“So, Vigil. How about that first clue?” He asks me with an infuriating smirk on his face and I want to scream at him. Yell every swear I know and kick him until he’s yelling at me too. 

Its fucking rediculous that this man has managed to put me in this position. Has managed to back me up against a wall so effectively that I am left with no other choice but to do what he says. Him and his fucking uncle.

Admiral Ali. If I knew a way to curse him, I would. Who is he to threaten me? Me, a flipping king! No more than that. Who is he to threaten a king and manage to get away with it so utterly and completely? This shouldn’t be possible. A king should hold the most power in his kingdom, so how is it that a prisoner and his uncle are able to bend me to their will like this? 

Well, if you want to get technical, I brought it on myself when I didn’t force everyone to pledge to me the day I was crowned. But I refuse to admit that I have any fault in the situation. 

I meet Min’s eyes and find that he is still looking at me expectantly. His eyes are glittering with mirth and I realize my composer must have slipped during my internal rant. I scowl and click my tongue dismissively at him. A poor attempt to redeem myself I know, but there isn’t much more I can do. 

“Fine. Give me the first clue.” I growl out and he cocks his head at me, but doesn’t imidiately respond. “What is it now? You do not want to play your game now that I have agreed to play?”  

“No. That’s not it.” He smiles without righting his head. He is still just watching me with his head tilted to the side. It makes him look strange, almost predatory. The light from the lamp behind me makes shadows dance across the dip in his neck and his eyes twinkle with mischief. 

My skin tingles as his eyes rake over me, making me feel slightly uncomfortable and more than a little angry at him. Why the hell is everyone toying with me? 

“Then what the hell is it?” I scowl and tilt my head in a similar way to his, hoping to make myself look as predatory as him. By the slight tilt of his lips after I’ve positioned myself, I can tell that it doesn’t quite work. 

“Your shirt is see-through.” He says and I start back at his words. 

“You! You discusting deviant!” I shout at him while crossing my arms over my chest to try and conseal myself. “How dare you disrespect me. I am royalty! Would you like to get tried for breaking another one of the weighted eight?” 

“I’ve already broken one, what does breaking another matter. The punishment for both crimes is death. What are you going to do? Kill me twice?” He rolls his eyes at me before continuing. “Now should I give you the first clue or are you going to keep changing the subject?”

I gape at him as he finishes talking, before remembering that I need to keep my composer. Kings don’t gape at people.

“I was not the one to change the subject. It was you who did.” I tell him pointedly. I can feel a pressure building behind my eyes and I know that a headache isn’t far behind. 

“I never asked you to stand in front of the light and flash me with your pasty lanky body. I never would have had to change the subject if you hadn’t chosen to stand there.” He says calmly, his eyes still gleaming with teasing light. 

“I hope you rot in hell.” I yell at him before turning on my heels and marching towards the door. My anger buzzing beneath my skin as I do. 

I’m nearly to the door when I hear his voice calling me back. 

“With my last does his first end, as old as Bellia does this namesakes extend.” I stop in my tracks and turn to look back at him, confusion evident on my face. 

He is looking back at me, his teasing expression gone and for the first time in awhile he looks completely serious. 

“What?” I snap anyway. Just because I can and also because what he just said makes about as much sense as a flying pig. 

He smirks slightly and I half expect him to start teasing me again, but he doesn’t. He only opens his mouth again and repeats, “With my last does his first end, as old as Bellia does this namesakes extend.”