I'm the Bad Guy

by Kenneth Arant

  "Twenty or so minutes from the gate." he replied without looking at me.

  Neither of us had said a word to the other since before we left home. I was preoccupied with watching the scenery go by and he didn't seem overly fond of the idea of speaking with me, so I was left to my own devices.

  Not that I particularly minded his disinterest. Actually, I preferred disinterest in this situation because I still wasn't sure how to act around the man.

  As we drew closer to the city, I noticed other carriages laden with goods and people wearing large backpacks making their way towards the large portcullis that marked the entrance to the city.

  "Merchants or just people returning home?" I wondered.

  The driver of our carriage slowly came to a stop at the side of the long line of people wanting to get in and motioned for one of the guards, men wearing what appeared to be medieval knight armor with the Ziral empire's crest emblazoned on their breastplate, to attend to us.

  "I'm sorry sir, but you're going to need to go to the back of the line. We'll try to get you through as soon as possible, but you cannot cut the line like this." I heard the guard tell our driver.

  I'm not sure what the driver said or showed to the guard, but a few seconds after telling us to get back in line, the guard saluted and yelled—" My apologies sir, I didn't recognize you! Please, follow me. I'll make sure no one gives you any more trouble."

  I glanced over at my father and noticed that he was busily reading the book he'd brought from home and hadn't seemed to have paid the guard or our stop any mind.

  I internally sighed for what felt like the one-hundredth time today and rested my head against the carriage door, so I could continue looking out the window.

  The city itself looked like an odd mix of medieval Europe, nineteenth-century USA, and feudal Japan. Men, women, and children of all shapes, sizes, and colors walked down cobblestone laden streets. Wearing everything from kimonos and yukatas to sleek black business suits, and the aforementioned knight armor. Crude oil lanterns hung from massive, black metal poles that stood higher than some buildings and vibrant lights illuminated the otherwise shadowed storefronts, homes, and what looked like crude apartment buildings.

  A few minutes after passing through the portcullis and openly gawking at the city. I felt the call of nature for the first time since I woke up this morning.

  "Um... Father?"

  "Hmm?"

  "I need to pee."

  "Hold it." He replied without looking away from his book.

  "Ugh..." I folded my legs and sat back in my seat.

  By the time we arrived at the palace gates I was trying to relieve some of the pressure on my bladder by gently rocking back and forth in my seat.

  "We're here, my lord!"

  The driver called out as we passed through the gates.

  I threw open the carriage doors without waiting for it to stop and ran over to one of the servants I saw milling about.

  "Can you show me where the toilets are?" I blurted out to the group of young, pretty maids.

  A glance passed between two of the three and they giggled while the oldest looking one of the three nodded her head and asked me to follow her. After about two or three minutes of walking down corridors, we arrived at a plain wooden door and she explained that this was one of the seven toilets on this floor of the palace.

  "Do you need any help, young lord?"

  "No thanks!" I raced inside without checking if it was occupied or not and slammed the door behind me.

  A while later, after finishing my business and thanking the creator for flushable toilets. I stood beside my father on the courtyard steps and marveled at my new surroundings. Now that I'd taken care of my 'business' I was able to appreciate how much work was necessary to keep this place looking as it does.

  Waist high bushes surrounded the courtyard with so many different varieties of flower it was making my head spin. The steps and surrounding concrete were dutifully swept clean of any loose debris or dirt that may have been tracked through. Massive stone lions stood guard on each side of the courtyard, the one on the left looked angry and its body was in prime pouncing position, while the one on the right looked almost lazy in comparison with its bored expression and laid-back posture.

  A massive gilded door at the front of the castle swung open and a youngish looking Asian man descended the steps. He had short black hair and dark eyes. On top of his expensive looking black slacks and loose silk shirt, he wore a heavy red robe with white fur around the collar and a large gold medallion with a red stone the size of a grape in the center surrounded by some form of runic formation carved into the gold.

  "Your majesty." My father announced. He dropped to one knee and dropped his head until his chin was resting against his chest.

  Not wanting to anger the man. I quickly followed suit and copied my father.

  The man ignored my father's call and walked gracefully down the steps until he finally came to a stop one step above us.

  "Take a step to the right, child." The man ordered in a surprisingly deep voice.

  I quickly complied and slid several steps to my right without a word.

  A meaty thud caused my head to snap up in time to see my father crashing down the stairs and the man holding his forehead and making a 'ta ta ta' sound.

  "That's for not coming to visit me sooner, you ass!"

  "My—apologies, your majesty. I've been very busy of late." My father replied as he climbed to his feet and returned to his previous position without comment or complaint about having his face smashed in.

  "Oh, I'm sure. Or maybe you were just hoping to stay away long enough that I'd forget about our promise, eh?"

  "Promise?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

  The man's gaze locked onto me with such ferocity that a chill went down my spine. It didn't last long, however, as he quickly transitioned into a smile and nodded.

  "Indeed. Your old man and I are sworn brothers. The day after he saved my life, I swore to him that I would bring him into the family one way or another to repay him."

  I swallowed the too thick saliva in my mouth and tried not to shrink under his scrutinizing gaze.

  "Unfortunately, your father decided against marrying my sister, so I've been forced to think of... Other alternatives."

  "As I said, that's wholly unnecessary."

  "And as I said, I decide what my life's worth. To refuse my repayment would be to insult my pride as a man... You're not insulting me, are you, Ulfric?"

  "No, Sire, of course not."

  "Then just let me do as I like."

  My father sighed through his nose and briefly glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

  "As you wish."

  "Perfect!" The emperor cheered and beckoned my father and I to follow him into the palace.

  The entrance hall was a massive three-story room painted in a mix of silver and gold. The two lions in the courtyard made another appearance inside in the reverse position on either side of the room and a high-backed throne with a stone lion's head peeking over the back, sat on a raised dais at the far side of the room.

  While I stood in awe of the throne room, the man threw his arm around my father's shoulders, showing the true height disparity between the two with my father being at least half a foot taller than he was, and steered him down a corridor to the right of the main entrance.

  "Feel free to explore the palace, boy! Your father and I have some things to discuss!"

  "Y-Yes, your majesty!"

  I stared after the two men for several seconds after they'd left, then I set out to explore the palace... Hopefully without running into the princess in the process.

  * * *

  Chapter 4: The Princess

  * * *

  I sat the book written by arch-Mage Millinis on the table in front of me and laid my head down on the table. I'd asked one of the maids to take me to the library immediately after the emperor and my dad went to have their 'talk' and I'd been in h
ere ever since.

  My reasoning for hiding out in here, rather than exploring the palace, was simple. Based on what I remembered of Kami's personality from the show, she hated studying and tended to avoid it like the plague whenever she had the chance. So, I was probably safer here than I was just walking around randomly.

  This also had the benefit of allowing me to touch up on my memory of the anime's 'law of magic'... Which confirmed my theory as to why the previous Aren had so much trouble using magic as he grew older.

  The laws of this world were rather straightforward... If insanely strict. Basically, everyone with the ability to use magic generally fell into one of several 'classes' of mage. These tended to range from your basic elemental spell slinger or Arcanist, as they preferred to be called. Healers, illusionists, Priests, enchanters, and the like. To more complex and... odd forms of magic. Such as summoners, necromancers, force mages, demonists, etc... But, regardless of which 'class' you fell into. The 'law' remained the same.

  Namely, that you don't practice magic for which you don't have an affinity for.

  Sure, you could eventually practice different 'classes' of magic. But the lower your affinity, the greater the burden the magic put on your mana core. Which was the source of a mage's power and acted like a rechargeable battery, powering the mage's spells whilst simultaneously refilling itself by pulling mana from its surroundings.

  Practicing magic that you lacked an affinity for was the magical equivalent of attempting to lift four-hundred pounds... When you can barely lift a hundred pounds safely. Sure, you could do it... But you will most likely hurt yourself in the process. However, damaging your magic core is a bit more dangerous than merely tearing a muscle and breaking a bone, as the magic stored within your core can actually explode out of your body and either kill you or, if you're lucky, merely render you unable to use magic for the rest of your life.

  ...

  Most mages prefer death over the loss of magic.

  And, unfortunately for Aren, He'd been so intent on following in his father's footsteps and becoming an arcanist, that he unintentionally damaged his magic core and crippled himself for life. This led to his downward spiral that began when he was seventeen years old.

  You just couldn't catch a break, could you Aren?

  And no matter how much I may want to I can't lay the blame entirely at his parent's feet, either.

  Judging from his personality in the anime. Aren was an incredibly secretive person growing up and most likely hadn't told anyone he'd been trying to become an arcanist until it was too late.

  However, he was also a coward at heart and wouldn't dare disobey his parents while living in their home. So, hopefully, I took the wheel before he was able to irrevocably damage his magic core.

  ...

  God, please don't let him have ruined my life too.

  “And just who are you supposed to be?” A girlish voice asked, seconds before the chair on the other side of the table slid out, and I heard someone sit down.

  I raised my head and immediately wanted to run for the hills.

  With her fair skin, long wavy brown hair that reached the middle of her back, and bright blue eyes that sparkled with just a hint of amusement. While wearing an expensive looking white dress. Kami Ziral, first princess of the Ziral Empire, already displayed signs of the high-level beauty she would become in a few years.

  “Aren Ulvani.” I replied without looking at her.

  I knew it was rude of me to not look at her... But it was just so damn weird seeing the incredibly beautiful woman I was used to seeing on T.V, in the body of a child.

  ...

  I should probably abandon that train of thought before I think of the other things I did while thinking about her. Especially now that she was a child ... And real.

  “You're uncle Ulfric's kid? You don't look like him.”

  “I'm aware.”

  “Do you look like your mom?”

  The image of my beautiful mother flashing through mind caused me to involuntarily snort at the idea of us looking anything alike.

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Cause she's pretty.”

  I heard her giggle at my honest response and a few seconds later I saw her hand enter my field of view.

  “Kami Ziral” She stated matter-of-factly.

  I briefly shook her hand, ignoring the rush of electricity racing up my arm from the contact, and mumbled— “Nice to meet you.”

  I lifted my head up to readjust my position and noticed her staring at her hand out of the corner of my eye. She must've noticed me watching her because she cracked a smile and said— “You're kinda weird.”

  “Sorry.”

  “No, I like weird. Weird is interesting.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Oh! There you two are!” an elderly voice called out to us.

  I sat up in my chair and looked to see an elderly dark-skinned lady wearing the same uniform I'd seen other servants wearing around the castle, hurriedly walking up to our table.

  She curtsied to the princess in a show of respect and informed us that the emperor had requested our presence in the dining hall for supper.

  Supper? It's that late already?

  I climbed out of my chair as smoothly as I could and pushed my chair back into its position under the table, then I repeated this action for the princess's chair after she'd stood up.

  The two women looked at me oddly after this, but I tried to ignore it and just followed silently behind them while trying my very best to avoid looking at the princess's skirt...

  I slapped myself across the face to knock such thoughts from my mind, but I messed up and hit myself harder than I intended to. The princess cocked an eyebrow at me over her shoulder at me and the maid just looked worried.

  “There was a bug.”

  The princess snickered, whether it was at my bad attempt to cover up what I'd done or the red mark I knew was on my face, I didn't know... But it was sure nice to hear.

  We left the library and wound our way through the maze-like corridors to the dining hall where the Emperor, his three wives, my father, and surprisingly, my mother were already waiting for us.

  “There they are! See, I told you they wouldn't get into any trouble, Ulfric.” The emperor said brusquely as he sipped from his glass of red liquid.

  My father ignored him in favor of sipping from his own glass.

  I padded my way over to the empty seat beside my mother and slid in without a word.

  My mother wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a gentle hug.

  “Did you have fun?” She asked softly.

  “Yes.”

  “I'm glad.” She rubbed my shoulder for a moment, then dropped her arm to her side and glanced over at my father.

  “My lord, I— “

  “Hold that thought for a moment, Ulfric.” The emperor clapped his hands and servants began bustling about the room, setting trays, refilling drinks, and setting out cutlery for us to use.

  “Now, what is it?”

  “I would ask that you reconsider, sire.”

  “Why is that?”

  “The boy is still young.”

  “As is she.”

  I saw my father glance at me with his mouth set in a hard line. But he eventually sighed and nodded his head in resignation.

  “As you wish, Sire.”

  I looked between my father and the emperor for several seconds before the unspoken meaning behind their words clicked in my mind.

  ...

  They've been discussing Aren's—my engagement to Kami, and from the looks of it, the emperor has won the day.

  Dinner, which I recognized as a mostly Japanese spread, came and went with little more than small-talk between the Emperor, his wives, Kami, and my parents to fill the silence. Despite my eagerness to blurt out what I was thinking, I mostly kept to myself during this time and only spoke when I was directly addressed by someone.

  Eventually
, the servers cleared the table and some type of berry-filled tart was served as dessert. Afterward, the servants left the room one by one until only the royal family and my family remained.

  “Aren?”

  “Y-Yes, your majesty?”

  “You can relax a little bit, boy.” The emperor laughed. “I'm not going to bite.”

  I swallowed and tried my best to calm down.

  “I understand.”

  The Emperor motioned to Kami with his wine glass while looking me dead in the eye.

  “Did the two of you get along well?”

  “I think so?”

  “Good, that's very good... And how about you, Kami? Did you get along well with Aren?”

  “Yes, father. He is an... Interesting boy.”

  “That's high praise coming from you.”

  The Emperor nodded his head and seemed to come to a decision about something.

  “It's decided then. The two of you will marry on Kami's eighteenth birthday since Aren is older.”

  “What!!!” Kami yelled. She slammed her hands onto the table and stood up.

  “I don't want to marry him!” She yelled while pointing at me.

  Here she goes.

  I internally sighed and sat up straight in my chair while the two of them argued.

  “You said he was interesting.”

  “Yeah, he is interesting. That doesn't mean I want to marry him!”

  “I told you this would be a bad idea, Sire.” My father mumbled into his wine glass.

  “Quiet. And you, daughter, sit down.”

  “But dad, I— “

  “Sit. Down!”

  Kami dropped into her seat with a huff and immediately looked away from everyone.

  The emperor's gaze locked onto me and then quirked a brow at me.”

  “Do you also object to this wedding?”

  Everyone, even Kami, looked at me and awaited my response.

  ...

  “Well?”

  ...

  “Yes.”

  “Oh? And why is that?”

  ...

  “Go on, speak freely.”

  ...

  “I'd prefer not to force the princess into something she clearly doesn't want to do.”