BXBX NOVEL Chapter 109 Choosing A Side
DevilDarkness#0506
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"Burnhard" Alfred muttered watching him coming towards them.
Rio smiled watching Alfred's expressions and hearing his whisper. It didn't even occur to him, about how Alfred said his name in a weird way without realising it. It just showed him how even though the 2 brothers weren't exactly competing for the throne yet or fighting each other, but the people around them had influenced them enough to not like each other's company. Obviously the king initiated it, to make them vary of each other so they can grow more capable.
But as the history indicates the race to throne is never not bloody. But who cares if pawns die, and the palace wins.
"Since we were all going out, I invited him to come with us too. I hope you don't mind your highness."
Rio said, and without waiting for anyone's response, went ahead to greet Bernhardt.
"You're late, we almost left you behind you know?" Rio said.
Bernhardt chuckled seeing that he made it in time, and said "Sorry. I'm here so let's go now."
"That's okay, but why are you looking like that?" Rio looked at Bernhardt closely and found his clothes and hair wet.
"Well I had my training in the evening, but since we're going out now, I decided to finish it early. And when I was coming out, mother stopped me and forced me to go and take another bath first."
Rio looked at Bernhardt's shoulder length hair flying around, it got even more messy since this guy ran till here from his room. "So you ran out without even getting your makeup done."
"Yeah. How'd you know." Bernhardt was saying something but then stopped as he realized the joke and saw Rio's smiling face "It's not makeup. I just came without fixing my hair. It takes too much time." Bernhardt said, pushing his hair back.
"And show some respect, you're talking to the Royal prince humph." Bernhardt asked, while thinking that inviting Rio for the breakfast was a very bad idea. He should've known that her mother would share out all his stories with him, and now his image of a dignified prince he created by keeping his manners when talking to him on the first day was all lost. He's even making fun of him now.
"Yeah, yeah. Your royal highness. Gracing us with your presence."
'Sigh, why do mothers have to compare their children with the neighbor's kid. Now he definitely thinks I'm a dumb dude.'
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The sight of the two conversing and sharing a joyful exchange surprised the royal guards. And the people standing around couldn't help but raise an eyebrow on that sight, they glanced at the woman standing by the side, hoping to see her reaction. But the party concerned Queen Athena and Duchess Artemis didn't even bother thinking twice about the newfound friendship between the pair of kids. Both of them simply didn't think much of it, aside from a simple exchange or greeting.
But the king sitting upon his throne, resting his head on his hand, opened his eyes and smiled. "So you chose your side. My smart soldier."
'He's just talking with him. There's no guarantee to what you think.' The voice spoke again in his head.
"No. I'm sure of it now. Ever since he came he made no advance on talking with Alfred, but he's been chatting happily with the other guy. I would've thought nothing of it before, but after talking with him today, I can see he's different. Smart ones always are."
"Doesn't that bother you that he chose your bastard, instead of your prince."
"Why would it? It only makes things more interesting." King spoke, imagining how much of a leap his bastard would take, if the future heir of Duke supported him. "It would be more fun to see the race now."
"It would.." The voice smiled and so did the king.
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Unknown to the thoughts of the king and anyone else, Rio and Bernhardt were talking about the trip, when they heard someone's voice.
"Ahn brother, who is he?" Amelia asked, pulling his brother's shirt.
Rio looked at Amelia and said "This is Bernhardt Von Schott. Alfred's brother and the royal prince. He's also the one who gave me a tour around the Royal palace, while you were busy playing with Rebecca."
"Ohh." Amelia nodded her head but then "Wait, you saw the whole palace. Why didn't you invite me." Amelia asked, feeling aggrieved that she missed out on a tour.
"Don't worry. I'll show you around in the morning tomorrow."
"Humf I'll just ask Becca to show me. You don't wake up till someone throws water on your face anyway."
Hearing someone insult the boy who heard all his tidbits from his mother, Bernhardt laughed at him. Rio glared at Amelia, while she just shrugged her shoulders in response, her eyes clearly saying 'why hide, it is the truth. Wear it like armor.'
Rio, looking at how glaring won't work, said in a determined voice. "Well, I'll wake up early tomorrow."
Amelia hearing him just shook her head. She couldn't remember how many times she had heard her brother say that in the last month. He turned into a lazy pig ever since he fell sick that one time. She even wondered if it's some kind of aftereffect of his disease. But when she asked her mother about it, she just burst out laughing at her, calling her stupid again.
Rio, unaware of how his image has been turned into a lazy pig in his sister's eyes, commanded the system in his head. 'System, wake me up early tomorrow.'
[I can't.]
Rio read the notification, and asked 'Why not? Don't tell me you're gonna charge points for that too since you're level 0. Or that I'll have to wait till plot starts, so you can work as an alarm clock.'
[I can't, because I'm still fucking muted, host. You did it this morning and simply forgot to unmute it.]
Rio read the floating complaint written in bold letters, and remembered he really did forget about it, but how can he as an owner apologize for it, so he just blamed the system again 'so how is it my fault. You're so useless that I forget I even have a cheat.' Rio said but then remembered something And added 'ohh and mind your language, I'm still a 10 year old. Such a bad influence. That's why I muted you.'
Rio finished his words and closed the panel with his mind, ignoring all the angry notifications the system started sending him.
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Finally after the initial greeting between Bernhardt and others, everyone sat inside the carriage and they started their journey for the tour around the city.
During the whole route the Blake siblings and the bastard son enjoyed their time. Trying to try everything and have the perfect vacation. The Royal siblings however could just stay silent or half heartedly look around. Alfred's mood was down the moment he saw Bernhardt, and Rebecca was still lost in whatever her thoughts were. And was absent minded the whole time.
It was funny for Rio to see how the 2 who suggested and started this trip were the ones missing out on the most the city had to offer.
Obviously they were both still naive little brats and forgot all about their issues once they reached the main carnival sites and started playing around with everyone else.
'Being a kid is so easy.' Rio thought as he looked at Amelia and Rebecca happily competing for who can eat more of those little sweet zittery (Indians, call it pani puri in your language. I was thinking bout them while writing this)
They both even put a bet, where the loser would have to buy a gift for the winner. It was funny seeing how even when tears were dripping from both girls' eyes, but they still refused to give up and kept eating. They both didn't lack money or basically anything that they needed, but which girl wants to lose out on a free gift.
Alfred and Bernhardt too were in the bet, but they gave up early.
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Ohh, you're wondering about me. Well I'm still eating them. Of course I'm the mc and the author, so I'll be the one winning everything. Hmmm
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A/N - what do you think the future holds for the Royal siblings? Will the stepping stone be saved & golden son be robbed of his crown? Will the princess still be the cold calculative queen leader or will it all be thrown in chaos.