Royal Thief

Chapter 21

An 8-year-old boy was standing beside his mom's bed while staring at his sick mom who was laying on the huge bed.

"Mom, you'll be fine right?" the boy asked worriedly.

He looked around trying to find his dad in the whole room, but there were no other people in the room aside from them. All he could see was expensive displays, gold seats and more luxurious items.

"Dad? Where's dad?"

"Your grace is in the other kingdom, my lord." the woman answered with a groggy voice.

He lowered his head when realization struck him, that's right, his father's assisting his friend, the future king of their kingdom with his duties. His father became busier since the late emperor and empress died due to a shipwreck. The duke became the guardian of Prince Roy Albrecht since the duke has the second highest position in command in their region. And as an elder adviser one of his duties is to aid the prince. Besides, it was the emperor's order to the duke too.

The duchess smiled sweetly at the worried bot, "I am fine, my lord. I have something for you... please move a little closer to mommy."

The boy obliged to his mother's request and placed his hands on the mattress.

The duchess moved her shaking hands and placed a shiny but a little bit heavy item on her son's hands.

The boy tilted his head as he stared at the necklace he was holding; it has a big beautiful stone.

"This is mommy's necklace... Do you know how mommy owned this?" the lady asked.

And so, the lady told the story to the boy...

The heirloom necklace of Gastrell has been passed down for generations already; the necklace was once owned by her mother-in-law, Duke Frederick's mother.

But since she's having this weird feeling that she'll die early, she passed it to her son.

The Gastrell family always had a boy for the first born. From Idris' ancestors down to him, always a boy.

"I want you to give this necklace to the person you will love, can I entrust this to my boy?" his mother asked, almost gasping for air.

The boy smiled and nodded his head happily, "Okay, please get well soon mama!"

"Of course, my lord. I promise." the lady smiled and kissed his child's head.

"What the hell..." Idris sat on his bed and wiped his neck when he felt the thick bullet of sweat trailing down his collar bone.

After all the years had passed, he dreamt of it again and he's wondering why?

Does his mom want to say something to him? Is his mom giving him a sign?

Oh, well... that promise was the first promise she broke.

Because in the morning after the night his mom made that promise, she died. And her personal attendant died too. Both women were poisoned. Their death still served as a for some people, actually. And to him, because their steward, James, is a taster too, but the man survived, and conclusions started to build up after that. He was too shocked and young to make orders that time and his father wasn't around too, so the steward ordered the guards to seize the head chef who cooked for that night.

The duke was too mad, and he immediately ordered the guards to decapitate the man; his decision was, of course, supported by the emperor too. Idris was imprisoned in his room for a little while, but he sneaked out to watch the commotion outside.

Idris regretted that decision of his up until now, his 8-year-old self-witnessed cruelty and violence, he saw his father's furious figure, he watched as their guards decapitate the old chef's head. He was too stunned to move until the furious steward saw him. James ran to him worriedly, carried him and covered his eyes using his shaking palms.

All the people in their manor got worried for the whole week because Idris isn't speaking to anyone. He was traumatized, but he opened up little by little when his friend Roy started to play with him again, who set aside his lessons and duties as the prince for a while.

And when he asked the prince why their guards killed the chef, the boy answered, "It is a sin to kill, what more if a peasant killed a noble? That's a crime."

And he started to read books about the rules and punishments in their kingdom. A low born doesn't have any rights to hurt, threaten or kill an aristocrat especially a noble, the punishment: lifetime imprisonment or execution using any methods ordered by a noble person.

And while reading them, he became annoyed and upset because most rules and punishments favored the people in the upper caste, no rules for the low born, no benefits and less protection, that means lesser justice too.

His mom was poisoned by a low born, yes, but he can't help but to feel pity for those people who are born poor. That's the time his perspective on social status changed.

Idris sighed before calling out for an attendant, I feel so weak.

"What can I do for you, my lord?"

"Sorry for the bother, but please help me prepare my bath." Idris stated.

"Sure, my lord. Are you okay?" James asked.

"I am fine, just a little dizzy."

"I see, your bath is ready, my lord."

"Yes, thank you, please help me."

"I never saw you ask any maids to prepare something for you, especially a bath."

Idris turned to James and huffed.

"The truth is, I'm shy around ladies. I get shy around ladies, servants, or nobles, I get shy around them." he explained, and the steward's mouth felt open.

"I see, so the rumors are not true then."

His brows furrowed, "What rumors?"

But James didn't answer, he just smiled.