What would you do if you met your double or something very similar ?——&mdash

What would you do if you met your double or something very similar ?
—————————-

Still as much paperwork as the day before and still the day after. The administrative routine. An eternal “pleasure” for anyone with a bit power and obligations.


This is the case for King Conrard,  skim through these numerous sheets, signing some ones and tearing others because many of these papers contain the same subjects: An authorization to enlarge a building at X place, requests that He becomes the godfather of such and such a newborn child, erasing a debt, …

Even though the majority of cases have been triaged by counselors, this doesn’t prevent us from having a nice stack to work with.

These files are so unimportant that he could easily entrust them to someone else or do as other rulers have done and burn them directly, without wasting time with these banalities.

But this isn’t the monarch’s philosophy. This is his island and it is inconceivable to him that another individual can make decisions for him, even on obsolete matters.

This kingdom, he fought to make it what it is today.

A reputation that he wants to preserve and especially, unofficially, to envy his colleagues on the continent.

Nevertheless, since he married his wife, Queen Mélusine, this has somewhat affected his thinking about the management of the kingdom. Her strong temperament and complementary nature make her a perfect assistant for this kind of boring work.

This doesn’t prevent mistakes, such as the time when she accepted to pay the debt of a “poor fisherman”. Fortunately Conrard had checked and cancelled the acceptance because otherwise it would have caused a disastrous chain reaction on the population, creating enormous jealousies. The kind of situation that a monarch doesn’t want to suffer.

A sigh escaped his lips and he mechanically rubbed his eyes. This was the fourth time he had reread the same sentence.

How long was he locked in that office? An hour? Two? Another sigh.

He looks at what he still had to do. About twenty papers left. The idea of throwing them in the fire crosses his mind but he rejects it immediately.

“- I am not Lothaire either… ” He mumbles while rubbing his face and suddenly flinches.

Three confident knocks sounded on the imposing door. Who is the fool who dares to disturb him ? The order given that he isn’t to be disturbed under any circumstances except in an emergency is broken now: The knocking style of the person doesn’t give the impression that a disaster is happening.

Another sigh.

“- Come in !” His voice is loud and with a hint of annoyance. He pretends to read the paper and waits for his interlocutor to enter and try to speak before the monarch cuts him off and dismisses him quickly. The speech already prepared and gloating in his mind about the reaction of the poor buggy. That’ll give him a little break.

“- Forgive me for disturbing you, Votre Majesté…”

The surprise invaded the King. Oh no ! Not him! He looks up hurriedly and sees Hyde - the draconic vampire lord - standing in front of him while continuing his speech without the monarch’s reaction disturbing him.

“-… I know you are very busy but your Lady needs you. Now.” The lord smiles and quietly observes his counterpart taking the time to assimilate the information. The King’s face is marked by annoyance.

“- Since when do you play the messenger? Méli could have come to wa…”

Hyde stops him.

“- Well… In simple language: She can’t really leave where she is and YOU have to go to her now, without waiting. And don’t worry, she’s not in danger.”

“- …” Uneasy silence before he answers “You’re a friendly guy, Tubesteak, but I have to fin…”

Hyde stops him again and teleports to the right of the King.

“- That’s why I’m here !”

Crackles sound and when the King turns to the vampire to tell him these four truths, he’s facing… To himself ?! The incomprehension is total.

The other is amused and smiles fully, adding to the strangeness of the situation.  

“- I propose two possibilities: One, I stay here, I finish these papers while you go to your dear and tender wife. Or…” His smile becomes more malicious “… Two I join her with your appearance and you stay here, alone in front of these unfortunate documents. What do you decide, Majesté ?”

The shock replaces the anger. The monarch got up from his chair and grabbed the smiling impostor by the collar.

“- DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!”

“- What? To be close to Méli? To do your job? Need to be a little more spe…”

It’s Hyde’s turn to be stop in his sentence

“YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN, DEGENERATE ! DON’T TOUCH HER! NEVER !”

Pure rage in his eyes.

A chuckle escapes from the vampire’s mouth.

“- This is going to be complicated because I am you, in a way. I know and own the feelings you have for her.”

The grip on his collar becomes stronger but the lord smiles sincerely before continuing.

“- But I’m still Me, Hyde. Sure I monopolize your appearance and your psyche, but that’s not Me. I’m like an actor playing a very specific role. I am you but not You. Mélusine doesn’t interest me… I’m not interested in any relationship or more…”

A short silence where the vampire looks mournful before immediately returning to their natural state.

“- Whatever ! Go and find her! I’ll take care of the rest”

Conrard, still a little irritated and troubled by this last part, releases his double and finally answers.

“- Fine ! I’m going to go see her and I hope I don’t have to regret this decision…”

“- Yes, don’t worry ! Go !” Before Conrard has moved towards the door that the impostor has settled in his previous place and continues his work abandoned a few minutes ago.

The King remains to observe the scene a few moments. This vision is quite disturbing. See yourself where you were a short time before. A true carbon copy. Full of unsuspected possibilities. The King blows this idea out of his mind. This isn’t the time for that. The Queen wants to see him and it can’t wait any longer.