“He told them the Main Event was responsible?” Rache rubbed his hand down his face.
“He did. He said you didn’t have to thank him. He’s delighted to help you get started down your new and improved career path.”
“With a brother like that, who needs an enemy?”
“I’m positive he’s had similar thoughts about you.” Kim’s eyes crinkled at the corners. Was she amused?
“You don’t approve of this, do you?”
“Well, I think it would challenge and fulfill you more than serving pizzas or whatever other business opportunity you envisioned yourself buying.”
“I was thinking of finding a martial-arts studio for sale and running that.”
“While wearing a mask?”
“I don’t know. Cosmetic surgery is also an option.”
“The Main Event could wear a mask. I understand superheroes have all sorts of quirky costumes. It seems to be a prerequisite. Nobody takes you seriously if you rescue them in a T-shirt and sandals. Casmir also recommended having your publishing company start a line of comics to share your exploits, thus to reach a potential fanbase that doesn’t watch the news.”
“A fanbase of ten-year-olds?”
“Future leaders of the Kingdom.”
Rache shook his head as he gazed down at the sticker.
He remembered his early encounters with Casmir, when he’d truly considered him an adversary and had been at cross-purposes with him. Somehow, Casmir had always come out on top, despite all of the military histories and strategy masterminds that Rache had studied in his youth, and despite all the years of mercenary experience he had. Kim had suggested it was more a matter of Casmir’s ability to win friends—allies who would die, not just to save him but to fulfill his visions—than any tactical genius.
He manipulated people without even realizing he was doing it. Maybe they fell for it because Casmir’s intentions were always good, but it was still manipulation. Rache could see him doing exactly that to him with this superhero goofiness, and a stubborn part of him wanted to scoff and cast the idea aside, but…
Kim was right. What else would he do?
As crazy as it seemed, this might be Rache’s best bet for one day earning a pardon from the queen and being able to go out in public like a normal human being. It wasn’t that much different from his old career. He would just have to kill fewer people. And vandalize fewer trash bins.
Rache held the sticker over his chest. “Would certain appealing female bacteriologists find such a figure as the Main Event intriguing and sexy?”
“Oh, undoubtedly. The sex appeal of masked superheroes is well-known to be irresistible to scientists.”
“You forgot to modulate your tone sufficiently to convey your enthusiasm.”
“Did I? I’ll try something else.”
Kim lifted her hands to his shoulders and leaned in for a kiss. An enthusiastic one.
* * *
THE END
Short Stories from the Star Kingdom Page 10