Light penetrated through the window and Xanxier could tell it was daybreak. Since he wanted to sleep more he had freshen up and even eaten before falling back asleep.
It was a bad habit he just developed and Daminas had been the one to serve him breakfast before he goes back to bed.
Xanxier was feeling quite bad for how Daminas had to put up with him, drawing him a bath and cooking his meal to serve him at the crack of dawn.
He turned and flung his eyes open only to see Daminas that quickly averted his gaze as he stood up right. It was a little bit annoying how Daminas took it up to him by checking if he was sleeping peacefully.
"Good morning your Majesty."
Xanxier rubbed his eyes as he glanced at the empty space beside him. When he woke up from his coma he noticed he started sleeping at the edge of his bed without reason. "Daminas do you know it's making me feel uncomfortable waking up to see you sneaking up on me and you not getting a good sleep this days." He complained. "I kept waking up everytime you do that and if I didn't know you are the one I would not hesitate to rip out their throat."
"I apologize." Daminas bowed.
It irritated Xanxier none stop the way Daminas was always acting docile more like a servant than his Advisor making him a bit curious about what his father told Daminas in their last private meeting since Daminas started being so amenable when his father passed on.
"Daminas hence forth you must not kneel before me, you must not make my meal overall you must not act like an overbearing grandfather that wants to protect their grandson." He stated firmly like how he does when he wants to add a rule to the list of Autumnshell rules. "I have told you this several times, find someone to make my meal, draw my bath, arrange my cloths as from now on do not dress for me and I don't want to see you waiting in my room early in the morning before court." He stated firmly with no room for argument as he slipped out of his duvet walking to his bathroom to wash his face. He cleaned his face with a towel before starting to dress up and was glad Daminas didn't ask if he needed any help in dressing up.
When he was through, he shook out his sleeves and picked a red outer-coat, he walked out to see Daminas that didn't reply him. Xanxier raised a brow silently daring him to refuse, kneel and beg him to let him stay at his side and continue his overbearing servant attitude.
Xanxier walked up to his bed, he frowned looking alert as he almost yanked his drawer off as he quickly took a golden mask and wore it. Hadn't he been carelessly showing his face.
"It is not like that your Majesty." Daminas tried to explain since Xanxier was looking at him weirdly. "I can never be like that." He said too quickly his eyes determined.
"I know." Xanxier said more like a whisper as he continue to stare at Daminas like he was trying to see through his act and didn't move to remove the mask.
"I will follow your order and I will call a servant to braid your hair." He bowed before leaving.
It wasn't long when a servant came and worked through his hair and just as expected Daminas was standing at the corridor next to Kale clearly waiting for him when Xanxier stepped outside. Xanxier sighed knowing Daminas would not leave him be.
People bowed at him as he made his way to the court room. The guards standing by the door bowed before opening the massive door and Xanxier walked gracefully to the throne. He took his sit looking up at the ministers lined in a row as they raised their heads from the bowing position, he signaled to the Prime minister.
"Now report." Barin annouced.
And as usual the report had no problem, no movement from Freshland yet, the economy was stable no sign of drought, no maintenance going on...
"Your Majesty." Yua stepped forward. "Me and the ministers have something we discussed about and want to share with you."
Xanxier narrowed his eyes. "Go on."
Yua cleared his throat. "We have been thinking that is it quite the time for you to take in a wife." He said slowly like each words had weight.
Xanxier didn't say a word, it was a discussion he'd been avoiding. Deep down he knows he had to marry but he slightly wished he would not have to marry for Autumnshell but marry for love.
He had fancy the ward of the King of Freshland once. She had been the one that didn't let his confinement boring and sided with him when the King ordered to take off his veil. She had stood in front of the guards and told them they would have to go through her first. When Xanxier told his father he wanted to marry her but he was only thirteen and his father told him to age more to be sure when clearly it was his way of rejecting his silly declaration of love and marriage.
"Since the King Dima Zee of Agatha passed away I think we should present a marriage proposal to Queen Krista of Agatha." Yua said cautiously. "She gave birth to a girl yesterday night and it is a cruel world we live in, if you marry her we will automatically have an alliance with Agatha and be in good terms with Lunarwell too." He quickly added.
Xanxier didn't say a word and doesn't seemed surprise like he had expected that and Yua taking the lead wasn't a misery. He had a great skill of keeping things together and making sure there was no misunderstanding between the ministers which made Xanxier overlooked the nonsense he was almost sprouting.
"That is total nonsense! what insolence! impertinent! brother will never marry someone like that." Vane interjected.
Leave it to Vane to act extra. Xanxier decided to ignore him since Vane refused to go home acting like they didn't talk about him leaving and he'd been attending court meetings. Just like what Za and Barin told him, Vane seemed to only be seeking his acknowledgement.
Trazin stepped forward. "I don't think it is a good idea since you rejected Queen Krista five years ago and there is no prove she would not kill you in your sleep." He explained, his hands folded behind him. "I think Princess Chrath which is the youngest Princess of Springhill is a better choice, not only is she a beauty but Springhill is a stable and big nation and we can invite her to the palace so you can get to know her for at least six month before we proceed with the preparation if you decide she is capable and worthy to be your Queen."He concluded.
Xanxier nodded a little pleased with the suggestion but he had no time since Freshland would soon declare war on them and he doesn't know who wanted him dead.
It would not be good if they decided to use the Princess against him or worst abduct her.
"Your Majesty I think we will have to wait until we solve the mysteries going on at the moment since we don't want to put Princess Chrath in danger." Barin suggested.
"That means you think she is a good choice for me?"
"Yes your Majesty because bringing up your marriage with Queen Krista would only look like it is for a political reason and we do not know if she had forgiven you." Barin said. "It will also give her more power to behold but I think the choice is yours your Majesty and there are also other Princesses we can look at."
Xanxier stood up. "I will think about it, court dismiss." He said before walking out of the room, he would not allow anyone to pressure him for marriage. He noticed a hastened footsteps on his trail which was clearly Vane's. he noted mentally to tell him to get rid of the boot that made too much sound.
Vane quickly caught up to him almost blocking his way. "Brother I think Princess Chrath is a good choice." He said nodding like he agreed with his words.
Xanxier only glared at him with made Vane took a step back before he resumed walking off, Daminas and Kale and two guards quickly followed.