MOIRAI (Man*Man)

Chapter 20

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Elmer woke up glancing around to find a lot of people inside his room. They are all staring at him with pity, sadness in their eyes. Yes he was beat up but he isn't dying, at least that is what he thinks "How are you feeling?" Oda asked, Elmer didn't want to talk, the last time he tried talking his cheek burned. He nodded indicating he is better, he doesn't feel as bad as he felt yesterday.

Those guys came out of nowhere attacking him without a question then they started asking about the pendant that was on his neck the night before, that is why Elmer didn't want the pendant in the first place. He isn't rich and he doesn't walks through rich parts of the town, no, he has to pass through the slams of the town and those guys are thieves. He was so lucky he didn't have the pendant on him because he doesn't know where he would have gotten the money to pay for it, a stone as big as that one, so expensive it would cost his life "We were so worried about you" Henry one of the servants and his roommate said.

Elmer wouldn't say he is good friends with these people but it is good to know that someone cares "Thank you" Elmer's voice came out small but it wasn't filled with pain, at least he could feel his right cheek again.

"The prince is here" one servant said from behind, they all said goodbye to Elmer before moving out giving Ernest space to pass.

"How are you feeling?" Ernest asked as he entered the room with Bert who sat onto Elmer's bed taking his hand in his. Elmer wanted to get up and greet the prince and he tried but his bones ached do much he gave up before he could move his body.

"Good" Elmer tried shifting so that he can sit, Bert got up giving him a hand so that he doesn't hurt himself "Thank you"

"Have you eaten something?" Bert asked after getting Elmer more comfortable, Elmer shook his head no "Let me go get you something to eat" Bert walked out leaving Ernest and Elmer alone.

"Am glad you're fine" Ernest said breaking the ice while taking a seat on the opposite bed where Elmer's room mate sleeps "We are doing everything we can so that we can get whoever did it was locked up"

"They are just thieves, it was no big deal"

"They almost killed you" Bert said getting back in the room with a pile of water and a towel "Those guys are getting locked up and executed, what they did was unacceptable" Bert doesn't want to hear any 'They were just robbers' the fact is that they almost killed Elmer and that is the only thing that matters to Bert. He and Ernest have been searching, asking around to find any clues, the bounty is high and if anyone saw something they would come forward and report it, soon they will have whoever did this facing his sentence and Bert hopes the king won't be lenient on them.

"It was no big deal" Elmer still feels like it was no big deal.

"Don't even say it was no big deal" Bert scrunched his face in hate, they have to pay. He moved closer to Elmer resting the pile on the side of the bed, he dipped the clothe in warm water then raised it to Elmer's face cleaning his wounds

"I will do it" Elmer tried taking the clothe away, Bert gave him a looks showing he isn't taking any of that. Elmer didn't try to stop him but soon he gave up. Oda came in with his food resting down before leaving the three men alone "Thank you" Elmer didn't know anything he could add to that.

"No problem, here eat something" The care in Bert's eyes made Elmer want to smile but his lips are messed up pretty badly. The look reminded Elmer of his mother Margret, whenever Elmer got sick she would have the same look in her eyes. Elmer put the first spoon in his mouth wincing at his ribs "What hurts?"

"My ribs but am fine" Elmer doesn't need all this care, he feels fine. Not fine, fine but fine in the way that he shouldn't get treated as an almost dying person.

"I have to leave, I will be back later" Ernest announced getting up "I hope you get well soon" Elmer nodded as Ernest walked out. They stayed in silence Bert seeming to be in thought even though his eyes were watching Elmer's every move making him become cautious. Elmer doesn't want to show how his ribs are hurting but the movement of his hand is making it worse that he lost his appetite.

"Thank you" Bert didn't force him to finish the food as he put it back. He just kept on staring at him with worry on his face, they didn't say anything for quiet a long time just enjoying the silence and their company, Elmer breathing through the pain that shoots through his ribs every time he tries to move. They finally broke the silence arguing about the search, Elmer wasn't on board with it. Many people get robbed every single day, maybe they should have tried finding away to stop the robbery that goes on in that place instead of trying to find the specific ones that attacked Elmer.

Elmer hates feeling like he is being privileged and this just indicates that, for goodness's sake the prince was in charge of the investigation, another reason they should stop all of this. It happens to many, the prince doesn't need to put himself in danger all because of him, Elmer wasn't on board with this and no one was going to prove him otherwise, not even Bert because this is not the best idea.

****

"What happened?" Hattie asked walking beside his son, who is being held up by two guards. Everyone has gathered around to see what had happened to their prince.

"We got one of them, he will tell us where the others are" Ernest replied not answering the question his mother was asking in the first place. He was taken into his room, he was put down before the guards walked out leaving Ernest with the king, the queen and Adley the healer "I am fine, stop giving me those looks"

"Your guards said you attacked the guy"

"He was running away, I had to do something. It's not my fault I twisted my ankle" Ernest explained, the guy was running away and Ernest couldn't let that happen, that guy beat Elmer up and he needed to be caught as the others will get caught too in no time.

"You couldn't let your guards do the work" The king now realizes it was a wrong idea to let his son on the case if he is so passionate about it, he could have landed himself in so much trouble than this if he wasn't careful.

"I wasn't going to sit back and let them do everything" The king wasn't going to be dealing with this he walked out. Adley took off the prince's shoe, folded his pants up to examine the ankle.

"I don't think Elmer is worth the kingdom losing its heir" Hattie doesn't like this, Elmer has just entered Ernest's life and he shouldn't be willing to do everything for him forgetting that he has a kingdom to rule above everything else, that is his destiny not dying for one servant

"Mother, if I can't fight for my friends and family then what kind of king will I ever be" Ernest asked in a stern tone "This is a kingdom with people, if we didn't capture him, we don't know how many others he would have hurt"

"But-"

"I don't want to talk now, please leave" Ernest has never dismissed his mother before and Hattie was surprised his son dismissed him like that. Ernest usually listens to what Hattie has to say and he takes her advise everytime but just because of Elmer, Ernest was not only dismissing Hattie's words but he was dismissing her from the room.

"I am your mother, you can't talk to me like that" Hattie said

"I am not in the mood mother, just get out" Ernest was not in the mood to be dealing with his mother at the moment and he needs her out that is why he used his ordering tone. Hattie walked out but then again Ernest felt bad for how he treated her, he sighed falling back when Adley hurt his leg making him sit back up "Leave me alone" Ernest just wants to be alone for a minute, a moment to himself when no one is asking any questions. He just needs a moment of silence to himself but that didn't happen when his door opened and in walked a fuming Bert

"What were you thinking?" Bert asked his tone so angry "Clearly you weren't thinking if you went after the guy alone, why didn't you inform me"

"You were busy taking care of Elmer when I got the information"

"You know how dangerous it is, you could have told me, you can't just leave me behind because I was busy"

"Elmer needs someone to take care of him-"

"I am going to kill that guy"

"Bert" Ernest called but Bert was already out of the room. Ernest sighed falling back down knowing the guy they have just caught is about to face the wrath of Bert.