"Make yourself comfortable, Doctor, we still have a long way to the Palace." The young messenger, attentively reminding Theodore as he adjusted his position, then notified the drayman to begin the journey. Once leaning back, Theodore can see how luxurious the carriage is. The silk curtains, flamboyantly decorative cushions as soft as feathers, obviously a carriage designed for an elite nobility, whose intention is to show off their wealth. With such an appearance, it's enough to send hundreds down on their knees with its power.

Such pompous and redundant actions just to receive some trivial flattery...

And yet, people are willing to step over bodies to be able to sit on this carriage, even just once, to be recognized as heroes with noble hearts, worthy of appearing before the King. All those sacrifices just to exchange a mediocre moment accredited by those flatterers' nobles. A ridiculously luxurious carriage made of blood and deviant ambitions. Theodore can't help but let out a deep sigh. He could now feel the weight of the letter resting in his pocket.

The carriage travels relentlessly, cutting through the land to reach the outskirts of the capital at last. Theodore, lost in his thoughts, is startled as he realizes the familiar smell. The smell of death... Before his eyes, it's the scene of a devastated village with countless dead bodies piled on the ground, waiting to be handled. Soldiers, whose duty is to protect, are now unwieldy shoveling each corpse into the screaming fire. The smell of burning bodies, and the dreary crying sounds of children who have lost their parents, all combine with the vultures' singing the lullaby of death. The scene was just too brutal, enough to make Theodore feel the fire of rage burning in every cell as he clenched his fist, trying to keep the emotions under control.

"The situation has been like this for a while. The war and the drought have taken too many things away from us." The messenger said melancholy. Looking at the boy, his weak back swaying with the movement of the carriage, a back that has to bear such pressure doesn't mean for children at his age. "Forgive my rudeness, but I am assuming you are also a victim of this dire situation as well?" The atmosphere descended into silence, each passing minute lumbering by. The boy replies back, feeling like years have gone by, "I don't expect you to ask that Dr., you are truly different from the others I have met." Letting out a light sigh as if certain memories crossed his mind, the messenger continued, "We used to be a happy family of four. You know, I used to have a lovely sister. She would follow me all day, begging me to play with her until she fell asleep." His voice lowered until it nearly whispered, "Until my father is forced to catch up in the vortex of war and the droughts take away my mother and sister's lives." And I... have no other choice but to burn their bodies with my own hands..." Theodore can feel the bitterness stuck in his throat. Voices seem unable to escape.

Soon they will have come to the so-called proud capital of the Kingdom. The capital is covered with banal luxury. A stage of nobles exhibits their best performance to entertain their king, hiding their deviant nature under layers of masks and adulation. A town tainted by the endless debauchery of social events. Noble ladies, with their dresses, deliberately reveal their skin and seduce men with their cheap perfume. Like a beast, knowledgeable men hungrily chased after the prey, wallowing in perversions. A hideous luxury. The prayers of the victims were just mere droplets in the ocean, forgotten in this fantasy. Crossing dozens of mansions enough to make anyone admire its sophisticated appearance, Theodore finally comes to the destination, the Imperial Palace. An enormous, breathtaking castle adorned with marble and pure gold, its beauty has been praised by countless songs and poets. The roofs, made of gold, glowed under the sunset. A complex clearly announces how prosperous its master is. The garden, the pride of the royal family, is covered by the most exotic plants from all over the region.

Following the young messenger, passing through enormous, yet exquisite rooms, Theodore was guided to the throne room where the King resided. After being permitted by the two knights guarding the main door, welcome Theodore is the sight of the King pathetically sitting on the throne made of gold, decorated with red diamonds, while surrounded by prostitutes wearing nothing but a few pieces of clothes covering the seductive areas. With a lopsided crown on his head and a goblet in his hand, apparently, the King drew all of his attention to the women who were seductively entertaining with their pitiful bodies and honey voices. Such an abhorrent scene they display in the room is as miserable as the king itself. Statues, paintings, marble pillars, and chandeliers heightened the sumptuousness of the repulsive king. A pure depravity exhibition, enough to make Theodore feel nauseous at the bottom of his throat. The indignation starts to bloom, enough to make his heart ache for those who have suffered only to serve the kings' greed.

"Your Highness, the guest you are required to have presented." The messenger kneels before the throne. Notifying the appearance of the guest, the King indiscreetly lifted his hand, motioning the rest to leave. "For the glory of the almighty God Aon and the King!" They shouted.

"So you are that famous doctor, Theodore. Am I right?" The King glanced down at Theodore, observing him like an object. Clenching his fist, Theodore used all his might to not let out a single different expression, bowing before the King, "Yes, your Highness." "I am Doctor Theodore, a humble resident of the Kingdom. It's my pleasure to be present before you." Sneering at Theodore, the King now shifts his attention to the diamonds in his hand, playing as if they were toys. The glance never leaves Theodore, not even for a second. "Humble you say?" exclaimed the King, laughing hysterically. "I can sense your arrogance hiding behind your words, and I have met so many like you. They all come and kneel before me, begging for wealth and power like rats. They can even lick my shoes like a dog if they have to." His maniacal laugh resounded throughout the throne room. Despite the King's efforts to provoke the doctor, his expression remains cold, silently bearing the insults. Realizing he can't do anything to penetrate Theodore's defense, the King is dejected and eventually gives up, "You are so boring. Rest assured, I will keep my word. You will be granted your accomplishments."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Your Highness, the guest you are required to have arrived." Another messenger kneels before the King. Behind him is a tall man wearing a black formal suit, with a black hat in his hand, he bows before the King, "Your Highness, I am Alderic Goldberg, presented as order." Emerald's eyes glance quickly at Theodore, who follows up with a slightly amusing smirk before Theodore's astonishment. Even before the King, the one who controls life and death, the arrogance never faded. "Nice timing. Since both of you are here, you will be granted as promised." Right after the King stopped, two messengers who guided the guest walked out with two boxes in their hands, then formally put them in front of the guests. Wines were also being served right after, until the young messenger accidentally tripped and spilled a little wine. The accident only occurs for a few seconds, but enough to gasp through the King's glance. The young messenger was immediately forced to kneel before the King by guards, in front of Theodore.

"What you just did is unacceptable, especially in front of my dear guests. You know that right?" The King growls, threatening the poor messenger, who is now shivering in fear. Tears falling down, covered his little face as he whimpered, begging for his life. A cold metal blade is aimed next to his neck, ready to act at any time. "Your Highness, I am sorry, truly sorry. I won't do this again, I swear..." The boy screamed in tears, struggling on the ground in the amusement of the King. Theodore immediately steps forward and says, "Your Highness, please consider this again and spare this young boy's life." Unexpectedly, Alderic, who has remained silent since the arrival, also steps in, "Please consider your highness, this boy is still young, he can be re-educated."

But life is always full of the unexpected...

"Oh? I never thought the life of a dog would affect my dear guests that much. But..." With just a slight hand movement, the only sound left is the sound of metal cutting through the flesh. Such a swift, yet neat move from the knight's sharp blade that the dazed look was still wearing on his face while his throat split in half. His eyes are still wide open, fully in shock. It is just as simple as that, a living person who just a few hours ago was a vivacious young boy is now lying on the ground helplessly. His blood formed a puddle, soaking the carpet in crimson. The King, who was clearly pleased to see such a scene, applauded. A mixture of rage and disgust runs through Theodore's spine as he tries to control every cell in his body, yearning to pick up the sword and kill that brutal man who called himself King. Clenching his teeth, Theodore fixed his cold gaze on the culprit, a murderous aura covering him. Theodore right now, with a redoubtable calmness, looks like a lion lurking in the darkness, calculating its move to kill the prey smoothly. The same gentle, sometimes fond of teasing people, Theodore, is nowhere to be seen.

"Thank you, your Highness, for your generosity, we will make our leaves now." A frigid voice from behind, waking Theodore from bloodthirst. Alderic throws Theodore a complex look, secretly reminding him not to do anything stupid and end up like the corpse in front of their feet. "For the glory of the almighty God Aon and the King." Left behind by the mocking invitation of the King, both of them leave without looking at the corpse.

The cool breeze of autumn wakes Theodore from the mess of emotions. It is such a magnificent castle with all of its luxury, yet Theodore can't feel anything besides the bitterness in his throat, as if anything that happened earlier was merely a nightmare. A hideous nightmare will soon be buried under layers of lies and absolute sumptuousness.

Both of them continue their walk toward the royal garden. Seeing they were left alone in the enormous area, Alderic abruptly grabs Theodore's wrist, swiftly leading him to a corner. Being in such a state leaves an undeniable shock, mixed with a puzzled look on Theodore's face. Putting a finger on his lips, Alderic clearly warns Theodore to remain silent as a couple of guards are patrolling. How abrupt a move that left a strange atmosphere on the two of them, trying to fit into the small corner as the distance between them grew ever closer. Taking advantage of his height and outfit, Alderic, on the one hand, uses the heavy black coat to hide Theodore while observing the guards cautiously. From this angle, Theodore can see the delicate neck that appears behind the collar, a faint, yet earthy smell lingers in the air, such a fresh smell as if it were wood after the rain. The smell of sandalwood... Something struck Theodore's sight, a decent scar hidden right behind the collar. Alderic's wide chest undulates slowly with the rhythm of his breathing.

The scent.

The scene.

They are enough to make Theodore, who obviously never caught himself in this kind of situation before, feel a bit dizzy.

What is he trying to do?