Short Stories in English for Beginners

Chapter 3 – The Truth
Aldin couldn’t believe it. Maha was the daughter of the Kalkian Emperor!
The girl could cause world 
chaos
! And all because she was lonely? Because
she thought Emperor Valior understood her problems? What had she done?!
Then Aldin realized something. It was not the girl’s 
responsibility
. She
didn’t really know what she had done. She was just sad. And a man named
Valior had helped her. He was the problem – the Emperor! He was
responsible. What was he thinking? Aldin had to find out.
Aldin left Kira’s house. He got into a vehicle and drove to the capital.
Once he was there, he went directly to the Emperor’s office. Suddenly, a
security guard stopped him. ‘You’re 
barred
 from entering,’ said the guard.
Aldin was surprised. ‘Barred? I must speak with Valior. Do you know
who I am? I’m a minister!’
‘Those are the Emperor’s 
orders
. No access for you, Aldin.’
Aldin wondered what to do next. He had to talk to Emperor Valior.
Without thinking, Aldin hit the guard on the head. The guard fell to the
floor. Aldin took the guard’s weapon and entered Valior’s office.
The Emperor was in his chair. He looked worried. ‘Aldin, what do you
want?’ he sighed.
‘Why didn’t I know anything about the child?’
‘What child?’
‘Emperor, I’m not 
stupid
.’
Valior stopped. ‘OK. No more acting. What do you want to know?’
‘Why is the Kalkian Emperor’s daughter here? Why did you do it?’ His
voice became stronger. ‘It’s not our 
policy
to use children!’
Valior stood. Then he shouted, ‘It is not our policy to lose wars!’
Aldin looked at Valior. Then he asked, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I didn’t tell you for one reason only.’
‘And what is that?’

---

The Emperor looked down. ‘I knew you would not 
approve
,’ he
answered. ‘I didn’t want you to influence my decision.’ Valior was right. Of
course Aldin would not want a child involved in a war. It just wasn’t right.
‘What are you going to do with her?’ Aldin asked next.
‘With Maha? We’re going to take care of her! She’s only a child,’ the
Emperor said.
Aldin didn’t trust him. ‘I didn’t mean that,’ he continued. ‘I meant what’s
going to happen? What will happen when the Kalkians find out? Will she be
hurt?’
‘Those are good questions. All of them,’ said the Emperor calmly.
Aldin looked at the Emperor. He would not accept an easy answer.
The Emperor began to speak again. ‘The Kalkians know that Maha ran
away,’ he continued. ‘But they don’t know what planet she went to. Nor do
they know that Earthling spies helped her. So you see, they don’t really
know anything.’ He looked at Aldin carefully. The Emperor wanted to
judge
how Aldin felt.
‘And if they figure out that you helped her?’
‘They can’t possibly find out. The spies won’t tell. No one here knows …
except you.’
Aldin stopped to think. ‘But why?’ he asked. He just couldn’t understand
the Emperor’s reasoning. ‘Why involve a small child? Why take her away
from her parents?’
‘Because of who her parents are,’ answered Valior. The Emperor looked
at Aldin as if he were stupid. ‘Don’t you see the benefits? We now have the
Emperor’s daughter. We can use her. For controlling the Kalkian Emperor.
For power. For anything really.’
Valior looked Aldin carefully again. Were his words influencing Aldin’s
opinions? Aldin’s face showed nothing.
‘Do you get it now?’ he continued. ‘We can use Maha to get what we
want. The Kalkian Emperor is