The Palace of the New King:
Iras prepared himself to enter the palace of the new king, Hylos. Before leaving, he dressed meticulously and applied a subtle disguise to his face, hoping to avoid recognition by the palace royals, especially Hylos. Iras wondered if Hylos still cared for him, given his drastically altered behavior.
Within the palace, Hylos sat in his chambers, surrounded by opulence. His golden throne-like bed seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Hylos's eyes appeared deep in thought, his gaze fixed on some invisible point.
Queen Ashira entered the room, her attire revealing and alluring. She approached Hylos, her movements sensual, and sat beside him. Hylos turned to her, his eyes melancholic. Ashira gently touched his face, her voice husky.
"My king, it's been a year, and yet we still haven't consummated our union," Ashira whispered, attempting to entice Hylos.
Hylos shifted his gaze away, his voice devoid of emotion. "I have no desire for that, my dear Queen."
Ashira's eyes narrowed, her face a mask of controlled frustration. The air was heavy with tension as Hylos returned his gaze to the distance, lost in thought.
Ashira's face twisted in anger as she pushed Hylos onto the bed, her voice rising to a shout. "You have no desire? And why is that? Is it because that General Iras is still on your mind? He's dead, killed in battle!"
Hylos's eyes widened in shock at Ashira's words, and he didn't resist as she towered over him. His eyes clouded with sorrow, and he seemed to shrink into himself.
Ashira's words hung in the air like a challenge. Hylos's voice was low and menacing as he spoke, his eyes flashing with anger. "If you want me to remain king of the Valley of Kings, leave me be."
Ashira's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly stood up, backing away from Hylos. She turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Hylos alone on the bed. He closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath.
Morning had broken, and Iras arrived at the palace. The atmosphere was subdued, with few people in sight. Servants and guards stood at attention, awaiting orders.
Iras stood still, taking in his surroundings. An elderly man approached him, speaking in a formal tone. "Are you the new servant? Your task is to clean the chamber of our beloved king."
Iras's eyes widened as he processed the information. He was to clean the king's chamber? His heart skipped a beat as he worried about being recognized by Hylos, despite his disguise.
Steeling himself, Iras steeled his nerves and made his way to Hylos's chamber, determined to carry out his duties without arousing suspicion. His heart pounded in his chest as he approached the door, wondering what lay ahead.
Iras's heart was racing as he prepared to enter the chamber of the new king, Hylos. As he opened the door, he was relieved to find the room dimly lit and seemingly empty. His anxiety began to dissipate, and he thought to himself that it was fortunate the king was not present.
As he began to remove the bedcover, a sudden, menacing voice spoke from behind him, sending shivers down his spine. "Who are you, and why have you entered my chamber without permission?"
Iras froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He slowly turned to face the speaker, but Hylos's gaze did not betray any recognition. Iras's disguise had done its job, and he remained incognito. Nevertheless, he could feel Hylos's piercing gaze, and his instincts screamed at him to be cautious.
Iras bowed his head, trying to avoid eye contact with Hylos, fearing that he might be recognized. Hylos's face was twisted in a scowl, his eyes blazing with intensity, as if he was itching to strike.
Iras spoke quickly, his voice trembling slightly. "I-I am your new servant, and my task is to clean your chamber," he stuttered, trying to maintain a safe distance.
As he spoke, Hylos's gaze seemed to bore into him, his face inches from Iras's. Iras felt a surge of anxiety and bowed his head further, trying to avoid a face-to-face encounter. He could feel Hylos's hot breath on his skin, making his heart racing with fear.
Iras continued to speak in a stuttering, servile tone, his eyes fixed on the floor as he slowly backed away towards the door. Hylos remained standing, his piercing gaze fixed intently on Iras, as if trying to see right through him.
Iras's heart was racing with fear, his senses on high alert as he carefully retreated, trying not to make any sudden movements that might provoke Hylos. He could feel Hylos's eyes boring into him, making his skin crawl with unease.
As he reached the door, Iras bowed his head again, his voice barely above a whisper. "I-I will return to clean your chamber, my king." He slowly turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him, and letting out a sigh of relief as he escaped Hylos's intense scrutiny.
Three days had passed since Iras began serving in the palace. He stood at attention beside the king's resting area, awaiting orders. Hylos sat in the center, his eyes closed, flanked by two women who lavished attention on him. They fed him delicacies and poured wine into his cup.
Iras remained silent, his chest feeling constricted as he watched the scene unfold. Despite his efforts to remain indifferent, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and hurt. However, he carefully concealed his emotions, maintaining a stoic expression.
Moments later, Hylos's eyes snapped open, and his gaze immediately locked onto Iras. But Hylos's expression remained impassive, and he turned his attention to the woman beside him. He leaned in and kissed her, his eyes never leaving Iras's face.
Iras's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly looked away, feeling as though he had been punched in the gut. The pain and longing he had thought he had long buried came flooding back, and he struggled to compose himself.
Iras stood frozen, his eyes fixed on Hylos as the king approached him. Hylos had pushed the woman away and rose from his seat, his gaze locked intensely on Iras. Iras's heart racing with anticipation, unsure of what Hylos intended to do.
Hylos drew closer, his eyes burning with an unnerving intensity. Iras could feel the heat emanating from Hylos's body, and his skin prickled with unease. Hylos's hand seemed to be reaching out, as if he wanted to touch Iras's face, to remove the disguise that concealed his true identity.
Just as Hylos's fingers were about to make contact, a sudden interruption broke the spell. One of Hylos's guards rushed in, seeking the king's attention. Hylos's head snapped towards the guard, his expression darkening.
Iras took advantage of the distraction to slip away, his heart still pounding in his chest. As he emerged from the room, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He thought to himself that the interruption had been timely, saving him from a potentially disastrous encounter.