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Episode 91 - Country of Music 5 ‘Euria’s cry & Anger’

 

“He left,” Aedelak confirmed, closing the blinds.

Eugene nodded to Aedelak. “Hmm, thanks.”

Turning to Euria, Eugene sighed. “What’s wrong? He’s gone.” She said gently.

“Heeung” Euria sniffed. “I…. I…. I don’t like this country at all!” Euria exploded in cries.

Euria’s words surprised everyone in the room, particularly Eugene, as she witnessed how excited Euria was before coming to Zene and after arriving in Zene. Euria was so excited even after the distasteful incident with the King of Zene! So what could have possibly happened in the two hour time they were apart from each other?

“What?” Eugene stared speechlessly at the crown of Euria’s head.

“I don’t like this place! It’s … It’s creepy!!” Euria wept, digging herself deeper into Eugene’s embrace.

“....” Eugene turned her head to look at Louis.

Louis too frowned and was just as confused as Eugene.

“Um..” Eugene glanced at Aeselak. “What did you do in the palace and where did you go?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Young miss… everyone. We went to look around the Royal Palace.” Aeselak recalled her memory.

“Youngest Miss ran around happily as per usual...Oh!” Aeselak blinked. “She went off with young master Ron for a minute. Just around the corner. But she was still happy after returning! It was only when we left the Palace did Youngest Miss … became unhappy.” Aeselak pursed her lips and looked down.

“A minute?” Eugene asked.

“Yes, Miss.”

“What happened when you two were alone?” Louis asked Ron who rapidly blinked his eyes.

“We…” Ron Graeme rubbed his chin. “We met the Crown Prince?” He phrased it as if he wasn’t sure who he saw.

“......!!” Eugene's eyes widened in shock. More than Euria calling the palace creepy, the King having a successor was even more shocking!

“What happened?” Duke Marleigh frowned.

“He bumped into me, I fell. Euria was behind me and helped me get up. That’s all” Ron answered.

“NOO! NO! He was hurt!” Euria snapped, getting up from Eugene’s embrace!

“Brother Ron! That person… had black all over his body! Black and red and... and Purple!!” Euria choked as she explained!

“Huh? I didn’t see that?!!” Ron clutched his hair watching Euria hugging Eugene’s arms.

Eugene, Ramon, Louis, Aeselak, Aedelak, Duke Marleigh, Duke Rodriguez were shocked silent. Blue, black, red, and purple could only mean bruises.

The Crown Prince of Zene?

Everyone’s face went pale and darkened immensely. Aeselak fell to the ground in shock. Only multiple raging heartbeats could be heard in the silent room.

It was Ramon who broke the silence. He crouched down in front of Euria and muttered in a speechless voice. “You .. saw what?”

“His body... was covered in scary marks!” Euria sniffled.

Ron Graeme gasped in shock. When he and the Crown Prince bumped into each other, all he saw was light brown hair. The palace maids quickly brought him back but that was all.

“Uwuu! This country… this water... This music is creepy!! I want mommy and daddy! I want to go home!” Euria jumped into Ramon’s embrace and wept.

Aernest who didn’t know what was going on hugged Eugene in Euria’s stead.

“Bad! Bad! We need to go home! Weird country! Bad country!!” Euria repeated in a muffled voice.

Duke Rodriguez clenched his fist. “Euria..” He sighed. He thought she was just a bit moody, but to think she held this matter back and only told them now. Although they came to Zene to keep the children safe, this country wasn’t as peaceful as it seems!

‘Earnest.’ Duke Rodriguez glanced at Duke Marleigh who was showing rare anger.

“Haa..” Eugene sighed, slapping her hand on her forehead. ‘What on earth is going on with this country?!’

“Euria, first calm down.” Eugene attempted to calm Euria down.

“We can’t leave Zene just because of this.” Eugene subconsciously spoke in a very cold voice. Although cold, she spoke the truth. They were here to have a friendly training program with Zene’s knights. Whatever happens to Zene’s citizens, or even Zene’s royal family wasn’t any of their business.

When Eugene was young, she didn’t understand why nobody helped her. Why nobody said anything even though they know about her family misdeeds. Look at what happened to her homeroom teacher. Although he didn’t help her in any way and only taught about child abuse because he was required to do so, he was killed.

After Eugene became free and matured, she realized. Even if anyone helped her in any way, shape, or form, without a concrete plan, power, or responsibility, helping her was useless. Everything comes with responsibility and nobody was willing or able to take responsibility.

So what would happen if Xenperia interferes with Zene’s royal family? It wouldn’t be good, to say the least. Friendship will be broken. Other countries in United West Liasel would have to intervene. It will be a problem, pilling on top of more problems. The most they could do is inform Xenperia with a letter, but that was all.

When Euria heard Eugene’s cold words, she stopped crying to everyone’s surprise. Euria backed off from Ramon’s embrace and turned towards Eugene and stayed silent. Her red eyes bore into Eugene’s grey ones and glared blood.

“......”

Everyone held their breath at Euria’s sudden change. She looked furious and angry. An expression they’ve never seen from Euria.

Before Eugene could say anything, Louis spoke up.

“We might be able to leave the palace. Will that be better Euria?” His voice broke the tense atmosphere.

“Leave the palace?” Ron Graeme exclaimed! He looked at Louis in shock!

“Will that be possible Duke Marleigh, Duke Rodriguez?” Ramon who stayed silent spoke up.

“......” Duke Marleigh and Duke Rodriguez looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Leaving was the first thing they thought of when they met the King earlier in the afternoon anyway.

“We have no reason to stay here besides it being a ‘safer’ place. If what Euria saw was real- No. It was real.” Louis shook his head.

“It is better if we exclude ourselves from the situation in the Royal Palace and stay away from them. We can come back when they ask for us, but there is no need to stay in this... Unclear place.”

Eugene blinked at the serious Louis and Ramon who went along with Louis.

Looking at Euria, Louis, and Ramon who were all staring at her, she couldn’t help but bite the inner part of her lips. What’s this? Why...

Before Eugene could analyze their facial expressions, Ramon spoke.

“My sister feels unsafe here and will cry all night. I think it is better if we stay somewhere else. The situation also calls for it, not to mention the things that happened this afternoon.”

“Alright. We get it.” Duke Rodriguez gently smiled and agreed in words.

Because they were formally invited by Zene, their accommodation and living expenses are paid and prepared by Zene. However, a backup plan and money were always necessary. So before they came to Zene, they made sure to prepare a backup lodge and prepare a ton of money.

Although it wouldn't be luxurious when compared to the Palace lodge, it was livable. The soldiers are also currently staying in the backup lodge as well as the neighboring lodges so it was more than safe to move there.

“I will inform the King and Ario that we are leaving. You can leave first. I will follow soon after.” Duke Marleigh informed Duke Rodriguez before walking out.

“Euria we are leaving, so don’t cry anymore okay?” Ramon gently patted Euria who didn’t react much.

“Euria?”

“We have to go,” Euria whispered, still looking at Eugene.

“......” Eugene frowned but didn’t say anything.

Soon, they rowed out of the lake and headed mainland. Their luggage would soon come after, so there was no need to wait for their luggage to be packed back. On the mainland, soldiers stood standby and escorted them to the capital. Because preparation to leave was already prepared in the afternoon, the transition happened fast.

All the Paladin children rode together in one carriage except for Eugene who was the leftover child, again. Eugene rode in front and assisted Duke Rodriguez who maneuvered the carriage.

Through the silent evening, mumbling could be heard from inside the carriage.

“Euria…” Ramon called out, rubbing her shoulders in a bid to get her to snap out.

Everyone was mutually thinking the same thing; Something was wrong.

“I want mom and dad,” Euria mumbled.

She didn’t want Eugene but wanted Levis and Moniqua?

“I want mom and dad.” She repeated as she stared at Louis.

Louis replied.  “You can write a letter once we get to the lodge.”

Euria only looked at the floor, her silence was her agreement. Yet somehow, her silence was scary.

Outside the carriage, Eugene scratched her head in confusion. This trip was supposed to be her mini-holiday. A vacation!

Yet, every since this afternoon, everything has been going downhill. It was Euria’s first time being mad at her as well… Not to mention, Ramon and Louis also looked at her weirdly.

“Ha…” Eugene breathed out, staring at the moon that arrived before the sun completely went down.

“Before my bed, the moonlight glitters, Like frost upon the ground. I look up to the mountain moon, Look down and think of home.” - Li Bai.

Eugene softly recited.

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⁂Book I Table of Contents⁂

(February - September 2020) 

⁂Book II Table of Contents⁂

(September 2020 - First half of 2021)  

⁂Table of Contents for MCiuitW! Advanced Chapters ⁂