Virlaq Kingdom

7

"Dead rats, Nicholas!" Donald shouted, face going red, "Do you know how much it cost to clean that up? How much Schwarz family money I've had to spend to get someone to clean that mess up without your father knowing?"

Donald paced the room, lecturing Nick.

Nick said on his red armchair, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation, "I understand that, but-"

"You understand that? And yet you're telling me to keep this whole issue a secret from your father?" Donald looked at him like he was crazy, "Are you absolutely mental?"

"They threatened my mother," Nick stood up, eyes pleading, "If my father hears about any of this, she's a goner, Don. You know that. I-I can't risk this, I-"

"So what do you think your father is going to say when he sees all this money gone from the funds?" The butler threw his hands up, wispy hair twisting with every movement, "He's going to find out."

"He can't, Donald," Nick's hands shook, "My mother..."

"Your mother wouldn't want you to get hurt and if you put yourself in danger any longer, I am obligated to put you under the king's protection, Nicholas," The butler shook his head, "This is not up for debate, sir. This is serious."

"I am serious, Donald!" He shouted back, voice fraying, "You said yourself I know when to be serious, and I am right now! Just trust me!"

"This is not a matter of trust, your highness," Donald softened his voice, taking a deep breath, "This is not something one person of your privilege can handle. With your father has to carefully calculate what to do about this, we cannot-"

"They will kill her, Donald. They will literally murder my mother," Nick pleaded, "Not to mention Silver. If anything happened to him after I took him in-- after I told him I'd protect him, I don't know..."

***

"If anything happened to him after I took him in-- after I told him I'd protect him, I don't know..." Silver stopped at the sound of Nick's voice.

That was when he realized, he was walking right by the prince's room. The door was not completely closed and he could hear voices coming out from behind it.

He thought for a moment. Should he really be eavesdropping on this kind of conversation? It sounded serious, and Nick sounded on the brink of tears. Who was he talking about anyway?

"This is about Silver then, huh?" Donald the butler said.

They were talking about him? What were they saying about him?

"No. Well, yes, but no," Nick let out a disgruntled growl and then let out a sigh, "My mother is more important than Silver, that's a given..."

Silver couldn't argue with that, Nick seemed pretty close with his family and Silver literally just met the guy. So what was the problem?

"I just feel like telling my father would also put Silver in more danger," Nick said. Silver's brows furrowed, "I feel like if I pull my father into this, they'll stop holding back. They'll murder my mother, murder my Silver, and maybe even you too. People, innocent people who can't protect themselves, will die, Donald."

"So, what, you're gonna be the lone hero to save us all?" Donald let out a laugh, "You? All on your own, you're going to vanquish the big, bad Dragons? Nicholas, you'll get yourself killed."

"As long as no harm comes to Silver or my mother, I could care less what happens to me," He shook his head, "I promised Alpha Boris and my own father that Silver will be able to go back to Willow safe and sound, and I intend to do that. I'll stop these Dragons or die trying."