The heavy double doors of Arthur's penthouse swung open with practiced precision as the chief of police, dressed in full uniform, strode in.
His steps were slow, deliberate, and his head remained bowed in respect as he approached Prince Arthur.
"Your Highness," the chief said, his voice a humble tremor, "it's an honor to serve you."
Arthur's sharp, calculating eyes flicked over the man before he gave a slight nod.
"Come, sit," he said, his voice smooth yet commanding. There was no room for refusal.
The chief followed obediently as Arthur rose, moving to the large dining table where the finest porcelain tea set was arranged.
One of the many servers swiftly poured tea and laid out a tray of delicately baked biscuits—Arthur's favorite.
His life was a symphony of control, every aspect meticulously arranged to his liking.
The chief sat opposite him, shifting uncomfortably as Arthur calmly sipped his tea.
"I saw on the news that you caught the two bank robbers," Arthur remarked, not lifting his gaze from his cup.
"Yes, Your Highness," the chief responded, puffing his chest out slightly. "Our officers acted swiftly, ensuring the safety and security of the people of this great kingdom."
Arthur gave a short nod, setting his cup down with a faint clink. "Good." Without missing a beat, he snapped his fingers, signaling one of his security details to step forward.
The man carried a large, inconspicuous black bag, which he placed gently on the table.
The chief of police frowned, his eyes darting to the bag and back to Arthur's face, confusion evident.
Arthur chuckled, a low sound that sent a chill down the chief's spine. "Don't be confused," Arthur said, "it's not yours. It's the stolen money you're looking for."
The chief's eyes widened in shock, disbelief coloring his features.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Your Highness... where did you get it?"
Arthur waved his hand dismissively.
"That's none of your concern," he replied. "Take the money. And ensure the two suspects are released immediately."
The chief blinked, taken aback by the directness of the order.
He hesitated for a moment, but one look at Arthur's expression told him there would be no room for discussion. "Yes, Your Highness," he muttered, bowing as he collected the bag of money.
Without another word, he left the room, though his thoughts raced with questions he dared not ask.
As the doors closed behind the chief, silence fell once more in the penthouse.
Arthur exhaled slowly, his mind already moving on to the next matter at hand.
It wasn't long before Gregor entered the room.
His footsteps were cautious, aware that Arthur wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"Your Highness," Gregor began, "the Queen Consort, your mother, is asking when you will come to the palace."
Arthur's jaw clenched slightly as he turned towards the large window that offered a breathtaking view of the entire city.
The Queen Consort was not his real mother—his birth mother had died when he was only five, leaving him with memories of her gentle touch and the sorrow that had enveloped the palace after her death.
His father had remarried quickly, the Queen Consort now a permanent figure in the royal family.
She had given birth to twins—a boy and a girl—but Arthur never considered them his siblings.
And even after all these years, he still suspected that the Queen Consort had something to do with his mother's untimely death.
"What does she want?" Arthur asked, his back still facing Gregor.
"She's planning to throw a welcome ball for you," Gregor replied cautiously, already anticipating Arthur's reaction.
Arthur chuckled darkly, turning to face him. "Oh, really," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Gregor sighed, bracing himself for what was coming next.
He knew how much Arthur despised the palace and the people within it, especially the Queen Consort.
It would be a near-impossible task to convince him to return. "Your Highness," Gregor added carefully, "the King, your father, has also requested to see you."
Arthur paused, his expression softening for just a moment.
Despite his disdain for the palace and its occupants, he loved his father deeply.
The King had always been by his side, even in the worst of times, always supporting him against the Queen Consort's schemes and the machinations of his half-siblings.
After a long silence, Arthur finally spoke.
"Tell the Queen Consort that I'll come tomorrow," he said. "But I don't want anything big for the ball."
Gregor released a quiet sigh of relief. "Yes, Your Highness," he said, bowing slightly.
As Arthur retreated to his bedroom, Gregor collapsed onto the expensive sofa, exhaling loudly.
The Queen Consort had threatened to fire him if he didn't manage to convince Arthur to come home, and now, at least, that crisis had been averted.
At Central Police, the tension was thick as Lani and Maverick stood in front of the chief of police.
Their eyes darted between each other and the chief, disbelief written on their faces as the man gave them a formal nod.
"You're letting us go? Just like that?" Maverick asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
The chief nodded curtly. "Yes," he said simply. "You are free to go."
Maverick and Lani exchanged a glance, both of them still trying to process what had just happened. It didn't make sense.
Only hours ago, they had been caught.
As they stepped out into the open air, Maverick took a deep breath, savoring the taste of freedom. "God, I missed the smell of fresh air," he muttered, stretching his arms above his head.
Lani chuckled softly, giving him a playful slap on the back. "You've only been inside for an hour, Maverick," she teased, though she too felt a rush of relief.
"So," she asked after a moment, "what do we do now?"
Maverick turned to her, his face lighting up with excitement as if the gears in his mind were already turning.
"What do you mean, 'what do we do now?'" he said, his voice full of energy.
"Baby, we're about to pull off the biggest heist of our lives!"
Lani raised an eyebrow, intrigued but wary. "Another heist? Already?"
Maverick grinned, throwing an arm over her shoulder as they walked down the steps of the station.
"Oh, this is going to be bigger than anything we've ever done. We'll take what we're owed, and when it's all over, baby, I'll buy us an island."
Lani chuckled, shaking her head. "An island? Really?"
"An island," Maverick repeated confidently. "Trust me Baby"
They both laughed as they walked away from the station, their footsteps fading into the noise of the city around them.