"It’s been days now. When are you planning to get rid of that kid?” the king asks sharply, his voice cutting through the quiet tension of the dining hall.Prince Arthur, seated across the table, stops chewing. He hasn’t had much of an appetite in weeks, but tonight, the king’s question robs him of the little will he had left to pretend.“I will, Father,” Arthur replies curtly, pushing his chair back and standing. He strides out of the dining hall without another word, leaving his meal untouched.Since the truth about Madin’s identity was revealed, Arthur has been a shell of himself. The next day after the revelation, he forced himself to wake up and carry on as though nothing had happened. He resumed his royal duties, maintaining the mask of strength and control that his position demands.But inside, he is crumbling. He hasn’t spoken about Madin, not to his father, his advisors, or even himself in the rare moments of solitude he allows. The palace is abuzz with whispers, the truth a
"How can I feel good by torturing you? You being in pain means I’m in pain. So what’s the point?" Arthur turns around when he hears that weak familiar voice. His gaze falls on Madin, whose half-open eyes reflect exhaustion and sorrow.“You… you’ve woken up…” Arthur whispers, his voice breaking. He drops to his knees and instinctively lifts Madin’s upper body, pulling him into a tight embrace.“I’m sorry,” Arthur murmurs, tears threatening to spill. He clings to Madin as though letting go would break him completely."What is going on here?!" The king’s thunderous voice cuts through the intimate moment, jolting Arthur to his feet.Arthur spins around, standing protectively in front of Madin.“This is unbelievable!” the king exclaims, his face twisted with fury. “I will not tolerate this any longer!” Without hesitation, he grabs the sword Arthur had dropped earlier and steps toward Madin.“Father, no! Stop!” Arthur cries out, his voice filled with desperation.“I should stop?” the king s
They walk for what feels like hours, the silence between them growing heavier with each step. Neither Arthur nor Madin knows what to say, and the weight of the night’s events hangs thick in the air. Arthur's mind drifts far from the deserted path they tread, consumed by an endless storm of doubts.He wonders if he’s lost all sense of reason, if he’s allowing this strange and overpowering emotion called love to lead him astray. The Arthur of a month ago would have scoffed at the idea. The dutiful prince, groomed from birth to rule, now fleeing his home, his family, and his future—for what? For someone who had lied to him, deceived him, and yet somehow claimed his heart completely."What am I doing?" Arthur mutters under his breath, barely audible. His grip tightens on the discarded guard uniform he carries, the coarse fabric feeling heavier than it should.He knows he could turn back. Right now, if he chose, he could return to the palace, face his father, and beg for forgiveness. T
“Arthur, I still think this is a really bad idea! We can still go back—it’s not too late. You have to be the king, remember?”“Don’t you want to come with me?”“I didn’t say that. Of course, I want to, but you are the next king, and running away like this is completely unreasonable. If we’re meant to be, then we will be—no matter the place or the people surrounding us.”“Madin, if going back and becoming the king means losing you, then so be it! If you’re worrying about me, stop. I’m ready to give up my dream. I mean, I already did.”“But—” Madin begins, but Arthur cuts him off.“Just stop, for heaven’s sake! We already left; there’s no going back! Can you stop giving me a hard time? I haven’t even come to terms with the fact that I fell in love with a man—not because he was in women’s clothes. Because if that were the reason, then what I felt for you would have vanished the moment I found out you’re a man. But you know what? It’s only gotten stronger—stronger every single day! I don’
“You’re the one causing all this! I don’t understand you at all,” Madin says, his voice sharp, his hands clenching into fists. “Why would you even come with me if you’re going to act like this? Are you regretting it already?”Arthur sits on the edge of the bed, his head low. For a moment, he doesn’t respond, running a hand through his hair as if trying to collect his thoughts. Then he looks up, his face a mixture of emotions.“When did I say I regret coming with you?” Arthur says. “In fact, you came with me, Madin—not the other way around. And for the record, I’m not acting like this because I don’t want to be here. I’m like this because I don’t know what’s happening to me. I don’t know what to feel or how to feel. All I know is that I want to be close to you. That hasn’t changed.”Madin blinks, caught off guard by the sudden honesty. “So... you want to be close to me, but you’re confused?”Arthur nods. “Yes. I’m confused because all the feelings I had for you when I thought you were
In the quiet of the night, a loud banging echoes through the air, startling both Arthur and Madin from their deep sleep.Madin stirs first, rubbing his eyes groggily as he sits up. The pounding on the door grows louder, accompanied by muffled voices outside. Without thinking, Madin drags himself out of bed and stumbles toward the door.He unlocks it, the heavy wooden door creaking open, and what he sees on the other side freezes him in place.Standing there is the King , tall and imposing in his royal attire, flanked by knights and guards who wait outside the doorway. His piercing gaze lands on Madin, who feels the weight of the king’s presence bearing down on him.“Where is he?” the king demands, his tone sharp and commanding as he strides into the room.Madin, still half-asleep and overwhelmed, remains silent, unable to find the words to respond. The king brushes past him, his boots echoing against the stone floor. The commotion rouses Arthur, who sits up abruptly, blinking at the s
After the intense confrontation with the king, Madin is assigned a room in the main mansion. However, as punishment for concealing his true identity for so long, the king insists that Madin remains Prince Arthur’s servant.Arthur protests the decision, ready to argue with his father, but Madin stops him. The king’s resolve is unyielding, and Arthur knows he has no choice but to comply. Despite his frustration, Arthur reluctantly agrees, though his displeasure is evident.For Madin, the arrangement is acceptable. As long as he can be close to Arthur and no longer needs to hide his identity, the rest feels manageable—for now.Once the meeting with the royal family ends, Arthur and Madin retreat to the Arthur’s chambers. The tension between them is palpable, but Arthur breaks the silence first.“So… what do you think?” he asks, watching Madin closely.“About what?” Madin replies, his thoughts already tangled with everything that transpired.“You know... everything my father said.”“I’m f
The hatred Lady Catherina harbors for Madin is incomprehensible. He wonders why she can't just mind her business. He isn't competing with her for Arthur's hand; the prince is marrying her, after all. Shouldn't that be enough?Within just a week, the preparations for Arthur and Catherina's wedding are complete. The palace is abuzz with the dual celebration of Arthur's coronation. The current king, aged and weary, has chosen to step down, eager to see his son ascend the throne before passing away.In this same week, Catherina's life transforms. Once a mere servant, she is now the prince's fiancée. It's revealed that she's the daughter of a general-not Michael, who was exiled from the palace after his disgrace__ assistant.During a formal address, the king extols Catherina's virtues to the court, emphasizing her intelligence and kindness.He praises her willingness to marry Arthur despite knowing the prince's heart belongs elsewhere. "She is a blessing to the kingdom," the king declare
So apparently, people have been scolding me saying... I've limited Madin and Arthur's happiness, I felt it too. And For that reason, I've decided to add one more chapter, just brushing overall on what's been happening since__○○○○●○○○Weeks turn into months, and the palace begins to reflect the quiet joy that surrounds Arthur and Madin. The once grand, imposing walls now seem to glow with a warmth they had never known before.Their lives intertwine more deeply with each passing day, creating a rhythm that's both natural and comforting-a dance of shared laughter, unspoken understanding, and love that feels unshakable.The mornings are peaceful, the hours before the world awakes their favorite time. Arthur wakes first, his eyes always drawn to Madin's peaceful form beside him. For a moment, he simply watches him sleep, his heart swelling with affection.There's something so intimate in the quiet stillness of those early hours, a perfect start to their day. Madin shifts slightly, a s
WARNING!There's mention of some nasty things in this chapter. Though not that intense... but I feel the need to warn those who things like those are not their cup of tea.°The wedding that night is a grand affair, with laughter, tears, and joy spilling over into the early hours of the morning.Regardless of the sorrow they still have for loosing their former king.Arthur's mother cry silently because now she sees hope in her son's future.Arthur and Madin stand side by side, their hands intertwined as they exchange vows under the starlit sky.Madin looks at Arthur, his eyes filled with a mixture of love and hope. Despite the pain and struggles they have endured, in that moment, he knows he has made the right choice.Arthur, overwhelmed with gratitude, kisses Madin gently, sealing their union. The crowd erupts into applause, and the celebrations carry on through the night, a testament to the love that has triumphed over the darkness.All Arthur's remaining family gather around them.
Arthur freezes, his breath caught in his throat, his heart stopping momentarily. Overwhelmed, he stumbles back, collapsing onto the bed, tears streaming down his face.Madin, equally shaken, moves toward him. He wraps his arms around Arthur tightly, holding him as though afraid to let go.Arthur clings to him, his own arms encircling Madin in silence. There are no words—only the shared weight of emotions, the years of pain and longing expressed through their embrace.A knock at the door shatters the moment. A guard’s voice filters through. “My lord, King Harris of the Bugada Kingdom wishes to speak with you before he departs.”Arthur struggles to steady his voice. “Tell him I’m unwell. I’ll visit him tomorrow.” he says.“Maybe you should see him. It might be importan__,” Madin begins, trying to pull away, but Arthur tightens his grip.“No, just... ” Arthur murmurs firmly, unable to even say what he wants to say. Burying his face into Madin’s shoulder."Madin, I don't know where to sta
"Speak again," Arthur commands, stepping further into the room, his piercing gaze locked on Madin, who is frozen in place, staring back at him.Madin remains silent, his mind racing. Why does Arthur want him to speak again? Surely, he couldn’t have recognized his voice.Madin lowers his head, unable to meet Arthur's eyes again. By now, little Prince Adriana had already slipped out of the room, with the lady following close behind."Who are you? What are you doing in my son’s room?" Arthur asks, suspicion thick in his voice.His initial shock at hearing a familiar voice that he has been longing to hear has faded, replaced by guarded curiosity.Madin adjusts his voice, letting a trembling tone creep in. "My lord, I didn’t mean to intrude. I was brought here to assist.""Do you work in the palace?" Arthur presses."No, Your Highness," Madin replies, his head still bowed.Arthur exhales sharply, his irritation evident. "Ugh, whatever. You can leave." He strides toward the little one’s be
The palace is teeming with people. Usually, events of such grandeur—especially ones involving the royal family—are strictly regulated, but today is an exception. The grief-stricken faces of Sabia's people reflect their collective sorrow as they gather to pay their respects to their beloved former king.Madin stands in the crowd, lost in the sea of mourners. From his position in the middle of the throng, he can barely see the front where the ceremony is taking place. Yet, when Arthur's voice carries through the air, even without seeing him, Madin’s knees nearly give out.The raw emotion in Arthur’s voice cuts through him like a blade. Every word spoken resonates with pain, and it’s unbearable for Madin.His heart screams to rush to Arthur’s side, to hold him, to offer comfort. But he knows he can’t."I have lost two men who meant the world to me , both without a chance to say goodbye. I don't know how to move on from that. Perhaps one day I might be lucky enough to meet with the one
"Are you serious?! Please, take back what you just said. The former king cannot be dead! He was strong, full of life." Madin exclaims, his legs nearly buckling under the weight of the news. Removing his apron, he sinks into a chair, his mind reeling.Thoughts of Arthur flood his mind, piercing his heart. He imagines the grief Arthur must be enduring and longs to be by his side, to hold him and reassure him that he is not alone."Marsel, do you really think I would spread false news about something as serious as the former king’s death? I value my life too much to risk execution." Paul responds gravely, setting down the tray he had just cleared from a customer’s table, his expression clouded with sorrow.Everyone in the kingdom had loved King Elias. He was a ruler who placed the needs of his people above his own, a king who earned their hearts through kindness and fairness.Madin strokes his fake long beard, his fingers trembling slightly as they brush against the disguise he has worn
"Tell me everything!" Arthur’s voice booms, unrelenting and charged with fury. "And don’t even think about lying or skirting the truth! If you do, I’ll make you regret every breath you take. You’ll suffer, day by day, feeling the agony you’ve caused, and when you can no longer bear it, I’ll ensure there’s no escape! Speak!"Catherina trembles violently, her knees threatening to give way under the force of his wrath. Her throat feels constricted, and her mind races, but no words come. She knows there’s nothing she can say to absolve herself in the eyes of everyone present."Are you waiting for someone to give you permission?!" Arthur’s voice slices through the heavy silence."I… I didn’t ki—" Catherina begins, but Arthur cuts her off with a sharp, menacing glare."Is that where the story starts? Jona, does it begin there? ' by I... I didn't ki__'!?" Arthur’s tone is dangerously calm, an ominous contrast to his earlier shouting.Jona, pale and shaking, whispers, "No." He looks down, gu
When Jona arrives at his men’s camp, the news he receives crushes the flicker of hope he had carried. The person they believed to be Madin was not him.Fury burns in his chest, and he punishes his men harshly for their mistake, venting all his frustration. "I cannot do this anymore!" he roars, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "I’m tired of this endless chase! Let it be! Maybe I was just never meant to have this throne after all! Maybe my brother truly belongs there!"He paces in frustration, muttering to himself, "So what if Father doesn’t trust me? That’s his problem. I believe in myself. I’ll make myself proud by taking responsibility for something else, something meaningful. Maybe then he’ll see that I’m not worthless!"Mounting his horse, Jona takes a deep, steadying breath. He has made up his mind. The past three years of schemes and failures have drained him, and he refuses to continue down this path of destruction.As his horse trots back toward the palace,
Three years later...The grand hall is alive with laughter, music, and lively conversations. Guests swirl across the floor in exuberant dances, while entertainers captivate the crowd with their skill and artistry.At the head of the hall, the royal family sits in regal prominence, observing the festivities with a composed air of pride and celebration.Former King Elias stands, his face glowing with joy as he raises a golden chalice. His warm, commanding voice cuts through the lively din of the room."Thank you all for joining me in celebrating my son's exceptional leadership. Arthur has proven himself to be a ruler who deeply cares for his people." He turns to Arthur, his eyes shining with pride. "Son, would you like to say a few words to your people?"Arthur rises from his seat, his movements measured but tense. Forcing a faint smile, he speaks briefly. "Thank you all," he says, raising a hand in a quick wave.Without waiting for applause or acknowledgment, he excuses himself and str