Chapter 25

Soon enough the orphanage staff created two separated groups of desks. One side for the Eastern Empire children and the other for the born and raised Kaedman Empire. The kids piled in and sat in seats, their ages ranging from 11-13, no younger and no older. It was the age in which most kids went to apprenticeships and schools in this worlds.

"Hello kids, this exam is a very special exam", Alexis spoke reading off the script Hector had helped her write in the carriage, "If you do well in it you will have the chance to hone your skills in school or in work", Alexis noticed how the Kaedmen kids faces brightened up and couldn't help a chuckle. Understandably, the Eastern Empire children had a translator and their faces didn't change as much at the words. They were lifeless. Empty.

Alexis frowned but continued, "It's an hour and a half long starting from when I say so. We tolerate no cheating. Any cheating and you won't have the chance to reap the benefits of a good grade. Now before you give up, this exam isn't biased to people who get good grades in all subjects, even if you perform well in just one, you have a chance".

She signalled for the staff to give out the exams.

"Paper should be faced upside down until I say otherwise", she warned and finally the papers were placed, the children were given pens and looked ready to write, then she spoke. "Children from the Kaedman Empire begin, children from the Eastern Empire must wait until I perform a translating spell".

Hector nodded at her as she moved to stand in front of the children. A nervous smile flittered on her face as the children stared curiously at her.

"Ready?" Hector seemed slightly nervous when he asked.

"Yep". Was the unconvincing answer he received.

"Breath in", Hector started, "now hold that breath in. Envision a two headed bird, one head an eagle and another an owl, now imagine it fly, soar and then gently look at the children as it descends onto the desk. It sinks deeper into the desk until it disappears completely, sinking in the ground", he paused to glance at girl who had shut her eyes as she imagined, "done?" He asked and got a nod, smiling he continued, "now keep hold of that breath and step back three times while releasing it".

Alexis did her best to follow through and not question the weirdness of the tasks. When she finished with sweat on neck from nerves Hector made sure to add.

"It's not something a beginner could do on their first try. We will have to start the exam and see whether it worked or not" His voice had a tone that seemed to reassure her that if  anything went wrong, she shouldn't feel bad, Alexis smiled wryly back to him in return and turned to the kids.

"Please start".

They opened the books and started writing to their astonishment and Alexis' face beamed.

"They can read! They can read!" She squealed in excitement and then the world started spinning. She felt her steps falter backwards and she saw the ceiling become more upright.

Then she saw Hectors face come into her field of view as his arms circled her. She suddenly realised she was in the midst of falling down.

"Oh..."

"That task takes a lot of mana so most people tend to not practice it" Hector said and she finally balanced herself up, "I'm surprised you haven't fallen asleep, that means you have quite a bit of mana in there, and that explains why you were picked by the king". Hector gave a delighted smile and for once Alexis saw an emotion on his face aside from that polite mask he wore. It was excitement. Though she didn't understand why, she was just glad he could relax around her a bit.

"Speaking of that scum- Emperor, where is he?" She came to the assumption he was in the carriage shortly after she asked.

The two didn't realise Alastair had started to wander around the orphanage when they entered the room. He walked passed the bedrooms and offices and soon came to a canteen.

The Kaedman younger kids were sitting down, gulping down a healthy amount of food and segregated by a table in the corner, the Eastern Empire children sat together different ages all jammed on a table. They looked starved, cheeks gaunt and yet there was a substantial amount of food before them, they grabbed at it as if they were starved.

The Emperor quickly put two and two together as he realised it was just for show. Alexis' act of sympathy for the Eastern Empire children must've scared them. He felt an odd feeling when he remembered how she stood up for the children. He had felt anything like it before. It was like regret mixed with such strange feelings he should never feel towards someone and yet, at that moment he felt them. Ignoring it, he continued to stare at the children.

A young girl, barely two years old it seemed, struggled with her spoon and despite her lack of height she still tried to eat, until after a straight minute, when her face frowned with frustration and she banged the table with small fists.

His highness went over to her while she struggled, lips curled in amusement, by the time she gave up he was standing behind her with a frown.

"You shouldn't give up so soon".

He grabbed her spoon filling it with a small amount of the porridge and neared it by her surprised face.

Regardless of the stranger who fed her, she opened her mouth and gladly accepted the spoon. A smile lit her thin face and soon she took bite after bite and his highness obediently complied every time she whined for another bite.

Her smiles seemed to warm his heart and slowly, an unconscious smile was on his face.

Sarah was an apprentice chef at the orphanage and occasionally came to the canteen for some of the spare spices that ran out in the kitchen. She came to the canteen for those exact reasons that day and came upon a shocking scene.

She was already informed that his highness was in the orphanage and that he ordered them to let him go incognito, but when she found him feeding a young girl with a soft smile on his face, she was stunned. Soon the other workers who were angered at their lack of spices went to get them themselves.

They also found themselves standing in shock behind Sarah, they were staring in wonder at the violent king obediently feeding a docile child with a heart warming smile on his face.

And somewhere in their brain a strange thought popped as they stared at the extremely beautiful and kind looking man.

Maybe, just maybe, those rumours of a cruel, heartless and tyrant king were ever so slightly... far-fetched.