Sirius was standing beside me when our interrogation started. Well, it was a conversation, sure, but it did feel like interrogation to me. I had started regretting not asking Sirius about his father and what kind of man he was. 

“Why were you wounded?” The Lord asked again in a booming voice. Does he speak like that in his bedroom as well? Various thoughts were springing in my mind as my mind raced to give an appropriate answer. I couldn’t tell him the truth regarding that stranger and me being the so-called chosen one.

“I don’t remember, My Lord.”

The Lord looked at me, intrigued by my answer. He tilted his head slightly as he looked at me. I was quite surprised actually. I had started thinking that this man was probably one of the statues who came to life. He sat straight, with no movement and no emotion on his face. Tilting of his head was the only movement I had seen him do. 

“What do you remember then?”

“I only remember my name, My Lord. But the other memories seem hazy and I can’t quite recall them.”

The Lord stared at me for a while before turning his gaze away to his wife. The Lady had been looking at me intently all this time, as if to peer away the curtain of secrecy that I had deliberately created. Anyway, the impression this couple gave me was quite strange. 

“Mehr, was it?”

The lady asked with a gentle tone, but her eyes stayed inquisitive. I nodded slightly to provide the affirmation. The corners of her lips went up as she asked another question.

“You might not know this, Mehr, but this palace and all the nearby lands have a barrier around it. And I was the one who created it. No one, living or dead, can enter the premises without my permission.”

The Lady leaned a bit forward as she placed her head on her palm. Her eyes glimmered a bit as she looked at me.

“So Mehr, the one who doesn't remember anything, would you have any idea as to how you ended up inside?” 

I could feel the temperature rise in the environment as the gazes of everyone fell over me. While some were still curious, many had already turned hostile. I could feel the killing intent rise slowly as sweat started dripping down my neck. I couldn’t think straight. I had been in various wars and battlefields, felt killing intent far stronger than one here. Yet this one was making me feel uncomfortable. My mind, my greatest weapon, had stopped working momentarily. The dread that had been gradually creeping up my body had made it up to my neck. I needed to say something. I needed to think. 

Just as my mind had started slowing down, I saw something from the corner of my eye. Sirius had stepped forward and was standing between me and his parents. I could see his hands folded back as he stood straight with his head held high. The killing intent targeted at me had subsided completely as the heads of the people on either side were bowing slightly.

“He has already said that he doesn’t remember anything. Father, Mother, I apologise for speaking out of order but I think we should give him some time. He will surely remember when some time has passed.”

I was quite astonished to see that his parents were seriously considering this issue, while all other people sat with their heads slightly bowed. The only person who was still standing straight while looking at me was Grandpa Blake. He was still quite curious about me as I noticed his eyes peeking through his glasses to look at me. 

The Lady had leaned back in her seat and looked at Sirius and I amusingly. That was when I heard the booming voice of the Lord again. 

“Do you have a family?”

Are you asking me? Why don't you just address me with my name?

“I don’t know, My Lord. I don’t think I do.”

The Lord looked at me with the same stoic face as he wore the entire time. He stood up from his seat which prompted everyone to stand up as well. Everyone, people behind the balustrade and The Lady as well. 

“Blake.” The Lord said in the same booming voice of his. The old butler, Grandpa Blake stepped forward and bowed slightly as he waited for the orders.

“Prepare a room for… our guest. Make sure he is taken care of well.”

Taken care of… Oi, that’s not how you say ‘well fed’. What if this former Royal Knight misinterprets and does something drastic. You might not care, but I do. This is my second chance! I need to live a long and good life!

As I was consoling myself in my thoughts, Grandpa Blake came to us and gestured to us to follow him. Sirius also hopped along as I followed the old man. It was quite shocking to see Sirius being heroic, when I had basically replaced him with a stupid bird in my mind. 

Also, the way everyone reacted was extremely strange. People never bowed when The Lord and The Lady spoke. But the entire hall went silent as soon as Sirius stepped forward. 

Why could I not think straight in that critical situation? Why did everyone bow to Sirius? Who was the stranger who called himself the ghost of the past? Why am I in this world? There has to be a reason for it, right?

...Ahh. I’m missing a lot of pieces to this puzzle.

**************

*Blake Elmare’s POV*

“My Lord! We can’t possibly have a child of unknown origin near Young Master!”

“Please reconsider!”

“What if he was sent by the cult of old gods?”

“Lord Erwin! Lady Maria!”

The blabber of these wretched fools was unceasing. Their plea of ‘saving the Young Master from any harm’ fell on deaf ears. Their greed filled eyes were shaken after a long time, and it was very soothing to my heart. And I’m sure, My Lord and My Lady were enjoying this too. After all, if these maggots could, they would have even sucked the Young Master of his destiny. 

A small child, of the same age as our Young Master, had suddenly shown up near the palace. Even Lady Maria couldn’t quite understand how this had happened. A child had breached the barrier of highest order, that she had personally created. I could imagine how shocked she would have been. Even though we were somewhat prepared for it….

I could hear the chatter soften considerably as I entered the room. These maggots were still not used to my presence behind Lord Erwin Frye even after all these years. I still remember their faces when they learned that I had retired as a Royal Knight to serve My Lord and Lady as their butler. Some even thought that they could take advantage of the fact that I was technically a butler under the House of Frye. 

Well, these sorts of misunderstandings don't last long, just like the arms of ones who dared to order me around.

I moved swiftly along as I picked up the teacups and kettle. I poured some before handing the teacups to the Lord and Lady. 

“Thank you, Ser Blake.” Lady Maria smiled as she took the teacup from my hand while Lord Erwin nodded slightly. My Lady had still not stopped calling me by my title even after all these years had passed. My Lord never truly cared for the titles and such. In his eyes, even the throne of Ruvonne was nothing but a slightly exaggerated seat. He knew that the throne people saw was nothing compared to the power behind it. 

“Blake. What do you think we should do?” Lord Erwin said with his voice that reached every ear in this grand living room. I could see certain eyes opening wide in shock while some people turned their necks to me so fast that I could picture them snapping. The answer was already decided the day Young Master was born. The first part of the prophecy was being fulfilled today. Only My Lord, Lady and I knew about it though. My Lord knew that the answer would burn a fire under these maggots, and that was exactly why he was doing this. He was enjoying himself at this moment. 

“We should let the one called Mehr live, My Lord. Not only that, we should let Young Master befriend him as well. After all, the Young Master doesn’t have anyone close to his age to interact with.”