Breaking News
POV: Lucien
I had just dropped a huge bomb on Reginald Batiste about his thought to be dead son. He leaned over in his seat and cradled his head in his hands. He started to sob, “How could anyone do this to my family? How am I going to tell my wife and daughter?” Malinus was hugging Reginald at this point and I came over to hug him as well. I spoke after a while, “I have something to confess now Reginald.” He looked up at me puzzled, “What is it?” I sighed, “I’ve already told Alexandra that this was possible. We, of course, now need to get a test going to confirm Meldon’s parentage. If I could get you and Talia to submit a test with the General at the Citadel tomorrow, I would appreciate your cooperation in the official but secret investigation.” Reginald nodded, “Of course, if it helps. I would love nothing more than to make my family whole again. If Meldon is my son, I want him back home.” I nodded at Malinus, he left the room and came back with an official birth document. Malinus handed it to Reginald, “You’ll need to fill this out once the parentage is confirmed. What did you intend on calling him?” Reginald clenched his hands together and looked down at them, “Ashton, it was my grandfather’s middle name. We called him Ash for short when Talia was pregnant with them.” Malinus patted his back, “That’s a great name. Please wait for word from His Majesty before submitting the paperwork to us. Okay?” Reginald nodded and rose from his seat then took the paper from my desk, “I hate to excuse myself from your presence but I have to gather my family to discuss this.” I nodded, “Of course, Reginald. If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.” Reginald nodded and walked out of the room, looking tired.
I looked at Malinus, “Have you found a way to summon Meldon to the castle discreetly?” Malinus nodded, “I took the liberty of pulling Derek aside when I was at Blackwood and asked him to bring young Meldon around some time this morning to the Headmaster’s office.” I asked, “And what did he say?” Malinus chuckled, “No problem Mal.” I laughed because it was Derek’s nature to make light of things and give people nicknames they never asked for. I made my way to the tower where I would meet with Alexandra for her morning class with the Headmaster. I was nervous because I had decided that I would reveal it was me who was the Headmaster. This would be done discreetly without Josiah being in the room. I walked into the reception area, “Josiah, I would like to teach Alexandra today alone.” Josiah rose from his seat and bowed, “As you will it, Your Majesty.” I stopped at the door, “I am also expecting The Chalshin and young Lord Maigny this morning to discuss a special project that I want them to do within the Citadel. Please ensure they are brought in right away.” Josiah wrote it down, “Would you be appearing as the Headmaster or the King, Your Majesty?” I replied, “King.” He nodded and went about his paperwork and I walked into my office. Alexandra was punctual as always and I was hiding behind my screen waiting for her when Josiah ushered her in. She sat and greeted me.
I waited until Josiah was out of the room and walked around the screen. She looked up at me and gasped, “Your Majesty, what are you doing here and where is the Headmaster?” I chuckled, “I am he and he is me. I like to keep a close watch on my young citizens so I had decided to become Headmaster when the last one stepped down. We don't need honorifics here when Josiah isn’t around either.” She rose from her seat and threw her notebook into the seat then hugged me, “I’m so glad to see you today, Lucien. Your letter was a shock to me and I saw how my father came home. He only told me that he knows that I know and we would talk about it when I got home. I believe he is talking to my mother about my brother now. How did he take the news?” I patted her back softly, “About as well as a father could take the news that one of his children was stolen out of their mother’s arms as a baby.” She sighed, “I didn’t take it well either. It breaks my heart to think of how he’s felt so out of place his entire life when he should have been with us. Have you told him yet?” I shook my head, “I’m expecting Derek to bring him here before classes which is why I will have to cut things short here.” She cupped my face, “Thank you for working so hard for us, Lucien. I know it comes from a place of love but I really do appreciate it. This explains why Derek left me with Jess to guard me.” I placed my hand over hers, “I know you aren’t touching me out of love but it feels good nonetheless. Could you keep your hand there for a moment longer?” She giggled, “Yes, of course. Oh, and to answer the first part of your letter…I have decided that I will work hard for you in the competition. Even if I cannot love you, I can still care for you as a wife if I were to be chosen.” She pulled her hand from my face and stepped back, “That being said, I believe I should get going so that you can prepare for Meldon.”
She picked up her notebook and walked towards the door and turned to look at me. I went behind my screen before she opened the door again. I spoke loudly to her, “Don’t forget, Ms. Batiste, that we will be discussing the Seely Realm tomorrow so come prepared.” She said, “Of course, sir. Looking forward to your lessons as usual.” She then shut the door and I was relieved to hear that she was okay but still displayed her trademark care for others instead of herself. Just then I heard a knock on the door and Josiah walked in, “Mr. Chalshin and Mr. Maigny are here, Your Majesty.” I put away the screen and nodded, “Good, let them in.” Josiah stepped aside and held out an arm to indicate to the two men that they could enter the office. I dismissed Josiah and asked them to sit. I sat at my desk and looked at Derek, “Before I get to the subject at hand, I need to get you both to vow an oath of discretion. What I am about to say is very delicate in nature and I don’t want any of this to leak out of this room. Can you do that?” Both men nodded and held out their fingers. I pricked both and placed the magical parchment underneath each finger to catch a single drop of blood. This was often done with soldiers when they went on secret missions. This oath would bind them to the secret until the bearer of the contract released it by burning it. The consequences would be the loss of something valuable to them. I secured the contract in my desk drawer and then spoke, “Okay, now that that is taken care of, I will now reveal why I called you here, Meldon.” Meldon looked over at Derek confused, “I thought you said we were summoned.” Derek shook his head, “Sorry for the deception Mel but I needed to get you away from your nosy father so I made it up.”
I cleared my throat, “We need to move on here. Meldon, I remember you saying on the retreat that you felt weird being part of your own family. Do you still feel that way?” He nodded, “Yes, nothing has changed. I just don’t get this desire for power all the time to the point of them doing suspicious things.” This caused me to stop my train of thought, “What do you mean suspicious?” He shrugged, “My father and sister were whispering in his study the other night and I saw her sneak out later in a robe with the hood over her head. It was weird.” I rubbed my chin, “We can talk about that later but for now I must give you this news that I have. I don’t quite know how to tell you this though.” Meldon scooted up at the tip of his chair, “You’re going to say I’m not a Maigny, aren’t you?” I gasped, “How did you know?” He shrugged, “I never felt a connection with them, especially Melody. You’d think that as her ‘twin’ that I would be especially connected to her but she seems like a stranger.” I nodded, “We believe you to be Ashton Batiste, who was pronounced dead upon birth before his younger sister Alexandra was born.” Meldon sighed, “That’s why we clicked immediately. It felt so natural being in her company but I had just figured it was her personality that put me at ease. So what do I do now? Would I go live in Blackwood then?” I shook my head, “Not quite, we have to investigate to make sure that you are actually Ashton Batiste. I also may have a mission for you that would require you to stay with the Maigny’s but I have to discuss with the General first.” He nodded, “Okay, so how do we confirm?” I looked out the window towards the Citadel, “You need to report to the Citadel for a parentage test. The sooner, the better. Do you think you can if I give you both a leave of absence for the day?” Derek nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty but what about Alexandra.” I smiled, “Jess is fully capable I think.” Derek smiled, “She sure is.” Meldon rose, “I want to find out soonest so I think we should head over there now.” Derek rose from his seat as well, “Easy there, Mel, you have to be dismissed first.” I smiled at them, “You are dismissed then. Oh and Meldon?” He turned to look at me, “Yes, Your Majesty?” I held out my hand to him, “Good luck.”
