Sunmi was both exasperated and impressed by the stunt he'd pulled during the archery contest, but she'd eventually admitted it had worked to his advantage – he'd definitely made a point known by standing his ground of the sort, and he'd most definitely left a lasting impression on everyone who'd watched.

Felix was quite glad about how things had turned out. Thanks to his free afternoon, he could now properly focus on concluding one of the numerous projects he'd undertaken during his first week at the High Palace. Thanks to the thorough accounts of the treasury Yedam had made for him, he now had an exact idea of how much capital was at his disposal – and so, he was free to start planning what to do with it.

He found it quite stupid, to constantly amass all sorts of riches without making use of them, when there were so many people who needed that money. Helios had a vault of its own, of course, but it wasn't used to uselessly accumulate treasures, merely to store most of the kingdom's capital.

First thing first, thanks to the records Tzuyu had provided for him, he could see exactly how much every single staff member made by working at the High Palace. He was quite horrified to find how underpaid they actually were when considering how many hours they worked every day. So, without hesitation, he'd started working on a raise for everyone.

(It was a bit complicated, since he had to consider everyone's respective duties, current weekly wage, years of experience, etc, etc. However, Felix was determined to raise the salary standards up to pars with that of Helios's, at the very least, so he worked hard to make it happen.)

It would take much more than a single afternoon but, now that he'd worked out a proper equation to make things go faster, he could hand in the rest of the work to some of his council members. He was quite satisfied with his work when Sunmi came to fetch him for dinner, that night.

"Tell Nayeon, Haruto, Jihoon, and Momo to take over this for me," he instructed, patting the large stack of files beside him. "I'd like this done as quickly as possible, too – they can ask for more help from other council members if needed, though."

"And this is..."

Sunmi's eyes widened a bit as he quickly read over the few pages he'd already filled. Felix leaned back into his chair, grinning from ear to ear when she finally looked at him again, her mouth falling open – it wasn't often that he managed to see her lose her cool composure of the sort.

"You're serious about this...?"

"Of course. Good work deserves to be rewarded, and no one should have to choose between having food on the table or taking care of their family, like what happened with Chef Lee and his wife," he replied, nodding firmly. "Everyone working here will get a raise, and will start working reasonable hours for a reasonable wage – including you and everyone on the council, of course."

"With all due respect, Your Highness, we are not doing what we do for the money," she replied, frowning a little.

"I'm aware," he assured. "If you don't want the extra money, I can't really force you to take it. I'll personally talk with the other members of the council later, to see where they stand about the matter – but please don't pressure anyone into thinking it'd be wrong to accept it, alright?"

"Of course. I'll make sure to pass your instructions along right away." She then offered him a slightly taunting grin. "But, as impressed as I am with the work you've put into this little project, I'm afraid your hard-won alone time has come to an end. It's time to head to dinner, Your Highness."

"Ugh..."

Hopefully, he wouldn't get skewered for the stunt he'd pulled at the contest.

.

"Your Highness."

The three leaders had greeted him in one voice, but only one of them bowed their head – Christopher. It was a shallow inclination of the head, barely perceptible, but Felix had distinctly seen it, and he found himself pleasantly surprised. He didn't think he'd earn the respect of the Emperor first.

"Your feats during today's archery contest were quite impressive," Christopher stated, raising his glass to him. "Hyunjin is the best archer in the Empire, along with his teacher – for you to beat him so effortlessly was quite unexpected."

"I've been practicing archery ever since I was tall enough to wield a bow," shrugged Felix, sparing the man a smile. "In any case, I hope I didn't offend anyone – I really needed the afternoon to work on some important projects that simply couldn't wait."

"Projects? You've barely been here for a week and you already have projects taking up your time?" mused Sangyeon. "Would it be too forward to ask for the details?"

"Oh, I'm giving a raise to the entire palace staff. It sounds simple, but there are many factors to take into consideration, so it'll take a little while longer before it can be put into effect," explained Felix, before shaking his head. "But let's not talk money while we enjoy dinner. King Sangyeon, you were telling me yesterday about the influence of noble families in governmental decisions, were you not? Please, tell me more."

.

The next day, Felix resigned himself to making amends with the three suitors. He'd proven to be quite difficult so far, and he did feel a little bad about it – after all, all three of them were also doing what was expected of them. So, he'd taken the time to write three short letters, conveying his wishes to spend an afternoon with each of them – separately, of course.

Since today he was expected to have lunch with the party from Miroh, he simply decided to grant the first "date" to Hyunjin, if only for practicality's sake. Tomorrow, he'd have lunch with Bloom, and so would spend the afternoon with Juyeon – and, in a similar fashion, the third lunch would be spent with Aurora, and so the third afternoon would be reserved to San.

When questioned about seating arrangements, Felix had simply replied that he would follow the customs of whoever he was sharing lunch with. As such, he truly didn't know what to expect when Sunmi came to fetch him so they could head to the wing that had been set up for the Miroh representatives.

(They had more than enough rooms for everyone, along with a private dining hall, private baths, and they'd asked for access to the interior training court, so they'd been set up in the East Wing.)

When they finally reached the East Wing, they found a young man already waiting for them, with light brown hair and slightly chubby cheeks. There was an older man beside him who appeared a little more closed off, and slightly intimidating.

"Hi!" the boy greeted excitedly, waving at them as if they couldn't see him from the five meters separating them. "I'm Jisung, and that's Minho!"

"It's nice to meet you two," smiled Felix, a tad endeared by the boy's enthusiasm. "Thank you for coming to greet me."

"I shall take my leave, then," announced Sunmi, bowing to all three of them.

Felix bid her goodbye, before reporting his attention to the pair. The boy, Jisung, looked like he was going to vibrate out of his skin, while Minho simply looked bored. When their eyes met, however, a mild spark of interest lightened his gaze.

"You're pretty good with a bow."

"Are you Hyunjin's teacher? The one Emperor Christopher told me about?" realized Felix.

"He told you about me?"

"Yes, he called you the best archer in the Empire."

At that, Minho's lips twitched upward. "Well, he's not wrong."

Without warning, Jisung slapped his arm. "Yah, don't start getting a big head, it can hardly pass the doors as it is!" He then shot a wink at the prince. "Don't inflate his ego even more, Your Highness, else we'll never hear the end of it. But he's right, you were great out there! Definitely didn't expect that!"

"Oh." Felix blinked a few times, a tad taken aback by the genuine praised. "T- thank you. I hope you won't hold it against me, though... You know, for taking Hyunjin's victory away."

Minho shrugged, gesturing for him to follow as he started walking. "If you beat him fair and square, then it was your victory, not Hyunjin's. None of us will think badly of you for proving your worth as a warrior."

"My worth as a warrior...?" he echoed, a tad confused.

"Miroh is pretty big on the warrior way," answered Jisung. "If you want to be respected, then you need to prove yourself capable to stand your ground."

"That's why Chan inclined his head to you yesterday," added Minho, sparing him a side glance. "You still have a long way to go before earning his full respect, but beating Hyunjin yesterday was a good first step in that direction."

"Those from Aurora and Bloom probably won't get it, but any self-respecting citizen of Miroh can appreciate a warrior's prowess," assured Jisung, his tone souring just the slightest bit at the mention of the other nations. "Eyes can lie, but the blood doesn't – one's true self can only be revealed in the heat of battle."

It almost sounded rehearsed, and Felix realized it was probably a lesson taught to any child raised in Miroh. He was quite curious to learn more about this way of life. He'd been a little wary of their ways, since he'd assumed that they were a warring state merely because they enjoyed fighting to an unhealthy degree... but maybe there was more to it, after all.

Before he could ask, however, they finally reached the dining hall, where pretty much everyone else had already gathered. There was a single, big round table set up, and Felix was slightly surprised to find Christopher sitting amongst his men without a care for a different seating arrangement that would single him out as the leader.

"Your Highness! Welcome!" Felix was a bit taken aback by the warm greeting. The Emperor was much more jovial than during dinner. "Feel free to sit wherever you wish. Do you like mead?"

"From time to time, yes."

Felix was a bit unsure as to where to sit, but eventually settled for following Jisung and Minho once again. He felt a little more at ease with them, since they were the only ones he'd spoken to beside Christopher. He ended up sitting between the pair, with Hyunjin directly at his opposite. Hyunjin offered him a tentative smile, and Felix couldn't help but return him. Maybe he'd get to see a different side of the man when neither of them had to bother with keeping up appearances.

.

Lunch was a surprisingly nice affair. Felix expected some awkwardness, at the very least, but everyone acted as they normally would, and treated him as if he was one of them. They were the type of people who didn't normally care for status, and who considered that respect needed to be earned, a notion Felix could appreciate.

Christopher proved to be surprisingly good company. It would seem that without Hongjoong and Sangyeon around, his personality completely flipped over. All of his men called him "Chan", he teased and joked around with them a lot, and Felix could see just how much he actually cared about all of them.

Eventually, though, came the time for Hyunjin and Felix to go their own way. They both ignored the suggestive winks and the catcalls echoing behind them as they left the dining hall and, once the doors closed behind them, Hyunjin heaved out an exasperated sigh.

"Apologies for their absolute lack of manners, Your Highness," he stated, offering him an apologetic smile. "Their hearts are in the right place, but their mouths..."

"Not as much?" completed Felix, amused.

"Exactly. Shall we?"

Hyunjin extended his arm, allowing him to loop his own with it. He couldn't help but think they must have offered a rather amusing sight, considering their height difference. As they started walking, Felix noticed that the General seemed to have a goal in mind.

"Are we heading somewhere in particular?"

"Ah, yes. I was wondering if you'd care to accompany me on a hunt? With your skills as an archer, I'm ready to bet we could bring back good prey for dinner tonight."

"It's been a while since I've last hunted," he admitted. "And I doubt the Head Cook will think ill of us filling his pantry. Let's go!"

Felix was often in charge of the hunting parties back home. While he didn't exactly enjoy killing animals, he did appreciate when his arrows struck true. Most importantly, however, he figured it would be a great opportunity to properly gauge what kind of person Hyunjin was.

.

"You're a general, then. Tell me, what does a General of Miroh do?"

"Miroh doesn't really function as a monarchy like Bloom or Helios. The Emperor wins the title through a series of very difficult tasks and, ultimately, the strongest warrior becomes our leader. Then, directly under him are his Generals – I suppose our duties would be similar to that of the High Council."

"I don't mean any offense, but you look quite young for such an important position. In fact, everyone does – even the Emperor doesn't look much older than I am."

"Chan claimed the title of Emperor when he was barely seventeen. We were all already good friends at the time, having been raised and trained together since we were old enough to walk, and all of us wanted him as our leader," explained Hyunjin, unperturbed by the remark. "It's only natural that we would follow in his footsteps to properly support him. The positions of Generals function in much the same way as that of the Emperor – each of us challenged a member of the council for their position, and won."

"That's quite impressive," mused Felix. "But why Emperor Christopher? Why not follow and support someone else?"

"Chan... always had an ambition. He could see Miroh becoming even greater than it currently was, and wanted nothing more than the opportunity to do his part for our nation." A small smile graced Hyunjin's lips at that. "Beyond being a great warrior, he's a great man – one I'm proud to call my Emperor."

Felix couldn't help but smile. He could easily tell that Hyunjin greatly respected the man, and that his adoration was genuine. And, from the way he'd seen Christopher treat his men earlier at lunch, he could understand why. Despite being quite intimidating, the Emperor possessed an unexpected sense of camaraderie—

'CRACK'

Without thinking, Felix spun around and released his arrow. It hit a fairly large hare right in the head, killing it on the spot.

"You're fast," remarked Hyunjin, impressed. "For someone from a pacifist nation, you certainly know how to wield a weapon well."

"Helios is considered a pacifist nation because the other three are constantly fighting amongst themselves. Just because we do not actively take part in pointless conflicts does not make us incapable of defending ourselves."

"Pointless conflicts?" repeated Hyunjin, quirking a brow. "Are you saying centuries' worth of grievances and disagreements are pointless conflicts?"

"Until you can give me a proper reason behind the existence of said grievances and disagreements, I'm afraid you don't leave me much of a choice," shrugged Felix, going to pick up his kill.

"It's really not that complicated," huffed Hyunjin. "Bloom and Aurora are the very definition of honor-less scum. Bloom treats its people like cattle, while Aurora is filled with savages of the most ill-repute backgrounds. How can we be expected to get along with two nations so corrupted, prone to lying and backstabbing, and the furthest thing from honorable?"

"You speak a lot of honor. I take it it's a quality held in high-regards in Miroh, then?"

"There is no pride to take in one's life if it was lived without honor," assured firmly Hyunjin. "This is cruel world, Your Highness, and it's easy to lose oneself to it – salvaging your honor thus means salvaging your humanity."

"I see."

Felix could understand what he was saying, to an extent. He could understand that, in the heat of battle, their firm belief in honor was probably what kept them from snapping and turning into mindless, blood-thirsty beasts, and he could respect that.

However, honor was a rather frivolous concept. He'd never thought much about it before, but he'd always thought of honor as a reality that extended beyond combats and battles. For him, having honor felt like an innate, everyday thing, a part of living – but if, for Hyunjin and the rest of Miroh, the only way of living they knew was through wielding a sword, he could understand why they'd reduced honor to the frame of violence.

"Oh, look!" suddenly exclaimed Hyunjin, perking up. "Bear tracks!"

Felix frowned a little at that. "We've probably encroached its territory. We should head back before it becomes aware of our presence—"

"And miss the opportunity to bring back even greater prey? No, let's go find it!"

"Bears aren't prey," protested Felix.

Hyunjin completely ignored him, though, and started following the tracks. Glancing around nervously, Felix then followed after him, hoping he could convince him to turn back before the irreparable was done.

"Hyunjin, we've already got more than enough meat for tonight, and even for the next few days," he insisted. "There's no point in hunting for more!"

"Have you ever tasted bear meat? It's quite delicious, really," retorted Hyunjin, unperturbed. "In a world where the law of the strongest reigns, there is no such thing as a being existing outside of the food chain – everything is prey, so long as you know how to catch it."

Felix cursed under his breath as his foot got caught in a protruding root. By the time he managed to free himself, Hyunjin was already far ahead. He started calling his name, not too loud because he didn't want to alert the bear of their presence... but then he suddenly heard a growl, just to his right.

He tensed upon noticing the opening of a cave, just a few meters away. The bear coming out of it had obviously noticed him, and was growling threateningly at him. He lifted his hands in an appeasing gesture, slowly taking a few step backs—

"I got it!"

His eyes widened in horror. "Hyunjin, don't!"

Too late.

The general released his arrow, hitting the bear right in the forehead. The mighty beast let out a rattling groan as it collapsed, dead before it even hit the ground. Felix could only stare, his heart beating wildly as the reality of what had just happened slowly sunk in.

"Wow, it's a really big one!" exclaimed Hyunjin, sounding almost like a delighted child. "It's fur will be great for the winter to come, too!"

"Why did you kill it?" whispered Felix, unable to tear his eyes away from the glossy, unseeing eyes of the bear.

"Huh? It was going to attack you, Your Highness. I just saved your life—"

"It wasn't going to attack me," snapped Felix, his hands starting to shake. "I told you. We trespassed on its territory! And it wasn't about to attack – it was protecting its cubs!"

It's only then that Hyunjin noticed them – the three bear cubs, slowly stumbling out of the cave. They were letting out small noises, probably calling out for their mother. They were so small, still, barely able to walk straight...

"I told you not to kill it. I told you to stop, but you didn't listen." Felix finally looked at Hyunjin, fighting back his tears. "Why?"

Hyunjin stiffened, visibly sensing the accusing tone. "Its meat will feed us for days—"

"We already had more than enough meat!"

"—and killing such a mighty prey is the mark of a good warrior! It's a dangerous, powerful beast. Any who kills it proves they are stronger, that they are sporting the colors of Miroh with pride and honor—"

"What honor is there in killing an unprovoked animal!? What honor is there in shooting it so mercilessly, for no other reason than your stupid pride?" Felix gritted his teeth. "Don't lie to my face – this wasn't for the sake of bringing food, or even saving me: you only shot it so you could brag about killing a bear to the rest of your friends!"

"This is hunting!" snapped back Hyunjin, not understanding why he was so upset. "Do you think yourself any better? I saw you shoot down those rabbits without even batting an eye!"

"The difference between us is that I don't kill for the sake of enjoyment, General," hissed Felix. "I hunt to provide food, and I don't take pride in taking a life, no matter how minor or insignificant it might appear. You may believe yourself to be strong by taking down such a mighty beast, but the truth of the matter is that you're weak to your own ego. And now, because of that weakness, these cubs have not only lost their mother, but they will most likely die because they're too young to survive on their own!"

Hyunjin fell silent at that, seemingly stunned by his unexpected outburst. Felix let out a shuddering breath, sparing a glance for the whimpering bear cubs now pitifully nudging their mother's unmoving body.

"What a waste of life," he murmured, sorrowful. "Leave, General."

"Your Highness—"

"Leave. That's an order."

There was a moment of silence, before Hyunjin scoffed and went to pick up the bear. Had these been any other circumstances, Felix would have been thoroughly impressed by the fact that he just lifted an adult bear over his shoulders as if it didn't weight anything but, as it was, he didn't have it in his heart to admire the display of strength. 

The general left without another word, and Felix didn't even spare him a glance, focusing on the three cubs who were now at a loss without their mother. Slowly, so as not to frighten them, he went to sit beside them. They were so small, they could probably fit in his hands. How were they going to survive out there on their own?

Unable to help it, a few tears started running down his face. The cubs came to bump their heads against his legs, whining loudly, and he choked down a sob.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, gently petting their fur. "I'm so, so sorry."

Further behind him, Hyunjin had paused in his tracks to look back. Seeing the Prince of Helios so heartbroken admittedly tugged at his own heart, and he hated the taste of guilt now lingering in his mouth. What should he feel guilty about? Anyone back home would have been proud of him for killing a bear.

::

"The difference between us is that I don't kill for the sake of enjoyment, General. I hunt to provide food, and I don't take pride in taking a life, no matter how minor or insignificant it might appear."

::

Hyunjin wasn't barbaric. He didn't take pride in taking a life. He was just...

He was just...

His throat became a little tighter as he realized that he couldn't, in fact, refute the prince's accusations. He'd never questioned the intents and ways he'd been taught back in Miroh, he still didn't completely understand what it was that he did wrong... but he did know that he hated how Felix had looked at him.

As if he was a monster who enjoyed pointless bloodshed.

I'm not like that! Snapped internally Hyunjin, growing a little angry. We were hunting! It's only natural to seek the bigger preys to get more meat!

::

"Don't lie to my face – this wasn't for the sake of bringing food, or even saving me: you only shot it so you could brag about killing a bear to the rest of your friends!"

::

Hyunjin cursed loudly. "Damn it!"

.

Felix didn't show up at dinner, that night.

He was too conflicted, still very much upset, and thus incapable of being in the same room as Hyunjin at the moment, else he'd probably end up saying things he didn't entirely mean.

He knew he had probably confused and upset Hyunjin with his outburst. He knew they didn't have the same upbringing nor were they raised with the same beliefs, and that he couldn't completely hold the situation against him. However, just because he understood their innate differences didn't mean he was ready to accept them.

Felix had always been taught that all life mattered and that, when taking it, you needed to carefully consider the impact it would have on everything else: you shouldn't gather herbs all in the same spot, else none would grow again; you shouldn't fish in the upper levels of the river when spring comes, for that's when salmon eggs hatch; and, most importantly, you shouldn't kill unless absolutely necessary for feeding, or for protection.

Hunting wasn't a game or a sport, but a mean to provide the necessities to survive. You shouldn't hunt in excess just for the sake of having more, nor should you kill for the sake of gloating rights. Bears, wolves, and even wolverines were amongst the biggest predators in Helios's forests and mountains, but they usually stayed away from humans, unless provoked, and so humans also stayed away from them.

Felix had been taught to always avoid conflict, if possible – not out of cowardice, but because keeping the peace was a way to keep balance. And yes, of course, sometimes conflict was unavoidable – there had been a few instances when they'd had to put down a bear roaming too close to one of the villages, or a rogue wolf that kept on attacking the sheep, but it was always done out of necessity.

What Hyunjin had done wasn't out of necessity. It wasn't for the meat, the fur, or for saving Felix. He'd purposefully trespassed onto the bear's territory, sought out conflict, and ultimately killed an animal who was merely taking care of its cubs, and would otherwise have been peaceful and wouldn't have caused anyone any trouble.

So yes, Felix had a bit of a hard time wrapping his head around it. No matter how they did it in Miroh, he simply couldn't bring himself to accept pointless killing, and he sincerely hoped Hyunjin would at least consider his words next time around – because of course, he couldn't possibly avoid the general forever.

What a day, he thought as he laid in bed, exhausted, yet unable to sleep. Here's hoping tomorrow with Bloom and Prince Juyeon will go better...

.

Much like Miroh's guests quarters, the North Wing that had been provided to the Bloom party had more than enough rooms for everyone, along with a private dining hall and private baths. The difference, though, was the direct access to the stables as, apparently, the royals were quite fond of horseback riding.

There's one thing we should get along about, had mused Felix upon noticing the horses outside.

Much like yesterday, he was greeted at the entrance of the North Wing by two young men. One had dark hair with a white strand, and the other had more greyish hair and a slightly more juvenile face. The two of them were also dressed in the usual white and gold of their nation.

"Good morning, Your Highness," they chorused, bowing in startling synchronicity.

"Good morning. You are...?"

"Kevin, the Fifth Prince, Your Highness," answered the one with darker hair. "And this is Eric, the Eleventh Prince."

"Eleventh...?" repeated Felix, a tad taken aback.

They both chuckled at his expression, and it was Eric who answered while Kevin took the lead to guide them to the dining hall.

"The previous King of Bloom had a wife, and three concubines. While we've all been acknowledged as the King's legal children, and have thus been granted the title of 'prince', only Sangyeon or Juyeon were legitimate heirs to the throne."

"That's why Juyeon is the Crowned Prince, even though he's technically the fifth born," added Kevin. "Our family tree is admittedly a little complicated, but make no mistake: we all consider each other brothers, even if the blood doesn't entirely agree."

"That's nice," mused Felix.

It really was. He hadn't looked much into their interactions so far, a tad too caught up in trying to keep the leaders from quarreling, but simply hearing them talk about their siblings indicated a clear affection. He certainly hadn't expected them all to be of royal blood, either – but then again, Bloom's monarchy was known for allowing the existence of harems, so it really shouldn't have been such a surprise.

Entering the dining hall, Felix was half-amused, and half-taken aback upon seeing a large, rectangular table with a gold-embroidered tablecloth and fancy silverware. Everything was absolutely symmetric, and there were five chairs on each side, with one chair at each end of the table. The one at the very back was occupied by Sangyeon, while the other was empty.

The moment he stepped inside, all of the princes rose to their feet and greeted him with a deep bow and a chorused welcome. He became a bit flustered when Juyeon pulled his chair for him, and helped him sit, before taking the seat to his right, and everyone else promptly settled down again.

This is definitely different from eating with the Miroh representatives, sweatdropped Felix.

"Thank you for joining us today, Your Highness," then said Sangyeon. "We have only the best delicacies of Bloom to offer today, so we hope you'll enjoy them."

"Oh, I look forward to it, then," smiled Felix, a tad awkwardly.

Plates were brought out, peach wine was served, and Felix took a moment to realize that not a single one of the princes, or even the King, were eating – they were all waiting for him to take the first bite. Clearing his throat a bit, Felix made a move to grab his fork... but belatedly noticed that there were four of them.

Why are there so many fricking forks!?

He flushed a bit in embarrassment upon realizing that he genuinely had no clue of which silverware to use first. Before he could say anything about it and humiliate himself even more, however, he felt something hit his foot. A tad startled, he glanced at Juyeon, who wasn't looking at him, but had his fingers poised over... the fourth fork!

Relieved, he offered them all an awkward smile before picking up the fourth fork, and taking the first bite. The moment he did, all of the princes also picked up their forks and happily dug in, the awkward silence broken by light chatter.

Well that was close.

Heaving out a small sigh of relief, Felix glanced back at Juyeon, and noticed the red-haired man was looking at him. He mouthed a heartfelt "thank you", to which the older prince simply smiled before continuing with his meal.

.

Eating with the Bloom representatives was leagues different from eating with the Miroh representatives. The decorum was omnipresent, where everything and everyone had their place and stuck to it, and there was no denying that even if Felix was a royal too, he felt distinctly out of place amongst them.

The intrinsic, unspoken rules felt absolutely suffocating but, once Felix got the hang of them thanks to Juyeon's subtle help, he found himself starting to enjoy the different atmosphere. He could definitely see how well they all got along despite not being full-blooded brothers, and it amused him a bit to see the normally stiff King of Bloom completely softening whenever one of the younger ones spoke to him.

The one thing that still weirded Felix out a bit was the somewhat intense shows of respect – constant bowing, excessive use of "Your Highness", and always waiting for him to eat or speak first. He didn't necessarily enjoy being put on the spot like that but he quickly came to realize that they weren't doing it to butter him up or anything, but because it was simply how they'd all been raised, so that did help him feel a little better.

It was satisfied by the new experience, but admittedly a little relieved that it was over, that Felix finally took his leave for his afternoon with Juyeon.

"Thank you again for your help earlier," sighed Felix as they started heading outside, apparently making their way to the stables. "I've never seen so much silverware in my life before – I had no clue of what to do."

"Even if you'd made a mistake, no one would have been disrespectful enough to call you out on it," replied Juyeon with a small shrug, before peering at him curiously. "Did you not eat with proper silverware back in Helios, then?"

Felix huffed a small laugh at that. "Proper silverware? We have forks and knives and spoons, yes, but we didn't use ten of each for a single meal."

"There weren't ten of each," chuckled Juyeon. "But I should extend an apology on behalf of my family, nonetheless. The last thing we wanted was to make you feel embarrassed – we merely assumed that, because of your status as a fellow royal, you'd been raised with the exact same rules of decorum as we were."

Felix nodded at that. "It's an understandable mistake, and rest assured that I don't hold it against you or your family. If anything, it simply gave me the opportunity to learn something new, so let's simply call it a novel experience."

"... with all due respect, Your Highness, you're a little strange."

Felix flashed him a grin at that. "Yes, so I've heard. With that being said, though, might I inquire as to what you have planned for this afternoon?"

Juyeon quirked a brow, probably not expecting his somewhat disrespectful remark to be brushed off so easily, before perking up since they'd reached the stables.

"I've heard that you are an adept rider," he stated simply. "I've also heard that the village nearby has a shop which sells delicious pastries. Would you care to join me in my quest to see if their reputation is well-earned?"

Felix outright laughed at that. He hadn't exactly expected Juyeon to be the joking type, but there was no denying that he genuinely enjoyed his company so far.

"Why, it would be my honor to aid you in such an important quest," he teased, before glancing at the stables curiously. "But is it truly alright to borrow one of your brothers' horses...?"

"You needn't worry, Jacob has already volunteered his horse," he assured, guiding him over to a beautiful, chocolate brown stallion. "His name is Thunder – my brother's had him for years, now, and he's a very well-mannered horse."

"He's beautiful," murmured Felix, gently stroking the animal's head. "He reminds me of my own horse, Sunny – they have similar coats."

"Might I inquire as to why you didn't bring it with you?"

"I've had Sunny since I was very young. She's getting old, now, and wouldn't have survived the trek through the mountains," admitted Felix, a tad sadly. "She already didn't have much time left when I left Helios – she's probably already passed away, now."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Your Highness."

"Thank you, but it's alright. I've already made my peace with her departure." Shaking his head, he then spared the prince another smile. "In any case, I haven't had the time to ride ever since I was brought here. Shall we?"

.

The village Juyeon had mentioned was more of a little town, and it was one of the seven peasant settlements located in the neutral territory. Felix hadn't had the chance to visit any of them yet, so he was quite curious about what he'd find.

(Sunmi had briefly informed him that the villages weren't exactly well-off and that most of the previous Rulers had made them suffer through heavy taxes but, hopefully, he'd be able to undo most of the damage done once he had a better idea of what he was dealing with.)

They decided to keep their outing at a leisure pace, so they could continue talking.

"I'll be honest, upon learning that you were all siblings, I expected a lot more drama," Felix admitted at some point. "It was pretty nice to see you all getting along."

"Despite what stereotypes might indicate, all of our respective mothers actually got along quite well. It hasn't always been that way, but my father's harem was made up of women my mother, the Queen, trusted and deeply cared for," explained Juyeon, smiling slightly at the mention of his mother. "We were very lucky, to be raised without the usual stigma attached to step-siblings."

"What has happened of them, since your father passed away?" asked Felix, curious.

"The four of them have elected to move into a separate mansion together, while all of us continue living in the castle. My mother is still considered Queen until Sangyeon marries, so she still has a certain influence in the affairs of the court, but she tries not to get involved if she can help it – she's never liked dealing with the old coots of our council."

"From you tone, I take you don't particularly enjoy their company either, then?"

"The positions in the council have always been passed down from generation to generation amongst the noble families who first established the kingdom. As such, pretty much all of them are bigoted fools who'd rather fill their already-full pockets than actually do their job," he explained with a slight scowl.

"Couldn't King Sangyeon simply replace them?" wondered Felix, a bit confused. "Surely that would save everyone a lot of trouble, right?"

Juyeon let out a small laugh. "We wish it could be this simple, really. Unfortunately, they're all very influential people in their own right, with connections all over the kingdom. Even if my brother is King, he doesn't have enough power to counter their influence on his own. Firing them would only set off a chain reaction from a simple political strife to an actual economic crisis if handled improperly."

"So they're less dangerous if left alone, then," concluded Felix, biting his lower lip.

"Exactly. It's annoying, but nobility, tradition and order are the very foundations of the Kingdom of Bloom – without them, we are nothing."

It sounded a little ominous, in a way, but Felix decided not to express himself further on the matter. He now had a better grasp of the political state of Bloom, but he still didn't know enough to make a proper judgement.

After a little while of riding, the town finally came into view. Felix was relieved that it wasn't in ruins, having expected the worst after hearing Sunmi's warning, but he quickly came to realize that it was all superficial – the real damage was at its core.

Its people.

The buildings might not be in shambles, the streets might not be cracked, the windows might not be broken, and the walls might not be dirty – but the people looked positively miserable. The streets were empty of life but, the moment they passed the alleys, they found them crowded with people lying on thin blankets and dressed in dirty clothes.

Feeling a little sick, Felix got off his horse and walked up to a nearby bakery. There was barely anything on the shelves, and a single man half-collapsed on the counter. The moment Felix entered, though, the man straightened up, his eyes shining with a mix of hope and... and fear.

Why is he afraid of me...?

"Welcome, young Lord! What would you like to order?"

"Actually, I wanted to ask some questions—" The man deflated and, feeling a little bad, Felix promptly glanced around, before spotting some tarts. "—and I'll also take those cherry tarts, they look really good!"

The baker perked up at that, and he nodded eagerly. "Of- of course! I can't guarantee to give the answers you seek, I'm but a humble baker, but please, ask away!"

"Actually, I was wondering: why are there so many people in the alleys?"

"Oh, that's..." His cheery expression became a little grim. "I'm afraid it's because of the late Ruler's orders, sir."

"What kind of orders?" frowned Felix.

"Well, the previous Ruler was a bit on the... capricious side, let's say. She imposed heavy taxes, which forced most of the people here to use their houses and personal belongings as collateral – and when they lost that too, they all ended up living in the streets. But the Ruler, oh, she didn't like to see anything filthy, so she issued an order to anyone living in the streets to move to the alleys so she wouldn't have to see them if she happened to pass through." He heaved out a sad sigh. "Those who were caught in the streets when she showed up were beaten to a pulp – real horrifying, I tell you. Everyone's been too scared to defy her since and don't dare going into the streets again, even though she's already passed away."

Felix's frown had started deepening more and more as the baker talked and, by the time he was done with his explanation, he already had a few ideas of what to do. He hadn't realized the situation was quite this bad, and he intended to do his utmost to make things better as quickly as possible.

Starting now.

"Forget about the tarts," he ordered, his voice becoming sharper.

"But- but sir—"

"I'm buying out your entire stock."

The baker's eyes widened. "W- what?"

"I'm taking everything. Also, do you have a table I can borrow?"

"R- right away, sir! Anything for you, kind sir!!!"

The moment Felix stepped back outside, he glanced around, feeling incredibly saddened as he noticed the fading colors on the some of the buildings around. It must have been such a lively town before... They had obviously suffered greatly under the reign of the previous Ruler, and he couldn't imagine how much more they'd had to endure with the ones that came before her, too.

"Your Highness!" Right, he'd completely forgotten about Juyeon for a moment. "I found the pastry shop we were discussing earlier—"

"Right, here!" Felix threw him a pouch of money. "Please go buy everything!"

"I... what? Everything?"

"Yes, everything! Thank you!"

"Y- Your Highness, why—"

But Felix was already walking away, heading straight for a child that had been peering at them curiously from a corner. The child instantly backed away, visibly frightened, and Felix stopped in his tracks. Offering the child a smile, he crouched down and extended his hand, offering him a gold piece.

"Hello. Can I ask you to help me with something?"

"... is it real?" asked the boy, awed but visibly struggling to hide it.

"It's real," assured gently Felix. "Here, you can check."

Narrowing his eyes, the boy reached out and swiftly took the gold piece, before biting harshly into it. His face scrunched up in pain, but it was quickly replaced by genuine awe as he stared at the very real gold piece he was now holding.

"It's yours if you help me," reiterated Felix. "Can you pass a message for me?"

"What message?"

"I need you to go around the entire town and tell everyone that free food will be available for everyone in about an hour. Can you do that for me?"

The boy now looked a little wary. "You want us... to come out of the alleys?"

"Yes."

"We can't. It's not allowed."

"It is now," replied Felix, a little more firmly. "Tell them that the previous Ruler's decree has been nullified by the new Ruler, and that they're free to come out of the alley and roam the streets as they please."

The child scoffed at that. "No one's gonna believe me."

"That's alright. Just make sure everyone hears it, okay?"

Sparing him a slightly confused glance, the boy nodded curtly before taking off. Felix heaved out a sigh, before reporting his attention to the empty street. He knew there was a butcher shop, and they'd passed through a very small market of fruits and vegetables earlier – hopefully, there'd be enough for everyone.

With the help of the baker, Felix set up a few tables outside of his shop, where he put on display all of the baker's goods he'd just bought. He also got a few more tables where all of the meat and all of the vegetables and fruits he'd purchased were also set up and, soon enough, Juyeon returned with a dozen or so of baskets filled with pastries, the owner of the pastry shop helping him carry it all.

When Juyeon arrived, he paused, visibly confused.

"Your Highness... What is all of this?"

"Food," replied simply Felix, taking some of the baskets from him.

"Yes, I can see that. But why did you buy so much?"

"Because the people in town couldn't afford it."

Understanding dawned on the older prince. "You're giving it all away?"

"Yes. I also needed a way to gather as many people as possible to announce a new Royal Decree, so it's basically two birds with one stone. Here, help me set this up!"

"R- right."

By the time they were done preparing everything, an hour had passed, and some people started curiously observing from afar, not quite yet daring to leave the alleys. But then, the boy Felix had met earlier returned, a bunch of other children curiously following after him. Felix smiled when they approached.

"Hi! Tell me, does any of you would like some cherry tarts?"

The dozen or so of gummy, eager grins he received in return eased the weight on his chest, if only a little bit.

.

It took a little while for more people to come, everyone hesitant and unsure of if they could trust him. However, the appeal of free food soon took over their distrust and, quickly enough, their reserves started diminishing. Felix was grateful for the aid the baker, the butcher, and a few other volunteers provided to distribute the food equally, so as to ensure everyone got their share.

Juyeon... mostly stood to the side, eyeing the masses with palpable wariness. His hand flew over to his sword every time someone got a little too close to Felix, so the freckled prince eventually had to ask him to stand aside if he wasn't going to help, and Juyeon had done so with a mildly annoyed expression.

Eventually, though, they ran out of food. They'd managed to feed pretty much everyone, but it certainly wasn't enough to quell their hunger fully. Felix was quite disheartened when he found himself unable to give them more, but he'd done what he could at the moment, and it was now time to put the next part of his plan into motion.

"Everyone," he called, gulping a little. "E- everyone—"

"OI, LISTEN UP!!!" bellowed the baker, instantly earning everyone's attention.

Felix spared the man a grateful smile, before stepping forward. "I don't- I don't really know how to say this... Everyone, please, on behalf of the previous Ruler and possibly those before her, allow me to apologize!!!"

There was a moment of silence as Felix bowed deeply – much deeper than what was appropriate for someone of his status. After a few seconds of stillness, he straightened up and took a deep breath.

"I am announcing a new decree: starting from right now, the previous Ruler's decrees are completely nullified! You are free to leave the alleys, roam the streets of your town as you please, and reclaim your lost properties!"

More silence. Felix started growing a little nervous. Why didn't they seem to believe him?

"Who're you?" then asked a woman, a little further away. "Who're you, to think you have the kind of power to make that kind of decision right off the bat?"

"Watch your tone," snapped Juyeon before Felix could reply. "This is Prince Lee Felix, Divine Heir and your future Ruler! Show some respect!"

"What?"

"Him?"

"What's he doing here?"

"I don't recognize his colors..."

"Which nation is he from?"

"There's no way!"

"It must be a joke..."

Felix shot a half-glare at Juyeon for interfering, before reporting his attention to the slightly distraught crowd.

"I am indeed the Heir," he confirmed, his throat feeling a little dry. "And I assure you, I was completely unaware of your current way of life. Had I known anything about it, I would have interfered sooner—"

"As if!" snapped a young man from a little further away. Everyone instantly quieted down as he walked up to Felix – he obviously had a reputation of some sort amongst the townspeople. "Why would you even care, huh? All you Rulers are the fucking same – taxing us over and over again, running us out of our own homes and always asking for more, more, more!"

"I'm not like the other Rulers," assured firmly Felix.

"Just because you play your game differently doesn't mean you're not like all the others," hissed the man, now slightly towering over him. "Bloom, Aurora, Miroh – no matter where you're from, it's always the same fucking story. Do you think you're the only one who waltzed in here as if he owned the place, showed us a little kindness, and then ultimately turned it against us?" He gestured wildly to the people gathered all around them. "We're not stupid, as much as it might surprise you."

"I never thought you were—"

"Stop lying!"

Startled shouts and loud protests echoed as, without warning, the man grabbed Felix's collar. Before Felix could even think of doing anything, however, the man's grip loosened and he collapsed to his knees, cradling the back of his head in pain as Juyeon lowered the pommel of his sword.

"How dare you touch the Divine Heir with your filthy hands?" he hissed. He lifted his sword without a second thought. "I'll have you remember your place—!"

"Juyeon!" snapped Felix.

The sudden aggressiveness in his voice didn't go unnoticed, and the red-haired prince completely froze before he could bring down his blade. There was a bit of a stare-down between the two, before Felix pointed at the end of the street.

"Go tend to the horses, Juyeon. We'll be leaving shortly."

"I'm not—"

"Now."

Juyeon clicked his tongue, but sheathed his sword and, after a stiff bow, he walked away. The crowd parted to let him pass, visibly intimidated, and Felix heaved out a sigh, crouching before the man still kneeling on the ground.

"I'm very sorry about this. I didn't know he was going to react that way."

"... why didn't you let him kill me?"

"Should I have?"

"I disrespected you. I insulted you, and grabbed you. Any other Ruler would have me and my entire family hung for much less," snorted dryly the man.

"I see. What's your name?"

"... Jae."

"Well, Jae, as I said before, I'm not like the other Rulers." Rising back to his feet, he extended his hand to the man. "You have every right to be angry, and it's only natural you'd take that anger out on me, considering what my predecessors have done. I don't hold any of it against you."

A few moments passed, before he carefully took the hand extended to him, and Felix promptly pulled him back to his feet. Once they were both facing each other properly again, Felix grinned.

"There, much better."

Jae narrowed his eyes a bit. "... you're not from Bloom, or Aurora, or Miroh."

"I'm from Helios."

His unfriendly expression shifted into something more... confused. "I've never heard of a Ruler from Helios, before."

"Yes, well, it's a fairly recent development," snorted Felix, before shaking his head. "In any case, please believe that I genuinely want to help. I understand that I'm asking a lot out of you, and that trust has to be earned, but I swear to do my utmost best to prove worthy of that trust, if you'll let me."

"... you have sincere eyes," eventually stated Jae, seemingly relaxing a little. "I think I can afford to believe the words of a man who'll look at me in the eyes when he talks to me, if nothing else."

Felix couldn't help but smile at that. "Glad to hear it. Now that that's been cleared up, could you tell me where I can find the one in charge of the town?" The silence persisted, but it now felt a little... awkward. "Err, is there not someone in charge...?"

"I... believe that would be you, actually," replied Jae, quirking a brow.

"Oh. Right." They probably answered directly to the Ruler since they lived on neutral territory. "Okay, then you're in charge now."

"Wait, what!?"

"I want to help this town. Unfortunately, I have many other duties to tend to, which means I won't be able to handle everything on my own. Having someone here to take everything in charge would definitely help make things go faster," explained Felix with a small shrug. He then frowned. "Unless, of course, you'd rather pick someone else for the position. I simply assumed you were their leader, since they all seem to respect you."

"Err, well, that's not—"

"He's definitely fit for the job!"

"We trust you, Jae!"

"He can definitely do it!"

More and more people started cheering him on, and Felix couldn't hide the amused smile that stretched his lips as the older man became flustered. After a minute or so, he finally caved in.

"Okay, okay, okay, I'll do it!" Thunderous cheers echoed at that and, with a resigned sigh, he turned to Felix again. "Alright, I guess that's that. What do you need from me, exactly?"

"Right now, I'd like for you to relocate everyone inside. I know the houses have been barricaded after their inhabitants were evicted – just break in and settle down. I want everyone to have a roof over their heads as quickly as possible," he instructed. "I'd also like for you to make records of all personal items that were taken as collateral, and their estimated monetary value – I intend to have all of it repaid in full to everyone here. I'd also like a list of supplies you'll need to repair everything, build more housing facilities if necessary, and basic necessities such as clothes, blankets, tools, food, etc. If someone needs something, put it on the list."

"That's... very generous of you," blinked slowly Jae. "And you're also leaving the door wide open for people to abuse that generosity."

Felix couldn't help but snort at that. "Trust me, you couldn't abuse it even if you tried. The amount of money in the High Palace's vault is astronomical – and a big sum of it rightfully belongs to you and your people. If it can reassure you, though, I'll send someone I trust to help you in your task – it ought to lessen the paperwork you'll have to handle, if nothing else."

"... thank you," finally said Jae, his voice growing a little thick with emotion.

Felix smiled, a tad sadly. "Don't thank me until I've done something worth your gratitude."

Jae straightened up at that, his expression serious. "You're trying to help – that's already much more than anything the other Rulers have done, and it's worth a lot more than you could possibly imagine." A tad stiffly, he bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."

A tad surprised, Felix then grinned and extended his hand for a handshake, instead. "Of course. I look forward to working with you, Jae."

Startled, Jae then offered a half-grin, shaking his hand firmly. "Likewise, Your Highness."

.

"Why did you send me away?"

"You weren't being of any help," replied curtly Felix.

"The man grabbed you!" protested Juyeon, visibly miffed. "He insulted you, yelled at you, showed the utmost disrespect, and then he touched you—"

"He had every right to be angry. While I can appreciate you stepping in before he could actually harm me, you threatening his life was completely unnecessary, and also very unhelpful – had he been a less reasonable man, he'd have used that as a provocation to fan the flames of mistrust and anger in all of his people, and then we'd have ended up with an angry mob chasing us out of town."

"You are to be Ruler. These peasants ought to know their place better. Their lives belong to you. You shouldn't have to endure the consequences of grievances caused by your predecessor—"

"A predecessor who was from your kingdom, might I remind you."

Juyeon narrowed his eyes at that. "What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything. I'm just trying to say that having order is all well and good, but there can be too much of it, sometimes – and then there can be a downright abuse of power, like the previous Ruler did."

"They surely displeased her in some way—"

"Are you trying to say they deserved to be kicked to the streets? To be forced to live in the alleys?" scoffed Felix. "That the previous Ruler was right in putting into effect that stupid decree?"

"What I'm saying is that you can't give peasants too much. They're the type to bite the hand that feeds them," huffed the red-haired prince. "You give them an inch, they'll run a mile – you gave them food today, and they'll demand gold tomorrow."

"Gold that was wrongfully taken from them!"

"Everyone pays taxes, Your Highness."

"Royals don't. We've both lived a very privileged life, Juyeon – it might do you some good to remember that not everyone is as lucky."

"It has nothing to do with luck," protested Juyeon, sounding distinctly annoyed by now. "It is simply how things work. There is a natural order of life, with royals at the very top, and peasants at the very bottom. It's how it's always been, and how it'll always be."

"There's nothing natural about the hierarchal divide! Before being royals or peasants, we're all very much human! You may wear a fancy crown and fancy clothes, but your corpse will rot the same as theirs once you find yourself six feet under!" Felix let out a disbelieving scoff, shaking his head. "Wearing a crown isn't only a privilege – it's a responsibility. As a royal, you are responsible for the wellbeing of your people, and that very much includes the working masses!"

"Royalty is a symbol of order. Order guarantees safety and prosperity to the kingdom. Without a safe and prosper kingdom, those people wouldn't have a home. Serving royals gives meaning to their meaningless lives. So, let me ask you this, Your Highness: what good is a people without a King?"

Felix met his gaze with a glare. "Well, what good is a King without its people?"

There was a moment of silence as the two princes glared at each other. After a few seconds, Juyeon scoffed and looked away, unable to answer. Felix straightened up, grabbing the reins of his horse.

"I've heard enough. Let's head back."

"Your Highness—"

"You've made your opinion on the matter very clear, Prince Juyeon – and I'm afraid it's not the type of matter we can simply agree to disagree on. Until you've decided to act like a decent fucking person instead of a mighty royal with a silver spoon up his ass, don't bother talking to me again."

Juyeon was so stunned by the unexpected crude language and insult, it took him a few seconds to realize Felix had already taken off in a gallop. Cursing under his breath, the red-haired prince glanced back behind him, where the town was situated.

Juyeon wasn't stupid. He knew that what the previous Ruler had done was pretty terrible, and he did pity the people who suffered because of her cruel decrees. However, royals couldn't always afford to give into their humanity – sometimes, they had to make tough calls and cruel decisions to ensure that the natural order of things was maintained.

Royals were at the top, and peasants were at the bottom. Everything had its place and everyone had its role, and they all had to simply stick to the script and act accordingly – even a prince like him. Peasants were expected to serve and respect those above them, just as he was expected to woo the Divine Heir and marry him to ensure prosperity to his kingdom.

Right, because that's working out just wonderfully, isn't it? Remarked a snide voice in the back of his head.

The Prince of Helios confused him. He was a royal just like him, but his actions and his manner of speech sometimes reminded him of the way peasants acted or talked. He was a weird mix of both social casts, and he found himself wondering if maybe that was linked to why he'd reacted to strongly to Juyeon's admittedly thoughtless remarks.

If he wanted to better understand the enigma that was Prince Lee Felix, then he would have to ask him – though, that would probably prove impossible until Juyeon found a way to make up for their argument, and regain his favor.

What an annoyingly confusing prince! He thought, frustrated.

.

Felix once again skipped dinner with the officials that night.

It was partly so he could sulk in peace, and partly so he could get started on his new side-project: restoring the villages and returning them the money that was stolen – because there was a distinct difference between a tax and a theft. Focusing on the task at hand also helped him cool down from his argument with Juyeon. There was no denying that he'd been incredibly disappointed by the older prince. His first impression of him had been that he was a bit of a sweet talker, a tad haughty, but with his heart in the right place.

Unfortunately, it would seem today proved him wrong.

Felix forced himself to acknowledge once again the different beliefs of Bloom. He knew that, out of the three bigger nations, Bloom was the one most concerned with traditions and the hierarchal system. However, he simply couldn't bring himself to accept someone who thought so lowly of other people – as if they weren't people at all in his eyes!

No, that's definitely not an opinion on which Felix would budge. No matter their different upbringings, Felix wanted nothing to do with someone with little to no regard for the pain and misery of people they considered beneath them in status and importance.

To think he was so nice, too! Though, I doubt he'd have treated me the same way had he known I've practically been raised amongst those peasants he loathes, thought grimly Felix.

Alright, so maybe he sulked more than he worked that night. But! There was no denying that his altercation with Juyeon gave him more than enough fuel to push through with his work and, by the time morning came, he already had a list of tasks to be distributed amongst the members of his council.

"First of all, allow me to say that you look terrible, Your Highness," deadpanned Sunmi when she came to fetch him next morning.

"Thank you, I'm aware," snorted Felix, rubbing his temples. "Any more wisdom you wished to impart on me this fine morning?"

"Yes: you've skipped dinner with the officials again yesterday."

"I'm also aware, thank you."

Sunmi sighed heavily. "I'll look into rearranging your schedule. It was first planned assuming you'd dedicate your time to entertaining our guests and, more specifically, your suitors, but we were obviously mistaken. I'll try to work something out so you don't actually kill yourself from overwork before even being crowned Ruler."

"Oh God, I think I would kiss you if I wasn't into men," groaned Felix, slumping over his desk.

"And I'd respectfully reject your advances, seeing as I am happily married and have been for the past ten years, thank you."

"Really?" blinked Felix, instantly perking up. "What's their name? Do they work here?"

Sunmi smiled a bit at that. "Her name is Yeeun. And no, she's a teacher. She works in the town opposite to the one you visited yesterday – it's a little better off, and that's where the only school in the neutral territory can be found."

"All of the children on the neutral territory go there?"

"Those who can afford it, yes. There was also a heavy tax placed on schooling, so the classes get smaller every year."

Felix clicked his tongue in annoyance. "This is getting ridiculous. I want a complete record of every single tax currently in existence. I also want a list of all of the decrees issued by the previous Rulers, even those that are no longer in function."

"All of them? But there's been hundred—"

"All of them. If I'm going to clean up their shit, I'm going to do it properly." He cringed when his neck cracked loudly as he got up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and try to catch up on some sleep—"

"You can't. You're expected to eat with the Aurora representatives in less than an hour, and it'll look very bad if you postpone it considering you already had lunch with both Miroh and Bloom."

"Damn it..."

"That's what you get for pulling all-nighters," she sighed, shaking her head. "In any case, I'll have your instructions relayed right away. Should I also take this list of tasks?"

"Oh, yes! I've already written down the names of those I'm giving those tasks to, but if you think anyone else would be more suited to do them, feel free to switch," he confirmed, stretching his arms. "Ugh, this is going to be a long day..."

"At least you'll get to relax with Second Mate San this afternoon," she pointed out. "How were your dates with General Hyunjin and Prince Juyeon, by the way?"

For only answer, Felix flopped onto his bed and let his face sink in the pillows. Sunmi stared at him for a few seconds, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple.

"That bad, huh...?"

.

"Yo!"

"Hello!"

The Aurora party had been settled in the South Wing, where the High Palace's library was actually located. They'd requested access to different travel records, and Felix hadn't seen any harm in allowing it.

Waiting for him in a fashion similar to the previous days, two men were standing at the entrance of their quarters. They were both cladded in onyx black outfits, and one had dark red hair while the other was slightly smaller and had shiny black hair – he was the one who'd greeted him so cheerfully, too.

"I'm Wooyoung, and that's Jongho!" he said when Felix reached them. "Hey, do you think that when you marry San, you could buy us a new ship? It's—ow!"

Felix was a bit taken aback by his words, but Jongho was quick to slap the other behind the head, scolding him for his forwardness.

"Sorry about him, he's an idiot," he deadpanned.

"Am not!" pouted Wooyoung.

"It's... okay?" He really didn't know what else to say.

"It's not like I'm wrong, though," huffed Wooyoung. "Everyone knows he didn't get along with the other two, so San's obviously got it."

"Wooyoung!" hissed Jongho.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Felix, now a tad worried. What kind of rumors had gotten out while he wasn't paying attention? "What is everyone saying, exactly?"

"Oh... Well, since you were a no-show at the last two dinner, everyone's just assumed that the suitors from Miroh and Bloom did something to offend you. That guy from Miroh was seen returning on his own, and then you were seen coming back from town without that annoying prince..."

"Right," sighed Felix, already feeling a headache coming. "Well, those are personal matters between Hyunjin, Juyeon, and me – please do not assume anything from it."

"Oh, right, sorry..."

"Our Captain will probably mention it, if only to see how you'll react," warned Jongho as they reached the double-doors leading to their private dining hall. "He likes to get a reaction out of people."

"Hmm, I've gathered as much. Thank you."

With a nod, Jongho then pushed the doors open, and they all stepped inside. Felix was instantly taken aback by the clear lack of table, and briefly wondered with growing horror if they hadn't been provided one – but he then saw it pushed up against one of the walls.

What...?

Pillows and blankets had been set up all around, and everyone else was already settled on some bigger, fluffier pillows, directly on the floor. They were all a bit scattered over the room without a particular order to it, and were all chatting quite animatedly. All conversations paused for a brief moment when they entered, but picked back up just as quickly, and Felix found himself enjoying the normal treatment after how much he'd been shoved under the spotlight by Bloom's party yesterday.

He went to take a seat beside Hongjoong, who grinned.

"Tell me, Your Highness: rum or whiskey?"

"Rum," answered Felix without hesitation.

"Eh, a man who knows what he likes!" cheered the man sitting in front of him. "Not gonna lie, took you for more of an uptight type of drinker, milord!"

"Wine is good, but rum's when it gets fun," replied Felix, definitely amused by now.

"Hell yeah! Cheers to that!"

"CHEERS!" instantly chorused the rest of the sailors around them – and oh, yeah, they were technically a crew of pirates, weren't they?

"Do you like your rum like you like your men then, Your Highness?" bellowed another guy a little further in the back.

Some laughter echoed at that, but San instantly hit the guy behind the head. The laughter died down as the black-haired man half-glared at them over the brim of his own stein.

"Lay off of him. Just because we're pirates doesn't mean we have to play into the stereotypes of uneducated swines."

There was a moment of awkward silence, and Felix took a sip of the rum he'd just been handed – it was good quality, really.

"I like them strong and flexible," then replied Felix. "Both of them."

A brief, stunned silence – and then raucous laughter and cheers thundered all around, and Felix spared a wink for San, who looked quite taken aback by his answer, before taking another sip of his drink.

.

"So. Strong and flexible, huh?"

Felix let out a short laugh. "Didn't expect me to answer, did you?"

San's lips twitched upward. "There are many things I didn't expect from you. Like you holding your drink so well. Even the Cap was impressed – almost the entire crew betted on you being a lightweight."

"Ooh? And who's the lucky winner who just got a small fortune?"

"Seongwha, our First Mate – he's too smart, he always wins that kind of stuff. And Yeosang, 'cause he's the only one out of all of us who's learned not to bet against him."

Lunchtime with the Aurora representatives had been, by far, the most entertaining meal he'd had to share with his guests so far. It was a bit chaotic, to be frank, but Felix found himself really appreciating the warm and friendly atmosphere.

It was similar to Miroh, but at the same time completely different. Everyone talked over each other, refilled their drinks over and over again, and they were also quite loud – though Felix suspected the last detail might be a direct result of the fact that they're a crew used to living out on the sea and, as such, have simply learned to talked loudly so as to be heard in an already loud and disruptive environment.

Felix couldn't lie, he'd missed the feeling of simply letting loose and enjoying a meal without stressing over decorum or politically correct statements. Surrounded by the sailors, he was free to actually be himself – a gift, really, considering how much he'd been forced to wear a mask just to please everyone, lately.

(Though he was doing a shit job of pleasing their guests so far, if his altercations with Hyunjin and Juyeon were anything to go by.)

"I didn't expect to hear such crude commentary coming out of your mouth, either," added San, sounding distinctly amused. "Who knew the little, pure Prince of Helios had it in him, hm?"

Felix outright snorted at that. "Pure? I know my general appearance might suggest me childish and naïve, but I'm still very much a grown man – I've made far cruder jokes back home, trust me on that."

"Home, hm? You don't consider the High Palace your home, then?"

Felix glanced back at the walls and towers of the High Palace behind them. They were now seated in the gardens, simply enjoying the blooming flowers and the relaxing atmosphere to talk without the interference of his crewmates – and there was no denying that Felix appreciated the healing time outside, away from worries and obligations, if only for a few hours.

"My home... Helios will always be my home. Even if I am to be neutral as Ruler, there is simply no way the kingdom where I grew up could be erased from my heart," he admitted. "Maybe one day, I'll be able to grow attached to this place and call it my home as well – but it's far too soon for that to happen."

"Home..." San laid down on the grass, gazing at the blue sky above them with a strangely solemn expression. "For the past ten years or so, Aurora's been my home. The ship's been my home, more precisely. And the crew... the crew became my family."

"Do you mind me asking... what happened to your previous home?"

"I was born in Bloom, actually. Born into a noble family, expected to take up the mantle of Head of the House when I grew up, the whole shebang, really," explained San, scrunching up his nose at the memory. "Didn't suit me at all. I wanted nothing more than to explore the world, but my family didn't approve. The woman who birthed me, in particular, tried to beat those dreams out of me." He heaved out a sigh, and shrugged, as if it didn't matter, but Felix could see the memories still pained him to this day. "After turning thirteen, I had enough and ran away. Since I knew they'd send people to drag me back, I ran all the way to Aurora – they couldn't possibly dream of finding me in there once I passed the border."

"Right, Aurora is a nation mostly made up of refugees, isn't it?"

"Well, there are locals, obviously, but we're not exactly the type to regulate who comes and goes," admitted San with a slightly sheepish grin. "Sure, it opens our doors to all sort of less savory people, but everyone who decides to live in the archipelago knows what they're getting into."

"And did you manage to do it there, then? Accomplish your dream?"

San's grin widened at that. "Hell yeah, I did. Joining Hongjoong's crew was a stroke of luck, and I've never regretted leaving – no amount of noble titles could ever hold a candle to the hundreds of adventures I've gotten to go on."

Felix sighed contently at that, also laying down on the soft grass. "Adventures, huh? It sounds amazing. To see so many new things, meet so many new people... When I was younger, I often dreamt of exploring the entire continent."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I was the only heir to my father's throne – I still have no clue of what they're going to do about that particular issue, now that I'm gone – and I had my people's faith and expectations to answer to," explained the freckled boy with a shrug. "Dreaming is all well and good but, sometimes, your responsibilities are more important."

San scoffed at that. "If you want to do something, do it. There's nothing greater or more important than freedom in this world. If you let that be taken from you, then what point is there in living?"

"Freedom is the way of life of Aurora," recalled Felix.

"Freedom is the only natural state of things," replied firmly San. "It's chaotic, sure, but there's no greater feeling than being free to do as you please. No binds or bounds, no limits, no hesitation – freedom is what Aurora thrives on."

"But it's also what's killing it from the inside, isn't it?" replied Felix, frowning a little as he remembered what he'd read about the archipelago. "Correct me if I'm wrong, since to documents I had access to were quite old, but your government basically functions on paid protection: the islands pay the Overlord from protection from outer threats such as rogue pirate crews, for example, or sea monsters. Right?"

"That's correct, yes. A protection tax is paid every month to the Overlord and their crew – and the Overlord is basically the strongest man with the strongest crew. There's a chance of getting overturned at any moment, but the system has been at its most stable it's ever been since Hongjoong's claimed the title."

"I understand that. But what protects those islands from inner threats?" San's brows furrowed in mild confusion, so Felix sat up to better elaborate. "You've said it yourself that you don't keep watch on who comes and goes between the borders. And, while that means you accept many refugees who might be seeking better lives, it also means that you harbor many criminals or escapees on the run from the other nations' authorities. Tell me, who protects the locals from those lawless people, then? Those inner threats?"

"That's not really our problem, though. We're paid to protect them from crews who cause trouble, the occasional bandit invasion, and the sea monsters that migrate through the archipelago every year. They can just handle those inner threats themselves."

"But most of them are civilians, aren't they? Even if they're used to living in a dangerous environment, it doesn't mean they should have to. It is your problem, San, because by becoming Overlord, Hongjoong also became the one in charge of their wellbeing. He's the one who has a voice when the nations congregate like we're doing right now, and he's the one with the power to potentially make their lives better – so, by proxy, those people are your people, and you have a responsibility—"

"Ugh, you're starting to sound like my father," groaned San, also sitting up. "Like I told you earlier, everyone who goes to live in Aurora knows what they're getting into. Danger is just a part of the contract when you move there, okay? If they can't deal with it, they simply shouldn't come."

"It's not like they have much of a choice, though. Miroh's ways are too extreme for normal civilians to endure, and Bloom's in no state to welcome refugees. Ironically enough, Aurora has the best economy out of all three bigger nations of Quatre, so it's really the only choice left when you're fleeing war or famine."

"What about Helios, then? Don't you also take in refugees?" replied San, clicking his tongue. He obviously didn't appreciate being lectured.

"Not many are determined enough to make the trek through the mountains, and we're not exactly renown for being full of resources, either – in fact, we're not really known for anything, other than being a small nation isolated from the other three. Did you consider hiding in Helios when you ran away?"

San's brows furrowed again as he thought it over. "Honestly, never. I barely knew anything about Helios growing up. Since you were barely involved in the affairs of the continent, my tutors didn't see fit to include you in my lessons."

"There you go. I'm pretty sure that if we just got up and found the furthest villages on the edges of the continent, they probably wouldn't even know Helios exists," pointed out Felix, half-jokingly.

"We could do it," suggested San, his eyes gleaming a bit. "Grab horses and make a run for it. No one would be able to stop us."

"As entertaining as the trip would be, we both know that can't happen," chuckled Felix.

"Why not? You're the Divine Heir – you can do whatever you want."

"I'm afraid it's really not that simple, San. I'm not even Ruler yet, and I already have mountains of responsibilities crumbling over my shoulders. I couldn't leave in good conscience when I have so much to do."

"There you go, talking about responsibilities again... You can just have someone else do it. Or better yet, stop spending time with those guys from Miroh and Bloom, and just hang out with me instead, hm?"

Felix huffed out a laugh, gently pushing his shoulder. "Oh, please. Had you made this offer a few weeks ago, I'd probably have taken you up on it, but not today."

"What changed?"

"I realized there was a lot to be done." With a sigh, Felix slightly pulled up his sleeve to look at his tattoo. "I've hated this thing ever since it appeared on my skin... I tried to scrub it away until the skin bled, before I eventually resigned myself to simply bearing its weight."

"A beautiful shackle," muttered San, a tad bitterly.

Felix snorted. "Yes, it did feel that way – at first, at least. But after moving into the High Palace, and getting to know more about the duties that befell me... I started to realize that I shouldn't look at it like a curse, but more like an opportunity."

"An opportunity? To do what?"

"To help people. The previous Rulers... have done a lot of damage. I've come to realize that I've grown up in quite the sheltered environment. And, as much as it scares me to become involved in those politics I've been spared from for my entire life, I also know that this is my chance to make things right for a lot of people."

"But you're not obligated to do that. You could just lay back and do like what every other Ruler did, so why bother with carrying this burden and adding more to it every day?"

"Because having the power to change things for the better and not use it would be wrong, and cruel, and I know I'm better than that," replied Felix, a tad more firmly. "As much as I would like to just run away and do as I please sometimes, I'd never be able to live with myself if I didn't do everything I could to help people who are counting on me to make their lives a little better."

"Then you're nothing more than a naïve bird stuck in a golden cage," scoffed San, visibly unimpressed by his grand speech. "There's no limit of people who need help. Once you start, there won't be any end to it – these people will keep on asking for more, suck you dry of life and ambition, and eventually blame you when you have no more of yourself to give. And what will you do, then?"

"No one can tell what'll happen in the future. There's no way of knowing if I'm actually doing the right thing – but I believe I am, and that'll have to be enough for now. What about you? Is this how you live your life, now? Avoiding responsibilities like the plague just because you can't stand the thought of being committed to a cause?"

"If I find it annoying, I don't do it – that's what it means to be free," retorted the Second Mate, clicking his tongue.

"So you'll seek freedom above all else, even to the expanse of other people?"

"If that's what it takes, then yes."

"But aren't you here as a suitor out of duty?"

His eyes narrowed a bit at that. "That's different. I owed Hongjoong my life – this is me repaying my debt. And, if we do happen to marry, that doesn't mean I will have to stay in the High Palace. Hell, you could probably join us!"

"Join you?"

"Yeah, come with us! You wanted to go on all sorts of adventures, right? You could just delegate your duties to someone and come back to Aurora with us, then!"

"As tempting as it might sound, I wouldn't do that – even if we do end up marrying. Theirs is too much to do here, and it's my duty—"

"Duty, duty, duty," muttered San, losing any semblance of enthusiasm he'd gained upon suggesting Felix joined their crew. "You only have that word in your mouth. Why can't you just let loose and think of yourself for a bit, huh? It's not your fault the previous Rulers were crap, and it's not your job to clean up after them—"

"It might not be my fault, but not doing anything about their previous misdeeds wouldn't make me any better than them."

"Who cares if you're better than them?" cried out San, exasperated. "Who cares what anyone else thinks, really? Just do what you want to do!"

"You assume that I'm doing this for the sake of others' approval but, really, I'm doing this so that when I die, I can go in peace knowing I'll have lived a life that was worth something to more people than just myself," cut Felix, his tone a little sharper than intended. "Can you say the same, Second Mate San?"

"Your Highness, I—"

"I'm tired," sighed Felix, rising to his feet. "I don't want us to fight. Thank you for your time, Second Mate – I'll see you at dinner tonight."

"Wait, Your Highness!"

But Felix was already walking away, soon disappearing behind the maze of bushes and trees that made up the garden. San sighed heavily, laying back down on the grass. Why was the prince acting so stubbornly?

It's not that complicated. If you don't want to do it, then just don't do it.

It was the motto he'd been living by ever since he ran away from his mansion and his stupid family. He'd said no to the duties they'd tried to impose on him, he'd set out on his own, and he'd been living as a free man ever since. He was happy, with how he lived his life – who was Felix to judge him on it?

But who are you to call him naïve, when he's doing what you were never able to do?

San groaned loudly, rubbing his eyes in frustration. He didn't know what exasperated him more – the fact that the Helios Prince was so high-strung on his sense of duty, or the fact that he looked incredibly adorable when he spoke so passionately.

He'd been absolutely horrified at the thought of getting married but, now that he'd met the future Ruler, there was no denying that he found him interesting.

Just his type, too.

Fuck, the others are never going to let me hear the end of it, he grunted internally. And Seongwha's going to win another bet, too...

.

Freedom was to Aurora what honor was to Miroh and what order was to Bloom, Felix came to understand as he spent the rest of the afternoon sulking in his quarters. All three nations seemed to have pushed their beliefs to the extremes, to the point where they became completely unbalanced – and that certainly explained why they never got along.

Considering San's background, Felix could understand why he cherished his freedom so much. Had he been in his shoes, Felix doubted he would have had the courage to make the kind of decision he did, and he was glad San found happiness, after all. However, there was a point where seeking freedom turned into blind selfishness, and that's not something Felix could approve of.

Freedom was important, but not when it was gained at the expense of other people – and even less so when you actively hurt innocent people to achieve it.

Felix hadn't run away from Helios despite his thirst for adventure because he knew leaving would not only pain his family, but also potentially harm the entirety of Helios – and he certainly wasn't going to act like a coward and run now, when more and more people just began relying on him to make things better for them.

No matter what, I won't run, he told himself, determinedly going to sit at his desk to start reading through the list of decrees he'd been given – those were only from his predecessor, though, because they weren't anywhere near done with writing the full list. As much as I despised the thought of becoming Ruler, there's no way I can pretend to be blind now that my eyes have been open to the misery the people of Quatre have been enduring for decades, if not centuries.

Screw their ploys and schemes of politics and marriages. I'm going to become Ruler, so those guys can either keep up or get out of my way – no more will the people of Quatre suffer under their careless game of tug-of-war for the crown.