3. Of Mistaken Identities and Secret Casualness

Arthur stared at Arganan and Frey. Frey and Arganan stared right back at him, completely quiet. The three just stood there, staring at each other in pure, unadulterated silence, before Arganan cleared his throat to break it.

"So you're the Prince?" Arganan looked between Arthur and Frey. What the hell was going on now? Sure, he and Frey concluded just moments earlier that Frey might not be the Princess, but they didn't necessarily know that for sure. But what about this new Prince? "But, Frey is the Princess…?"

Frey was still speechless, staring between both men. It seemed to dawn on her, given her part-worried, part-confused expression that something was very, very wrong here. Arganan had a feeling she was right about that.

"What?" Arthur frowned. The thirteenth prince looked very confused, eyebrows furrowing as his mouth turned to a frown. "I was sure I sent a letter stating that I'd be here starting today."

Arganan quickly put the pieces together. It suddenly explained why Frey was confused for 'Arthur' earlier. If Arthur was the Prince, it would make sense that… "I believe this is something we should sort out with Ventuswill. It's a...it's a bit of a long story."

Frey quickly nodded in agreement. "Um…perhaps we should. Yes. Um. Yeah."

Arthur could only awkwardly nod in agreement and follow the two to the castle.

"I told you it wasn't me! There was no way I could be the Princess!"

"Ugh, be quiet already! E-even a perfect being can make a mistake or two in life!"

Arganan exchanged awkward glances with Arthur as the two witnessed Frey and Ventuswill whisper-arguing with each other.

"Um…" Arthur cleared his throat.

Ventuswill jumped, turning her head to face Arthur. "Um, how do I explain…" The dragon cleared her breath, before speaking. "This person here claimed to be the Princess, despite having no corroborating evidence. We'd never seen your face, so we had no choice but to believe the little troublemaker."

"What!?" Frey was heard whisper-gasping. "You're the one who insisted I was royalty!"

Ventuswill tried to shush her, before finishing, "That's why we've given away the room that was prepared for you, I'm afraid. We beg your forgiveness."

"Oh…my." Arthur paused, head tilting slightly to the left, and then he straightened himself. "Well, I suppose I can stay at the inn until all of this is settled…actually, wait." He looked towards Frey, and Arganan saw Arthur's eyes glint in the light of the room. "There's no need."

"What?" Frey blinked, staring right back at him.

A soft smile came to Arthur's face, as if this whole situation was nothing but a simple accident. "This must've happened for a reason. Frey, was it? Will you trade places with me and act as representative of this kingdom?"

Arganan resisted the urge to drop his jaw. "What!?"

Ventuswill seemed just as shocked as him. "Do you realize what you're saying!?" Her exclamation rumbled through the room. "It's not a title you can just hand over to a stranger, you know!"

"Hey!" Frey protested, but Ventuswill ignored her.

"Can't I?" Arthur chuckled softly. He still maintained that calm smile, despite Ventuswill's protests. "I honestly don't think it's that important of a title. I'm not suggesting we trade our actual names and positions. Just…"

"Just what?" Ventuswill asked, gaze still fixated on Arthur. Her furrowed brows accompanied her tone of voice going slightly deeper. "What is it that you're planning, exactly?"

"There's something I wish to do." Arthur stayed calm, despite Ventuswill's protests. He didn't flinch at all. "And, I can't do it if I'm busy running the town. So," He looked towards Frey, taking a deep breath, "Frey, will you take over for me?"

Ventuswill looked a bit puzzled, but was calmer now. "Well…you have my permission. All powers and responsibilities will be given to Frey."

"What!?" Frey looked between Arthur and Ventuswill. Arganan felt a pit form in his stomach at how quick the change was.

"You can just give that change?" Arganan asked Ventuswill. Who the hell would throw away their duties as a Prince that easily? Did Arthur know what he was getting into? "Just like that?"

Wasn't there paperwork? Other officials to consult beforehand or confirm such changes? Did the dragons here in Selphia just generally have a lot of political power so they could just make decisions like that, at a single command? This could be good to know.

Was Arthur not the type of man to genuinely take up such responsibilities as a Prince, himself? Or was there something else at play?

"If Frey is willing to act as Princess," Ventuswill finally managed, "I don't see why not."

If it was him in control of this situation, Arganan knew he wouldn't just let an amnesiac start running the kingdom the day after her arrival, especially if her being royalty was technically incorrect to begin with. However, he was not in charge of this situation, and he knew he couldn't do anything about it. He was a man without a title now, after all. He didn't even know how the Norad Kingdom functioned as a whole and how it affected Selphia, compared to Lazulis and the Empire it was attached to. Given that power could be passed so easily with the dragon's permission, however, he had a feeling that either a. Ventuswill was to be trusted in this decision or b. she was a terrible decision-maker and this would severely backfire in the next few months.

"Will you take on the role and responsibility of Princess?" Ventuswill asked Frey. The young woman paused, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, before opening them.

"I will." There was a confidence in her tone. Arganan liked that. Befitting of a ruler already, at least in attitude. Rulers needed to be confident to run their kingdoms and command the people they ruled over. If they didn't emanate confidence, they showed weakness already.

"Good." Arthur smiled at her, warm in his expression, before he peered at Arganan, blinking. "And who might you be? I don't believe we've met, and I apologize for not asking your name sooner."

"No, we haven't." Arganan managed, before sighing. "Just…call me Arganan."

"Mr. Arganan. A pleasure to meet you." Arthur still kept his cool. "Why are you here, if you don't mind me asking?"

Arganan could only shrug. "I came to stay here to recover my health. I was sent by my niece, Countess Calista of Lazulis Island. I'm not sure how long I'll be here, but I think we'll bump into each other from time to time."

"Lazulis? That place does ring a bell." Arthur hummed a bit, nodding once. "The main capital was hoping to reach out for trade-related reasons. However, I currently have no actual involvement in that business. You said you were sent by your niece…that makes you the former Count of Lazulis Island, I'm correct?"

"Yes." He did his best not to grit his teeth at that. "Former."

Arthur, much to Arganan's relief, did not comment on that further, changing the subject as he looked towards Frey. "If you need any help with running Selphia or your duties as Princess, please feel free to ask me. It's only fair, given all this change and all that I heaped onto you."

Only fair indeed, Arganan agreed. He couldn't help but wonder why Arthur specifically wanted out of being a Prince. Did he just not want the responsibility at all? What was more important to him than maintaining the status that Frey (accidentally) took from him? He made a note to keep an eye on that man for now. Something about this didn't feel right.

Arthur bid the three farewell, presumably heading out the castle to go to the inn. Arganan took a deep breath, before looking towards Frey. "How should I address you?"

Frey looked towards him, blinking. "Huh?"

"I mean," Arganan pointed out, "you are a Princess officially, now. And I'm not exactly of noble status myself, so you could order me to address you more formally if you wish."

Frey gave him a long stare at that statement. He just stared back at her, unsure of how else to really proceed with it. A sigh escaped her, before she spoke again.

"Does that matter a lot, where you come from?"

He nodded. "It did." Status meant everything in Lazulis. Before he had status, he virtually had no power at all.

"Well," She paused, putting a finger to her chin for a moment before lowering it, "You can just call me Frey. Or Princess, whichever one you prefer. I didn't even know I was going to really be one until I arrived here and after everything that happened with Arthur just now."

"Frey, then." Arganan figured that would keep it simple. In a way, he and Frey were both in the same boat. He was a man that lost his status, and she had amnesia and now suddenly gained status, but they were still both newcomers to Selphia regardless. "I think we can both help each other out, given our situations."

"You said you were the former Count of Lazulis, right?" Frey asked, head tilting slightly. "So you probably have a lot of experience running a kingdom."

"I have about a decade's worth. Feel free to ask me. Or Arthur, I suppose, given how he was supposed to run this place." Arganan frowned, looking in the direction Arthur left for a moment. "However, he probably is someone you should ask more. I don't know how Selphia is ruled compared to Lazulis, so my experiences differ from his knowledge."

"Hey!" Ventuswill interrupted. "Frey can always ask me, too!"

Arganan's gaze snapped towards the dragon. "Ah…I suppose is true, as well."

Ventuswill gave him a look that seemed to say "seriously!?" Arganan decided not to comment on it as Frey chuckled, looking to both of them.

"I look forward to asking you, Venti and Arthur." Frey scratched the back of her head, a grin on her face. "And I could ask Volkanon, Vishnal and Clorica about some of the details too, I think. I'm in good hands, aren't I?"

The former Count nodded. "I suppose you are."

"Arganan?" Ventuswill finally spoke up. "Can I speak to just you for a moment?"

Arganan blinked. "Sure."

Frey quietly excused herself from the room, leaving Arganan and Ventuswill alone. Ventuswill checked to make sure it was just the two of them, looking around, before looking Arganan in the eye.

"Do you know who I am?"

"A dragon." Arganan pointed out. "One that rules the town, it seems."

Ventuswill puffed up her chest a little, proud in her stance. "I am Ventuswill, the Divine Wind. One of the four Native Dragons that rules this land. Do not let anyone know about my secret casualness."

"Your casualness?" It then clicked with how Frey just addressed Ventuswill as 'Venti.' "Ah..I see. Don't worry, I'll do my best."

Ventuswill's eyes narrowed. Arganan swallowed.

"I won't let anyone know. Ever. I promise."

"Good." Relief swept through her voice. "And," Ventuswill took a deep breath, before looking him in the eye, "I do know about what you have done through, Lady Calista's report. If I find you up to anything suspicious…"

Arganan had a feeling she might know about he did, but he simply nodded. "I'll be on my best behaviour during my stay. It's not like I can do much, with the way I am."

"This town is full of warm-hearted people," Ventuswill continued, "So I think you'll have no need to worry as long as you get along with them."

Warm-hearted people? He wished he could say he was like that back in Lazulis, but he knew he was far from it. Very, very far from it.

"Given that you know well about me, will you…not tell Frey about this? About my past?" Arganan swallowed. "I'm sure she'll want to know, but I want to tell her myself when the time is right." He wanted that chance, at least, for some sort of fresh start. He didn't want it ruined first-thing if he could prevent that. Besides, the one thing that was worse than being a newcomer was being a newcomer with an already-known bad reputation.

Ventuswill nodded. "I see that this means a lot to you. And I would like to give you the chance to move forwards from here. Your request is granted, Arganan."

He nodded, bowed lightly. "Thank you, Venti…"

Ventuswill gave him a look. "And make sure you call me Lady Ventuswill if it's more than just you, me and Frey in the room."

He cursed himself for almost screwing up the casualness again. "Understood."