Nine months earlier on the distant world of Rillia, a young prince stood in front of the high council with tears streaming down his face. His clenched fist contained the broken pieces of his marriage band, his symbol of love and commitment now shattered. The soldier standing next to him cleaned and bandaged the wounds on his upper arm before fitting a new unbroken pair of marriage bands on his other arm. The prince's ex-wife and her lovers sat in silence as the high council pronounced judgment upon them for their betrayal.

As the list of names of those who betrayed him was read aloud, Jareth's anger and resentment towards them grew with each passing moment. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that such shameful acts could be committed within the house of Ramiu.

Lieutenant Commander Tresai, Rear Admiral Kenzy, Captain Drayton... the list seemed endless. These were men whom Jareth had once trusted and commanded in battle. They had fought alongside him, and now they were standing before the high council as traitors.

Jareth's hands clenched into fists at his sides. He couldn't believe that these men had been having affairs with his wife, betraying not only him as their commander but also their high prince.

"You stand guilty," the high council pronounced, "of having an affair with the High Fleet Admirals' wife, thus betraying our beloved High Prince and Fleet Admiral His Highness..." The council went through His full name, which was almost as long as the list of names of his Ex-wife's lovers. "...of whom you were under his direct command."

For this dishonor, you are considered to have committed treason against the government of Rillia and will be put to death."

There was a choked gasp from the men who expected just a jail time punishment for the affair. "Take them away! “said the leader of the council. Jareth watched as his own angry tears splashed on his well polished boots.

"Bring forth Cassava," the high council leader commanded, his voice echoing in the large chamber. Jareth's ex-wife was brought forward, her head held low in shame.

She looked up at Jareth with pleading eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze. He felt nothing but anger and betrayal towards her.

"Cassava of house Ramiu," the high councilor began, "you have been found guilty of having an affair with multiple men, including those under your husband's command. This act is considered treason against our government and a dishonor to your marriage vows."

Jareth clenched his hands into fists as he listened to the list of accusations against her. How could she do this? How could she betray him and their marriage?

"For these crimes, you are hereby stripped of all rights and privileges of your rank as a royal consort," the high councilor continued. "You will be sentenced to life imprisonment until the day you die. And only a high prince or the king will be allowed to consider pardoning you."

Cassava's face paled at the severity of her punishment. She looked at Jareth once more, silently begging for forgiveness. But he couldn't find it in himself to forgive her.

"Take her away," the high councilor commanded, and Cassava was led away by guards.

As she disappeared from sight, Jareth finally met his ex-wife's eyes. There was pain and regret in them, but it was too late for that now. She had made her choice and must now face the consequences.

Jareth felt a sense of emptiness inside him as he realized that his marriage was truly over. He had loved Cassava with all his heart, but now that love had turned to bitterness and resentment.

Jareth exhaled a deep sigh of relief, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. He didn't want to see anyone, especially his ex-wife, executed for their relationship's downfall. Despite what the intergalactic press said, he knew he wasn't the villain here. They made it seem like Cassava was driven to her actions due to mistreatment from him. But in reality, Jareth had spoiled her with lavish gifts and extravagant displays of affection.

They were once the most envied couple in all of Rillia, their love story known throughout the galaxy. Jareth had been captivated by her beauty and charm from the moment they met, and he was determined to make her his wife. And for a short while, they were happy.

But as time went on, Jareth couldn't ignore the shallow foundation of their marriage. Cassava's eyes lit up at designer labels and fancy cars, but grew cold and distant when it came to their relationship. The bruises on Jareth's arms and chest were reminders of her violent outbursts, triggered by even the slightest disappointment. But he always walked away, never laying a hand on her.

As he reflected on everything that had happened, Jareth wondered if he would ever be able to trust anyone again after Cassava's betrayal. He had given her his heart and she had callously thrown it away without a second thought.

His father stood up from his throne and addressed the court.

"The marriage between my son and Cassava has ended with no dishonor on his part," he announced in a commanding voice. "Jareth is free to remarry."

Jareth's heart skipped a beat at his father's words. He had expected his father to publicly condemn him for failing as a husband, but instead he was being given permission to move on.

Feeling a surge of gratitude towards his father, Jareth turned to him and started to lift his pointer finger to his heart and forehead in a gesture of respect. But before he could complete the motion, his father turned away from him in shame.

Jareth gritted his teeth at this blatant display of rejection. While his father's words acknowledged Jareth's innocence in Cassava's downfall, his actions seemed to indicate otherwise.

Jareth's heart sank as he watched his father dismiss him without a second thought. He had always been taught to respect and obey his father, but this felt like a betrayal.

"Surely, my father, you know me well enough to know I would never in any way harm a woman?" Jareth spoke up, bowing humbly once again.

He waited for his father's response, hoping for some sign of understanding or support. But the king remained silent and continued to attend to matters of the court.

Jareth's jaw tightened in frustration as he straightened himself up. He could feel the eyes of the court on him, judging him for his failed marriage and his father's cold treatment.

But deep down, Jareth knew that his actions were justified. He had tried everything to make their marriage work, but Cassava was not willing to put in any effort. And when she realized that her lavish lifestyle would come to an end with their divorce, she had concocted lies and accusations against him in order to maintain her status.

Feeling a sense of shame wash over him for thinking ill about his ex-wife, Jareth tried to push those thoughts away. But it was hard not to be angry at Cassava for destroying not only their marriage but also his reputation.

As he stood there in front of the court, Jareth couldn't help but think about the future. With his divorce now official, he was free to marry again. But who would want someone with so much scandal attached to them? Would anyone ever be able to see past the rumors and lies?

Frustrated Jareth turned on his heel and left the high council chamber.

His footsteps echoed through the ornate halls of the palace, once his home but now a cold and unfamiliar place. The servants' gazes followed him with suspicion, their whispers like knives in his back. As he made his way to his chambers, Jareth couldn't help but wonder if anyone believed his innocence in the accusations against him.

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Feeling suffocated by the judgment and scrutiny, Jareth shut himself in his chambers with a heavy sigh. However, as he glanced around the room, his ex-wife's belongings still scattered about, he couldn't endure staying there any longer. Without hesitation, he grabbed a space bag from his closet and headed to his private hanger.

Stepping onto his sleek shuttle, started off towards his spaceship waiting in orbit above. Once safely aboard, Jareth set the coordinates for the farthest inhabited world that was in an alliance with Rillia and he then navigated his ship towards the first space gate. He set the navigation for the maximum amount of Jumps that was reasonable for his supplies to last.

With his gaze fixed on the portal, Jareth's eyes glimmered a deep, molten gold that seemed to reflect the stars above. As he gazed into the endless expanse of the star-scape, he felt himself losing track of time and space. For him, the quiet solitude away from others was a welcome respite. Away from the complexities and expectations of society, he could finally be himself, lost in the tranquil beauty of the unknown. And for a moment, he allowed himself to forget about his responsibilities and simply exist in the ethereal wonder before him.

---------------------------------------------------

It was the fifth job he had tried since arriving on Vandar, and each one had ended in failure or humiliation. This latest job at a small intergalactic shipping company had been promising at first. But after only a few weeks, his coworkers had started playing cruel pranks on him. Unfortanatly wht news of his divorce reached Vandar so the co-workers so him as a villian to be gotten rid of.

Jareth could feel himself becoming more and more frustrated with each passing day. He had hoped that coming to Vandar would give him a chance to start over and prove himself worthy of trust and respect again. But it seemed that no matter where he went, someone always knew about his past and used it against him.

Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Jareth ran a hand through his jet black hair, trying to brush out the reddish streaks left behind by the dye that the men had put in the shower head. He sighed heavily, feeling exhausted both physically and emotionally. His divorce from Cassava had taken its toll on him, but now being constantly reminded of it by strangers was too much to bear.

The hostile work environment and constant reminders of his failed marriage was overwhelming, and he knew he couldn't handle it any longer.

With a heavy heart, Jareth packed up his belongings and left the company for good. As he made his way to the supervisor's office to hand in his resignation papers, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. This job had seemed like a fresh start for him, but it had turned out to be just another disappointment.

Silently dropping the documents on the supervisor's old metal desk, Jareth saw Pete wince and look away from his golden alien eyes. He could tell that Pete felt guilty for not being able to do anything to improve the workers' attitude towards him.

"Look," Pete finally said, breaking the tense silence. "I know you didn't deserve the lousy spin the press created about your divorce or the cruel treatment from the workers. I wish I could say I could do something to improve their attitude towards you."

Jareth shook his head sadly. "It's alright, Pete. I appreciate your support and understanding," he replied, mustering a small smile.

Pete looked at him sympathetically before handing over Jareth's last paycheck and a recommendation letter. "Here," he said, "at least take these as a token of our appreciation for your hard work."

Jareth accepted them gratefully before bidding farewell to Pete and left the office for good.

Jareth revved his motorbike, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as he whipped through the winding roads of Vandar. He had always loved the feeling of freedom and control that driving his bike gave him.

As he rode through the back roads of the countryside, Jareth couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Leaving the toxic work environment behind and heading towards the peaceful town of Marville felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders.

The town was nestled in the shadow of a vast mountain, giving it a picturesque beauty. Jareth had spent many summers here as a child with his family. It held happy memories for him and he hoped it would provide some much-needed solace.

Whipping around one mountain curve after another, Jareth let out a deep sigh. The job thing just wasn't working out for him. No matter where he went, he couldn't seem to catch a break. Maybe hiding away for a while was exactly what he needed.

His thoughts drifted to his family's mansion just outside Marville. It was a beautiful estate surrounded by lush gardens and breathtaking views.

As Jareth reached Marville, his motorbike's fuel gauge beeped, signaling that it was low on power just as he entered Marville. Jareth pulled into a small gas. It was an old-fashioned station that had been converted into a recharge station for electric vehicles. He parked his motorbike next to a sleek, hover car and got off to stretch his legs.

As he took off his helmet, he felt the end-of-summer heat hit him. He regretted not investing in a fully air-conditioned suit for days like this. But it was too late now.

He leaned against the building, which had recently been coated with a fresh layer of wood protectant, giving it a shiny sheen. The smell of pine and oil filled his nostrils as he looked around the quaint little gas station.

His attention was drawn to a vintage-looking sign that read "Welcome to Marville." Jareth remembered seeing it every time they drove into town for their vacations. It brought back memories of carefree days and laughter with his family.

A man came out from inside the gas station, wiping his greasy hands on a towel. "Hey there," he said with a friendly smile, "need some juice for your ride?"

Jareth nodded and handed over his motorbike's power source to be recharged. As they waited, the man struck up a conversation with Jareth.

"So what brings you to Marville?" he asked curiously.

"Just needed to get away from everything for a while," Jareth replied honestly.

The man gave him an understanding nod. "I know what you mean," he said sympathetically, "I moved here from the city years ago for some peace and quiet."

Jareth couldn't help but feel envious of this man who seemed content living in this peaceful town while he struggled with his own problems.

As they chatted some more, Jareth couldn't ignore the feeling that maybe this was where he needed to be right now – away from the chaos and pressures of life. Maybe he could find some peace and clarity in this small town.

Just then, A yellow jeep filled with loud, obnoxious Vandarian youths drove up. Shortly behind them came an official-looking white van with a logo that said “truant officer’’. Out stepped a man in his thirties who, while in good shape, had odd-shaped eyes, a flat nose of a Vandarian born with an incurable defect, and, if Jareth remembered right, a slowness of mind.

"Get in the van!" the man shouted at the kids.

"Make us slow, brain." jeered one boy.

"Yeah, Shouldn't you've been euthanized by now?" Jareth was just about to move to deal with the teenagers when a police officer showed up.

"Get in the van now!" Officer Kinder brought his Taser out. The kids paled, shut up, and got in the van.

The truant officer’s eyes fell on Jareth. “You too,” He said slowly but firmly. Jareth was confused. He forgot briefly about the red dye in his hair that marked him as a youth of his race.

“Me too?” he repeated. The police officer put his taser away and watched with narrowed eyes and crossed arms.

“Yes, you need to go to school too. No truancies on my watch.”

Jareth smiled in mild amusement. “I’m too old for school.”

and crossed his arms.

Angry tears welled up in the man’s eyes. “You think I’m too stupe’ to know. I know. I not that stupe. Your kind, red hair, school. You go. It’s good for you.” He sputtered out in a shaky voice.

Jareth looked back at his bike and sighed. It was thumbprint secured to only him, so he would have to have a servant from the mansion drive him back to pick it up. He clicked an extra button on his Keypad, and an anti-theft shield shifted over the bike.

Jareth knew to well what is was like to be the butt of another’s cruel jokes. Of course the poor man misunderstood the situation but Jareth felt that resisting him would only make to man feel bad. So he decided to accompany the officer to the school. He would clear up the misunderstanding there.

During the drive, Jareth learned that the truant officer's name was Mr. Kinder, he was Officer Kinder's brother. Mr. Kinder was determined to do his job well and make sure all the kids in town were attending school.

When they arrived at the high school, Jareth saw a group of teenagers standing outside messing around and talking loudly. Mr. Kinder immediately went up to them and started reprimanding them for skipping class.

Jareth watched as Mr. Kinder's words fell on deaf ears, but he also noticed how determined the man was in trying to get through to those troubled teens. He couldn't help but admire Mr. Kinder's dedication and resilience.

Jareth gazed up at the weathered brick walls of Marville High School. The freshly painted letters spelling out the school's name seemed out of place on the faded facade. As he entered the main office, he couldn't help but notice the peeling paint and worn furniture, but there was still a sense of dignity in the air.

At the front desk sat an old Vandarian woman with the dull look of one who had done the same work for years and had become numb to it. ‘’Well, well, well, if it isn’t Mitchel and the gang. Principal Bolton is waiting for you.’’ She said to the rowdy group of teens Jareth had the misfortune to have to share a van with. She then looked up at Jareth and over the school records.

“I see you are not in our school records. Let’s see a Rillian Youth. Obviously, from that diplomat family who lives in town. I need your Identification card.”

“Miss, this is a mistake. “ Jareth said as he handed her his identification card.

“Hum,” she said as she scanned his information into a very outdated computer. “No mistake. You are an underaged child out and about during government-set learning times. That means you legally have to attend the local public school diplomat's son or not.”

“Look at my age. I am Adult.” Jareth stuttered in broken Vandarian

“These public records say you are seventeen. And the red highlights in your hair confirm it. I’ve worked this desk far too long to be conned, young man. As soon as you get your schedule, you’re going to class. No arguing unless you want to go to detention after school. I’ll call an enforcement officer if necessary." She glared at him over a pile of paperwork with steel gray eyes over the rim of her glasses.

Jareth growled under his breath in frustration. He dealt with enough bureaucrats in his time that he knew he wouldn’t get past this woman’s stubbornness any time soon. He’d put up with the mess for a day and then bring in a legal assistant to straighten it out and delete his name from the records later.

Yes, he was seventeen, seventeen Rillian years old. Rillia’s longer year put him at about 21 space years old. (He married early with permission from his family at 17 space years of age) He grabbed the class schedule with extreme annoyance and attended each class.

As the day wore on, his annoyance dissipated. Jareth noticed as long as he kept silent, he achieved a blessed invisibleness he lacked elsewhere. Some subjects, such as Vandarian history and the Vandarianezze, were not only quite exciting but challenging in a way that distracted him from the pain inside his heart. At the end of the day, he decided to let the mistake stand. He attended school every day and lost himself in the books that the school was rich in. That was until autumn came, and one simple event and the incredible friendships that came out of that one event turned everything in his life upside down in unimaginable ways.