Chapter 19 - Good Morning Papunika (I)
September has come and gone, leaving Papunika in the beautiful fall.
This is the fourth year Leona stays on her throne, and days as a queen are easily passing by.
It's just that sometimes, people of Papunika have forgotten a fact that their queen would only reach twenty in the coming birthday.
For four years she has appeared as a pride of the nation. To Papunika people she owns the position of an ultimate leader.
Driving on the highway and being updated with the news that Leona is attending a story telling session with children, Larhalt can't stop smiling. Today is Sunday. This proves Leona as a royal who work hardest. And does she like children? Well, he thinks she like them but she is not into the level of telling story to them.
He is far away from Papunika and may not be able to attend Leona's birthday party, which is a national event in Papunika when tomorrow comes. In addition to be her guardian he also has his business to take care of. He takes everything easy going but the closer he is to Leona, the more ambitious he becomes. And with the growing ambition, he aims to have his corporation net worth that is more than Papunika's gross domestic product. He has been carrying on horizontal integration in his business through acquisitions, merge and joint ventures across countries. He has a sharp vision on property industries and location he picks are key areas that attract business. He doesn't compete with Hyunkel in this and they are partners in all property projects they have connection with. While Hyunkel focuses on the construction industry and goes for vertical integration as a direction to expand his business, Larhalt is more aggressive.
Leona is always keeping close eyes on what's going on. She trusts that Hyunkel would know where to stop and she remains silent. Yet to Larhalt, she is straightf to warn him from playing the monopoly game, at least in her country.
"You don't have any law regarding this, my Queen." He said.
"Then I would have."
But his intention is never about having the power of monopoly, Leona soon realises that he would stop at a point when his corporations dominant the industry, become main players, and he then expands the acquisition to other industries, for example, from proper to monetary and banking industry.
"You seem not interfering my business any longer." After a while, he asked her, when he doing the guardian's duty at her overseas trip.
"I know I don't have to." She replied simply.
"No, you don't have to. In stead, you can value my corporations the way you value Hyunkel's. The difference is, mine are bigger."
"I do value Mic Dazel highly. I've just never noticed that you are so ambitious."
"... I'm ambitious in a good way." He said.
Neither Leona nor himself would like to make any move in their relationship. But about his underlying motivation, it is for an "if". If there is a chance to progress according to the feeling, he will be able to give her a fortune that worths more than the gross domestic product of her whole kingdom.
Now there is something bothers him about the event Leona is attending. It's too crowd and are dominant by foreigners. Why does a children event in Papunika catch this much of attentions from foreigners? This makes him stop driving to observe the live news.
...
Leona is reading the book Wildlife on the bench and have a group of small children sitting on the lawn, listening to her and following her acting excitedly. A crowd of public is surrounding the event area. Although access is limited to children of the kindergarten, the public are waiting along the walk way in order to meet the Queen in person. There is a mixture of both local and foreigners. Teams of safeguards are gathered to control the crowd. The event is going to an end and they have to ensure Leona's security until she leaves.
Leona is happy with the event because this is her first challenge to interact with junior citizens. Amazingly, she overcomes it with an enjoyment. She never knows children can be so enthusiastic and cute. For the children at those ages, Leona is a real princess/queen. She is a perfect role model stepping out from the book, with her long blond hair and beautiful blue eyes. All children love Leona.
Marlin and several officers follow Leona on the walkway. It's not rare to see public enthusiasm on Leona's appearance, but today, the royal crew is surprised by the unbelievably big crowd filled up the whole walkway.
"Are you shaking hands with the people, your Majesty?"
"Yes. They have been waiting here for long, I should not disappointe them, right?" Leona tells Marlin.
And the atmosphere is full of happiness and warmth when Leona comes out and shakes hands with the excited public.
In the car, Larhalt follows the news with an uncontrollable admiration. Leona really loves everything she does.
But suddenly the queen feels such a terrible strong handshake that drags her toward it and makes her lose balance. Leona can only sense a dark ki somehow and before she can react, she is hold back in the arm of a person. He is standing in front to cover her, stopping the sword that was aiming on her with his bare hand.
"Marlin, protect Leona!" Larhalt sounds furious. After some quick moments to make sure Leona is accompanied away from the walkway, he turns to the attacker and destroy the sword easily. He is able to identify another six persons that are involved in the attack and catches them in seconds. Everybody is shocked by the way he acts, which gives no way and no time for the attackers to react. In a minute he drags them all to the officers.
"Are you fine, Leona?" He runs inside the school to see her, he can't hide the tenseness.
"Larhalt, your hand..." She looks at his bleeding hand, she has not overcome the scenario that has just happened.
"It's ok... Let's go back to the palace."
She looks at him and nods, "Make sure everything is ok here, Marlin." She tells Marlin before disappearing together with Larhalt by teleport.
...
"Oh my god... It's terrible..." Menruru covers her eyes because of what she sees from the news.
The Queen of Papunika being attacked among public is a shock to everybody. Papunika is believed to be the most stable and peaceful country. "Is Leona ok, Marm? Please tell me, I can't look at it..."
"She is safe, Larhalt has come just in time with his teleport." It's scary to think of what might have happended if Larhalt had not been there. Why would there be a group of people that planned to attack Leona.
...
"Thank you."
There is a mess out there yet peace remains in the palace of Papunika.
"That's ok, you are lucky the sword has not touched you. Where are all the trainings gone?" He sits in front of her, has her hold his hand and heal it with the Homi cast.
Larhalt seems angry and she would ignore his hidden anger.
"Where did you come from?" Leona asks another question instead.
"Romos."
She looks at him with surprise, unspeakable.
"Yes, I was there for an acquisition. My car is now left on the road." He says.
"You follows me from such a distance? You are very responsible." She smiles and is touched.
Can't control his emotion, he leans forward to embraces her fully.
His voice is warm and deep as usual, dripping into her ears, "You don't know my feeling when I saw what happened through the news. I counted on luck to reach here on time. Your other guardians are useless."
"What was your feeling that I don't know?"
"A fear." He releases her.
"I'm... still abit frightened, can you hug me again?"
"It's ok now. Don't worry."
"No, it's not ok." And she hugs him instead.
End Chapter 19.
Note: Edited - A paragraph of flashback was removed