Chapter 9
Caspian Missing?
Alaric rushed to his bedroom, his eyes scanning the scene before him. Sheets trailed from the bed down to the downstairs window. Had Caspian really risked leaping from the second floor to follow Galatea? His stomach churned with fear.
“Search!” Alaric barked, his voice sharp with command. “I want everyone on this!”
Galatea had just left; Caspian couldn’t have gone far.
Meanwhile, Harry, who had been hiding in the bushes, waited for the right moment. As the commotion settled, he cautiously stepped out. Where had his mother and the man gone?
Just as Harry prepared to call out for his mother, a voice rang out behind him.
“Mr. Knight, we found Caspian!”
Before Harry could react, a flurry of maids rushed toward him. His confusion deepened.
Are they talking about me? Caspian?
Alaric stormed over, his stern face contorted with anger. “Caspian, this is completely unacceptable!”
Harry’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Caspian, you can’t just run off like that. It’s too dangerous!” Liona, equally terrified, had found an empty bedroom. “You can’t go wandering off again.”
“Are you looking for me?” Harry asked, completely baffled.
“Of course, we’re looking for you, Caspian,” Liona replied, eyeing his unfamiliar clothes. “When did you get these? I’ve never seen them before.”
“Did you prepare this to run away from home?” Alaric’s tone grew colder, his suspicion growing.
“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harry replied, bewildered. “I’m not Caspian. I don’t know you. I need to get home to my mom before I get caught again.”
After his confession, Harry turned to leave, but before he could take more than a couple of steps, Alaric scooped him up effortlessly.
“You’re trying to kill me with worry, aren’t you?” Alaric was furious, but fear for Caspian’s health kept him from losing his temper entirely. He swallowed his anger and said, “How many times do I have to tell you? That woman is not, and will never be, your mother. Got that?”
“Sir, what are you talking about? I don’t understand,” Harry replied, his confusion mounting.
“Caspian, you can’t say things like that; you’re going to break my heart,” Alaric muttered, his voice strained.
Could this man—wealthy and handsome—be his father? No, Harry quickly deduced. Perhaps he was searching for his runaway son and had mistaken Harry for him. That would explain the confusion.
But if Alaric thought Harry was Caspian… did that mean Harry and his son looked identical?
Before Harry could process the situation further, Alaric was already carrying him into the grand hall. As they entered the space, Harry’s eyes widened in awe.
“Is this a palace or something?” Harry asked, astonished.
Alaric set him down on a plush couch, crouching before him, his gaze softening. “Caspian, whatever happens, you must never run away from home again. Do you hear me?”
“My name’s Caspian?” Harry blinked, as if trying to remember where he’d heard that name before.
Alaric’s heart skipped a beat. He rushed forward, pressing his hand to Harry’s forehead. Was he feverish, or was this some sort of relapse? Why was he speaking such nonsense?
“Caspian, don’t scare me. What’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?” Alaric’s voice was filled with desperation.
Seeing Alaric’s anxiety, Harry realized he needed to play along to avoid raising suspicion. He quickly improvised, “When I ran off earlier, I hit my head. Now some things are a little foggy.”
Alaric’s forehead beaded with sweat as his worry intensified. “Liona, get Cormac and the doctors—now!”
Liona immediately set off to make the calls, leaving Harry to reflect on his next move.
“This world is truly strange,” Harry thought. “Mistaking me for his son. If he thinks I’m Caspian, where could the real one be?”
Meanwhile, the real Caspian was pulling Galatea along as they sprinted down the street.
“Are you hiding some guilty secret?” Galatea pressed, her tone sharp as she caught the panic in Caspian’s demeanor. “Why all this haste?”
Realizing she was on to him, Caspian broke into a nervous sweat. He quickly insisted, “I haven’t caused any trouble. I’m just really hungry. Remember last time, Mom, you promised me barbecue? That’s all I want right now.”
“For just that?” Galatea asked, arching an eyebrow.
Caspian nodded resolutely, a look of genuine hunger crossing his face.
Galatea couldn’t stay mad at him for long. With a sigh, she hailed a taxi, and they made their way home.
Back at the mansion, Harry, surrounded by more doctors than he had ever seen, felt overwhelmed by the attention. After a thorough examination, the doctor reported, “Mr. Knight, rest assured, there’s nothing wrong with Caspian.”
“But how could he forget his own name?” Alaric asked, his concern palpable.
Before the doctor could respond, Cormac—one of the attending physicians—raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Is he truly unable to remember, or is he just trying to get a rise out of you?”
Leaning in closely with a mischievous grin, Cormac asked Harry, “Caspian, who am I?”
“I don’t know,” Harry responded, his lips pressed together, eyes wide with confusion.
Cormac, exasperated, pressed further. “I’m Cormac—your Cormac. You don’t recognize me?”
The other doctors exchanged concerned glances and interjected, “Mr. Knight, we’ve done a comprehensive check. There’s genuinely no issue with his health.”
Alaric furrowed his brow, torn. They’d brought in numerous doctors, but no one could explain Caspian’s behavior. Yet, Harry didn’t seem to be lying either.
“Dad!” Amid his contemplation, Harry tugged at Alaric’s shirt. Looking up at him with an angelic expression, Harry added, “Maybe it’s just the knock on the head that made me forget a few things. I’ll probably recover soon, so don’t worry.”
Alaric, still concerned, asked, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“No, Dad. Show me around the house. Maybe it’ll jog my memory,” Harry suggested with a shake of his head.
“All right, then.” With a gentle smile, Alaric swooped Harry into his arms and carried him to Caspian’s bedroom.
Inside, Harry couldn’t help but marvel at the wealth and comfort surrounding him. He still couldn’t fathom why anyone—especially a son—would run away from such a luxurious life with a father like Alaric.