13: Not immune to such fears

"Soren," Javier called out.

"Soren will fight with us," Soren quoted the king. "Is that an order or a request?" he raised a question.

Javier desperately clung to Soren's arm. He shook his head, he would never dare to command Soren. "I never meant for you to hear that. I wanted to be the one to inform you of my decision and explain to you wh..."

"You are the king, since when does a king explain himself ?" Soren asked pushing Javier's hands away. "Let me know when I'm needed to fight for your queen," he added, and before Javier could defend himself Soren vanished.

Javier was left standing in the corridor alone.

Amoela and Adnan caught up to him. They maintained a distance from the king and made as less noise as possible.

"Adnan, walk with me," the king stretched out his hand in the air and invited Adnan over to him. Adnan looked over to Amoela, he raised his eyebrows at her. Asking her what he was supposed to do in that situation.

"When the king calls you to respond without question," Amoela whispered to him. Adnan nodded. He straightened his back and walked forward.

"Inform the cook not to prepare food for me today," King Javier ordered. "Yes, your majesty," Amoela left to carry out the king's order.

Adnan halted two steps away from the King. Scared to overstep his boundaries. The King was displeased.

Soren cast his hand away and now even a slave dared to refuse his hand. It annoyed him. Javier turned around, his deep red eyes shooting daggers at Adnan.

He was fuming mad. The day started on a perfect note only for things to turn upside down. King Javier was forced to start a war with the neighboring kingdom, backed into a corner to support the Queen, and go against his lover.

Rather than have a moment of peace. His heart was in chaos, his mind lost on how he would move past everything that was going on. The only person left by his side he didn't mind holding his hand was his slave. Adnan was like a breath of fresh air.

Adnan came without any demands on him. The boy had no problems that would worry him or take away his peace of mind. The perfect distractions for his situation.

"Adnan, my sweet," the king called out. His eyes softened. A smile took form on his lips and his face bloomed a friendly appearance. The same look that welcomed Adnan into the palace a few hours back.

Adnan gulped. The rate at which the king changed his colors would put a chameleon to shame. He went by emotions faster than Adnan was able to keep up with.

"Tell me, what do you understand of your duty in the palace?" he raised a question. Taking the step towards the male. Javier intertwined his hand with Adnan's and pulled him closer. Standing side by side with Adnan, he ushered the boy to move forward. Adnan blinked in confusion.

The King confused him. Not too long ago, the male was hostile towards him for returning to Soren's room and now he was acting friendly again. It made Adnan nervous.

"You are staring again," the king pointed out. Adnan lowered his gaze. His heart pounded against the walls of his chest. Amoela and the queen had warned him of what becomes of people who dare to claim the king in any way.

Seeing as he didn't wish to lose his position in the palace. Adnan didn't dare to act friendly with the king. "I can walk by myself," he let out trying to remove his hand from the king's hold.

Javier ceased his movement and locked eyes with him. "You are being cold to me right now," he stated. Adnan swallowed. His lips quivered in panic. He was dealing with the ruler of Arendar. A man was difficult to understand and impossible to please. "Do you hate it when I touch you?" the king asked.

"Uhmm...." Adnan trailed off. He didn't hate it. 'It makes me uncomfortable,' he thought.

The king dropped his hand. "I hope you are comfortable now," Javier coldly uttered. Without giving Adnan a moment to process his words. He ambled onward.

Adnan felt his heart squeeze in pain. The purpose of his presence in the palace is to serve the king. He feared that he had offended the king with his actions. Adnan could see the chains coming back on, his identity, and the little freedom stripped away from him. He foresaw being sent back to his master and put in a cage to be sold off to the next buyer.

Javier was the king, he could have a hundred if not thousands of more slaves if he wished it. There was nothing to stop him from replacing Adnan. A fact that dawned on Adnan.

'If the king grows attached to me then he won't send me back,' Adnan thought before chasing after the king.

He managed to catch up to the king. Javier paid him no attention. Adnan nervously played with his fingers. Unaware of how to start a conversation with the king.

"I am to serve you and your queen," he answered the question the king asked him. King Javier continued walking ignoring his presence. Adnan panicked. He could see Soren sending him back to his old life.

He had only arrived and he already messed up. "Is there anything you'd like for me to do for you, your majesty?" he inquired.

The king took a turn down the hallway and kept walking. The lack of response was an answer that knocked hard on the walls of Adnan's heart. He was scared.

"I can do anything you want. Name i..it and ill do it," he desperately let out.

A plea that went unanswered. Adnan bit his lower lip. Frightened by the king's silence. He wiped the sweat trickling down his forehead and glanced at the majestic figure of the king.

A person like the king never had to worry about working hard for anything. He was the king and had everything handed to him. A man like Javier never has to worry about being enough. He didn't know the fear the common man had of rejection and loss. As he had the world at his feet.

Adnan wished he was born with such a fate and stability. "I am not immune to such fears, Adnan," the King paid him attention.