Creature!? thought Aslan, shocked by the revelation."But we've defended well against them this past year, so you have nothing to worry about, my son," the emperor said, smiling reassuringly."Rest easy, my son. Not even their scent will reach you as long as I live."
The adults in my past life said the same—that the monsters wouldn't get to me, that I would be safe. And yet all of it was nothing but lies, wasn't it? Aslan thought, memories creeping in like shadows. They came, promising to help, offering outstretched hands. But that help never came. Each hope ended in heartbreak, each promise shattered like glass. Eventually, there was nothing left to break—and the hope died. Is there anything more undoing than shattered salvation? Anything more cruel? he thought.
The emperor glanced at his son, who sat nestled securely within his embrace. He noticed the look in the child's eyes—filled with so much pain—and yet he couldn't understand it.
How could a boy just born possess such a gaze, as if he had lived a lifetime observing the ugliness of the world? The look reminded him of himself as a young boy, before he had met the empress. Life then had been far from happy, filled with dread and hopelessness. Having been born during a time of war, he had witnessed the dark side of humanity.
He thought he would never see light again. Yet then the empress came, reminding him that even in the darkest pit of hell, light could persist. I hope you won't grow up like me, my son. I hope you will know nothing but love—something I never got to have, the emperor thought, still embracing Aslan in his arms.
Noon arrived, and Aslan's little outing with the emperor came to an end. The emperor promptly returned him to his room before departing for his duties. Thus, Aslan was left alone, monitored by the castle servants. He took the time to digest the information he had received that day.
So, in this world, monsters exist, and the country I'm in is apparently quite large. Honestly, the emperor's outing really helped me understand the world I'm in. But something else came to mind. The letters in this world don't seem to be alphabetic, yet they speak English. Could it be that this world's writing system differs from the one we had back on Earth? That means I'd have to learn spelling again! Ugh, the strange voice is so inconsiderate—sending me here not only without my consent but also leaving me to learn from scratch again, Aslan thought, slightly annoyed by his current predicament.
"Tup tup," a sound came from the door leading into his room.
The palace servant opened the door, and lo, the person knocking was none other than the Chancellor. "Is His Majesty here?" the Chancellor asked the servant.
"His Majesty has gone to his studies to tend to crown duties. He left earlier with the Minister of Finance," the servant replied.
"Oh, I thought he was here.""Is there anything more, milord?" said the servant."No, you can go now, then," Chancellor Orvill said.
Thus, the servant left the room, leaving Aslan and the Chancellor."Oh, hi little one! I'm your uncle! Well, not quite, actually. The King isn't my brother, but we do share some ties. You can call it friendship," he said.
"Still can't believe that idiot's now a father. I still remember him from years ago. You know... your father, before meeting your mother, was a very angry man. Really, he was not fun to work with. I'd be the only one who could stand before him and not piss myself," the Chancellor said, smiling slightly. He reached for a chair in the corner of the room, placing it by the side of Aslan's crib.Ah, great, another story time, thought Aslan. This person is just the same as the emperor—perhaps with a little bit more brain cells.
He sat down and then said, "You know, when I first met your father, he was like a corpse. People would be afraid just by looking at him—except me, of course. But honestly, behind that angry-looking guy, he's quite generous. Before he took the throne, corruption was like a 'Hail Mary' throughout the empire. Yet in not even two weeks, he had cleaned it all up with his own hand. Maybe this is why I work for him—of course, also the pay."
"Damn, I must be crazy talking to a newborn baby. It's not like you'll understand, either. Honestly, seeing that smug face every day is tiring—like, if that guy could, he would tell every human alive that he now has a son," the Chancellor added.
The emperor is that proud of having me? Aslan thought, squinting his eyebrows.
After a while, the Chancellor promptly left the prince's bedroom, perhaps heading to the emperor's studies, but Aslan couldn't be sure. The atmosphere was very peaceful. It felt cold but not too cold, and the noise was next to none.
I guess even people as powerful as the emperor have their own backstories and problems. But in spite of it, the emperor didn't even lose hope. I can't even dream of being like that—not even in my wildest dreams. Compared to him, I'm just an ant—not even worth getting stomped on, Aslan thought while staring at the palace ceiling.
The emperor can manage all of that, but I can barely even get a hold of myself. My whole life was just being a rug used by one person, devoid of any individual value. Moreover, even if my parents had been alive, things would not be so different after all. Life will come in different ways, and just as I despaired when living with my uncle, I would probably despair then too.
Yet, would it not be nice to just have the power to keep on hoping? To keep on having that push, to keep on waiting for the days ahead—to not concede to the unfairness of life, to accept it? But even I know that such a thing doesn't exist—not for me.