Getting married

The king strolled and all his subjects who passed by fearfully bowed their heads in greeting. Torak casually walked towards a large space, beside his quarters which seemed to be a garden.

Just as he entered the garden, a muscular man as tall as him, stood behind him and slightly bowed his head.

"Your majesty,"

The prime Minister, Damien, looked at the king. Not the least surprised to see him simply in black robes, as he stood beside him and confirmed, "you requested to see me?"

Torak hummed a reply as he walked towards a cabinet nailed to the wall, he opened it and picked out two bows and arrows. He threw one to Damien as he said. "Come play with me Damien, at least before I die from great boredom in my own palace."

Damien held the bow, "of course your majesty."

The two men moved further into the garden where two target spots stood. Just as Torak stretched his arms and was about to shoot an arrow, he heard a voice behind him.

"You're majesty-"

"Who dares disturb me?" Torak clicked his tongue, looking displeased. He turned to meet the three council members from the meeting the other day. 

He glanced at them while they smiled, wearing all sorts of gold on their bodies. Just as the slim man among them who had puked all over the gold the other day, was about to speak, he was interrupted by a cold voice.

"You, go stand over there."

The men heard his command and their eyes widened. The slim one who finally realized that today was the day he was going to die, slowly began walking whilst glancing at the other men, his eyes silently pleading for help!

The slim man reluctantly stood under the bullseye that was nailed to the wall and nearly fainted when he met the king's serious gaze as he positioned his aim. He quickly closed his eyes to say his last prayers before dying. Atlas, he should've known that the king wasn't going to let them go easily, especially after he had puked in front of the king.

*TWANG!*

He heard Torak release the arrow and began furiously sweating, until he felt thin air pass by on his bald head and heard the arrow hit the center of the bullseye behind him, which was just an inch above his head. He opened his eyes to meet himself still alive and he silently praised the moon goddess.

The men immediately began clapping loudly, including the slim one who just saw his life flash before his eyes. Torak smirked, a fold appearing between his arched brows.

 "Heh! Look at that, I missed."

The men who heard the king's words, stiffened upon realizing that the perfectly aimed hit above his head wasn't to his satisfaction. He began sweating again, watching the king ready his bow and arrow again and positioned himself. 

"What is it?"

The fat man heard the king, and was about to answer him confidently when he heard a dangerous warning. 

"If it isn't important, I will kill you." Torak stretched his arm and released the arrow as he stated, which flew at an incredible speed towards the slim man's head. However, it hit the same perfect spot again, tearing through the first arrow. Torak clicked his tongue with a slight frown, before picking another arrow.

The fat man gulped before proceeding to speak. "W-Well your majesty, we came to inform you that the moon harvest eve is tomorrow. A-And we still haven't gotten a response from you about arranging a bride for you."

*THWANG!*

The king turned to look at Damien, who had been standing there silently, with calm composure.

"What do you think, Damien?" Torak smirked, placing his hands on his hips. "It's about time I got married, huh."

Damien nodded his head, his face remaining blank and indifferent. Damien had been the king's right-handed man before he even claimed the throne, and he was just as old as him. He remained by his side and had helped him in forcefully claiming the throne.

Many believed he was just as cursed as the king was, because he has also lived long and still hasn't found a mate. Although, it wasn't declared by the moon goddess herself that he wouldn't have a mate just like she did with Torak. However, he had been alive long enough to put those concerns behind him, his only concern now was his king. Sometimes the king wondered how he had always remained so serious and expressionless like a machine all these centuries. His friendship with him was like a mystery to everyone. One was calm, while the other was crazy.

"Yes your majesty, you should get married. It would help complete the ritual," Damien answered.

Torak grinned again at his response and looked at the men behind them. "You have your answer, now scram."

The men instantly bowed their heads. "Thank you your majesty!" And they left, except the slim one who still stood frozen under the bullseye, doubting if he should also take his leave. He looked at the king and when the king glanced at him and raised a brow at him, he immediately bowed his head and ran out of the garden.

"Me getting married? Heh! Sounds like something I would never imagine myself doing. Might as well tease the goddess a little.."  Torak smirked yet again.

However, Damien remained indifferent, which made Torak click his tongue. "Tsk, what a boring man. Any luck finding your beloved mate?" he asked instead.

"None of such, your majesty" Damien replied as he positioned his aim before releasing his own arrow, hitting the target spot perfectly. 

Torak sat down, taking an apple from the tray beside him that was filled with fruit. He then began cutting the apple as he asked, "any reason?"

"None that I have found," Damien fired again. 

After cutting the apple, Torak began eating it whilst watching Damien.

"Perhaps you should consider getting married like me? We're running quite old, don't you think?" Torak chuckled as he remarked ironically.

"I find that unbelievable, your majesty. You're still as young and graceful as the day I met you." Damien praised him, carving a smile on Torak's lips.

It was a fact that both of them hadn't aged a single day, they looked just as youthful and dashing as ever. 

"Hmm, but at this point, nothing seems to spark my interest anymore. The moon goddess must be on her throne, laughing at me right now." Torak smiled, remembering how he had made the goddess realize that he didn't give a damn about the curse she placed on him. He didn't find the need for a mate anyway.

Damien turned to him. "I don't think so, your majesty. But perhaps this marriage could help spark your interest back.."