Forgiving the Forgotten 4

CHAPTER 4: A STRANGE EXCHANGE

[AMENATSU'S POV]
I was a bit shocked that this guy was a mind reader. Hell. My thoughts tumbled into one another as I opened my mouth to answer him, "I'm from the Islands sir."
The prince judged my mind building up barrier.
"You're royalty, aren't you?"
I just stood there. Amazed. What was the prince of Jerome doing here?
"Would you answer my questions first?" the prince asked me reading my thoughts.
"Well... I came here to work... if it is not possible, your highness, I'll politely leave Emperia."
The prince's eyes showed a glint of hurt as he spoke again, "No... no... sorry. Forgive my interference, my lord. I didn't realize who you were?"
Uh... hello? Wrong connection. I was a nobody- literally. I didn't exist remember? Orphan?
But the prince continued in a very low voice...

"My prince, please understand," he said in a voice meant only for the two of us, "for now, go ahead and work. But I will call upon you. And please do not divulge the conversation here to anyone."
I understood what he meant. Even though I had tried to conceal my thoughts from him, I could feel the tendrils of his mind withdrawing slowly from my head. My legs felt shaky but I held my ground.
"I will send for the details of your quarters soon enough. Tonight you will shift into your quarters," his eyes pierced mine like embers and he whispered in my ear just before turning, "I'll see you again tonight, on the terrace."

I was surely confused. Was he a gay by an chance? No, no... Amenatsu don't think along such lines. His sexuality, his business... as long as he doesn't make me his partner.
Though everybody was allowed to select their own quarters, I, was given a quarter for myself. Well furnished. Simple yet elegant. Fit for a prince.
I slung my back pack off my shoulder and dumped it on the side rack. My luggage was already placed in a corner.
"Orphan...."
That word had unintentionally seeped into my head from the prince's thoughts.
An orphan not because my parents were dead. But because I was dead for my family. For the kingdom I thought would be mine. I didn't hate Tatsu. I just wondered why me? Why me when I was the one who suffered from sickness as a child? Because a sick ruler would not be suitable for producing better progeny? I knew the theories, not the truth.
My jolly self returned as I saw the prince calmly walking along the farms. The beautiful lady was still with him. She was his mother. Rather young I would say....

The room was large with a balcony which looked down to the swimming area. It was a private patch. A small fertile farm for research and abundant tools in the shed. Good. I was more than satisfied. I abandoned my stuff and took the stairs to the roof.
Terrace, I was supposed to meet the prince here. Let's see. Maybe it was all a joke. Anyway. I climbed down, unlocked my door and started settling down. Clothes in the shelf. Cloaks remained in the bags. My files and my precious file reader went safely in the shelf under lock and key.
By the time dusk came, I was tired as hell. And also, as I had read in the files of Emperia, extraordinary fog settled in the air. But the residential quarters seemed guarded from the fog. Along the residential quarters were restaurants and inns and shops. They lit up the evening like fireflies.

I had a quick wash and headed to see the town and for dinner.
People of various statures roamed around. I spotted a few couples on the way and smiled at those who smiled at me. The paths were like bridges from a child's imagination. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The railing along the bridges were decorated with ribbons and the shops all had lanterns. The sky above us was clear. No fog. Only the farms had fog. the fog was important for the wine maybe.... I still had a lot to read about. The money from my home planet was safely in my pocket. First I went to the one and only bank there. I needed money to go around initially.
In exchange for a very little of my Yuver money, I found a lot of Emperia coins. I was rich with the amount of one week of pocket money from my home.

Next I strolled with my rumbling tummy till I reached a wonderfully smelling place. It was a bar as well as a hotel. A girl dressed as a waitress smiled and led me to an empty table and handed me a digital notepad. I scrolled down the menu and selected a delicious looking dish, though I didn't know its name. It was probably bread and smoked fish.
A couple I had smiled upon arrived and sat at a table near mine and smiled once again. I greeted them with a bow and continued looking at the carved table.
My mind raced along various lines. What little I had gathered of the prince seemed to be contradictory. He was a different man in front of his mother or whoever that elegant lady was.
"Sir, your order...."
My food was there. I realized that I had been pretty hungry. It was a bread of some sort and smoked fish. The forks and spoons were of many varieties. Explains the confusion I was having understanding the dining manners here.

There was chatting all around. I missed my friends already. Perhaps I would never forgive Tora. For having Hebi. It's my fault though. I never let anyone know my feelings for Hebi. She was part of a past that would never appear again. I had to continue without anyone.
What was I living for?
Is my life meaningless?
Will I never have someone to love me?
"You will. There's only one person you'll live for. She'll be the one you'll die for too."
My heart stopped beating. I turned around shocked, trying desperately to find the source of the voice. The words echoed in my head. There was no one.
"Is anything wrong sir?" the manager asked.
Everybody was staring at me. And I was standing, my chair thrown back.
I shook my head, bowed and left. I left the coins at the counter and headed for my room.