Chapter 9

To your surprise it was your Grandfather that died, and that in a rather inglorious way as well if what you heard is right, but you still can't bring yourself to really care about something that feels just so insignificant, for People die all the time, do they not? Though for now the actual Question would be if you should act as if you cared about it or not, and you ultimately decide that it's beneath you to fake your Emotions over the death of a Stranger. It just isn't worth the effort, and with your Acting-abilities, it's questionable if you could even manage to conjure up enough Tears to make the Play authentic.

There is of course still a slight concern you have with that course of action, and that problem would be your Father of all People, for while you might not care he certainly does, even if it's in his own way. Thus being completely cold about this matter would certainly not be seen as acceptable, so you're in quite the pickle, and that by your own inability as well, which is just unacceptable, but what can you do to change it?

It's not like the you that you learned to live as to care so little about your Family, even if you haven't met them you practically absorb everything that is affecting your Family, and then try to see if you couldn't perhaps do something about the problems in the future, even though they won't be of any interest when you come of Age. Your Grandfather though isn't really concerning you, which is odd at best, and more than a bit concerning at worse if the Face of your Father is anything to go by.

You thought a bit more about some other issues, but in the end decide to simply focus on the old Man in front of you, just like your Father demanded, though what this is supposed to bring is quite a bit beyond you. Furthermore, as if to screw you over some more, he averts his Gaze the moment you actually give him the light of Day, and you actually fail to recall at that moment when you were the last time so intensely furious at someone.

But you also can't remember a time when your State of Mind was so vulnerable that something so little got such a reaction out of you, and you worry a bit that you might have hit your Head somewhere. You're unsure of what would make a decent explanation for your current mental instability beyond something as simple as that, but even after the old Man leaves the Chamber nothing in the way of explanations is forthcoming, so you decide to ask bluntly.

"Father?"

"What's bothering you, Azami?"

"What's wrong with me, Father?"

"Hopefully nothing, but we will see, according to Gisbert you just fell a bit poorly when you passed out from shock."

"So no Lessons then?"

"Not until your Head is better, no."

"You will be in Gisbert's care for the next few Weeks, so that he may inform me of any further developments, and I will trust you to behave yourself, understood?"

"I will do as you say, Father."

"Good, I wouldn't expect any less."

"So, where is he going, if he's supposed to watch over me?"

"Gisbert still has some Duties to attend to, since we're expecting a Royal visit."

"The King is really coming to the Rock?"

"Why is he visiting, Father, and can I see him when he's here?"

"It shouldn't be too much of a bother, so if you're feeling better before he arrives, I see no reason why you wouldn't get to see him."

"That's great, but why does the King come here, isn't it a bit too dangerous for him to just travel around like it's nothing?"

"He sent a letter ahead, don't you remember that we couldn't speak of this visit if we hadn't been informed?"

"Yes, but the Rock and the Capital are half a Continent away from each other that's plenty dangerous, isn't it, Father?"

"Well, at least I won't have to worry about your Intelligence declining, it seems, the simple Answer is Force."

"..."

"Force, that's a bit too simple, Father, I really don't get it."

"Not every House is as great as ours, Azami, for most a few hundred Men is all they can arm, and that is with them having time to prepare, so if the King comes with hundreds of Knights in Plate what do you think most Lords will do?"

"Submit, I guess."

"Exactly, your personal Grudges against the Crown matter so very little once enough Force is applied, and with how small most Keeps are, burning one down might even be seen as a small Festival or Tournament to gain the King's Favour."

"Thus, it would take a powerful House to even attempt anything to the King's Party, so there is really no need to worry about anything of the sort."

"Ah, I didn't think of that, but even if it's safe, why is he coming to the Rock, did you do something bad, Father?"

"You have so little trust my little Lion, that's not bad, but do not doubt me my Daughter, the King and I are good Friends, and I don't want any Rumours saying otherwise."

"The King is coming to attend the Funeral, and at least for now not much more."

"And whose Funeral does he want to attend, Father?"

While you were satisfied with the amount of Information you could get out of your Father, the last Question seems to have been a mistake, for just a moment after you asked it he was just a step away from outright screaming at the Servants to get the old Man back here. It's always entertaining to see him act so out of the ordinary, but you would still prefer to know what has him so riled up, it was just a simple Question, was it not?

You soon find yourself regretting ever asking the so small seeming Question, for now the old Man has no other Duties left to distract him, your Father made quite sure of it just a moment after the poor Man reentered the Chamber. It seems like you will have to endure quite the large amount of conversations in the near future, well at least he didn't ignore you this time, so that's at least something, or so you guess.