Unedited

Prologue: Perfect Prince

"Have you found his location yet?" The impatient king taps his fingers against the arm of his solid gold throne. His guard gulps as he makes eye contact with one of the many skulls lining the throne's posts.

All of them heads of people who have disappointed the king in some way. The guard, having served the king for years, had alluded the king's punishment, but today he feels he might actually earn it.

"We have a list of locations we think he might be, your majesty." He guard holds the list tightly in his fist as he remains stoic in front of his king. The king's finger tapping stops.

"You think? I don't need think. I need know." The king's face is already turning bright red with rage. The guard takes another gulp and tires again. "Sir, we have a plan to find his exact location, but it'll take a couple of days... He's not exactly the easiest person to track... Sir." His voice trails off because he knew the king was an impatient man regardless of what it was about or the difficulty of the task.

With one more attempt, the guard tries again. "If we can get him to do a job, we'd have his location, your majesty." The guard sinks to the floor and bows to the king as he continues on, wanting to show his king all the respect he can, or fear he'd find his head on the block.

A couple moments of silence pass through the room as the guard feels cold sweat roll down his back. The sound of heavy boots approaching him sends his nerves on edge, the guard refuses to raise his head as he feels the king looming over him like a reaper, ready to take him.

A deep chuckle vibrates the guard's chest and with disbelief, the guard looks up to his smiling king. "Your majesty?" The man says in confusion.

"My dear loyal guard," the king starts, not even knowing the man's name. "These things can't be helped, and I am nothing if not understanding." He said, making the guard sit up more from his bow. "Yes, you are, your majesty." The guard feels his heart lighten at knowing he was safe for today. This experience might even be the push the guard needs to ask his true love to marry him, because you can die any day, so why wait?

The man was so grateful he crawled up to kiss the king's feet in respect. "Thank you, your majesty." he says as he crawls. The king stares down at the man at his feet; the smile gone.

Why doesn't anyone ever let the king finish his sentence?

"It just so happens, that this time." The king waves his hands at the other guards in the room in a silent command. "I'm in understanding that you've disappointed me and I have no further use of you."

The guard feels strong hands grip his shoulders as he is hauled to his feet and dragged roughly from the room. "No! You can't do this to me! Your majesty! Please!" He cries and tears streamed down the otherwise strong man as he's dragged to the jail where he'll await execution.

The king slumps onto his throne and sighs, messaging the throb in his temples. "Idiots can't even bring me a teenage boy." He grumbles.

"Your majesty, I know where the boy is." A voice from heaven sounds beside the king. King Bardolf peeks out at the young mirror image of himself.

"How many times do I have to tell you to just call me dad?" The king says as he smiles at his pride and joy. The prince just stares at his father with nothing more than a bored expression that holds no emotion.

"I'm here to do my job, so let me just tell you what you want to hear." the prince says, not saying 'your majesty' at the end of his sentence. The king nods his head for him to continue.

Prince Xavier clears his throat and adjusts his glasses on his face. "I have reason to believe that he's residing in the mortal world when he's not out doing jobs. I've marked the places he is summoned to and where he travels back to, and the ratio of anywhere else to the mortal world is considerably low." Indifference ever present on the young prince's face and voice.

The king smiles, showing off a three sets of gold teeth. "Excellent news my dear son. See to it that he's found and brought before me-" The king taps a finger thoughtfully against his chin for a moment "-unharmed."

"As you wish." Prince Xavier bows to the old king and dismisses himself from the room.

The king continues to smile a wicked smile. His plan was almost ready to begin and soon, no one would be safe from him.

"Just you wait, Edward Leon Charles. You'll be my key to power very soon." The king chuckles to himself.

Prince Xavier rolls his eyes as he departs the room, hearing the king and his ridiculous statement. The prince finds the old man's plan to be foolish, but bringing this boy here will only be his own undoing. Once the king is out of the way, it'll be prince Xavier who will rise and be a far better king than king Bardolf.

"Indeed father." He whispers to no one as he enters his chambers.