A Night Out:
Hylos strolled outside the palace, accompanied by Iras, who stood guard beside him. Hylos was delighted by the sights and sounds around him, while Iras kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Their destination was the infamous "House of Delights," a pleasure den where men and women mingled, offering wine and companionship. Iras followed closely behind Hylos, ever vigilant in his role as bodyguard.
As they approached the entrance, they were greeted by the establishment's proprietor, who welcomed them with a mixture of deference and curiosity.
Hylos was treated like royalty, escorted to a grand chamber filled with exquisite delicacies and stunning Egyptian beauties. He sat comfortably, while Iras stood guard at the sidelines. The women danced around Hylos, and one of them sat beside him, offering him wine. Hylos was in his element, reveling in the pleasure.
However, Iras's expression betrayed his growing discomfort. He was hurt, but he didn't show it. As the night wore on, Hylos consumed more wine, becoming increasingly intoxicated. One of the women sat on his lap, and Hylos, in his drunken state, didn't object.
Iras's anger boiled over, and he swiftly removed the woman from Hylos's lap, ejecting her from the room. Hylos, enraged, demanded to know why Iras had intervened.
"What's your problem? Why did you throw out my women?" Hylos asked, his voice slurred.
Iras didn't respond, refusing to acknowledge Hylos. Hylos's anger turned to frustration, and he demanded an answer.
"Answer me!" Hylos shouted.
In a surprising move, Iras pushed Hylos onto the large, throne-like chair, which resembled a bed. Hylos was taken aback, and Iras's eyes blazed with intensity.
"I've endured this for so long," Iras said, his voice desperate.
With a sudden, passionate gesture, Iras kissed Hylos on the lips. Hylos, caught off guard, tried to push Iras away, but his inebriated state left him weak. As the kiss deepened, Hylos's memories came flooding back – the mysterious attacker in the garden was Iras.
Hylos was speechless, his lips still locked with Iras'. When Iras finally broke away from the kiss, Hylos's eyes widened in shock, and he struggled to catch his breath.
"So, you're the one who's been attacking me in the garden," Hylos said, his voice barely above a whisper, his tone a mix of surprise and accusation.
Iras's eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of defiance, but he remained silent, his chest heaving with emotion. The air was thick with tension, and Hylos's mind reeled with questions. What motivated Iras's actions? Was it mere loyalty, or something more complex?
Iras stood up and turned his back to Hylos, who also rose to his feet. Hylos reached out and grasped Iras's hand, his grip firm but gentle.
"Who are you, really? Why are you doing this to me? Honestly, you were not my type," Hylos said, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity.
But before Hylos could finish speaking, Iras suddenly squeezed his wrist, applying pressure to a vulnerable spot. Hylos's eyes widened in shock, and he felt his legs buckle beneath him.
Iras's grip was like a vice, and Hylos's vision began to blur. He tried to struggle, but Iras's hold was too strong. With a faint gasp, Hylos's world went dark, and he slumped to the ground, unconscious.
....
...
Hylos woke up , groggily opening his eyes to find himself in his own bed, with no recollection of how he got there. His head throbbed with a pounding headache, a testament to his excessive drinking the night before.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the palace, the servants were busy with their daily chores. Iras was tidying up the flower arrangements when the room fell silent. The servants parted, making way for someone. Iras glanced up, expecting to see Hylos, but instead, he saw a familiar figure - Murako.
Murako's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Iras. "Don't get in my way," Murako warned, his voice low and menacing.
Iras's eyes widened, and he felt a shiver run down his spine. He quickly covered his mouth, fearing that Murako might recognize him. Iras's heart racing, he bowed his head, trying to appear nonchalant.
..... ...
...
...
A Royal Confrontation:
Hylos sat on his throne, looking unenthused, with Ashira, the queen, sitting beside him, clinging to him like a leech. Suddenly, the palace announcer shouted, "Make way for Crown Prince Murako!"
Murako entered, accompanied by his attendants, but Hylos didn't even bother to acknowledge him, let alone welcome him. Instead, Hylos continued to stare blankly into space, as if he was about to doze off.
Murako's face darkened with anger, feeling disrespected by Hylos's lack of attention. "Am I interrupting something, King of the Valley of Kings?" Murako asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm and seriousness. "You should be showing respect to me, the rightful heir to the throne."
Ashira stood up, her face red with rage. "Take back what you said!" she shouted at Murako.
Murako's expression turned even more serious, his eyes flashing with intensity. "I am the son of the former king, and you, my dear stepmother, should show some respect," he said, his voice firm and commanding.
Hylos, seemingly oblivious to the tension, stood up and announced, "I'm tired. I need to rest." He turned to leave the hall, ignoring the confrontation unfolding before him.
Murako's anger boiled over, and he followed Hylos, grabbing his shoulder with force. "You're the king now, but you haven't done anything to find General Iras, to see if he's still alive," Murako spat, his voice venomous.
Hylos remained facing away, but a faint smile played on his lips. He turned to face Murako, his golden eyes glinting with amusement, his eyelashes batting lazily.
"Why would I waste my time searching for someone who's been dead for a long time?" Hylos asked, his voice laced with a hint of mockery.
Murako's eyes widened in shock, his face pale with rage. "What did you just say?" he his voice trembling with fury.
Murako was taken aback by Hylos's words, his anger boiling over. With a swift motion, he punched Hylos in the face. Hylos's guards rushed to intervene, restraining Murako.
Hylos's lip began to bleed, and he calmly wiped the blood with his finger. then licked the blood off his finger, a smirk spreading across his face as he savored the pain.
"If you still have feelings for Iras, then let's see how far you'll go to cling to the dead," Hylos said, his voice laced with venom.
Murako's face contorted in rage, and he shouted, "I'll kill you, Hylos!" The atmosphere was electric with tension, the guards struggling to hold Murako back.
.....
....
A Moment of Regret:
Hylos burst into laughter, his arms wrapped around Ashira, as they both disappeared. The massive doors closed behind them, guarded by two of Hylos's loyal men.
But as soon as the doors shut, Hylos's demeanor changed. He sat on the edge of his bed, his face twisted in a mixture of sadness and regret. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he punched his chest in anger, furious with himself for the things he had said to Murako.
"Why did I have to say those things?" Hylos muttered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Why did I have to hurt iras like that?" He buried his face in his hands, his body shaking with sobs. For a moment, the mask of the ruthless king slipped, revealing a glimpse of the vulnerable soul beneath.
Hylos was consumed by regret for the words he had spoken to Murako about Iras. He was furious with himself for causing so much pain, even though he knew Iras was already gone.
Outside his chambers, Hylos seemed indifferent to Iras's demise, but alone in his room, he was overcome with sorrow. Memories of his past with Iras flooded his mind, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of longing.
As he sat amidst the opulence of his palace, Hylos felt a deep sense of emptiness. He had thought that his words would protect him, would shield him from the pain of his past. But now, alone in the silence, he realized that he had only inflicted more wounds upon himself.
The tears he had held back for so long began to fall, and Hylos let out a mournful sigh. For the first time, he allowed himself to grieve, to acknowledge the ache in his heart. And as he wept, he whispered a name, the name of the one who had left an indelible mark on his soul: Iras.
..... .....
.,...
A Stunning Revelation: Three Days
Iras went to the grand hall of the palace for ready to start working again, but was stopped by the palace steward, who looked somber.
"I'm sorry, but the king has ordered your removal, saying he doesn't want to see you," the steward said.
Iras was taken aback, suddenly remembering that he was the one who had been attacking the king and that he had kissed Hylos. He bowed his head, thanked the steward, and turned to leave.
Iras decided to visit Rabik and boarded a cheap carriage, paying only a silver coin because it was small and dirty. When he arrived, he saw a modest palace surrounded by walls and filled with flowers. Rabik's guards, who were kind, allowed him to enter.
Just as he was about to enter Rabik's room, he overheard Murako's voice, conversing with Rabik. Rabik sat on his throne, while Murako stood, looking serious.
"I want you to help me. If my men fail to kill Hylos, I want you to be the one to finish the job," Murako said.
Rabik listened intently, looking uncertain. "What you're doing is wrong," he replied.
Murako's expression turned cold. "Why are you defending Hylos? He's the reason Iras died, and he did nothing about it. You know that, don't you?" Murako shouted.
Rabik was about to respond when the door suddenly swung open. Murako and Rabik were shocked to see a figure holding a mask that looked like a brown face. When they looked closer, they saw that it was Iras's face, now pale from wearing the mask for so long.
Murako was stunned, unable to speak, while Rabik was speechless, knowing that Iras was alive and had been in disguise.
The room fell silent. Iras spoke up, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm alive, and Hylos is innocent. Whatever you're planning, Crown Prince, please don't proceed."
Murako's face twisted in a mix of joy and anger. "I'm glad you're alive, but I won't forgive Hylos. Even now you still protecting him."
Iras quickly responded, his voice firm. "He didn't do anything wrong!"
Murako's face reddened with rage. "It's too late. I've already sent someone to kill him."
Iras's eyes widened in horror, and he rushed to the palace to warn Hylos.