Worn Out

*King Alexander*

Alexander started up with a grunt as he felt a firm but thin fingered hand take his shoulder. Shaking him twice. Before he could finally wake up. As he came to, he fluttered his eyes, lost to the unfamiliar scene.

It took him a moment to realize why. He was still in the decrepit east wing of the place. The bare hall still populated by his guards. Still on watch by Ana's door. And when he looked over, he found a pair of tired but sincere brown eyes meet his.

The sight of them was almost enough to forgive alone.

"Johan," Alexander cleared his throat, finding his old manservant standing over. He looked much fresher. Changed into a clean suit and tie. Likely having left some time before, to what time was it exactly? 

Alexander could guess by the soft heat starting to build back up in the hall. It was morning. He had fallen asleep.

He swallowed. 

"The investigation?" Alexander questioned softly, careful of who might hear. Even among his men, this was still too young to start spreading rumors. 

He only looked back. Waiting for an answer.

Johan shook his head. He had yet to find anything.

"Haa," Alexander sighed and rubbed his beard. It felt stiff from sweat.

"Forgive my bluntness, but you look like shit, your highness." Johan shifted to Alexander's side. He had to smirk. 

He didn't need a reminder. But it lifted his mood.

"Matches the insides." Alexander got up from the chair to groan. His back was screaming. The wooden stool was a bad way to spend the night. Not like he planned to sleep, though. But he did. And now paid for it.

Alexander stretched his arms over his head to feel an immediate sting of pain pull something behind his shoulder. He winced, sucking in a breath. Something tore in the fabric when he moved. He was still wearing yesterday's suit. Damp and wrinkled now.

As if he could predict it, Johan had a clean button-up shirt up in his hand. Alexander raised a brow. Not taking it. But Johan only forced it into his hands before working to undo his dirty shirt to change.

"Her Majesty has set up breakfast in the garden," Johan explained. Threading the last buttons out, and pulled the shirt free. He'd changed the king so many times before. It was second nature to him. Alexander didn't fight him. He extended his arms for a new shirt to replace it. It felt instantly cooler on his skin. Smelled of soap.

"Belinda has-" Alexander could hide the scuff. " Is she set up to continue this fiasco of a party?"

It was a bit of shock to think she'd still try. What with everything. But not as much as he would have thought. Belinda was ever the capable woman he knew.

Even in the worst situation, she can still coordinate. Alexander couldn't help but be impressed by her stubborn optimism. She was ever an opportunist.

But still, breakfast in front of a group of giggling girls did not sound appealing. And he must have expressed the thought on his brown lips, as Johan was quick to add.

"She asks to make sure you come."

"Did she?" The sigh drew out of his mouth to leave him hollow. Of course she would. His wife knew him all too well.

"I…I'm not hungry." Alexander lifted his arms to allow Johan to button up the vest again. "Tell her I have business-"

"And she told me I couldn't take no for an answer." Johan tucked the coat back on. Alexander grimaced as he felt himself grow warmer. But it seemed Johan was not going to let him take it off.

Damn old man. Alexander cursed softly but sighed. He didn't feel like fighting. Even light heartedly. And it wasn't like he could.

"Very well." Alexander sighed and nodded to his guards. They shuffled in their armor to attention.

"Inform me as soon as something happens."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Alexander turned to have his manservant take his place at his side. They began to shuffle their way back from the west to the east side of the castle.

While walking, Alexander couldn't help but notice something. It was silent. And as they made their way to the castle's center, it was relatively empty.

Which was very odd. Wouldn't girls be running around? Alexander didn't even see that many servants. It was like no one was inside.

"Where is everyone?" Alexander turned. 

"They've left, sire."

"All of them?" Alexander lifted his brows high.

"They all left?"  Even after their families likely bore into their heads to make a good impression on Nicoli? How they were all pinned for a dance? Not one was willing to stay?

Johan only nodded.

Alexander blew a hard breath through his lips before swallowing.

"Belinda will be furious." She had been working on this little event for months. That was already going to leave her in a mood. She didn't like when things fell apart. And that was before anything.

"No. One has remained."

"One?" Alexander scuffed a bit, almost not believing his friend. Not that Johan lied. He was short with him. But the man did not exaggerate. 

But still, to think a girl would brave a vampire in Bloodlust?

"And who would that-" But he quickly answered his question midway through.

"Hildenberg. Of course."

"I suppose a giant would have no fear of a vampire." Johan continued.

"No, she wouldn't." But Alexander only breathed a snort through his nose. They were now coming up to the following lineup of guards. They were around Nicoli's rooms.

"Still, Belinda must be content." Alexander had to amend.

"She's taken to Hildenberg rather fast. I suppose her party was a success." Johan went, and he nodded at that.

"Yes…you can say that." 

More like, she has what she wants. But again Alexander felt a strike of pity for his son. The boy would have no idea that his mother had already set out his future. A marriage already in the wings. Just as she wanted.

It always impressed yet terrified him in how Belinda could do that. How his wife could make the best of a situation. But was that all she could do?

Alexander was no longer so sure. 

Johan still had yet to prove or disprove anything about it. Only making him question things more. Darker questions. Like who was responsible for the fake letter? And who would benefit? Making such a deep misunderstanding? Five years worth…

Who indeed? Alexander wouldn't be at ease until he did. But that might be easier said than done. 

Just thinking about it was enough to make him sigh heavily. "Ha…"

"Your Highness?"

"It's too early for this to be serious. Get me some coffee." Alexander rubbed his eyes again.

"Coffee?" Johan repeated with some surprise. Not a normal drink to be had in Dawny, hence the look. Alexander shrugged.

"I got some, with them in mind." Alexander dismissed. But Johan was quicker to smile knowingly.

"That was a good call, sire."

"Yea…well…" Alexander scratched the back of his head just as the door opened. Nicoli was stepping out of it. Dressed in a light blue suit with a ruffled shirt. It was comically cheerful compared to his expression. Nicoli looked as good as Alexander felt right now. Poorly.

"Send some to them as well. I'm sure they'll need it." Alexander continued back to Johan. 

Johan bowed as Alexander charged forward to his son. His manservant was standing close nearby. He was the one to notice Alexander first and bowed.

"Your majesty," Thomas lowered his head to show the slight bald spot.

I wonder if he knows about that. Alexander had the thought in passing. But he shooed it off. 

Instead, he looked back to his son. Nicoli looked to be as worn out as he was. Or worse? On closer inspection, Alexander could see the dark circles under his eyes. Deprived of sleep.

That makes two of us. Alexander had to recognize. But for him, he could guess why. It might have been a shocking sight. To see his sister like that-

Alexander only now realized he hadn't talked to Nicoli since the incident. He was so concerned over Ana that he had forgotten about him. It must have been a fright, though. He could only guess how the boy could be feeling right now. 

Confused. Scared. Hurt… 

It could explain how he looks this morning. Alexander felt a surge of guilt pass through him.

"Morning." Alexander tried to press on a smile. It was at half mast, though. Finding it something of an effort to fight back the urge to yawn again.

"Looks like we're both headed the same way." Alexander pushed through his jaw stretching, before blinking after Thomas.

Alexander moved to stand next to Nicoli. "You can go now, He'll walk with me." 

That immediately made the tall, thin man pale. His eyes darted between him and Nicoli. He seemed stuck.

"But Your Majesty," Thomas protested. "Her majesty gave me specific orders to stay with the prince until all was safe-"

 Alexander half smirked. "Who would be safer than with the king?"

"She'll understand." Alexander went again and looked at Johan. He, who took the note to start up.

"Thomas, come with me. We have something to do in the kitchen."

"The kitchen?" Thomas gave an indignant look back at the old man.

"I don't-" he looked like he was about to say 'I don't belong in the kitchen.' But Johan was quicker.

"You are to make coffee."

"Coffee?!" Thomas reeled, but Johan grabbed him by the arm to pull him away. Thomas grumbled, but Johan's grip was firm. Alexander knew that all too well. Like iron vice.

He won't be bothering us for a while. 

"Thank you, Johan." Alexander quietly congratulated the stubborn man before finding Nicoli again.

"Rather a whiny one, isn't he?" 

Alexander offered a light smile, hearing the man still grumble the further down the hall he went. He had quite a temper.

"Wait until he finds out who it's for." Alexander laughed to himself.

"Won't that be a surprise? He must be a load of fun."

"Not really…" Nicoli sighed into a yawn. Alexander could hear how flat his voice sounded. The boy was tired like him.

Don't tell me he stayed up all night too. Alexander felt himself frown before taking Nicoli's shoulder.

The boy wasn't his usual bright self. His personality felt diminished. He seemed sullen, thoughtful, quiet. Even his eyes seemed to dim their blue vibrance. Either from a lack of sleep or from thinking. Now, he was just a lethargic kid.

"Rough night?" Alexander chuckled with a gentle laugh. It didn't need to be said. It was easy enough to see.

"Yea. you?" 

Alexander sighed.

"Everyone's gone."

"Yeah, they left during the night." Nicoli lifted his head in the empty hall.

"Yes, they- wait, you already know?" Alexander looked back with some surprise, but Nicoli was thinking of something else now. A distant gaze pointed to the east wing.

Alexander didn't need to think why for. He thinned his lips and moved to kneel.

"Nicoli," He took his shoulders with both hands. Making sure to meet his gaze. The boys face a miniature of himself at his age.

"She's going to come back to herself soon. We need to give her some time and space."

"But a whole week?" Nicoli pressed his eyebrows. His voice growing higher. "It's too long." And then he looked down, shaking his shaggy brown hair.

"There's gotta be another way."

"A way?" It wasn't because he was scared? He was worried about how long it would be? The thought hit Alexander a moment before he had to laugh. He moved to rub his mop of brown curls.

"Why, don't tell me your plotting something again." Alexander's eyes sparked with mischief. The same he saw spark right back in his son's.

"Or do you?"

"No, I, not yet." Nicoli grabbed his hand. His little fingers were growing more prominent. Someday, Alexander would find his hands would be the same if not bigger than his own.

Nicoli's blue eyes looked up at Alexander with a steady stare. But the conviction inside gave Alexander relief. It wasn't fear that darkened the corners. It was something else. Something hopeful.

And that same spark was still there as he answered. 

"I will though."

"You will, will you?" Alexander smiled with another rustle of his hair. A slight pride swelling under his ribs. Nicoli, my boy. 

"You take after your mother, you know that. "

Alexander praised before getting up to his feet. It did him good to see his son was still adamant. But he suddenly felt so tired. Back in pain. He wanted a nap. And Nicoli looked like he could, too.

If only we could forget the damn breakfast. But Alexander was already on thin ice in that department. He had yet to speak with Belinda since yesterday. Let alone didn't come back to their rooms.

It was better not to push it.

But Alexander could see they would be like zombies today--he and Nicoli. Out of sleepless nights and worry.

Ana is taking a toll on both of us, with six days to go. Alexander lifted his fingers. Six days until Ana could be stable. They would have to hold out until then.

"I swear to you, Nicoli. Everything will turn out fine." Alexander moved to take Nicoli's hand. Vaguely, he again wondered how long until he couldn't. Nicoli was getting older.

But for now, Alexander would still savor the feeling. Because one day, he would never pick him up again. And something will be lost forever.

"I hate waiting." Nicoli puffed his cheeks as he began to walk. 

"And I hate early breakfast." Alexander returned matching the tone. They carried on their way around the guards. Some smiled and nodded as they passed. 

"Morning your majesty!" Tobi, in particular, beamed and waved as they passed. Alexander nodded to him. The guard was oddly chipper for staying up all night.

I wish I could borrow some of that energy. Alexander thought. Because the moment they stepped outside onto the lawn, he could already see the white table set up. Hildenberg was already waving her hands at the sight of them. Excited for more company.

Whilst his wife…One glance at Belinda's icy grey gaze was all it took for Alexander to know his day was about to get that much longer.