Disclaimer: I do not own KWMS.
"Is that how you should talk to your grandfather, Usui Takumi?"
The look on Charles' eyes was enough to silence the bravest but Usui was anything but fazed.
"Grandfather?" he scoffed. "I see no grandfather of mine here."
"Learn your place young man for my patience runs thin." Charles roared.
"So you have been the same, old man. Hot headed as always," Usui commented.
"But I can see that now your arrogance knows no bounds." Charles shot back but his reply only earned him a smirk from the other male.
Deciding it was enough of exchanging pleasantries for the time being, Usui decided to stop beating around the bush and get down to the business.
"So Lord Walker," he started in a serious tone, "what made you send your man in a desperate search for me? Last time I had checked, you couldn't care less about whether I survived or rotted in a gutter."
Charles ignored the latter comment for he knew that he was on the lighter side of the bargain. If he had to get what he wanted, he had to play it coolly. Quickly taking in a deep breath, he began to narrate the lines which he had been rehearsing for the past few days.
"I have finally understood that what I had done to you, the way I had treated you was… uncalled for. You are my grandson, illegitimate or not, and should be treated as such. After realizing that, penitence is eating me from the inside and so I have decided to atone for my wrongdoings. I want you to receive the love and respect that you have always deserved. Hence, I want to declare you to be the next heir in line to the position of Lordship."
Usui's eyes widened for a fraction of a second with shock completely evident on his handsome features. After receiving no response from him for the next few minutes, Charles forced a smile and asked impatiently, "Aren't you glad?"
"I would have fallen for that act had I not known you inside out," was the answer he received. Quite not what he had expected…
Charles' smile faltered and a single brow twitched in irritation.
'To hell with playing it coolly.'
"I need an heir," was his curt reason. "Gerald has only a few days left."
Usui smirked at the irate look on his face. For a second, he almost believed his words but the past came thrashing back into his mind pulling him out of any illusion that his grandfather had displayed.
"Now, don't I feel needed?"
Charles squinted his eyes at his remark but chose to let it slide.
"Make sure you are ready by the end of next month. I will make a declaration then to the people of the kingdom."
"I beg your pardon sire but I don't remember agreeing to this little plan of yours," Usui challenged.
"You dare defy me?" Charles asked incredulously. "Any man with a right mind would jump at such an opportunity."
"Sorry for bursting your bubble old man but I have to refuse your offer. I am better off as a free man rather than being your puppet any day."
Feigning to be deep thought, Charles voiced out loud, "I wonder how I ended up giving you an impression that you had a say in this. If I remember correctly, with what information I have been provided, you should think twice before refusing me…if you wish to keep that a secret."
"Is that a threat?" Usui sneered.
'Bull's-eye!' Charles mentally rejoiced. 'Now I have got you good, lad.'
"Take it as you like…and be prepared by the deadline. I don't want my heir dishonoring me before my people." Charles chirped as he slowly made his way to the door. Before closing the door behind him, he turned and piped in, "Women can be such a bother sometimes, aren't they? Can't live without them, can't live with them. How vexing!"
With that said, he gently closed the door leaving the blond male alone in the room with a furious look on his face and clenched fists.
'Curse you, Kenichi!'
"Where is your slave, Misaki?!" Sakuya Ayuzawa's voice roared through the courtroom, startling the said female along with Honoka who had decided to tag along in case the princess needed some moral support.
"I have set him free," Misaki whispered.
"What was that?"
"I have set him free, father." Misaki repeated but this time, her voice was firm and laced with new found courage.
"You what!?" he gawked. "That's preposterous! How could you have pulled through such a feat without my permission?"
Misaki gulped. She had not expected her father to be so furious over such a trivial matter.
She was brought out of her reverie by Ayuzawa's next words.
"I get it now. He has fled and you, being the overly kindhearted soul you are, have decided to cover up for him," he spat venomously. "But he won't get away that easily. I'll call in the royal guards to have them look for him. That midget will not escape even if he hides in the depths of hell-"
Misaki shuddered at his words but what he said next made her blood run cold and her heart leap out of her chest.
"-and upon digging him out from his nest, he is to be punished in the most brutal way possible. He should know better than to disobey his duties as a slave."
Waves of anger seeped into the amber depths as the thought of Usui getting brutalized crossed her mind. She would never allow that. Never. And for that, if she had to face her father's wrath then so be it.
"No."
"I beg your pardon?" King Ayuzawa asked incredulously.
"I said no," Misaki repeated firmly. "You would not lay a finger on him. He is innocent and as far as his enslavement goes, he has been set free by his rightful owner…and no law has been broken. Usui Takumi has the legal document confirming his freedom."
King Ayuzawa scoffed. "Don't play with me child. The document will not be authorized until it has the royal mark."
"That had been arranged."
Sakuya sputtered at her response. How was that possible? He never remembered authorizing such a document unless…
"You ungrateful child!" he boomed. "How dare you deceive your father…and that too for a mere slave?"
Honoka had sneaked out long ago for her weak old heart could handle only so much fear before giving out and this was not a suitable time to faint.
"Slave or not, he is a human being. He deserves to be free. He deserves to lead an honorable life where he will be referred to by his name and not by a disgraceful label," Misaki reasoned but her words fell on deaf ears.
"I see now," Ayuzawa began coldly. His tone sent a chill down Misaki's spine as she stared warily at her father whose eyes were now covered by an unreadable expression.
"-you are smitten with that filth."
Misaki gasped inaudibly as her heart skipped a beat at his accusation.
"Fath-"
"Don't try to fool me with your denial, Misaki." Sakuya cut her off with a stern look. "It is all too evident in your eyes and it would take a blind to not see it. There are many slaves in this palace. If you wanted, you could have set them free long ago but you went to such great measures only for him. Doesn't this only prove my point?" he rambled before striding away, leaving the female in a perturbed stupor.
Misaki stood rooted to the spot as she let the information sink in. Each of his words struck her like tonnes of bricks. Was all this true? Was she truly in love with Usui?
Her head felt dizzy as hundreds of questions swam through her mind. Images of a certain blond male flashed before her eyes, his smile, his teasing, the playful twinkle that always brightened his emerald depths, his concerned face whenever she was in danger.
Like something you see, Princess?
Then I am going to call you Misa-chan! I reduced your name further by a syllable. I don't want Misa-chan to be weighed down by anything.
I swear on every fibre of my being that I will never allow any harm to reach you for as long as a single speck of life resides in me.
If that is the case, then let me inform you princess, no matter what you do…what you say can make me leave your side…not now…not ever.
'It can't be. I cannot possibly be in love with him.'
'…right?'
A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews. By the name, about Usui's grandfather's name, some of you informed me that it is Richard. I want to thank them too but I am sorry but I have to stick with the one which I made up because it will be weird if I name him something in the previous chapter and start calling him something else in the later ones. So please bear with me and the new name….And please review! :D