...After some time, Maryal and Sally took showers.

  "I hope the sewers can handle this," the Prince muttered. "Dad!" Sally pouted. "Don't be mean!"

  He pulled her onto his lap. "I will never be mean to you, sweetheart," he said, patting her. "Who would be mean to his heart?"

  Sally chuckled. "You're making me blush, Dad." "That is my job."

  "And what am I?" Maryal said, her arms crossed.

  "You are his stomach," Sam said. "Always buzzing."

  The Prince laughed. "Good one, Sam."

  "I will kill you," Maryal said, running at Sam.

  The Prince was watching them... his family... bicker and play. He was missing something. Maybe someone. But he couldn't rem—

  "Daniel!" the Prince shouted.

  Everyone in the room looked at him. "I have been 'here' for so long," the Prince said.

  He closed his eyes.

  Daniel coughed.

  "Dad?" Sally said, confused.

  Frank handed him a glass of water. "He isn't 'Dad,' Sally," Sam said. "He's... his 'second half'."

  Sally looked at Daniel, her head tilted.

  Daniel raised his face. "What? Another teen?" He rubbed his face.

  "A teen?" Sally repeated. "Who is a teen? I am a fully grown woman!"

  Daniel looked at Frank. "I can guess she's the Prince's daughter, right?"

  "Right, kid," Frank said. "Ahh... want a beer?"

  "Sure," Daniel said. "That is the best thing I can have right now."

  Frank walked to the hotel mini-fridge and grabbed two beers.

  He tossed one to Daniel.

  Sally intercepted it, catching it in mid-air.

  "Hey," she said, her voice sharp. "My dad doesn't drink beer. He only drinks wine."

  Frank stared at her, rubbing his face. “Give him the beer kid.”

  "Who are you speaking to like that?" she sneered. She turned to Maryal. "Who is that, Maryal? Can I kill him?"

  "I'd like to," Maryal said,

  "but he's a friend of 'the other half'."

  "I have a name, you know," Daniel muttered.

  "Don't care," Maryal said.

  "Plus," Sam added, "Dad said we have to be nice to him."

  "Ahhh, fine," Sally said, rolling her eyes. She tossed the beer at Frank's chest.

  "Sorry, mister." She looked at Daniel.

  "But she didn't lie, Brother has never had a beer."

  "Maybe because it wasn't invented yet," Frank said.

  "Good point," the Prince whispered.

  Frank threw the other beer to Daniel.

  Daniel cracked it open, and—in front of the three confused royals—he just chugged it.

  He swallowed. And maybe, if he could have, he would have swallowed his own life with it.

  "So," Sally said, looking at the two queen beds.

  "Should we make beds on the floor?"

  "It would be so hard to sleep on, sis," Sam said.

  "Then we sleep on the bed together," Maryal said.

  "...And what about me?" Daniel asked. "The floor is your bed," Sam said, not looking at him.

  "You'll get used to it," Maryal added.

  The Prince laughed. "Welcome to the family, Daniel."

  "Didn't want to be part of it," Daniel thought, grabbing a thin hotel blanket.

  "Isn't that just sad? You didn't have a family.”

  “Be grateful. Now you have one."

  Daniel looked at the three of them bickering, he sighed. "...You know what? Maybe you're right."

  "I am always right."

  "Yeah, yeah. I know."

  Sally looked at Daniel, who was "muttering" to himself. She whispered to Sam. "Is he... crazy?"

  "No," Sam whispered back. "He's talking to Dad."

  "How?" "Long story, Sally. But Dad can hear us." Sally's eyes went wide.

  She walked over to Daniel, who was making a sad-looking pillow out of a towel. "Hey," she said.

  "Can... can you tell Father that I... I wanted him to give me a hug? Before he 'went'?”

  "Daniel. Can you give her a hug?"

  "...fine," Daniel thought. He turned to Sally. "He's... uh... he's sending you this."

  Daniel awkwardly hugged her. And then, his voice changed. “Good night, sweetheart."

  Sally's eyes filled with tears. "I missed you so much, Dad," she whispered.

  The night went on. Everyone was in bed. At midnight...

  "Hey, Dan. ...I want a woman."

  Daniel, his face buried in the carpet, whispered. "I know. I know."

  The next day, they all sat together for breakfast. And Lucy felt like she is in a royal court.

  Sophie, with her usual kindness, made them all breakfast. Frank sat with a coffee in his hand.

  He remembered. The world didn't revolve around this. "The cases," he whispered. He looked at Daniel. "Daniel. Can you spare me a second?"

  "Sure." They got to the balcony.

  "So," Daniel said, "what did you want to say?"

  "I've had some cases," Frank said, his voice a low rumble. "People dying in unusual ways. Like they were... trapped and killed."

  "Like they were in the Mirror World," Daniel said.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Exactly."

  "So," Frank said, looking back at the royal family arguing over toast,

  "do you think we have some leads here?"

  "No," Daniel said, shaking his head.

  "They're monsters on the outside, but... they won't kill for fun."

  "What makes you so sure?"

  "Maryal didn't kill those gang members until they tried to kidnap her."

  "Good point," the Prince said, leaning on the balcony wall.

  "What do you think, Prince?" Daniel asked the empty air.

  Frank sighed.

  "I think that some other Type 3s got out of the portal."

  "And?" Daniel said.

  “And... most of them do kill for fun. “So, yeah. That's your 'and'."

  "Some names would be helpful," Daniel said.

  "Let me think... Mmm... maybe 'S' got here." The prince said

  "Who is 'S'?" Daniel asked.

  "He was a semi-Type 4. He liked his job.”

  “Got a good promotion.”

  “He married a noblewoman... and I killed her."

  Daniel looked at him. "Wait... you killed her."

  "Yeah." Said the prince.

  "Why?"

  "Because she was a corrupted woman.”

  “She loved seeing children suffer."

  "Haaa?"

  "She was a mayor, just like Samly.”

  “But she just took every single penny that was allocated for the city... and put it in her pockets."

  "So... 'S' is trying to get revenge," Daniel said.

  "Nah. He became mad. Couldn't grasp words.”

  “He was in an asylum the last time I checked. Maybe he got out."

  "Plus... this is just a guess. If you want to have a real list of 'who would do that'... it's a 300-person list."

  "Great," Daniel said

  "So, it's 'S'," Frank said.

  "No," Daniel said. "he said it's just a guess."

  Frank sighed and pulled out a cigarette.

  He tried to light it... ...flick... The lighter was knocked out of his hand, flying over the balcony and into the street. Frank looked up.

  In the hotel room, Sam was pointing his finger at him.

  "Don't smoke near my dad's body," Sam said. "He was a healthy man."

  Frank sighed, rubbing his face.

  Daniel stared at Sam, who was still pointing his finger, looking proud.

  "So... your son has powers, too," Daniel said.

  "Yup. He's actually a Type 4."

  "What the heck?" Daniel whispered. "You say it like it's a normal thing."

  "It is. Most of the nobles who served the royal family have powers. But most of the time, they're Type 2 or Type 3 at best."

  "So... this kid is..."

  "A genius." "A genius," The Prince said Daniel together.

  "Yup. I am a genius, aren't I?" Sam said.

  Daniel ignored him.

  "So, what's going to happen after we get back? To... 'home'?" Said the Prince.

  "Never thought."

  "You're stupid. You need to find work."

  “And that is?"

  "Maybe... I could make cool figures, and you sell them."

  "Well... that actually is a good idea."

  "Yeah. Also, I do have to warn you.”

  “Speak to Maryal... nicely."

  "I know. She's your sister."

  "Not only that. She was born in the royal hour."

  "...Which means?"

  "She's a Type 5. But... she doesn't have full control over her emotions.”

  “And so her powers can leak.”

  “Yes, she can't break the world, but... she can kill a city in seconds."

  Daniel went pale, looking at Frank, who was silently drinking his coffee.

  "So... so we got a nuclear bomb with us," Daniel whispered.

  "You know, I watched a documentary about that.”

  “And as far as I can say... you humans here are messy. We kill in style."

  "...Well, both of you kill at the end."

  "Good point."

  They got to the airport. Sam, Sally, and Maryal were already on the plane.

  Frank and Daniel were the last to board.

  "Hey, Dan. Let me take the wheel,"

  "And why is that?"

  "I thought you trusted me." "Not completely."

  "Please. This time."

  "...Ah, fine." Daniel's eyes closed for a second, letting The Prince take control.

  The Prince sat down next to Frank.

  "Hey, Frank," the Prince said.

  "I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for Daniel.”

  “But... I can't make him or myself more of a weight on you.”

  “Plus, my sister and the 'kids' are here. So... it's a big no for me."

  Frank stared ahead. "Well. I don't really care.”

  “I didn't stay in that house for years. It has a lot of rooms.”

  “Food is there.”

  “I don't spend that much money, anyway."

  "No," the Prince insisted. "I can't be a burden on you."

  "Okay, fine," Frank said.

  "Then pay rent."

  "Okay. And the food?"

  "It's a gift," Frank said. "From me... to Daniel."

  The Prince looked at him.

  "...Strangely, you're having a normal conversation." Frank said.

  "When I'm in a good mood."

  "DAD! You're back!" Sam, who was in the row behind them, suddenly launched himself over the seat and hugged Daniel.

  Daniel, genuinely surprised, hugged him back. "Was a bit late, kid." Daniel said coughing

  Sam, who was still hugging him, felt the change.

  He let go, looking at Daniel confused.

  Sam's face fell. "...He's gone," Sam whispered, slumping back into his seat.

  Frank, who had watched the entire exchange, looked at Daniel.

  Daniel was silent.

  "You know..." Daniel thought.

  "What?"

  "I never asked. But that kid... he really loves you.”

  “All of them do. ...How did that happen?"

  "Well... you want a story to kill time?"

  "Sure," Daniel said. "Why not."

  "From the day I was born, Mark was the biggest servant in the castle. The man was 58 years old, and he still wasn't married."

  The prince was setting on his bed swinging his legs while mark tied it his clothes

  “Mark?"

  "Yes, Prince?"

  "Why aren't you married?"

  Mark paused. "I... I don't have time, Prince."

  "Well,”

  “that is because of us.”

  “So, since I am the Prince, I am giving you an order.”

  “You take a vacation. For a month. And find a wife."

  "But, Prince..."

  "You think because I am ten years old, I don't have authority?"

  "Absolutely not, Prince."

  "Then do as I say, Mark."

  "Mark married a good woman. He came back after the month a new man.”

  "But the problem was... he didn't think of what happens after.”

  “Nine months later, Sam was born."

  Mark broke a vase while cleaning.

  "What is going on, Mark?" the Prince asked. "Are you okay?"

  "It's nothing, Prince."

  "It doesn't seem like nothing to me."

  Mark sighed. "I... I have had a child. Born two days ago.”

  “And my wife... she is worried about me not coming home.”

  “As you know, Prince, I only go once a month. And I can't take him here with me."

  "Then let me raise him for you, Mark."

  Mark stopped cleaning. "I am sorry, Prince... but I can't."

  "And why is that?"

  “It's the only sensible thing to do. For you. And as payback for your loyalty."

  He stood up, walking around the servant. "I have money. I don't know what to do with it.”

  “I spend all day doing nothing in here, so it won't be a problem.”

  “And don't worry... my father won't know. The boy will live there, with his mother, but I will pay for everything."

  "I... I can't take that offer, Prince."

  "Well. That wasn't an offer. It was an order. Do you disagree with me?"

  Mark looked at the boy."No, Prince. I don't."

  "Great," the Prince said, turning away. "Then I shall go."

  I went to Mark's house. His wife looked at me with terror.

  She thought I was taking the child away.

  "Please, Prince," she begged, clutching the baby. "Don't take my child from me!”

  “Mark, say something!"

  "No," I said, raising a hand. "I won't do that." The prince stepped closer.

  “I’m just going to raise him.”

  “Teach him.”

  “But he is going to live with you.” “

  I will never take a child from his mother."

  He snapped my fingers. Servants came in, their arms full of fancy clothes, toys, and food.

  "Anything that boy needs are on me,"

  "As a gift for your new child.”

  “Don't worry, I am just paying Mark back for his loyalty."

  And a year went by. I came every other day.

  Then Sally was born. I gave the same order to Mark, but this time, he didn't hesitate

  When Sam was five years old, I started teaching him.

  Not just reading and writing. I taught him history. Tactics. Strategy.

  And I took him with me when I searched for suitable Type 3s.

  We were standing at the edge of an alley. "Dad," Sam said, tugging on my hand.

  He pointed at a kid sitting in the dirt, smoking a cigarette end he'd found.

  "Why don't you take this one, Dad? He looks broken."

  I knelt down to look Sam in the eye.

  "Smart point, my son,"

  "But there is another thing that you may haven’t notice.”

  “He is too broken." The Prince looked at the kid in the alley.

  "He is broken to the point that he just wants to stay like that.”

  “He doesn't want to change. He has no fire. Only ash."

  "Wow. You are smart."

  "No," I said, playing with Sam's hair. "I'm just lucky enough to have a son like you."

  The Prince stood up. "Let's go to the park."

  "Yay!" Sam cheered.

  The Prince got Sam back home. But the moment The Prince entered, little Sally ran at me, grabbing my leg.

  "Dad!" she pouted.

  "Why didn't you take me with you? I knew you went to the park."

  I looked down at her. "How did you know?"

  "Because," she said, pointing at my boots.

  "When you come on foot... it means you c-came from the park.”

  “But when you come with a carriage... it means you didn't go to the park."

  The Prince's face lit up. "That's my daughter!"

  He picked the little girl up and spun her around in a circle. She was chuckling, holding onto his shoulders.

  "Dad!" she giggled.

  "You are making me blush!"

  "That is my job."

  Sam, watching this, started hopping up and down around them. "Me! Dad! Circle me!"

  The Prince stopped spinning and put Sally down gently.

  He looked at Sam. "No," he said, walking away. "That's enough circling for one day."

  "After Lily died... I didn't want to stay in the palace. It was too cold. So, I went and stayed in Mark's house."

  "I stayed for six months. It was the only peace I ever knew."

  "But then... that piece of garbage, my father... he knew where I was.”

  "And the kids might be murdered... because of me."

  "I couldn't bear the thought."

  "So, I left them. I went back to the castle to draw his attention away. And... you know the rest."

  "...Wow," Daniel thought. "To be honest... you make me want to have a child."

  "Jealous, Daniel? Of your own brother?"

  "How can you—"

  "Shut up."

  Daniel smiled. "Just shut up, man."

  They got back home and settled in.

  Daniel went out for a walk to clear his head.

  He found a store with bright posters: "OTAKU WORLD."

  "What are the odds," Daniel muttered.

  "So... what is that?"

  The Prince pointed to a figure of a cute anime girl in a one-piece bikini.

  "A figure," Daniel thought.

  "Didn't you say you wanted to make figures?” Daniel said.

  "Yeah. But not for weirdos."

  "There are a lot of other characters. Like this one." Daniel looked at a samurai figure.

  "Oh. Looks nice. But why does he look like he lives in a black alley?"

  "You say what now?"

  "Yeah. The sword... I think it was called a 'Katana'?”

  “They always walk with those.”

  “It’s really big for no reason.”

  “A dagger would do the job.”

  “But... the style looks cool, to be honest."

  "Uhh... sir? Are you okay?" Daniel snapped out of it. A girl, was staring at him.

  "Yeah, I am fine."

  "You have been talking to this figure for quite some time now."

  "Oh. Sorry about that."

  "No worries. So... can I help you with something?"

  "So," Daniel said, straightening up.

  "I am actually a figure maker.”

  “I was asking if you need any custom figures. And such."

  "You... want to sell figures to us?"

  "Yeah. Exactly."

  "Okay... so I am actually just taking care of the shop.”

  “If you want, you can talk to the manager. He is in that room."

  She pointed at a white door covered in strange stickers. Daniel knocked. He heard some... 'noises.'

  "Yeah! What do you want, Ashley?" a voice shouted.

  "Someone wants to talk with you! And please... have your shirt on!"

  Daniel heard a chair crash and a person falling.

  The door opened.

  A 22-year-old man stood there. He had black bags under his eyes bigger than trash bags, a half-buttoned shirt, and trousers that looked like he'd slept in them.

  "Yes? How can I help you?"

  "Let's go, Daniel. We won't work with him.”

  “He is filth." Daniel ignored him. "So, I was just talking with Ashley about how I want to make custom figures for you."

  "Ah, okay. So... you have a prototype?"

  "Yeah. It's just outside. One sec."

  Daniel walked out of the shop. "Make something cool, man," Daniel thought.

  "I will give you a surprise."

  Glass swirled in Daniel's hand. A figure formed.

  "Hope it's a good one... what the—"

  "So... that 'teen' manager was watching this girl on that thing you called a monitor.”

  “So, I thought it would be cool to make her."

  "Yeah, the girl is cool, but... the clothes?”

  “That's a man's shirt and trousers."

  "You wanted me to make those weird figures?"

  "No, of course not! But like... make her dress normally!"

  "Well. 'Normally' for me is a dress. Or pants."

  "Well... that would have been better than this."

  Daniel walked back in and handed the figure to the manager.

  "M-m-my god..." he whispered.

  "It's... you really are an artist."

  He held it up to the light, his hand was shacking "What have my eyes seen just now? It is better than Starry Night.”

  “The details! The shirt! It's making a good case about how a woman and a man are alike... the duality of the soul..."

  He continued saying things like that for 15 minutes.

  "How much do you want for the figure?"

  "Ha... I don't know. 50, I think?"

  "50 dollars?"

  "For this masterpiece? I can't. My morals can't let me. It's 200 at least.”

  “But I don't have that kind of money right now... so would 100 be cool with you?"

  "Okay."

  "Thank you, sir! Bring as much as you can from those.”

  “The customers are going to be delighted."

  Daniel walked out, holding the cash.

  The Prince kept talking about how much of a genius he was.

  But Daniel was looking at one thing.

  The money.

  "Thanks, Prince," Daniel thought.

  "What?"

  "Thanks for getting us some money. And dignity."

  "No thanks on duty, bro."

  The light of the day faded into the orange glow of streetlamps.

  Daniel walked home, the money in his pocket feeling heavier than it was.

  "I told you. You just couldn't feel it at first. The pride."

  Daniel smiled, looking at his own reflection in a shop window.

  "I guess you were right."

  They walked on. For the people passing by—it was just an okay life. A series of grey days.

  But for Daniel... His life wasn't grey anymore. His life was a canvas. And Leonardo da Vinci... was painting on it.

  The End of [Act II]

  I hope you enjoyed the ride.