The encounter

A man in his late twenties can be seen walking hurriedly down a hall, a hall that looks like it was built in heaven, so beautiful and majestic.

The man is slightly in panic. He pushed through an ancient looking door and a very handsome man in his early thirties can be seen looking through some parchments that he held with a calm and yet cold expression.

He didn't bother looking up because he already knew who would dare enter his room without knocking. which is rayan of course, his one and only courtier(PA) AKA best friend. "your highness ", rayan greeted with a slight bow. Without looking up he answered with hmm sound.

Feeling a bit agitated he decided to keep formalities aside," Alex please be serious about this for once they're already here and they are requesting an attendance with the king," He Said in one breath.

Alex raised his head and looked towards rayan finally paying attention "what do they want this time" he said.

"I don't really know, but I think its something that has to do with the late king's wish" Alex's eyes widened hearing this. He placed the parchments he was holding on a table, looking at rayan for the second time he said "give me a minute " rayan obediently nodded 'as long as you'll go see them''he thought. Alex was already dressed up as a king should so he only had to put on his royal mantle and his crown, but he only put on his crown on special occasions.

They walked out of his room and across the hallway. They came across several servants each of them bowing at the sight of the king. Few looked at him with admiration while many couldn't look up in fear.

As they neared the throne hall some noises could be heard, but when they step in it was dead drop silent.

A group of elders could be seen sitting across each other. When they saw the king they all stood up and slightly bowed to welcome him " greetings your highness ", they said in unison.

He walked straight to his throne, sat down and coldly looked towards them. Rayan who was quietly following behind him earlier stood beside him also facing the elders.

All the elders sat down staring at each other asking and pleading through their eyes that one of them should stand up and say something. But nobody could muster the courage to do that.

After starring at each other for some minutes they heard a slight and deliberate cough, they all turned their heads towards the source of sound to see who dares to make a stupid sound at these critical moment but they saw that it was rayan, 'this kid is playing with his chances' they thought, they all relaxed a little but not until they realized that the king is glaring at them showing his lack of patience.

The poor people started to sweat. So an elder that was once the late kings closest advisor mustered some courage and stood up. Finally! They all thought but didn't dare say a word.

They all relaxed a little living the old man on his own. "Your highness-" he started with fear "- we were all discussing about the late king's wishes for some of us were by his side when he took his last breath. Apart from his other wishes that you were told about this one was slightly delayed because no one knows how to say it or rather convince you to do it. That's why it was kept away from you for a long time,"he said finally feeling some confidence, but it didn't last for long as a loud and harsh bang was heard, everybody's head was snapped at the direction finding source of the sound.

Alex was having a glass of water when he heard what that old hag said and it successfully made him angry and furious so he slammed the hand that was holding the glass on the handle of the throne making some pieces of the glass to cut through his flesh causing his hand to bleed.

The elders looked at him in horror, the last man that made him angry was six feat under. The elders that were admiring the late king's advisor for his courage are now pitying him.

"You kept a message from my father away from me because none of you could tell me?, should I be proud of you then!?". He said with a domineering voice which successfully made everyone in the hall to break into a cold sweat.

"N..no your majesty w..we were just—" his stammering was cut halfway by the king.

" quit explaining and tell me what he said" he said slightly annoyed.

The confidence that he once had varnished into thin air " h..he said that you should get married, you don't have to wait until your lost aunt is found anymore ".

The hall went silent. Alex was in a deep thought, he remembered that his father once said the same thing when he was alive "I'll think about it "he said and left. Rayan bowed to the elders and also left following Alex.

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Alex went back to his chambers with a gloomy expression .

He went inside his walk in closet and change into a commoners outfit and came out.

He went to pick up some thing in his study,Rayan noticed his reaction and suddenly the atmosphere became stuffy.

" don't be mad I think they are right " no response was heard. Rayan kept following him like a tail.

"Are you going out?" No answer

He felt like he was talking to himself. Alex walked towards the door and said without turning " make sure no body knows I went out "

He left after saying that. Rayan sighed in frustration " how can he even talk to women like this talk less of wooing one "

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Alex walked into the dark hallways. The palace was Very massive, one can easily get lost easily.

The hallways were decorated in an ancient way, ancient paintings and vases could be seen hanging here and there, breaking or damaging these things can course ones life.

A maid once broke a vase by accident while cleaning it, Rayan took care of her with a look from Alex.

Alex kept walking with a hard expression as darkness enveloped him.

This was the back side of the castle, hardly no one will go their. Some said it was hunted, some said they could still her the sound of a maid screaming, all kind of things where made up but this was the home Alex grew up in, he has nothing to be scared of even if he was to see a ghost probably the ghost will run for his second life first.

He reached out his hand and pressed something on the wall, a creaking sound could be heard as a door like piece of the wall shifted to the side showing a partway with descending stairs.

He walked in and down the stairs and repeated the same thing on the wall .

The scenery that was revealed behind those walls was magical and ethereal, With butterflies and colorful birds flying around the forest looked more beautiful.

But all that didn't bother Alex one bit. His horse was resting close to a tree where it was tied.

Alex untied it and set of into the sea of trees.