I was accompanied by Aarini on some random floor, kilometers away from the dining room

Ofcourse no one would want to come out of their room to eat if it meant walking so much around.

A pitch black, pin drop silent room welcomed me. Although it was not in voluntary control, I was trying my best to make attempts to dilate my pupil so it could accommodate any light if present.

All I knew was that I have to look for a man. I had judged he must be around his late fifties. Nothing apart from this information was available.

The man could be anywhere in the giant room. Lying on the bed, sitting on some chair at a corner, standing by a window, or worst hanging from the ceiling.

Ah! I should shut up with my dark thoughts.

Aarini had stopped in her tracks outside the room, leaving me alone in the lion's den.

I walked a couple of steps in the room, when I heard a husky voice fill the room.

"Leave" it said. I turned to my right trying to locate the source of the sound. I could figure out, or hallucinate an old man's silhouette, sitting by the edge of a bed, far at the corner of the room.

I tried to muster up some courage, for the sake of my pride and self respect, and started walking ahead towards my hallucination.

"Leave Aarini, I said. I don't want to have dinner. I just had my lunch." The voice from the same corner came out again. 'I am not hallucinating' I told myself. 'there has to be someone there.'

Aarini had informed me, that he last had his meal yesterday, and those were just two spoons of rice.

I cleared my throat, stopping in my tracks and spoke "yes, you did have your lunch, but that was yesterday. It's time for your dinner today."

Silence.

There was nothing, not a word from his end.

I stayed quiet as well. Not because I wanted him to say something. But because I was scared. I knew Neel. And I, for a reason, believed that Neel takes after his father. I didn't want to be dismissed by him.

"Who are you?" he finally uttered words. words that were able to sound how he had his guards up high at the moment.

"You're not Aarini" he said again.

"I am glad you can recognize her voice." I hope I am not sounding mean and rude.

"Of course. Darkness interferes with light, not with sound, you fool."

This made me chuckle a bit.

"But that leaves my question unanswered. Who are you?" he sounded more serious, alert, and guarded.

"I am Your Majesty's guest." I spoke. This was the best way I had learnt to introduce myself.

"Are you talking about Neel?"

"Is there any other emperor you are aware of?" I shut my mouth tight as I said this but I guess it was too late.

"No one has dared to speak to me like that." He scoffed as he remarked.

" That is when you were the emperor." I commented again. One thing I knew for sure was that, the only way to get these royal people do your demands, was to hurt their ego.

Man, they did carry some big balloon like pride!

Ofcourse I have to be careful as well, so as to not get executed.

"What did you say?" his voice getting all loud and active, rather than that passive dull tone I heard when I had entered.

"The truth"

He scoffed again.

I am enjoying this. He is not rude like Neel. Not yet.

"Nobody talks to you, and if I am being honest, nobody talks about you either."

"Lady, you have got some guts there. You know I could get you punished this minute."

"You haven't even seen my face, let alone my name." I was a skilled debater, having 12 certificates and 7 medals, 2 of which were gold.

"Guards!" he shouted.

"Nobody will hear you. You, yourself have had made all the guards empty the spots around your room, remember."

I was bluffing. I knew I was. But I did not see any guards around the corridor, so I came up with a conclusion.

He did not say anything after that. Nothing . so I decided to speak again.

"You need energy for this conversation to go on. Because I know you can do a lot better."

"So?" the faceless man said again.

"I'd suggest, come down and eat and then we can continue this further."

He scoffed once again but did not say anything.

"I bet you can see my face clearly down there." I was trying to keep my persuasion on.

He gave out a dry laugh and I could see him try and get up from his bed. I went ahead to reach and help him up.

His weak hand grabbing onto mine for support. With what I could understand as I held on to his arm, was that this man has been seriously weak and unhealthy. And I am sure the royal members wouldn't be happy about it.

"What's your name?" he asked again.

"Your Majesty will answer that for you. You should go ask him." another attempt of mine to bring him downstairs.

"Neel is here?" He sounded hopeful.

"umhmm." I gave a positive reply. "but I am sure you cannot see him in the dark." He laughed at this again. And I don't know if I should take this as a victory. I don't know how long has it been since he has laughed.

We got out of the dark room into a well illuminated corridor. Aarini had been standing there, and from what I could see she must have been crying. Her face gave out happiness and shock. She looked at me in bewilderment, not sure of what she should say. 'Thank you' or 'how the hell did you do it.'

And if I were to tell, my recipe of bringing him out of the room, I am sure I will be hanged to death. So I just gave a mysterious smile.

The ex-king finally took a well detailed glance at me, narrowing his eyes that were still adjusting to so much light after months.

I did my fair share of inspection. He, as expected, was significantly weaker, than a king should be. Hair turning grey and face covered with grey beard. He had bags under his eyes and his skin was hanging loose. He was an exact copy of King Neel. Just older and weaker.

I gave him the brightest smile I could, hoping it would make up for the mess I did in the room.

The first thing I expected when I successfully brought the King's father out of the room, was that Aarini would rush to hug him. I mean, why not. She hadn't seen his face in months. But she did not. On the contrary she just bowed.

What a father daughter dynamic, seriously.

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