to whoever the ring belongs

Maxwell wakes up on a carriage. he is half naked. some doctors are taking care of his wounds. some of the wounds are severe. some are light. Alice is looking at him. her face is as red as a tomato. saliva is falling from her mouth.

Alice can't stop staring at Max's gladiator like body. since the moment the doctors started to undress him she has been looking at it. she feels shy now that she is looking at those muscles more clearly than ever.

"do you see anything you like?"

asks her brother who is sitting next to her.

"yes, I do..... I mean of course not. I am just making sure the doctors do their job right."

whispers Alice while she keeps looking at Max.

"you know he killed dad. do you really want to keep him alive? we can call the local mafia if he is manipulating you."

"he was told to kill me. him and the guy on the other carriage. they worked together to keep me away from Thurstan. they risked their lives for me. they can work for us."

"if that is your wish I can do something about that."

prince Theobald Manley is looking at the ring on Max's hand. he has been looking at the crowned ring since the moment they entered on the carriage. he can't stop. that ring is a symbol of his ambition. if he has the ring, he has the whole nation.

Maxwell asks if he is going to be executed. the prince laughs and he says 'maybe' with a sinister smile. Max knew at that moment that the prince isn't just like any other person. the prince is an unique person.

Max expected to be executed for his sins. he was hoping for the opportunity to take revenge on his world or for someone to do it for him. he wanted for justice to be served. what he didn't saw coming, was for doctors to take care of his wounds.

been in front of Prince Theobald was different from been in front of the annoying princess or King Thurstan Cromwell. it was visible, it was easy to feel the difference between them. the prince has a terrifying presence, not for his position, but because he is a terrifying man to know.

the prince asks the doctors and his sister to leave the carriage for some minutes. the doctors left right away. Alice started asking questions. Max told her that he was going to be fine with a sincere smile. she left quietly.

"lets talk quietly. you are the unofficial king of my Kingdom. my father gave you the crowned ring. the most important treasure of Martyrium. we have the option of killing each other or working together. now which one are you taking?"

said coldly the sinister prince.

Max was trembling as he felt a metaphorical dagger on his throat. he could feel it cutting slowly. we could say that he was bleeding in a mental way. Max can let the dagger keep cutting or he can stop the dagger.

Max isn't weak, he is among the strong of this world. the biggest reason why he felt threatened, is because of Theobald's presence. his mysterious aura.

Theobald is a man who has fought many battles. he has spend most part of his life on battle or training his skills with the sword. if they were to fight, it is unclear who can win.

"when I opened my eyes. my question was, so are you going to torture me? or are you going to blessed me? sorry, but with the lack of facial expressions on your face is hard to tell if you like me or just hate me."

said Max boldly with a force smile.

prince Theobald laughs loudly. he puts his hand on Max's shoulder. he whispers few words. Max is not easily intimidated by others. but he can tell that the prince is a wolf. prince Theobald takes a bottle of vodka.

he serves to himself some vodka on a glass. he serves some to Max. he passes the glass of liquor. Max takes it. he starts to drink slowly.

"you killed the previous king. treated my sister like a mundane servant. about the contract with Cromwell, I know that bastard doesn't play by the rules. Alice told me you were ordered to kill her, but you took a risk for her. my father chose you, when he gave you the crowned ring."

said Theobald with a calm voice.

the prince is a really scary man. this is a fight over personalities. this is a battle to see who is the bigger man. so far Max is losing for the first time in years. he has to admit the experience and the character of the prince.

Max swallows saliva. he looks around trying to find an escape route. Max feels death knocking on the door. is he going to die by a prince's hand? or is he going to die eaten by savage dogs? the questions keep knocking on his head.

"we can argue about the sins of the men, or we can talk about the good intentions of a man who committed some mistakes, but he did good for your sister. the girl adores me. I mean, yeah I treated her like a peasant. but now I am like her favorite pet, or even her favorite friend. you know BFF, best friends for ever, and ever."

said Max with a stupid smile.

the prince was about to say something. his right hand is holding a sword tightly. he seems to be willing to get his hands dirty. before anything too serious happens, Alice enters on the carriage once more.

Alice slaps Max. she even forces him to kneel on the floor. before he could even speak, Alice asks her brother if he allows her to have a new pet. prince Theobald knew that she was talking about Max.

"worry not. I don't intent to execute this devilish, unholy, distrustful, lustful, son of a wild goat. I do may have plans. I do have reasons to let him speak, like that ring on his fingers. I do want to make a deal with him."

said prince Theobald Manley on a cold tone hiding his dislike for Max.

Theobald has been curious to know something about Max. he asks his sister to leave once more. she didn't obeyed until Max assure her that everything is going to be okay.

Alice left feeling great responsibility for the safety of the man who saved her, protected her, and who even risked his own life for her. also she is crushing on him so bad, that her brother is already aware of her feelings for that handsome caveman.

prince Theobald asks the most important question of all. he asks him who was the man who teach him how to fight. from Max's lips came out the name 'Leofwin Hampton.' that name was enough for Theobald to change from been aggressive & hostile, to be nice and even playful with his words.

it was clear for Max that the most important thing on this nation, isn't position or money, but it is like in his old world. the most important thing is always power & powerful acquaintances. it was always like that, and it is in every damn world.

"you sir. you are a man with balls. big balls to be in front of me with no fear nor hostility. let me explain something sir. with that ring and your bravery I can't touch you sir."

"I am no king, so the right thing is to give the ring back to a member of the royal family, right? so let's make a deal. I can become your loyal dog with a contract of course. we take down the Cromwell freaks. and happy ending there on the middle."

Maxwell takes the crowned ring off his hand. he is staring at it for a moment. he knows that the moment he gives away the ring, that moment he will become vulnerable. a member of royalty can do anything to an assassin or a commoner.

Maxwell hopes for the best. he starts to think positively. is true that he is giving away his life by giving the ring to the prince. there is no other thing to do, but to trust on each other for this to work. trust is a really important ingredient in life.

"to be honest I am grateful that the old man is gone, now I am the most likely to be king. I have the right excuse to attack the enemy Kingdoms. I will paint their castles, with the blood of their seeds. the old man was too soft, too righteous, too afraid to do a direct attack on the name of our kingdom. now we will be saints in the faces of others, if we seek retaliation and win the war. so now tell me, what kind of contract do you want?"

"a man like me seeks vengeance, we can sign the contract in the castle. I am pretty sure that you will have no problem with giving me a job. one in which I can kill others and take a harem of ladies, as a gift for the ring, it doesn't sound half bad."

"if killing people you wish, with the recognition of your future king you will have it. about the harem thing, it sounds fun and good for the health. but that may need to wait, until the last Cromwell is eaten by animals while I pee on his corpse. now do we have a deal? or is there anything else you wish to own?"

Alice was outside of the carriage, she was listening to the whole conversation. she felt furious when she thought about sharing her future toy with others. she knew that he is a man-whore, but asking royalty for a harem, that is going too far.

prince Theobald knew that his sister was listening to their conversation. maybe by knowing the real Maxwell she will hate him. those are his thoughts without knowing how much she actually likes Max.

the prince knew that if he wanted to rise to power. there are going to be hundreds, if not thousands of enemies and traitors waiting to stab him. he needs strong men capable of loyalty. he needs people at his side. he knew since the first moment he saw Max's face, he knew that Max was perfect for that position.

"well it will be my pleasure to work under your command. your majesty, your highness, your grandeur, I am but I loyal servant of your wisdom. I am but I sword at your hands. I hope to do great things at your side, my lord."

said Maxwell as he kneels.

Max holds the ring for a last time. then looking down on the floor, he raises his hands holding the ring. prince Theobald takes the ring carefully. he looks at it, like a new father looks at a newborn, like a father figure looks at his child. Theobald smiles softly.

after five long, almost eternal minutes, prince Theobald Manley finally puts on the crowned ring, he looks at Max with satisfaction. the eldest prince is since this day the new King of Martyrium Kingdom.

King Theobald Manley told Max to stand up. he asks Max if Ramiro can be trusted, Max told him that it was Ramiro the main reason why Alice is still alive. he guarantees the king that Ramiro can be a good loyal sword for his cause.

some one knocks on the door. they want to see Max. he tells the king that he is going to see what is going on. he stand up. he looks at the king for a moment. Theobald was looking at the ring on his hands. his face was full of pride and contentment. Theobald is now the new king.

"do you think that this ring looks good on my hand? I mean, I feel like I was born to use it, but do you think the commoners & noblemen will approve of it?"

"of course they would. you are the almighty King of this land. no one will dare to deny it. and we have a way to make sure they will never doubt of your authenticity."

Max walks out of the carriage. he walks on the darkness of the night. he didn't know until now that it was midnight. he looks at Alice waiting for him.

"is the little princess okay? does she wishes for anything?"

asks Max with an authentic smile.

"I am fine, what about you? the reason why I asks for you is simple. I wish for your company while we go back to my home. I don't feel safe if the idiotic savage caveman isn't at my side to protect me."

said Alice with an innocent smile.