Chapter 5: Anger and regret

In a hidden corner of the palace, a woman stood with her face covered, while another beautiful woman approached and bowed. "My Queen, I have drugged General Iras's wine with a pleasure-enhancing potion."

The woman with the covered face turned, seeming to savor the news. "And after that, did you follow General Iras?" she asked calmly.

"Yes, my Queen. I saw him enter Duke Hylos's room," the woman replied.

The Queen was shocked and enraged, slapping her servant violently. "You fool! Why didn't you stop him? Something is going on between the Duke and General Iras, and you're useless!"

The woman cowered, kneeling in fear. "Forgive me, my Queen!"

The Queen screamed in rage, her eyes blazing with fury, as if she wanted to kill someone. "Get out of my sight!"

The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Hylos had just woken up, memories of the previous night's events still fresh in his mind. He left his room, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions.

As he walked, he crossed paths with Rabik, who shot him a cold glare. Hylos ignored him and continued on his way to Iras's room. He burst through the door, his anger evident.

Iras looked up from the book he was reading, startled. Hylos's voice trembled with rage and sadness. "You have no shame."

Iras rose from his seat, his eyes searching for Hylos. "Forgive me, I lost control of myself."

Hylos's voice grew louder, his words dripping with venom. "Even so, I never dreamed of having relations with a man, especially someone like you."

Iras took a step forward, his face etched with regret. "Hylos, please—"

But Hylos cut him off, his anger boiling over. "I'm returning to my palace. I don't want to experience that again. You're disgusting."

With that, Hylos turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Iras standing alone, his eyes filled with remorse.

Dessert encounter:

As Hylos departed the palace, he crossed paths with Rabik once more. Rabik entered Iras's room, asking, "Brother, what happened?"

Iras sat down, his hands clasped together in regret. "I committed a grave mistake."

Just then, one of Iras's men rushed in to deliver a report. "General, Duke Hylos has left the palace alone, riding his large camel into the desert."

Iras swiftly rose from his seat and exited the room, intent on pursuing Hylos. Rabik watched, surprised by Iras's desperation.

In the scorching desert, Hylos rode his camel, shielding his eyes from the sand-filled wind. Suddenly, three rough-looking men emerged from the horizon, their eyes fixed on Hylos's golden attire and jewelry.

"Wow, what a handsome man and fine clothes. Can we have them?" one of the men sneered, as the other two grasped Hylos.

"Let me go! Don't you recognize me? I am Duke Hylos of the Valley of Kings. I'll have your heads cut off!" Hylos warned.

The men ignored him, intending to strip him bare. But before they could, one of them fell to the ground, his head severed, and blood gushing out. Hylos was shocked and terrified.

As he turned to flee, he saw Iras standing behind the fallen man, his face twisted in rage. The remaining two men fled in terror.

Hylos tried to scramble away, but Iras approached him, lifted him up with both hands, and placed him on a camel with a large seat. Hylos was frightened.

"No, I don't want to go with you! Let me go Iras!"

Hylos shouted, struggling to free himself, but Iras ignored him, his expression unyielding.

Confrontation:

As the sun began to set, Hylos and Iras returned, their journey marked by tension. Hylos's face was twisted in a scowl, his hair disheveled from Iras's rough handling in the desert.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Hylos asked, his voice laced with resentment.

Iras's response was swift and violent. He slapped Hylos, his face inches from Hylos's.

"If I hadn't arrived, you'd be stripped naked by now, and lucky to be alive. Understand me?" Iras's voice thundered.

Hylos clutched his face, reeling from the slap. "I despise you!" he spat, storming into his room.

Iras's head throbbed in frustration. He had never felt such anger and desperation. He sat on the floor, defeated, unable to comprehend why Hylos refused to listen to him.

Secret Message:

Under the cover of night, Hylos slipped to his window and called out to his loyal bird, signaling it to fly to the Queen of the Valley Kings with a secret message, unknown to Iras.

In the palace, the Queen sat on her throne as her servant approached her with a letter from Hylos. Her face lit up with joy as she hastily opened the letter and began to read.

"Create a way for me to escape from General Iras's palace, and I will give you what you desire - myself," Hylos's letter.

The Queen's eyes sparkled with excitement as she finished reading the letter. She knew that her chance to claim Hylos had finally arrived. With a determined look on her face, she began to devise a plan to rescue Hylos from Iras's clutches.

: wait for the next chapter.