"Sit straight Allias, the next villager will come soon" His mother told him and the young prince sighed.

    He was sitting on his throne right next to his mother, getting some real life experience of what a ruler does and today was hearing day. For a week every two months or so the King or Queen would open the palace door to the people to hear their problems and offer solutions if they can. At the moment they were at the last day and only a few villagers had left but Allias was already exhausted. Sitting for hours in the hard golden throne, speaking properly and hearing people''s problems like they were the most important thing in this world. Sadly, most of the times the problems were so insignificant that the royal court could nothing about it rather than nod their heads and say they will look into it.

    The great hall of the Avgee palace was beautiful. It stood in the middle of the building a round room with no walls, only glass windows with golden frames that showed the few of the rose gardens. Inside there weren''t many furniture and the pastel marble floor shone from being cleaned up and polished every day. Allias could see his bored expression reflected there very clearly. His mother''s throne was far more extravagant than his. It was golden of course, the color of a glorious dawn and had detailed carvings of leaves and flowers, appearing behind her slim back. His on the other hand was a simple gold armchair without even a pillow, his butt had gotten numb by sitting there a numerous times and he really wished he could get up and just walk around. There was one chandelier, hanging from the ceiling that could light the whole place, mostly during the night because during the day there was plenty day light coming from the windows surrounding them. Only behind their thrones a part was made with a door that took you to a corridor which then spread to the rest of the palace. There were also the front gates made by old and strong wood each of them weighting more than a ton. They had the family insignia of the Avgee tribe on them. A flaming sun. The people inside the room could see outside but everyone else couldn''t see what was happening in there. So Allias could see all the people waiting in line but they couldn''t see his tortured expression.

    "I''m sorry mother but please explain to me why we have to listen to a man whine about how his wife cheated on him? I mean…what can we really do about that?" Allias asked.

    "Nothing really. You just nod and smile."

    "So these hearings are actually useless." He concluded and his mother turned to look at him with a strict look.

    "Of course not. We can see in what state the kingdom is. And a few people presented us some issues we need to look into. Nonetheless everyone should get a chance to speak their own mind. It''s not our job to prioritize problems at this point. It''s not fair after all."

    "I see." Allias said feeling a bit stupid.

    "You''re still young. Don''t worry about not understanding a few things at first. When I was eighteen all I could think of was how to run away…You did that already but at least you don''t neglect your duties. Your father would be proud" She said and gave him a loving smile while taking his hand in hers. He hoped so because moments like this, he felt like there were so many things he needed to know, understand and he couldn''t help but wonder if he could do it.

    "My Queen are we ready for the next one?" One of their servants asked her and she nodded, the guards opening the door and letting two people pass this time. The sight was quite unusual. An elf man looking around forty was holding from his collar a boy and was dragging him on the floor. He wasn''t unconscious though. He kicked a few times, wanting to get away but as it seemed the grip of the man was strong or…he wasn''t trying enough.

    "What is this?" The queen asked. "Why are you treating this man like that?"

    "My Queen, forgive me but he is a thief. He is a boy from the Disee Tribe. He came into my bakery and tried to steal my bread. He has been doing it for two months now. Please help me." He said and let the young man on the floor.

    His long dark hair was hiding his face but as he looked up Allias sighed. Alex couldn''t see him, once again he was hidden but he had realized by now that in his story, he knew him. He could see the vibrant color of his eyes though, that purple, the same as the one in the alley.

    "Is it true?" The queen asked.

    The boy got up to his feet wiping some dirt from his pants and he made a dramatic bow to the queen. She raised her eyebrow at how bold he was but he didn''t stop him. Allias had kept quiet hoping that he wouldn''t get recognized but he saw him and winked at him with a devilish smile, in front of his mother, in front of the Queen! Allias coughed, trying to kick the embarrassment away but he made it worse. His mother was now looking at him. Queen Atalanti was no fool.

    "Anyways…" she continued "Is what the baker said true young man"

    "Partly my Queen. If you allow me to explain I will tell you everything"

    "I am listening" She said, interested by the fact that her son was looking at him with a look she had never seen before. It was a bit entertaining to see him that flustered for the first time, like he did something bad that she doesn''t want it revealed.

    "My Queen why would you listen to a street rat he…"

    "Silence. Please begin"

    "You see my Queen, my name is Theseus by the way" he said and gifted her a stunning smile and Allias wondered how many girls had fallen for his charms like that. "I came here with my little brother who this man is keeping hostage. I haven''t been trying to steal his bread. I just need my little brother like any normal man. I didn''t want to fight with him considering he is old and all."

    "What? Wait you stop!" he shouted and tried to launch at him, wanting to silence him but right in time a soldier grabbed him, stopping him.

    "And why could he possibly kidnap your brother?"

    "Shut up!" he screamed.

    "Do you want to tell her?" Theseus asked him and the playful expression he had was replaced by a cold and threatening stare. The man didn''t say a word. His head just fell and as it seemed he had given up. "I will then. He had been kidnapping elf children and selling them to the human hunters. They cut of their ears and used them in potions and then they killed them. As you see he is not a baker. He came from the Disee Kingdom after he drew too much attention and now he operates here and I want to get my brother back please before he sends out the new batch of kids. And all of the other kids if that''s possible."

    The Queen was definitely surprised but she didn''t let it show the way Allias did. He was clenching the edge of his throne almost on his feet, ready to grab that man. How could he commit such atrocious acts? The young prince wondered but the Queen was calm, as calm as she could be before she unleashed her storm.

    "Take him away. Send some people to his house to investigate and make sure…" she said while looking at the man who was no trembling in fear. "That none of his accomplishes stays alive"

    Three soldiers walked in heavily armed and grabbed the man dragging him away. He kept shouting pleading for mercy and swearing at the boy named Theseus.

    "How stupid can elves be sometime. He really thought I wanted to steal his bread. I knew he would bring me here at some point since I was a threat, exposing his secret and all if I found out. It''s a shame though I already knew. Once he realized it there was no way out. Now if you''d excuse me I''d take my leave" Theseus said bowing graciously this time.

    "So am I allowed to assume that you''re not just a beggar?" The Queen asked him before he left.

    "Oh, I am definitely not a beggar but he does actually have my brother so please return him to the Disee palace soon. Thank you"

    The Disee palace? Who was this man? Allias had never seen him before in any of the social gatherings or celebrations. His name was never heard between the Disee people.

    He left the room without even sparing the golden prince a second look and Allias was even more surprised by that. Wasn''t he flirting with him just a few days ago he wondered and reflexively he tried to follow him, until he remembered that his mother was in the room, watching him.

    "What are you doing?" She asked him with a grin.

    "I…I…"

    "Oh yeah now that I remember can you find my assistant and tell him to come here please?"

    "Why would you want me to ask for your assistant? Oh…yes, yes I will" Allias said and jumped off his throne in a hurry running towards the exit, pushing the heavy door and opening them without the need of any help.

    He got outside, blinking by the blinding sun and looked around searching for the man.

    "If I said that I knew you''d follow me would I sound too cocky?" he heard his familiar voice and looked behind him. He was at the garden sitting on a tree branch, resting on the trunk, his eyes locking with his as he lit up his cigarette with a match. He was smiling at him and Allias felt like that smile was virus making him weak but it seemed like the sickness was spreading.

    "As it seems you might have done something to me, my golden prince"

    ....

    I really liked writing this chapter for some reason.

    Hmmmm what could Theseus be?

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