In the Harlow palace, Darius was in a hurry back to his room after a talk with the court ministers. They had brought up the idea of him looking for a bride so that an heir was guaranteed while he was still young and healthy. Darius didn't disagree that it was nearing time for him to have a queen but what he didn't like were the women they selected so far. Some were princesses of other kingdoms and others were daughters of noblemen.
"Do they think I don't know their intentions for adding their granddaughters and daughters as candidates," Darius scoffed, remembering the scene of two of the ministers trying to convince him to marry into their family for the better of the kingdom. They were against the women of royal birth recommendations and pushed for their families. "As if their daughters being by my side will mean they gain some form of power."
He only needed a wife to either have peace with a neighboring kingdom or just for the sake of ensuring there would be a future prince in the palace. No one was going to pick his bribe for him but it was interesting to see the ministers try to offer the young girls like cattle. They were just old men only thinking of themselves. They all knew he had no intentions of loving his future queen like how any other man would love his wife and yet they still wanted to push the girls here.
"Your highness," the guards outside his room greeted him and opened the doors when he neared the room.
Darius didn't address them since he didn't need to. He was the one with the authority. "Where is Alexander on this good day? We were supposed to talk but he's avoiding me." Since their last talk, Alexander had become distant and Darius figured sooner or later the man would try to leave his side. It wasn't that he thought Alexander would betray him because he knew the man was loyal but a tyrant king was what Alexander said he would never follow.
Darius denied being that kind of king to Alexander but truthfully, the best way he believed in getting people to follow you was by forcing them. Fear was the best response to keeping his people in check. Darius didn't care if this would make Alexander remove himself as general. There were other capable men to replace Alexander. The reason he kept Alexander around was due to the fact he was the only friend Darius could confide in.
Darius started to laugh out of nowhere remembering the time Alexander told Darius he didn't care he was a prince. Alexander had been the only one to never change his attitude in front of Darius. He knew their wishes for the kingdom differed but hoped they would still remain friends. "If he plans to leave I can just force him to stay here through Catherine," he plotted.
His younger sister Catherine Harlow was smitten by Alexander from a young age. Like himself, she also needed to get married and the only candidate Darius accepted was Alexander. "That stubborn man has always turned down my sister's advances. I'll have to make it a royal order he can't deny." The best way to keep a hold on Alexander was to bring him into the family.
No matter if he hated how Darius acted, as Catherine's husband, Alexander would have no choice but to stand by the king.
"What if he already has a woman he wants to marry? Even your royal order can't break that," Chaos spoke up from the shadows. He enjoyed how the king would always forget about his presence here.
"You again," Darius scowled. Why was this thing always listening? "Alexander has never spoken of a woman he's interested in. He never had plans for marriage in the future so this will be helping him out."
"Anyone with eyes could see Alexander has no interest in the princess and who is to say he doesn't have a woman but is keeping her away from you? Everyone has their own little secrets just like you."
"Then I would get rid of the woman," Darius replied, going to the balcony of his room. Money was something to offer any woman by Alexander's side to make her leave or he could just kill her. One insignificant woman should not get in the way of his plans. However, he was certain Alexander didn't have anyone he was entertaining. The man didn't even entertain the women who sell their time.
"You do know if Alexander becomes the princess's husband his father will have a reason to plot against you? Alexander would be able to become king and treat the people better. You think he'll be loyal to you when there's that opportunity in front of him?"
Darius didn't think about the fact Alexander would be able to become king. However, that was only if Darius died and his sister was made to rule. To ensure that doesn't happen, Darius knew he needed to get rid of the power the Mclane's had. He was not going to be stupid and hand his crown over to anyone else. Not even his own sister.
"Kill everyone who opposes you. Set up his father for betraying the crown and people will turn against him," Chaos encouraged the delusional man. He knew Artemis currently had Alexander in her control and there was no way for Darius to make him marry his sister.