The kingdom of Novio wasn't actually as small as the kingdom of pome . It was mostly covered with fog and brought a cold welcome.
The so called barbarians practiced, not missing a thing. They slashed the dummies, butchered or axed them.
True barbarians of the west.
Marcuse who had ruled them for twenty years and of course was still their ruler, walked into the palace. He had just had meeting with the crown prince Logan of Segovia.
That man, he was too quick witted, he was as sharp as a cobra and cunning as a fox. But strangely, he was patient and that was what he, Marcuse lacked.
He went in to the court room. The officials were seated waiting. It wasn't a custom as it was in Xavier to stand and greet the queen. In Novio, they sat and bowed their head low.
Marcuse sat on the throne and the meeting began. The minister of defense came complaining about the sudden increase in workload.
"Lord Collin, if you don't like your work, you can step down", was all he said. Lord Collin went in and sat on his seat.
"What about your meeting with the Segovian prince, Logan? How did it go?" The minister of internal affairs asked.
Marcuse said nothing at first. Then he said, " The same reply. He's as patient dove, I still wonder what he's up to". Murmur rose like dust in the room. Marcuse silenced them .
" Is he serious about what we have in mind or has his goal changed?" It was the minister of war.
" You know he's as cunning as his father. They have a deep diplomatic relationship with the Xavians " someone said.
Marcuse thought for a while. In his meeting with the crown prince Logan, he had mentioned the stepping down of the queen.
" Maybe he wants the queen to step down, you know, her stepping down would make the war easier for us", he said and they agreed.
" How possible, even if he's the god of Cilia, he can't make that crazy woman step down ", the minister of defense, Collin said.
" They wanted war with him but he declined and acted like a coward. He must know something we don't know", Kia, minister of foreign affairs said and the officials accepted.
Even if he knows something, he must have a reason to stay and act like a coward.
"Whatever he has against them, we should wait for the proper time", Marcuse said .
Collin sighed and suddenly remembered something. He didn't like the idea of siding with Segovia. Those people were snakes in form of humans.
"He once had a tight relationship with the crown prince Alexandro of Xavier ", he spoke up and the murmur once more like dust in the heat rose in the room.
"He broke off with him eighteen years ago ", Marcuse said.
" How sure, it was war that made not to speak to each other. The war was resolved, so... I'm just saying so we could be careful" Lord Collin said and the court agreed.
" He doesn't. If I'm not sure of anything, I know he despises the crown prince Alexandro ", he said.
They discussed other things and the meeting was over.
The two, not queen Thalia and the crown prince Alexandro, but, Marcuse and his trusted assistant who never said a word stood facing each other.
He was Alec. He had a long hair and eyes like doe, as brown as the Sahara. His neck was compared to an adorned gazelle, his legs were long like a skilled fighter and his heart as pure as the devil...
" Are you sure of this, you and Segovia put together can't win over that kingdom, Xavier" , he said and Marcuse nodded.
It was only he, Alec who spoke decently, not like the rest who spoke with their tongue . And that questioned his place of birth_ his real hometown.
" The crown prince Logan said this exact thing, he must be stalling for time", he said. " Time you say, remember how wise that twenty five year old prince is. If you forget, he might use you".
" I don't know, but I trust you. By the way, you speak as though you know him", Marcuse said looking at him.
" I don't ", he said closing his eyes. Anytime he did that he was lying, but no one had ever noticed it. Not even the person who took him in.
Late queen Nyx of Novio.
"I still hate the idea of fighting xavier", he said and Marcuse raised his hands for him to stop. "Enough! You don't know these things, Alec, you're twenty after all "
Alec wanted to get angry, but he couldn't. This man accepted him into his home when he had nothing. He couldn't possibly get angry with him.
" I equally don't care, all I know is that I'm on your side ", he said and walked out. His dark as death hair slapping his back.
Marcuse sat back on his throne. Xavier had destroyed their reputation and disgraced them . They rubbed their name in the mud that anyone who heard the name Novio closed their noses.
The Xavians had used them and accused them of thievery. So they owed them a huge debt that could never be repaid. So they agreed on a terms that they would every year they would give them tribute, that included their gold , diamonds uranium and overflowing food.
That's what made them rich. Richer than the kingdom that had the resources.
He was going to get back at them. To disgrace them to the extent that anyone who wished to curse would curse with the name Xavier .
***
Alec sat at the pool and watched the water. The crown prince of Xavier, Alexandro and the crown prince Logan were best of friends. They were so close that there was no one left in the world except them.
He had met not the crown prince Alexandro but the crown prince Logan, he was at the woods and he came, he had sharp senses and was adored with a certain kind of beauty.
Alex didn't hate him, but disliked him. He was free with everyone, yet very withdrawn. He smiled much but yet very serious.
He wasn't a coward neither was he clueless. He was just patient.
So patient that he promised him a duel...