Royal Guest

Hizashi No Kage
 
Chapter - 23
 
Akash sat quietly. He was still shocked that the king knew everything. Had Manjula told her parents about him when she returned to the palace eight years ago? She must have. What exactly would she have told them?.....
 
Lost in these thoughts, Akash suddenly heard someone call him “Papa.”
 
Akash looked up. Zara had just flown into the room. “You started speaking?? Zara!!! You started speaking??”
 
Akash immediately jumped off the bed and took Zara into his arms. Neelu also leaped on top of them.
 
Zara had now grown to almost three feet tall and had begun speaking a little human language. All thanks to his genius mommy.
 
Akash was still hugging Zara when Manjula also arrived there.
 
They looked at each other.
 
Akash was on the verge of tears. During these holidays, he didn’t know how many times he had remembered Manjula. And finally, he had met her.
 
But Manjula’s very first question brought him back to reality: “When are you going back?”
 
Akash didn’t even feel bad because he had gotten used to it by now. He thought for a moment and said, “I’ll leave in the evening itself. Among those children, there’s a boy named Mishu. He is from Jot village. He will go with me too.”
 
“Good. In this palace, apart from Ramya, no one knows about your relationship with Zara, and no one should find out either. Understood?” Manjula asked in her usual stern voice.
 
“Yes, Your Highness,” Akash said, making a face.
 
“But Papa won’t stay?” Zara asked sadly.
 
“Zara, didn’t I tell you that you cannot call Akash, Papa? Come with me.” Manjula scolded Zara.
 
“No, I stay with Papa,” Zara insisted stubbornly.
 
Then Akash kissed Zara’s forehead and told him to go with his mommy. Zara didn’t understand anything. He had no choice but to go with Manjula.
 
Manjula started to leave with Zara.
 
Just then, Akash felt dizzy and fell down. But Manjula immediately caught him with one hand.
 
She then laid Akash on the bed and went to call the doctor.
 
In her mind, she was only thinking, “If his condition is so bad, why was he talking about leaving in the evening? Did he think I was going to eat him? Hmph!!”
 
---
 
In the evening, Akash got ready to leave for the village. His axe had gone missing during the fight. His clothes were completely ruined. Nothing could be done about the axe, but a maid provided him with a beautiful pair of silky blue clothes.
 
First, Akash went to the place where the kidnapped children were being kept. The officials were preparing to send the children back to their homes. So Akash easily got permission to take Mishu with him.
 
As Akash was about to leave the palace with Mishu and Neelu, a soldier came up to him.
 
“His Majesty has summoned you,” the soldier said.
 
Carrying Neelu on his shoulder and with Mishu beside him, Akash entered the royal court.
 
On the large, ornate throne sat King Hulk. On the throne beside him sat his wife, Jennifer Windhart. On one side, sat the royal family — Manjula, Ramya, Roman, along with Zakaar Flameheart and his uncle Kane Flameheart. Kane was the king’s commander-in-chief. On the other side sat the king’s ministers.
 
Akash was brought straight before all of them. He immediately stood at attention.
 
The king began, “Why are you leaving so soon? You haven’t even recovered properly yet.”
 
“Your Majesty, I—” Akash had just started speaking when Kane interrupted, “Your name is Akash, right? Akash, I would advise you to speak to the king with your head bowed.”
 
Akash sensed arrogance in Kane’s voice. He was used to speaking directly to people, looking them straight in the eyes. He immediately addressed King Hulk, “Your Majesty, do you also want me to bow my head?”
 
At this, Kane burst out, “How dare you! Questioning the king!” His true nature came out in an instant.
 
But then Hulk himself laughed and said, “Hey hey Kane, control yourself, my friend. Am I so desperate to make people bow their heads?”
 
Kane had to calm down. The king then continued, “Akash, we have called you here to reward you. You deserve it. Ask, what do you want?”
 
(“Please get Manjula married to me.” Akash said in his mind. The very next moment, he also imagined his head being chopped off.)
 
“I don’t want anything. I didn’t do anything to earn a reward,” Akash said clearly.
 
The king now spoke with a little sternness, “Are you rejecting our offer? We are generous, but not that generous. Quickly ask for something.”
 
Then Akash said with a slight smile, “Your Majesty, in my village — Jot village — there is neither a church nor a school. We face a lot of difficulty in getting healthcare and education. Can you please open both of these there? And make them completely free?”
 
“We can certainly open them, and they will remain free forever,” the king said, then signaled one of his ministers. In that very moment, the minister left for Jot village with his men.
 
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Akash said.
 
“I thought you would ask for something for yourself, but you asked for something for the entire village. Won’t you ask for anything for yourself?” the king asked.
 
“No, Your Majesty,” Akash replied.
 
This time the king laughed. Then he immediately announced, “From this moment, I confer upon Akash Snow the title of Royal Guest.”
 
Everyone in the court was stunned. Manjula slapped her forehead in disbelief.
 
Akash knew what being a Royal Guest meant — he would now have to stay in the palace, forever. He immediately said, “Your Majesty, my parents—”
 
“I declare the entire Snow family as Royal Guests,” the king said, not letting him finish.
 
A thought immediately came to Akash’s mind — “That means Mom and Dad will never have to work again.”
 
Akash bowed his head before the king and thanked him many times. And then he said, “So, can I bring them right now, Your Majesty?”