Cage had managed a feat unknown to mankind. With his story, he had rendered Joey, former Lord of Ashley, speechless. He kept staring, his mouth pressed into a thin line. In his own portrait on the sofa, William looked gobsmacked as well.

"How?" Joey finally asked. "How could so much happen? While you were cursed, it seemed as if time was standing still, and now..." He lowered his gaze. "And now, for the first time, I realize that I'm not alive anymore."

Cage shuddered at his words, too aware that he was the reason for Joey's untimely demise. His and William's both. "I know it's strange. It's strange for me to. You're right. Time did seem to stand still for seven years."

"And Kat..." William whispered. "I can't believe that sweet girl is the heir of Endir."

"Well, she is." Cage rubbed his chest, once again aware of the phantom pain inside him which filled the place his love for Kat should have. "And I slayed Fherras and am now king of Iride."

"You were always supposed to be the king of Iride," Joey said, his tone more serious than Cage had ever heard it. "That throne never belonged to Fherras."

True, but as he'd come to realize, irrelevant. "It doesn't matter. The people don't see it that way. We're on the brink of war and I have to waste time with a coronation."

"Cage..." Joey heaved a deep sigh. "You were always so headstrong."

"Says you! The man who threw himself off a ship because he thought he might have seen a mermaid."

Joey chuckled at this. "Well, now you have and they're apparently as lovely as I'd pictured them to be." His demeanor changed, and the same uncharacteristic sadness overtook him. "Ah, my friend, you need so much help and I can't be there for you."

"You already are. The mere fact that I can still talk to you..."

"We're never going to discuss how you managed to do that, are we? Trap our essence in these portraits?"

"I think that was Cecille, not me. My memory from those first days with the curse is very fuzzy." And it was a blessing. All the details of him killing the people he cared for were blurred at best. "Either way, you can still advise me."

"You'll need strong men to fight," William said.

"I have enough of those." A lie, since he still hadn't replaced the missing members of his royal guard.

"Oh, please," Joey said with an eye roll. "We know you're surrounded by idiots. That hasn't changed."

Cage really wished Joey and William were still alive, too. It felt so bitter to be in the Grand Palace talking to his friends without them actually being there. When he was cursed in Darkwood, he had created an alternate reality in which it made sense for Joey and William to be dead, for himself to be sulky and rude. It wasn't the case anymore. He was out in the open and everything that had become his new normal while secluded now felt alien.

"I have to admit I'm a little jealous that you managed to make new friends," Joey muttered.

This drew a bitter laugh out of Cage. "Things would've been much different if I hadn't been cursed, my friend. No one could have replaced you. As it is... I'm lucky to find people who can stand me."

"I don't think you've lost your charisma."

"Didn't you say I lacked all social graces now?"

"And yet, you are king."

They felt silent after that, Cage squirming in his seat. Nothing was how it used to be in their youth when they went on adventures at sea, challenging every obstacle in their path. When William tried to teach them a bit of sense. Now Joey was dead and he had to rely on words rather than actions.

"I hate this so much," he muttered. He was free to say it now because, unlike Jazz, Joey wouldn't scowl at him and remind him that he had work to do.

"You know," Joey said, "Ever since I found out who you really are, I remember always wondering how you could just stand by and let your family treat you the way they did."

"I was drunk and stupid," Cage muttered. "I never should've told you."

"It's good that you did," William pointed out. "Not having someone who knew would have driven you insane."

"You knew."

William sighed. "That's because I'm old and I remember the times before we closed the borders. Now that you mentioned that our late king might have been using magic, it explains why everyone forgot the truth. I wasn't in Iride for the coronation, so maybe that is why my memory remained untouched."

"I can't believe he cursed us all," Joey mumbled.

It was hard for Cage to believe, too, but it explained everything. But the spell, whatever it had been, was not broken, so he had a lot of convincing to do. "I can't lift it, though."

"You don't have to," William said. "Your true identity being hidden doesn't need to be explained by magic. He just wanted you out of the way. People forget, and it's been over thirty years. All you have to do is tell the truth."

"Easier said than done when everyone expected Ferdinand to be king."

"I never understood that," Joey said. " How you never seemed to crave the spot that was rightfully yours. You were always content to let Ferdinand take the throne."

"He would've made a great king!"

"That's true. But..." Joey hesitated, looking at him with the same uncharacteristic seriousness. "What if you will, too? You never let yourself consider it because you thought you could never have it. Maybe it's time to change that state of mind."

The words were like spears piercing his protective bubble. Joey knew him well and he was right. Cage had refused to consider himself even a potential king because he knew he would never be. And now, he didn't want to. Not even now when he was.

His friend's words, however, resonated with what he'd been thinking himself. That he had a duty to try and do better now that he was in the position to do so.

"I know what you're going to say," Joey said before he could open his mouth. "And I understand that it's very hard to shift your perspective. But since you're already here, why not enjoy it?"

"Enjoy it?" Using it was one thing, but that sounded like blasphemy.

"You are not being punished, Kale," William said, his voice soft. "You're so used to always being set aside, of not being worthy, that you're not seeing this for what it is. An opportunity to do better. To be better. To save your kingdom."

He wanted to point out that it wasn't his kingdom, that he'd merely taken the crown because there was no one else who could, but stopped himself.

It was exactly William's point. He was treating all this like a punishment for his actions, so he didn't deserve to enjoy it. Any positive feeling towards what he had to do would serve only as a justification for his actions.

Disrespect towards Ferdinand's fate, acceptance of the murder he'd committed when he'd slain Fherras. Treason towards the secret he had vowed to keep.

His entire life, he had to fight his frustration and convince himself that he didn't truly want his birthright. His fate was preferable. There was no point complaining because there was no way he could change what had happened.

He'd drilled other people's denial so hard into his being that he now felt guilty for taking what was rightfully his even if no one would have wanted to face what he was now.

"You don't have to feel guilty, Kale," Joey said, his voice low. "You did everything for them. You even changed your name."

"Fuck," he breathed. Joey was right.

He stood and began pacing, his mind and heart both struggling to get past a wall he had built so well for himself. His entire life, he'd felt like an outsider, an intruder, someone who didn't truly belong anywhere. Not even in the navy, because he was there in part for his mother to make up for everything she'd taken away from him. He'd never truly had control over his fate, over anything.

And then, he'd been cursed, met Kat, and for the first time in his life, things made sense. She loved him for him, without knowing who he truly was, without caring and without judging him for his lineage. She'd judged him solely for his actions.

"You need to do this anyway," Joey pressed on. "Might as well not feel like an impostor. That throne is yours, Kale. And if Fherras changed the narrative, you can change it back."

"You're right, I know you're right." He stopped pacing and turned to the paintings. "I can't keep running away from this."

"That's a good lad," William said with a nod. "This is your destiny and you must grab it by the horns."

"Balls," Joey interjected.

Cage let out a laugh. There was still a storm raging inside him, but this time, it at least seemed to go in a productive direction. This, of course meant that there were issues that needed his immediate attention.

"Why didn't Keleigh want to come?" he asked.

Joey gave a sad smile. "She doesn't believe she belongs in the Grand Palace. To be fair, she wouldn't feel comfortable here, especially given her appearance."

"Is she Endirian?"

Joey's mouth twisted into a snarl. "No, but she does come from the border villages, and with the upcoming war you've mentioned, that will be o problem. Furthermore, without Kat, she has no friends here."

Cage was aware that she also didn't have friends in Darkwood, but he conceded the point. He and Keleigh had struck a truce, but Joey's former fiancée had little love for him seeing as he'd killed Joey.

"What about Joshua?" he asked.

Joey and William exchanged glances. "That is a bit more complicated," William finally said. "Malcom was tempted to take him along, but since you didn't outright order it, he didn't. He also didn't give out any information about Kat, even if that poor man asked."

How would Joshua feel if he found out what happened? Cage shook the thought away. "I know I didn't give out any orders. It's mainly because I don't know what to do about him."

"You do know what to do," Joey pointed out. "You just don't like it."

"You need to get him here," William said. "You can't afford Kat getting to him first."

That all sounded so strange, the fact that he had to outmaneuver Kat in a game of strategy. He knew she was smart and resourceful, so he wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating her. William was right. He needed to seize this advantage while he could. Securing Joshua didn't mean he'd be treated poorly. That man had almost been his father-in-law. The thought stung.

"You're right, I need to get on that right away. Now, about the coronation--" His words died in his throat when he realized that both portraits had frozen in unnatural positions. The air inside the room had subtly changed.

It was for the first time Cage had noticed this, but he was sure he was sensing magic nearby. He frowned and glanced around, but the room appeared empty.

"Alright, where are you?"

⚜⚜⚜

Poor Cage and his deeply ingrained issues. He never let himself even think that the throne was his and now that's biting him in the butt. Good thing Joey and William are there to set him straight. I know you missed them!

I know this part of the chapter doesn't have anything to do with the title, but lo and behold, someone is showing up... And you might finally find out why all of this crazy shit is happening to poor Cage.

Stick around for the story and don't forget to vote and comment for support.