Ch 23
***Next morning***
Ben wake up and see Collen is sleeping beside him on the big and soft bed. He still feels dizzy from last night. He tried to think what happened but his mind is blank. He stands up and stretches his body as his warm-up.
"Wow, I feel I am in the best shape" He exclaimed which woke Collen up.
"Hey, what made you woke up so early?" She asked
He leaned down and gave a soft kiss at her cheek "What happened last night? Where are the others?"
"Don't you remember?" She surprised "You were the beast, honey."
"Here it comes again" Ben thought
"I believe last night you knocked them in the bathroom" She said "And you carried me and threw me on this bed before you…"
"Okay, stop your story" He said "I got it. Huhhh, why the hell am I became like this?"
She got up and said "There is not thing wrong, honey. You just released your stress on us. We all appreciated to help you."
He sighed and said "I know you, Krystal and Carmelita are but not for those four girls. I am never have a time to talk and get to know them properly. I felt like I raped them."
She giggled and said "They will not, honey. I saw them served you as best as they could, last night."
"Really?" He replied
"Damn it" He thought "I needed to figure out how June's breast feels without they noticed."
"Do you want to eat a breakfast?" he asked "I am so hungry."
"Sorry, honey but I still feel so tried and exhausted from last night." She said softly "Go and eat something first."
He kissed her fore head and whispered "Take you time to rest, Collen. Have a good dream."
She giggled and got back to sleep again while Ben left his room to the dining room. When he was walking he met with his maids except Krystal and Carmelita. They met him and ran away like they saw a monster. Ben understood their reaction and it would be a good time to let them have their personal space.
Guards opened the dining room and led him inside. He meets with Krystal and Carmelita who are preparing the table. They smiled at him and asked him to take a seat first.
"Good morning, master" Krystal said "The breakfast will be ready in a minute."
"Here is your morning tea" Carmelita interrupted and served him a tea
"Thank you so much, both of you" He replied and sipped it "This is good as you always did, Carmelita."
She does not say a word. She just gives him a smile. After a few minute, the breakfast is served. Ben grab everything he need and start eating while those two taking care of him.
"My lord, what do you want to do today?" Krystal asked
"Ummm, I want to pay my mother a visit this morning and Maya. There are somethings I want to discuss with them." He said "I need to catch up the situation."
Carmelita was the one who wrote it while Krystal repeated his demand. Ben was going to ask about Lien-da but she showed up first. She walked from the door and sat on his left hand side chair. Ben does not know why but her face is full of smile. Something good is happened with her but what?
"Good morning, my lord" She greeted "I am appreciated to see you fined after that."
"Thank you for you concerned" He replied
"I just heard you wanted to catch up the situation, am I right?" She asked
"Yes" He replied
"Then, I should started with Chafulumisa's side first." She exclaimed "After he found Collin was missing, he ordered the Royal Guard to find her. When he found she was here, he ordered her to get back with him."
"Seriously?" He yelled "This old dog is such a…"
"Fortunately, Queen Mirage knew and sent her official order to us. She assigned Collen to be your personal bodyguard along with her squad." She explained "Therefore, Chafulumisa did not have any choice but congratulate his daughter in this big promotion."
"Thank you so much, mother" He thought
"What about the female prisoner? Did he find something that link to us?" Ben concerned
She laughed and said "No, he did not. Actually, he said the incident in his house was the accident. Nobody mentioned about her or you as Beenchu. I believed he had a reason to do that. If you ask me why, I will say he does not want the female prisoner story exploded in the public."
"Good, how is she doing?" Ben said
"She is totally fine, my lord but she told me to let her stay in the room a little bit longer." She explained "I ordered guards to watch her without rest. I am also prepared a strategy to protect her from outsider noticed her."
"I will talk with her after I get back" He replied "I thought she left us already."
"Me too" she exclaimed "She maybe sacred Chafulumisa and his team to capture her again, I guess."
"Never mind that, it good to know the situation is in our control" He exclaimed "Lien-da, I have something for you to prepare."
"What is it?" She asked
"I want you to calculate the budget to create my army and maintenance it." He said "You need to think about the worst case situation too."
Her eyes are opening widely as she hears his order. She does not know why Benin changed his mind but this is what she has been looking for since she worked for him. Finally, some real strategic job, she thought.
"I will prepare it for you, my lord" She replied "But as your strategic, can you tell me why you changed your mind suddenly."
Ben did not look at her but laughed "Ha ha ha, finally, I have something to make you surprised. As you told me before you were right. I have learned the big and important lesson when I fought with Chafulumisa's family. Even though I can beat two of Fang generals but I also paid a price of it. How can I survive and beat enemy in the real war without my own army? I need to get smarter."
She smiled and said "Such as satisfied reason. You are right, my lord. You are the general in the battlefield. It is not you job to bloodshed yourself all the time. Your pawns are the one who responded for that."
"You said Collen's squad is here, right?" He asked "How are they? Can we trust them?"
"I do your homework already" She replied "We are safe to have them. I checked their history and found they are young blood warriors. These warriors came from poor families and no connection with Chafulumisa's faction. If we train them properly, they will be our primary force."
"Good to hear that from you." He replied "But I want you to double check them. If you find any suspicious about them, you must tell me first. Then, I will take with Collen. We need to respect her too because they are her subordinates."
"Understood, my lord" She said "What about…"
"If you are talking about money, I have ideas but I cannot tell you now" He interrupted "Now, let me finished my breakfast. I have so many things wanted to do today."
Lien-da did not ask him further. She just smiled and ate her foods. When he was eating for a half way, Collen finally woke up and joined the breakfast. Ben told her his plan today but she rejected to follow him today. She said she needed to deal with her subordinates.
He understood and suggested Lien-da to help her. Collen accepted his offering willingly. She told him to be careful from her father. Even though he did not have a proof but he must be suspicious Benin definitely.
Ben left his palace with Krystal and Carmelita. Today, Ben wears luxury clothes that his maids prepared for him. It has a golden strap on his shoulder pads and the Egyptian Hat which is big and looks weird from his perspective.
When he has been arrived the palace, he found no one there to stop and talk with him. It like he did not miss for whole three weeks. People just greeted him normally and continued their job.
"Whatever" He thought "This is easy for me to walk through them."
***In the Queen Writing Room***
Ben knew his mother is working in this room from Carmelita's information. Guards opened the door and led him inside while his maids will wait outside as usual. He sees his mother busying with a pile of work. She's signing her signature on the document.
"Mother, h…"
His mother raised her left hand to stop his speech. At first, Ben wondered why she stopped him but then he understood by himself. He bowed and sat on the chair that prepared for him. They did not talk to each other. The only sound in the room is writing sound.
Finally, she managed to finish her job for this morning. She stretched her arms and stoop up before she walk toward Ben who sitting quietly for a whole time. She stopped in front of him and did some surprised move.
"SLAAAAAP" She slap his face one time. Her hand print is on his face. It made his face turned red.
Ben said "I am deserved for that, mother. I…"
Then, she gave him a hug and said "Do not put yourself in dangerous situation again. I cannot handle with that much. You almost broke my heart. When I saw you and your bed which full of your blood, I thought I was losing you."
"I am sorry, mother." He replied "I did for our sake. How is the situation in the capital?"
She stepped back and said "Your plan is working quite well, Benin. Yogi came to the capital two weeks ago and he started his plan in no time. Our economic reliability is getting better than the crisis."
"Good to hear that" He replied "What about Renamon? Did she have any problem?"
"She did not say anything but I asked Lady Bastet and she told me everything is fined" She answered "Why do you to see me today? I thought you are resting."
"Well, I want to know how you covered my situation." He asked "I walked in here and no one asked me where did I go or why I was missing."
She laughed and said "It was not so hard to cover your situation since Chafulumisa was the one who covered everything for us."
"What!" He exclaimed "How?"
"You see, he does not want anyone except his family to know the accident in his own house." She explained "He told me, it was a minor accident. He really tried his best to cover it. He even lied people by using a supernatural reason."
"There is a deviation between Lien-da information and Queen Mirage" He thought "But I can overlook it since it is a benefit for me."
"I need to say I am thank you so much for saved Collen" He replied
"I have to do it, my son" She said "There is no way I will let him took her back."
"Now, I should move to the main reason I came here today" He exclaimed "Mother, I want to raise my own army to be my power to against and balance with Chafulumisa."
She startled and said "What did you just say?"
"I said I wanted to raise my own army" He repeated
She sighs one big time before she gets back to her chair and sits. It like Ben brought an unsuitable topic to discuss with her in this time, he thought.
"Mother, is there something wrong?" He concerned
"Benin, I understood why you wanted your own army but I do not think it is a good time to raise another army in our empire" She explained "There are some reasons you needed to understand."
"Are you talking about money?" He exclaimed "I have a solution for that problem already."
She sighed and said "That's not a problem I am thinking of. Actually, I wanted you to take the Royal Guards from Chafulumisa. It will be the best solution for us and empire."
"Then, why don't we take it now?" He asked "You are the queen and I am the future king. WE have a reason to take it back from him."
She sighed and said "Yes we can but that will be the hell for all of us. My son, you are lacking of virtue and merit. None of frontier general will listen to you. They will support Chafulumisa back and the worst is they will rebel against us."
"But I have a power to…" He argued
"Yes, you have but Chafulumisa was the one who fought against the enemy, protected the empire and managed the army." She explained "This is a reason why I do not support your idea."
"Then, what can I do?" He groaned
"I suggest you to find a way to gain virtue and merit from the public and generals" She suggested "You can started with Collen's army. They are not too big for you to start and manage."
Her words have a reason. Ben does not have any experience about military things. He should learn from the beginning and gain a favor from people to cross Chafulumisa. He decided to do as she suggested but in his way.
"Thank you mother" He replied "I will leave if you do not have anything to say."
"Actually, I have something for you" She said and threw a leather scroll to him "Open it"
Ben opens it and sees a colorless picture of reptile face with a horn on his or her nose. Ben does not know who he or she is. It is so hard to tell its gender. Ben is stunned in how exotic he or she is. He closed it and put it down on the table.
He said "Mother, what the hell is this thing? I mean he or she is but it's freaking me out."
She laughed and said "That thing is one of your queen candidates."
"My Queen candidate?" He yelled "Mother, are you out of your mind? There is no way I will married her. I cannot say how this is reptile beautiful. She looks like totally freak. Besides, I have Collen already."
"Are you sure she is enough for your need?" She mocked "Let's me answer your question one by one."
"Please, tell me why" He asked
"First she is not a normal female reptile but the rare albino lizard. Her name is Numeuma Nithees. She is the youngest sister of Chief Renekton, the leader of Besyrwan tribe. You know the leader we helped in the River war."
What she talking about was the war between Besyrwan west and eat tribe. Besyrwan tribe is one of the great warrior tribe on Earth. Most of them are Reptiles and Amphibians species such as lizard, frog, crocodile, snake and skink. Their primary jobs are mercenary, hunter, and fishing. They cannot do any farming or agriculture.
The River war began from Nathen and Renekton. After their father died, he did not say who will be his successor. Nathen was a hybrid between crocodile and snake while Renekton is a pure blood crocodile. They made the tribe divided to two tribes; west tribe and east tribe.
The war ended up with a favor of Renekton and East tribe. Nathen was excused as rebel by his own younger brother. They won the River war because of the Anbessa empire intervened their war. Renekton offered to be the great alliance and send the worthy tributes every year. After he reached agreement, Benin, Kench and other generals were sent to the war.
Benin made a quite impression for his first debut as a warrior not a general. He always asked to be a vanguard. Even though Kench and other stratege were objected his idea, he always found a way to be a vanguard.
That must be a reason why Ben is still lacking of merit as a good general. Fortunately, Renekton and Besyrwan tribe admired and respected in Benin's brave and warrior skills. Renekton might be older than Benin like father and son but he asked Benin to accept him as a friend. Benin accepted and vowed to be his brotherhood.
"Look how beautiful she is." She exclaimed "I heard rumors about her such as her beautiful and charm, her knowledge and supernatural power."
"Where?" He thought "I cannot see as she said. She is nothing but a freak to me."
"Okay, now I know who she is but why did she becomes my queen candidate?" He asked "And what do you mean by supernatural power?"
"I believe this is another political marriage" She replied
"Another? Political marriage?" He yelled "You mean there are more of them."
"Of course." She replied "You are the brightest and youngest prince around here who still single. Everyone wanted to be your wife and future queen of our empire."
He sighed and said "Mother, can you reject them for me? I do not see a point to marry anyone of them."
"You have, Benin" She argued "I think it is a good chance to start gaining a power to yourself."
"?" He wondered in her words
"Here is the point, Renekton is a great warrior but god does not have a mercy for him." She explained "Somehow, he does not have a child to succeed his throne and Numeuma Nithees is the only sibling he has after the River war. She is the only successor he have .Therefore, if you marry her now, his power will belong to you when he died."
"So this is what we called political marriage, am I right?" He asked
"Yes" She replied
"Wait, what does he gain if I married his sister?" Ben asked "Its look like we are the only one who gaining a favor."
"His throne stability, my son" She replied "Even though, he won the war and got a right to succeed the throne, there are some who do not agree with him. They are using no child topic as a reason to make him choose his successor from other family in their tribe."
"I see" Ben exclaimed "No one dare enough to against him if he is really related to us."
"That's right" She replied
"My girls are going to kill me if they hear this news" Ben thought
"Wait mother, did you mention about her superpower?" He reminded
"Supernatural power, my son" She argued "Yes, I did. She can tell people past, present and future by touching them. Her answer was perfectly score."
"So she has a psychometry" He exclaimed
"Psychometry?" She asked "What is it mean?"
"Oh, it means nothing mother." He excused "I just swear. Anyway, Do I have a time to think about this? I mean married is a big and serious topic especially it also about my future queen."
She thought and said "You have a point my son beside you have more than one choice to select."
He sighed and said "Please. Don't tell me you have more of these pictures and scrolls."
She laughed and said "I have. They are coming from around the empire. You also will have a chance to meet some of them if you want and interest in them."
"I came here to talk a serious topic but I ended up with lizard fiancé. What a day!" He groaned "Mother, I begged to leave. I feel headache."
When Ben was going to leave the room, guards opened the door and carried bunch of paperwork. They place it on her table and asked her to finish it today. He does not want to waste her time anymore. He bowed little bit and left the room.
Ben met up with his maids outside of the room. He told them to lead him to the royal library. They told him that Maya is working over there.
***In front of the Royal Library Door***
"If you hear I screamed, you two have to get in and help me from Maya, Okay?" Ben said
Krystal giggled and said "Why do you so scared her? She might be tried to kill you before but I do not think she's mad or lunatic."
"Did you do something to make her angry again?" Carmelita asked
Ben sighed and said "Just do as I told you."
"As you wish, master" They replied
When Ben got inside the library, He found people were reading and studying. Now, they are looking at him like he is a freak. He sighed and thought, not this situation again. He ignored them and walked through them like normal.
"I heard he fought with Miss Maya" Someone gossiped
"Yea, servants said he tried to rape her in here" other whispered "Luckily, she succeeded to protect her virginity."
"We should go before we involve with their fight" Someone exclaimed
Ben did not care those rumors since it was not true but it still hurt his feeling. He looked around the library but he did not see her. Why Krystal tell him, she is working in here?
"My lord, are you looking for Miss Maya?" Female guard asked quietly
"Yea" He replied "Where is she?"
"She is teaching her students in the Royal Kindergarten." She replied "I can take you there if you want."
"That will be really helping me so much" He said "Please, lead the way."
"This way, my lord" She said and led him to the Royal Kindergarten
Royal Kindergarten is not far from the library. Actually, it is a part of the library. Ben needed to walk for a few minute to go there. When they are arrived, the female guard left him and went back to her position.
Ben sees Maya's sitting with her students. He is wondering what she's doing with them. He walk slowly and quietly to get closer enough. Luckily, she is busying with telling them a fairy tale. Her students are listened her story and sat quietly like a good puppy.
Ben does not want to interrupt their time. He sits at the corner of the room and wait quietly in the blind side of her. It was not too long before she finished her fairy tale. Ben cannot believe he will see the soft and kindness side of her today.
During she was telling a story, some kid asked her to rub their head and begged to sit on her lap. She did not reject any of their requests. She is so good with students and kids. Ben's smiled as he sees her.
"Teacher. Teacher. There is a weird looking guy over there. He smirked at you all the time." Boy said
"Where?" She exclaimed
"Over there" They yelled unison and pointed at Ben
She turned and saw Ben's smiling at her. He waved his hand as he said hi. At first, she glare him like she wanted to eat him alive but she noticed her students were looking at her, she stopped immediately
She coughed and said "Kids that were so rude. He was not a weird looking guy. He is the Prince Benin, the future king of our Empire. Now, greet him like I taught you guys."
Students bow as she taught them and said "Long lives Prince Benin". Ben does not know how to response them, he just waved his hand and told them to take it easy.
"What do you want today, Prince Benin?" She asked
Unfortunately, some of her students thought something and said it out without thinking.
"Is he the bad prince that you always complained, Miss Maya?" Girl yelled
"Yea, he must be the barbarian who kill and hurt people without mercy" Other said
Maya startled and sweated as she knew what will be happened if Benin got angry. Insult the royal family is the crime that cannot tolerance. He can bring them and their family to punish immediately if he wanted
She stands between him and her student and say "My lord, they are just kids. They do not know what they did. Please, I am begging for a mercy to ignore these kid's words."
Ben laughed and said "Good point's kids."
"…" Maya surprised
He sighed and said "Kids always say the honestly things. They do not know who or when to lie or cheat. If adult can be liked them, it will be good. Do you agree with me, Maya?"
She told her students to leave the class before she replied him "It's good and bad at the same time, my lord."
"How?" He asked
"It is true and good to say the truth." She explained "But in the real world, it is not going to be like that accordingly. Lie will help us from some situation. Truth will bring a disaster to person who says it in the wrong situation. Therefore, it is depended on what situation we are facing with."
Ben thought for a few minute before he replied "I will remember your words. Now, let's talk about my business."
"What do you want from me, my lord?" She asked
"First, I am sorry for what I did to upset you last time." He said "I did not know that book was…"
"Enough!" She yelled "I am accepted your apology. Please, do not talk about it. I am forgot it already. What is your second business?"
He exclaimed "Maya, do you have any book or legend about one body but two souls?"
"?" She surprised
"I mean can it possible that in one person; he or she can have more than one soul" He tried his best to explain "Do you have my point?"
She thought and said "I cannot answer your question right now. I need to do some research first. Why do you want to know about it?"
"I… I…" He stunned
"Never mind, I just asked" She replied
"Thank you so much, Maya." He said "I…"
"Hey, I do this, it does not mean I do it for you" She exclaimed "I do it because to repay your kindness to my students. Do you have any specific?"
"Great" He said "I want to know everything about this topic such as why it happened and the result or the end of their stories."
"Got it" She replied after she wrote it down "Do you want anything else?"
"No, that all" He replied
Suddenly, the mood around is getting awkward and stress as no one talk. Ben and Maya do not know what topic they should talk or mention. Ben's feeling toward her is the same as Benin's have but can he be aggressive toward her?
"Then, I need to leave now. I have another class to teach" She replied and walked away
"Wait!" He yelled "Maya, here is you dagger."
Ben pulled it from his waist and handed to her. She looked surprise before she grabbed it. It is the dagger she gave it to him. She said she will use it to kill him in the future. Why he gave it back, she thought.
"What is the meaning of this, Benin?" She wondered
"I want to know your answer today" He replied "What is you answer, Maya?"
Her face turns red like a tomato as she knew what he's talking about. She thought he was joking about married thing. Actually, she forgot it already but he reminds her again.
She said "You want me to join your harem?"
"Well, what do you think?" He asked
She thought and laughed "I like your humor sense, Benin. You might be a future king of the empire. I can see my bright future if I married you but the answer is no."
"Why?" He surprised
"It is the truth that I am not hate or have a grudge on you anymore" She explained "But you are not my type and I also never believe in polygamy system. Married should be the serious relationship between one man and one woman. No more than that."
"Wow, she has such as modern idea." He thought "I wonder what will happen if I tell her about other worlds and advance technology. We will have a good and long conversation, I thought"
"Then, I have no chance to have you, am I right?" He asked with disappointing face
She giggled and replied "Please, don't make you face like that. You look like a kid who parents do not buy a toy. These topics are about future Benin. Who know, one day I might be the one who followed you instead"
"We will see" He replied and left the Royal library.
Ben does not know how he should feel. Relief? Disappoint? His feeling and Benin feeling are mixing up with each other. It is good that Maya did not accept his married purpose but it would be such a waste to loss this lovely woman.
***Benin's Palace***
When he got back to his palace, Miyu was the one who waiting for him. Ben asked where everyone was. She says Collen and Lien-da are busying with Collen's team. They have so many things to fix and improve.
"I know this is going to happen" He exclaimed
"Master, you have the important guest" Miyu said "She is waiting for you in the living room."
"She?" He exclaimed "Do you know who she is?"
"She is Miss Amelia." She replied "She came here since you left. I told her to leave but she insisted to wait for you"
Ben sighed and said "Why the hell I have too many girls in my life?"
Ben walks inside to meet with another arc enemy. Finally, he will see how she looks like. He does not know she will be the pain in his ass for his whole life.