the students' dormitories, when a spine chilling cold voice interrupted "where is that jerk right now?"
The same dark cold look was back on Felix again as he stared at Janet with a murderous aura.
"Why are you asking me? You should know where your minions..."
"Just lead the way."
Okay! His voice got more scary. The more I'm seeing him now, my doubt him being Felix Lawrence getting cleared.
Gulping hard, Janet nodded and Jeremy immediately interfered "Felix, don't let your anger cloud your decisions. Let's go to the dean's office, he'll..."
A vicious scowl from Felix was enough to shut him up, and Felix simply walked away along with Janet.
"This gonna be interesting." With a mischievous grin, Tristan remarked.
Glaring at that very remarking person, Jeremy spoke "Chris, I want your help. Please hold him back, no matter how much he fight against you, don't let him overthrow his sanity. And You! Tristan Kaiser! Do me a favour, go to the Dean Jones's quarters and get him to the premise, physically! I'll get Henry."
Thus we three separated our way, my mind filled with many thoughts; Felix looked so worried and angry at the same time. Even I didn't think about confronting the culprit first! Is he still that much caring for my brother? Or is it because his name has been stained? Was he always this much reserved and aggressive? But Nick never described his Felix like this! Is he really that Felix?! Argh! My mind is exploding!