"No! Please, don't hurt him," Asher went on his knees, his pleading hands quivered.

"The last time I spared him for a couple of days he escaped, and got intimate with you," Owen turned away from his son. "Guards!"

Asher's eyeballs roamed around.
What should I do? Think, think!

His eyes landed on Tristan's dagger on the floor. He grabbed it and held the blade to his neck.

"Stop!" the queen commanded, the guards halted. She looked at Asher with a smile. "Sweetie, put that down."

Asher shook his head. "Let him go first."

The king Scowled. "He's bluffing, kill the thief."

Asher pulled the knife on his skin, his neck stung, blood dripped on his collar and onto his shirt.

"My king! Please, stop!" Alice yelled, sobbing into her hands for she couldn't bear the gruelling scene.

Tristan looked at him. "Asher, drop the dagger."

"But they'll hurt you," his eyes glistened as he sniffed.

"It's okay, I'll be fine," Tristan gave him a reassuring smile.

"I-I'm so sorry, it's my fault," Asher whispered and cried harder.

"Don't make your mom worry, put it down, I'll be fine."

Asher hesitated for a while then released his grip, the dagger clinked as it fell to the ground.

The queen hyperventilated and ran to him. "Asher, mommy's coming," she held her son close to her chest.

"Call his doctor!" she told a maid, the woman bowed and hastened to find him.

Queen Alice smiled at Asher in her arms. "It's going to be alright, mommy's here."

"Don't kill him, please," Asher said.

Queen Alice turned to her husband with a knowing look, the king exhaled. "Take him to the dungeon."

Asher's security was tripled, he was not allowed to leave his room for any reason. Asher hadn't eaten anything since that fateful day, he would take his medicine and lay down until he slept.
…

King Owen stepped into the cold dark dungeon, lit up by the torches hung on the walls. Tristan leaned on the wall quietly, he sensed someone's shadow and opened his eyes.

Owen lowered his gaze to the bandit. "What is your name?"

"Tristan."

"And your relationship with my son?"

Tristan paused for a while then answered. "His lover."

The king pinched his nose bridge, engulfed in secondhand embarrassment. He exhaled. "How much do you need to stay away from him?"

"Asher won't be pleased to see you negotiate his happiness," Tristan said.

"Silence! What does a petty thief like you know?"

A maid rushed in, breathing heavily.

"What!" Owen turned.

"Your majesty, the prince fainted, my queen said he refused to eat anything for days."

"That boy!" he muttered. "I'll be there soon."

The maid bowed and left.

The king glared at Tristan with contempt and walked away.

"Wait!" Tristan said.

"Please, tell Asher I said he should eat, tell him I'm fine. He'll listen to me"

The king grimaced and sized him with his eyes as if he was a rat.

I wonder what Asher sees in a low life like him, he could have Scarlet or any noble in the country, but he went with this. Very disappointing.
…

Everyone gasped in unison as Asher opened his eyes, his mother hugged him. "Asher, my love. Please eat, you need food.” She took the plate from a maid.

"I told you before, I won't eat until you let me see Tristan-"

"And he said I should tell you to eat," his father interrupted. The maids dressed in black and white uniforms created a path for the king as he walked through.

"He did?" Asher's eyes widened.

"Yes," the king said.

"But I want to see him now."

"You will, after eating."

"You expect me to believe you?"

"This time, I'll give you my word."

Asher squinted, he searched for any hint of deceit in Owen’s eyes. "Okay, but I won't take my medicine until you keep your promise."

"Very well then."
…

Asher ran down the stairs and knelt on the floor. "Tristan, you're okay?" he glanced at him several times.

Tristan touched his arm. "Yeah... but my shoulder hurt-"

Asher grabbed his hand and sang the healing song in one breath.

Flower, gleam and glow
Let your powers shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt

Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine

Tristan flexed his shoulder. "Thanks," he said with a smile.

The king froze. "He knows? Asher, you know the rules!"

Asher pulled Tristan's shoulders close and kissed him passionately.

His parents looked away in shock and awkwardness.

His father walked to Asher and dragged his red robe, "I've seen enough!"

King Owen dumped him with his mother, "Take your son to his room."

Queen Alice glanced at her husband.
Oh, he's my son now.

Asher struggled to escape from her grip, she had to call all the maids to help her carry him back to his room.

Asher took his medicine, he lay on the bed, his eyes fixed in one place as if in deep thought.

"Asher, can I ask you a question?" the queen said and he looked at her.

"Tristan, right? What do you like about him?"

Asher's eyes brightened. "His smile is dreamy, he protects and worries about me a lot, he has a nice body, his kisses are the best, and he's good at everything." Asher blushed with a sigh.

"...oh, except singing, he was this close to beating Dad's record" Asher laughed then wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. 

"Really?" Alice giggled.

"Yes," Asher chuckled.

There was a short pause before she spoke. "Do you like him that much?"

"Yes, more than anything in the world."