Ambrose checked the carriage and then walked over to Evander who was talking with Lucian.

“Everything is set” Ambrose approached them

“Alright…I’m sorry to leave you here by yourself” Evander said with a sad smile “I promise to be back soon”

“It’s okay, you need to meet your wife and make sure Elle is fine, also make sure to come back with Benedict we need him”

“Ah yes, I completely forgot that you are married” Lucian chuckled “May I have the honor of meeting her one day? It would be good if it’s before I leave”

“I’ll see what I can do” He patted Lucian in the shoulder, then turned towards Ambrose “Take care, and behave please…I don’t want to come back and see everything in total chaos”

Ambrose hugged Evander “Have more faith on me”

“That would be the worst mistake I could make” He said after pulling away, he wave both goodbye and entered the carriage

“Alright Ambrose, ready?” Lucian said rubbing his hands together once the carriage started moving

Ambrose smirked and turned around.

***

The sun was shining brightly with not a single cloud on sight but the wind that blew was very cold. The pond where Nicholas was in knee deep with Lucian behind him was warm.

 “I gave you the chance to avoid this brother but you decided to ignore it… so let’s try again using this method” He sat down on the dock with his legs crossed ”If you want me to help you give me the crown”  

“The guards are going to stop you and then I will punish you for doing this to the king!” Nicholas glared at him

“Surprisingly you only had five loyal knights, the others still recognize me as the rightful king…I think you understand that we can do whatever we want…yes?

Nicholas was nervously looking around, and trembling because of the cold. He was wet and tied, Lucian placed a hand in his head making him unable to turn away from Ambrose’s icy stare, while he also tapped his chest with the tip of the sword

Nicholas glared at him “How can I trust you? What if you actually stay in power?”

“First of all, I’m not a traitor like you and secondly I don’t want the throne I just want temporary power to deal with the mess you made and then I can have the freedom I much deserve” He started ripping the shirt, until it was completely torn from the front “Let’s make a promise alright, I fix the kingdom and you forget about my existence after yes?”

Nicholas shivered, it was cold and the fact that he was wet didn’t help at all but he still remained silent.

“Such a stubborn bastard!” Ambrose lowered his sword, but due to the careless movement ended up ripping his pants which sided off his body making Nicholas naked from the waist down. Ambrose started laughing while placed the sword in his lap

“Hmm it’s too small I understand now why Arabella doesn’t want you” He leaned his head on his hand “What do you think Lucian?”

“I do not want to ruin my mental health like that but I must say he has good and firm buttocks” Lucian said with an exaggerate accent

Both of them started laughing before Nicholas started struggling to cover himself

“You bastards!” He kneeled on the water “Alright! Is the crown what you want? You can have it just stop this humiliation!”

Ambrose grabbed the sword and used it as support to lean forward, the smile he showed made Nicholas shiver “It’s a deal then, get ready and summon the nobles” He got up and started walking away

Lucian after untying Nicholas push him deeper in the pond “Whoops, it’s slippery”

***

It was late afternoon when Nicholas sent letters to the nobles summoning them urgently to the castle. Behind the curtain that separated the throne room with the king’s personal resting area Nicholas was fixing his crown while the maids finished helping him get dressed. Lucian frowned and turned towards Ambrose who was eating a cookie beside him, they both were sitting on the right side of them room waiting

“If the crown doesn’t fit him why doesn’t he get a new one?”

“He can’t, it’s the only one that exists” When Ambrose noticed that Lucian was still confused he placed the cookie in the plate “The crown is magical, it grants whoever is wearing it magical and physical abilities it really depends on the person… but the crown has a sort of mind of its own so it chooses who it’s worthy of its powers”

“Ah! So that’s how the kings are chosen…Then that means the crown doesn’t acknowledge Nicholas as worthy” He turned to look at the crown “So that means, it chose you”

Ambrose shrugged “That crown has never been placed in my head before, so nobody knows”

A knight entered the room and kneeled “Your majesty the nobles have gathered and are waiting for you”

Nicholas raised his hand and turned around “We will be right there” He started walking towards the door that was hidden under the curtain. Without turning around or slowing down Nicholas started talking “I don’t trust you so after this, we are making it a contract instead of a promise”

“I was really going to keep my word unlike someone” Ambrose shrugged “But fine, do whatever you want”

“I too, will keep my word and give you the freedom you so much want” He paused to take a deep breath before entering the throne room

Ambrose stared at the people that were currently bowing as Nicholas walked towards the throne while hiding behind the curtain. He could tell by the clothes and the amount of jewelry which nobles were the ones abusing power. Once Nicholas sat on the throne, two knights positioned themselves a couple of steps away at each side.

 “You may rise” Nicholas said with a motion of his hand “I have summoned you all here for an important announcement”

The nobles rose, and waited patiently for Nicholas to speak. Ambrose and Lucian were watching while making fun of the people’s clothes.

“It has come to my attention that the kingdom is having some difficulties, there has also been some disagreement with the kingdom of Kavan that needs to be resolved, that’s why you have been summoned here so I can announce the decision I have made”

“If I may your majesty” An old man bowed placing his hand full of rings in his chest “I suggest we declare war against the kingdom of Kavan, it would be good for the kingdom to expand”

“Marquis Ulysses your suggestion is not only not needed but also it would bring more harm to the kingdom if we proceed with it” Nicholas glared at him “I said I already made a decision so I do not need suggestions…I need you to listen and agree”

“Then what’s the decision you have made your majesty?” Countess Sarah said while opening her fan

“I will temporarily give the crown to the most suited person to solve this problems” Nicholas stood up and as he did many nobles stared at the crown with eyes full of greed “I ask for my brother, Prince Felix Ambrose Callistus to come forward and take a seat in the throne”

Ambrose slowly made his way to the throne with a smirk on his face, lots of the nobles glared and rolled their eyes, a few showed a face of relief or happiness. He unsheathed his sword and took a seat on the throne and waved at the nobles with a wide false smile while with the other he held the hilt of the sword

“I declare that from this moment forwards Prince Ambrose will take the mantle of King, so he must be obeyed, treated and respected as such” Nicholas took off the crown slowly and with trembling hands he placed it on Ambrose’s head “All bow to the new King Felix Ambrose Callistus of Aegle”

The nobles bowed hesitantly, and soon Ambrose placed both of his hands on the sword using it as support, he leaned forward with a groan escaping his lips. The crown started shining and slowly changing to a smaller silver crown decorated with small golden leaves. The crown emitted a glow that wrapped Ambrose’s figure, there was a silence as everyone witnessed the moment, and then after the light disappeared Ambrose lifted his head, leaning his cheek on the hilt of the sword

“Time to do a deep cleaning” He smirked