CHAPTER 1 : THE HEIR

1

LUKE

I gripped the file tightly as I feel the anxiety eating me out. I can feel the gravity pulling us down and—

"Mr. Stevens, are you alright?"

"I am," The words came out from my tightly clenched jaw as I tried to ease up my nervous stance. The feeling of bile rising up my throat is almost impossible for me to control. I hope, I can hold it for another five minutes.

"I'm perfectly, fine. Thank you." I answer back at her with a smile, trying to resist the urge to gag. She nods back at me in understanding and I watch the attendant took her place back on the front as she announce our landing.

"All passengers, please be informed that in any minute now, we would be taxiing down the airport. Fasten your seatbelt and just relax." She smiles at me and wink.

Oh, gals.

I was almost ready to throw up when there's sudden change. The plane started to shake vigorously as it prepared to land down. I can feel its wheels scrape as it rolled unto the port.

Then, all movement stopped.

I can hear mutterings all around me as the passengers prepared themselves to go down the plane, attendants guiding them on the exit.

All things that I should do as I go down the plane blurred past me. I was so used on going out and about that it felt like a breeze. Soon, I was situated on the back seat of a cab; the driver sneak past each vehicle, as a slight drizzle moisten my hair. Looking out the rolled down window, I glance down the street and smile

This is the place where I truly belong: London.

I arrived at my apartment just before it started to rain hard, my vest soaking. I was struggling to find the key so I could open the door when someone called my name.

"Luke," it repeated.

I turn to my left to see no one. "Who's there?"

"Mr. Lucas Hansel, I'm here to collect you as the king has ordered. " I watch as the wind blew, sweeping the dried leaves making them scrape on the pavement. A tall man stood there in front of me with his jaw tight, gold buttons traced his shoulder and pins littering his chest.

He really is fit for some kind of a royal knight or guard. He’ paraded himself  too well.

"What? You've mistaken. I am Luke Stevens. Mister--?" I stared at the man as he bowed down in front of me.

"Argus Johansson. Call me, Argus." He smiled, looking me down and up, "I'm appointed by the king to fetch you."

"King? I thought there is only the queen?"

"Not the royalty of Britain, but of the French."

“Wait, they have a royalty?” he just nod at me, his face serious.

"Okay, so why would the king be interested in me to order a guard to fetch me? I just came back from Germany. I don't need you to fool me, I have to attend to my company's needs..." I turn around and picked at my keys, trying to open my front door.

"But you are much needed on the palace, my lord. The king, he really needs you...and I am not kidding." He pleaded as he bowed once again.

"I don't understand." I turn back around and scrutinize him under my gaze. " Why would he want a commoner, like me, on his grounds? I'm barely recognized by any royalty, much more by the politics and the media...why the sudden change?" I arched an eyebrow at his direction, as I lean on my door.

"That, I don't know. I was just called to fetch, not to give answers. Come, the king is waiting." He suddenly pulled my hand towards my back making me struggled. A black limo came rushing down the road as Argus tied my wrist using some cable ties.

"Urrgh, Argus! My company needs me now. You better make sure that all this is not just a prank!" I snap at him as he forced my head down. He open the door on the back seat. "Don't kill me...my company, it can't--"

"I'm sure that this is much more important than that of your dilapidated company." He smiled, showing off his silver teeth as he push me down the open door, "And may I just add, I am a royal guard. Not some random prankster or serial killer or whatever that floats in your boat...." With that, he locks the door and roll the window up.

Though before the engine started, Argus produce something from his pocket, smiling once again as he cover my eyes with the thin black cloth, "Uggh," I kick and trash around but it was such a very worthless act. Great...I'm kidnapped. I was thrown at the backseat with my eyes covered. Maybe it is for some prank or maybe for some kind of harassment then they will surely kill me...

"I guess, today is my lucky day..." I sarcastically say as he switch the engine on and drove down the city.

•

I breathe a sigh when the engine stopped.

I could hear somebody talking with Argus as the back door open I was surprised when someone suddenly snatched me up and slung me on their shoulder like some kind of doll. I can feel his struggle as he shifted me and threw me on something flat; well, not actually flat because I can feel myself sinking and-

"Mornin', rogue... " I felt my eyes sting as I opened it into a bright room. I looked around only to see Argus standing on the far side of the room, eating some apple and a guy, whom I assumed is the one who carried me, sat beside me.

"What are we goin' to do with this, mate?" Oh yeah, a Scottish lad. Nice One!

"Wayne, will you just keep your mouth shut and wait for Genova to arrive? She'll be the one to take care on this. She will groom him just before six according to our timeline..." He said in a nonchalant tone, enjoying his apple as he took another bite out of it.

The two "royal" guards watch me like a predator unto their prey, observing every move I take as I struggled with the cable ties. I was almost delighted when the door opened yet, out came a dark and very healthy lady. Very, very healthy lady.

If you know what I mean.

"Such a delicious young man..." She licked her lips before she settled on the chair beside the bed, grabbing my chin, inspecting every inch of my face. "What a nice piece of sculpture. These features are rare, kept within the royalty for a long time hmm....and this nose and lips," She chuckled before taking up her pair of scissors and brush.

"Gentlemen, you may now leave the room. I'll take good care of this lad."

The two men look at me and back at her, giving me a thumbs up before they took an exit out.

•

As what Argus said awhile ago, I'm now prepared just before six. Genova really was good with her job, giving me a nice hair cut and a shave on my jaw. Though I am quite not sure if the blush on my cheeks is also one of her works.

I can't believe that I am wearing makeup. Funny, isn't it? I would've laugh at myself if I wasn't so nervous about meeting a royalty, much more for a king.

The vehicle arrives not long after we went down the apartment. It was all just in accordance with their 'timeline'. Argus strapped me once again on the backseat right after he push me inside the limo. He closes the door before settling on the driver's side with Scottish lad on tow, chewing some gum as he sat on the passenger seat.

Does the guy ever stopped eating?

The engine roared into life as Argus insert the key, he turn it on reverse and the adventure continues.

It was a long ride, trees outline the sides of the road as we go further out of the city, outside of London, before we stopped outside the main gates of the castle. It's far from what I imagine it was, far from the pictures or is this another version of the royal castle?

Of course. It's not the British royalty, it's the French.

The gates opened as Argus entered the passcode. Two buff guys open my door and unstrapped me. They inspected my coat, then my trousers before they let me pass. Argus is following me with Wayne in tow.

The interior of the castle is magnificent; the Victorian architecture well preserved by the keepers as time pass by.

While walking down the hall, I cannot help myself but to reminisce the day; those days that me and my dad went out for trips or adventure, like what he calls it.

The Cinco Maria, our ship. My childhood and teenage years; and also my mom and dad snatched away from me by that tragedy, the happening.

I shook my head, not wanting another headache to come knocking inside my cranium, ruining my already blasted mood.

Such a mess I had today...

I was distracted out of my thoughts when suddenly Argus opens the door. He wave his hands in and nods at me. "The king awaits your presence inside, my lord."

I took three steps forward and myself in absolute darkness as the door closed.

With my heart beating wild on my chest, I look around to see a bed on the far corner. The old man lying down on it, spoke "Son..."

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