A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 5 (Part 4)

"Oh, yeah, you're right," Oliver smiled timidly.

"Alright, as you were saying...?" Frederick tilted his head towards Oliver as he joined his fingers together.

"Oh, uhmm... can you repeat the question?" Oliver asked bashfully.

"Of course. So, my question was... why have you never shown yourself in public for years? It has been a long time now."

Oliver looked at Sophia. Oliver gathered a long, deep breath and said, "...It's because I am busy, that's all."

"Uh-huh, I understand... I understand," Frederick said. "What were you doing throughout your life?"

"I've... been... doing my hobbies for years," Oliver replied with a falsified response, causing Sophia's jaw to drop and her eyes to grow wide.

"But, aren't you—" Sophia intervened as she leaned closer to Oliver.

"I've been drawing, yeah!"

"That's nice! Keep it up," Frederick grinned, his eyebrows raised to his hair. "Anyways! Let's move on to another topic. Oliver, I want to congratulate you on finding your sweetheart!" Frederick stated.

Oliver and Sophia smiled, hiding away their mile-length frowns behind their grins.

"Thanks..."

"You're welcome," Frederick replied and continued. "Also, Oliver, since you finally showed up, I would love to arrange a coming-out event for you. But, first, may I have your consent?"

"A... a coming-out event...?" Oliver's gaze softened.

"Yes! So, we can update the city on how you're doing and how much you've changed!" Frederick explained with enthusiasm.

"Oh, oh... no, no, no. I'm fine, Mr Mayor- I mean Fred! I... I don't have any plans to show myself to this place," Oliver replied, slightly frantic and nervous.

"Why? What's wrong?" Frederick asked worryingly.

"...Announcing the world that I'm the Remaining Podeshire would bring danger into my life... it would alarm the assassins that killed my family, and revealing my identity in public would help them on tracking me down..." he whispered loudly. "We are not sure if those assassins have given up searching for me... because there's still a possibility they might still be looking for me... to finish their job..."

Oliver's deep speculation widened Frederick and Sophia's eyes as they gawked at him.

"I never thought about that... I'm very sorry," said Frederick.

"...Does that mean we won't tell the city about me...?" Oliver asked bashfully.

"We'll never tell anyone," Frederick promised. "Anyways, I'm thirsty. Fancy a beverage?"

"Oh, I do!" Sophia raised her hand.

     Oliver, Frederick and Sophia descended to the gilded lobby of the lavish City Hall. Downstairs, Frederick grabbed a bottle of red wine, and its cap flew across the spacious room. Frederick then poured the drink into three wine glasses on a tray.

"Woah, woah, woah. Would I get intoxicated if I drank that?" Oliver's eyes widened as he saw their glasses overflowing with sparkling red wine.

"I doubt it," Frederick grabbed two glasses and passed them to Oliver and Sophia before grabbing his drink.

     Turning to their left, Oliver, Frederick, and Sophia marched down a hallway. While walking, Oliver's eyes wandered and spotted mouldings covering the white walls of the corridors, giving the place a bright shine like the noon's sunlight. Oliver glanced left and right and saw guards lining up in the halls in uniforms that blended with the surroundings.

"Oli, psst. Can I ask you something?" Sophia whispered as they walked.

"Sure thing," Oliver smiled as he took a small, considerate sip of his wine. "What's that?"

"I noticed that some of your female ancestors never changed their surname," Sophia said. "Don't we ladies change our surname after getting married?"

"Huh... yeah, you're right. But... I have no clue why," Oliver replied. He then tapped Frederick's shoulder and asked him with a timid voice, "Fred, may we ask you a question?"

"Ask me anything," Frederick stated as he gazed at the enormous portraits hanging on the walls of the gilded hallway.

"Why didn't my female ancestors change their surnames after marriage?" Oliver asked.

"Hmm... let me explain," Frederick halted and gazed at an archaic portrait of a man on the wall. "So... in five hundred thirty-seven AD, after the death of the first Podeshire that inherited elemental powers, the last name 'Podeshire' is deemed dominant. Thus, it overpowers every common surname," he explained as Oliver and Sophia stood behind him.

"Why is it considered to be dominant, Mr Mayor?" Sophia asked with a soft voice.

"An ancient chieftain made that tradition to track who is a Podeshire," Frederick replied.

"Wow... who is that, Fred?" Oliver asked as he peered at the archaic portrait of a man in a white toga.

"It is John Podeshire... your first ever known ancestor, who possessed elemental powers," Frederick answered as he sipped on his wine glass.

"I... I never knew about him yet," Oliver murmured as he stared at the painting.

"You didn't learn that from your school?" Frederick asked.

"I was homeschooled..."

"Oh, but have you ever heard about him before?" Frederick questioned.

"No," Oliver said. "Honestly, I haven't..."

"Oh..." Frederick lowered his glance and looked at Oliver behind him. "...Tell me. What are the things you only know about your family?"

"...All I know is... my family and ancestors are portrayed as defenders of this city... right?" Oliver responded as he sighed.

"Indeed, you're right," Frederick said.

"But, am I capable of being like them? Am I capable of being a Defender of Asbranne?" Oliver pondered.

"My child..." Frederick said. "You. Are. One..."

"I don't believe so," Oliver's lips tightened.

"I believe in you..." Frederick placed a palm on Oliver's shoulder.