I'm Trapped Inside a Prince as the Most Powerful Entity

Eric was thoroughly confused by his father’s sudden statement. It felt like another quick change in plans. "But Father," he protested. His brow furrowed with worry. He didn’t understand.

"The Academy admissions the tests and interviews are a week away from now. If we go back to Estoria now it might take us too long to return here to the Empire in time for the Academy. It took us a whole week of hard travel just to get here from our kingdom."

The thought of missing this hard-won opportunity this chance to go to the famous United Academy an opportunity that had been literally granted to him by the Emperor himself filled Eric with a fresh wave of anxiety. He didn’t want to lose it.

King Noor offered a gentle reassuring smile to his son. He could see the worry on Eric’s face.

"When did I say that we are all going back to Estoria Eric?" he countered softly his voice kind. "I merely said that I am returning to the kingdom. You and Alina will stay here."

Eric was stunned into silence for a moment. His mind struggled to process this new development this unexpected turn of events. His father was leaving? Leaving him here?

"But... Father..." he began to say his voice laced with a mixture of confusion and a dawning sense of unease.

The thought of being left alone in this vast intimidating Empire without his father’s guidance and protection was a little scary.

Before Eric could complete his sentence before he could voice his worries King Noor interrupted him. His voice was firm yet it was also very kind.

"Eric," he said his gaze steady and filled with a quiet pride as he looked at his son "you are a grown man now. You are not a child anymore. And I have complete faith in you. I trust you completely. I trust that you will do well at the Academy. I believe you will graduate with honors and more importantly I trust that you will be of great service to our kingdom Estoria in the future. Our kingdom as you know is not in the best of situations right now. It needs strong and capable people like you."

He then turned his gaze to Alina. She had been listening to their exchange quietly with a mixture of surprise and apprehension on her face.

"Alina," King Noor said his tone serious but not unkind "I have complete trust in you as well. You have shown great courage and loyalty. Therefore I am leaving Eric in your care. Looking after Eric making sure he is safe and well will be your responsibility while he is here at the Academy."

Alina was quite taken aback by this sudden bestowal of responsibility. The King was trusting her with his son. She wanted to say something. Perhaps she wanted to voice her own uncertainties her doubts about her ability to manage such a difficult task.

Especially given Eric’s... other half Adam the powerful and sometimes dangerous personality within him. But standing there before King Noor a man she deeply respected and admired and hearing the earnestness the sincerity in his request she found herself unable to refuse.

She couldn’t say no.

She took a deep breath trying to project a confidence she didn’t entirely feel.

She nodded her head slowly. Internally she wasn’t sure if she could truly handle this big responsibility but she knew she would try her very best.

Then an idea suddenly sparked in Alina’s mind. A possible solution to one of their problems.

"My Lord," she said her voice gaining a touch more assurance a little more confidence "my special power the one I told you about it could be of use for your journey back to Estoria. I can teleport you instantly from here in the Empire directly to our kingdom’s capital city. I can even send you straight to your palace. Before when we were coming here I knew nothing of the Empire."

"I had never seen it with my own eyes so my special ability wouldn’t have worked for such a long-distance unfamiliar jump. It needs a visual connection or a strong memory. But now that I have seen the Empire and I have also seen the Imperial Palace here I am certain I can send you back quickly and safely."

Eric who had been feeling a growing sense of confusion and a slight gnawing fear at the thought of his father abruptly leaving him alone in this powerful and potentially hostile land felt a surge of relief at Alina’s words.

He understood his father’s need to return to their troubled kingdom as soon as possible.

But the prospect of a week-long solitary journey back for his father through dangerous lands followed by another week for Eric and Alina to travel back to the Academy later if they all went back to Estoria together had been a daunting thought. It would have been very risky.

"Father," Eric said genuinely impressed by Alina’s idea and the clever solution it offered "I think Alina is right. This could really work. It would be much faster and safer for you."

King Noor listened to Alina’s proposal carefully. Then he fell silent for a few moments considering the implications. The speed and the safety of such a return were undeniable advantages.

Especially given the current unrest and problems in his kingdom he needed to get back quickly. Finally he nodded his head accepting her offer. "Alright then," he declared.

"That is a good plan. I will meet with both of you this evening. For now you should remain in your assigned dormitories the rooms they have given you here within the Imperial Palace grounds"

"I will go and make all the necessary arrangements for both of you for your stay at the Academy and for your fees. I will return by evening. After I have settled everything for you I will depart for Estoria using Alina’s ability."

As King Noor finished speaking Eric and Alina exchanged a nervous glance. The reality of the situation was beginning to sink in. Eric was being left behind in the powerful Empire.

Alina was being entrusted with his well-being a huge responsibility. And the King was returning to Estoria to face an unknown crisis possibly danger. It was a lot to take in.

King Noor sensing their apprehension their unspoken worries offered them another reassuring smile. He tried to look confident for them. He then turned and spoke quietly to the two Imperial soldiers who were still escorting them.

The soldiers listened intently to what the King said.

Then they looked at each other briefly before bowing their heads respectfully to King Noor.

They then began to lead King Noor away presumably to make his own preparations for his imminent and now unexpectedly swift departure from the Empire.

Eric and Alina watched him go.

A mixture of trepidation fear for the future and a burgeoning a growing sense of responsibility for each other and for what lay ahead settled upon them. They were on their own now in a way.