The art of courting I

Ceremus was taken aback by Hael's sudden question, unsure how to respond at first.

With the small amount of self-awareness he possessed, he realized Hael's assumptions weren't entirely wrong. He did, in fact, dislike the idea of Hael and Anthanasia being together, even if their relationship wasn't that kind of relationship. To outsiders, it appeared as though they shared something special, and to Ceremus, who harbored possessive feelings toward Hael, that unsettled him—though he would never admit it. 

I'm a king and a demigod. How could I possibly be jealous of a common woman? he scoffed to himself.

It was important to note that Anthanasia of Trojas, Second Lieutenant of the Huntsmen Guild and ranked fifth in a group of over a hundred men, was by no means a "common" woman. She was strong, intelligent, and blessed with both beauty and grace. But to a man like Ceremus, she was little more than a speck of dust in the air. The idea that he could ever be envious of her was laughable.

"I wouldn't be upset if that were the case, Your Majesty. In fact," Hael said, stepping closer, "it would delight me to know you care for my safety."

There was a clear implication behind his words that made Ceremus frown. "You're a grown man, not someone's safety I need to worry about," he huffed.

Hael smiled, but said nothing. Silence settled between them once again. They stood there, staring at each other for what felt like a long time. Ceremus wanted nothing more than to tell Hael off, but looking at his sweet, innocent face, all his irritation seemed to evaporate into thin air.

His gaze drifted across Hael's body, and he realized the man was filthy—and, on top of that, shivering. If he'd been to the mountains, where the temperature was much colder, it made sense he would be freezing.

With a deep sigh, Ceremus walked toward the bathing area and began filling a tub with warm water. He added essential oils and moisturizing soaps, hoping it would soothe Hael's skin. Then, he returned to the main room, where Hael still stood, looking confused. Ceremus couldn't help but find some amusement in the sight.

"You should take a bath," he said in a low voice. "I cannot risk my guard falling ill. You may be a demigod, but that doesn't make you immune to sickness." He paused. "We'll continue this discussion later."

Hael blinked, confused by the sudden development, but nodded his head nonetheless. The idea of taking a bath sounded nice. He swiftly took off his protective gear before taking off his outer robes. The whole time he did this, Ceremus watched with wide eyes. It was only until Hael was now bare-chested that Ceremus reacted. 

"What are you doing?!" He hissed. "Go change behind the cover screen. Such classless behaviour!"

Hael looked up, unsure of why Ceremus sounded so panicked. They were both men and had gotten changed in front of each other before, so what was the problem? 

His gaze landed on the King's cheeks that had since turned a deep shade of scarlet. At that moment, it felt as though an arrow had pierced through his heart. That same King who stabbed through the flesh of the kakoethes with no problem was the same man who had an uncharacteristically embarrassed look on his face. The sight was just as endearing as it was, confusing for the young man. Despite wishing to know why he looked so embarrassed, Hael finally realized that the position he was currently in was improper and so he took off the rest of his clothes behind the screen and made his way inside the bath shortly after. 

Meanwhile, what he had just seen made Ceremus feel hot and one hundred percent bothered. He had seen Hael naked before when they bathed in the forest lake, but that was different; water was covering half of Hael's body, not to mention his feelings for the guard were different back then. They were nothing compared to what he was feeling now. 

The man he'd grown fond of stood before him, nearly nude. It would be strange if he didn't react. The King could only sigh in frustration as he wondered whether Hael was simply oblivious or just plain stupid. 

After taking his bath, Hael felt warm and rejuvenated. He stepped out of the bathing area and found Ceremus lying on his hammock, deep in thought. 

When he heard Hael walk in, he snapped his head towards him, his eyes narrowing when he saw that he was wearing nothing but a towel that was hanging dangerously low on his hips. Letting out another frustrated sigh, he quickly got up in search of something the young man could wear. 

"Here, put this on." He shoved a light tunic for the guard to wear and Heal accepted it graciously. 

Now fully clothed, he sat by the desk, waiting for Ceremus to speak. The man in question eyed him warily. "I have no problems with you going out to see your friends as long as it's on your days off." He said. "I simply wish that you don't go wandering into unknown territories without a huntsman's seal. Even if you've received their approval, it's still dangerous. You are a King's guard, a position of esteemed honour and authority. You cannot be going anywhere you like as you please." He said sternly. 

There was weight and authority in his tone, but Hael couldn't detect any malice in his words, so he nodded his head obediently. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." He said. 

Ceremus eyed him for a moment longer before giving a nod. "Good." Rising from his hammock—which Hael had noticed he was quite fond of, given the identical one in his private chambers—he made his way back to his desk. This time, however, instead of sitting, he leaned over the table, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Hael. 

"...Have you ever been to the theatre?" he asked abruptly. 

Hael looked up, momentarily confused, before shaking his head. A small smile played on Ceremus' lips at the response. 

"Then we'll attend a show tomorrow," he declared, leaving no room for refusal. 

~*~

The following evening, just as promised, the two men left the palace dressed in formal attire, riding in the royal chariot toward the city center. 

The theatre scene in Trojas was rampant, serving as a popular form of entertainment for both nobles and commoners alike. Theatres were typically located in or around the city center or near the royal palace. Each featured a raised stage with a backdrop that doubled as a changing area for actors requiring quick costume changes, while semicircular seating ensured an unobstructed view of the performance. 

According to the itinerary, that night's entertainment would be a play. 

The story followed a young boy who ventured into the forest after a lost sheep strayed from the herd. Chasing after it, he expected to find only the missing animal, but instead, he stumbled upon three stunningly beautiful women, their otherworldly appearances leaving him awestruck. Standing beside them was a man who possessed the same divine beauty and commanding presence. 

As the man approached, he revealed that the boy had been lured there intentionally. Confused, the boy listened as the man explained the reason behind their summons. Then, he handed the boy a golden apple and gave him a task—he was to choose which of the three women was the most beautiful. Whoever received the apple would be declared the winner. 

The boy stood frozen, unable to decide, as each of the women shimmered with an ethereal glow, dazzling him equally. Seeing his hesitation, the women took turns persuading him. The first promised to grant him wisdom, the second vowed to make him powerful, and the third declared that if he chose her, she would ensure the most beautiful mortal woman in the world fell in love with him. 

The boy weighed their offers before giving the apple to the third woman. True to her word, she made the most beautiful mortal woman fall for him. 

But unfortunately, she was already promised to another. 

The boy then journeyed to find the love of his life; the moment their eyes met, a spark ignited, and her feelings for her husband vanished, replaced by an overwhelming attraction to the boy. 

This led to dire consequences for the young lovers, as the woman's husband was the brother of a ruthless and powerful king—one who would stop at nothing to reclaim what he saw as rightfully his. The king's fury became an undeniable force, and soon, war erupted between the two nations, all because of a love that was never meant to be. 

It was a tale of love, betrayal, and adventure—tragic in its inevitability. As Hael watched the play unfold, his gaze drifted toward Ceremus when the scene depicted the lovers fighting side by side, defying fate together. 

He couldn't help but wonder: was their love truly destined, or was it merely the reckless delusion of a selfish, naïve boy, blinded by the prospect of love?

Ceremus felt Hael's gaze on him, and as he watched the play unfold, a storm of emotions swirled within him. Though uncertainty lingered in his mind, one thing remained clear—his connection with Hael was undeniable. Unlike the boy who had selfishly torn the woman from her family, what they had was different. Their bond was written in the stars, woven into fate itself. The dream he'd had months ago had proven that much. 

For the first time since the play had begun, Ceremus turned to Hael. Their eyes met, and for a moment, they were lost in each other's gaze.