Chapter Text
“Congratulations, Alithea, you have been chosen as the future wife of Crown Prince Mydeimos as decided by King Eurypon. His Majesty has high hopes for you.”
Alithea, with a horrified expression, bows, but behind that expression lies the cocky smirk of an infamous assassin.
After hearing that King Eurypon decided to find a broodmare to marry to his son, any which could give him lots of children, Anaxagoras knew that someone would hire him to get rid of the old King. Kremnos has clearly grown irritated with the crazy choices King Eurypon has been making, it’s about time they did something about it.
While he is not interested in a marriage to the crown prince of Castrum Kremnos, this is the easiest way to get close to the throne. Besides, he has a plan to end the marriage alongside the King's life.
During the ride over to the Kremnoan castle of the Crown Prince, Alithea remains silent, wearing a tense expression. The castle of the Crown Prince is located near the outskirts of the city, surrounded by lush green nature instead of the tall white walls and tiles found in most of Kremnos.
She keeps her head low as she's led to the room where Mydeimos is waiting for her, and eventually, she finds herself standing before the Crown Prince, staring at him in silence.
Mydeimos has his arms loosely crossed, carefully observing his new fiancée, his lips shut tight.
Neither know what to say. There isn't much to say when one is trapped in a situation like this.
“Don't look so frightened, I've no plans on hurting you,” he says to break the silence, and in hopes to ease that scared expression on her face.
Alithea turns her head away with a frown that says she's not quite convinced. “Thank you for your reassurance,” she mutters.
At least they aren't speaking in Kremnoan. Anaxa did trouble himself with learning the language during the few months he had to prepare before the King's official announcement, however, he only managed to get the basics down and can't speak as fluently as a native should.
Mydei clears his throat and gestures to the seat next to him. “Please, feel free to take a seat. You look like you're about to pass out.”
Alithea looks back at him slightly confused at the comment, but sits down across from the Crown Prince. She's seated with her back straight, her hands gripping the edge of the seat at either side.
He looks her up and down for a moment before turning his head away, lips forming a faint frown. “Actually, I think it would be best to have you get settled before we chat. I'll give you the rest of today. Do what you must, be ready by tomorrow morning.”
Alithea remains seated, surprised as she watches Mydeimos stand up to leave.
She gets up to chase after him, but by the time she reaches the doorframe, he's already walking down the hallway.
Quite the abrupt exit. Anaxagoras wonders if he did something wrong. Maybe the Prince saw through his disguise? Impossible.
He's been preparing for this for months, mixing potions to find one that made his voice more high pitched, practicing makeup, living as the daughter of the noble family that hired him, studying the character he'd play, he even bought an expensive wig for this.
If Mydeimos saw through everything after the first meeting, how can he call himself the best assassin in all of Amphoreus?
…
"Ah, well, at least this gives me more time to prepare."
Alithea turns to the guard who was keeping watch outside the door. Clearing her throat, she speaks up with a respectful tone. “Pardon me, do you happen to know where my room might be?”
The guard hands her a double sided map of the castle, “Room 202.”
Alithea grabs the map and heads to her room, finding servants still moving her stuff in.
Spotting one of the maids carrying a certain small silver box adorned with red and purple gems, she quickly takes it off the woman's hands.
“Ah. Apologies, this one is very delicate,” she explains with a light bow of her head.
“More like this one is very lethal… This holds the poison I intend to use on the king.”
She personally carries the box and places it in her closet. It looks like the first thing the maids did was put her clothes away seeing as it's already full. She turns to see the maid she took the box from, who quickly bends at the waist in a deep bow.
The maid keeps a gentle expression. “My Lady, I hope you would not mind me asking you to leave. It’s not safe for you to walk around while heavy items are being lifted.”
Alithea smiles, “Of course. Would you mind escorting me to the lounge?”
The maid rises with a nod and begins leading Alithea away.
Following behind the maid, Anaxagoras glances around to memorize his surroundings. This place is like a maze, how could one person need this much space to live? Alas, he must memorize every hallway. Not that it's very necessary, but it might make things easier on him in the long-run.
“I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you happen to be one of my helpers?” Alithea asks, trying to distract herself from her own thoughts, though her gaze does not land on the maid in front of her.
“Yes, and so too are a few of the maids you saw in your room. My name is Daphne, and the other two are Iris and Thresa.”
Alithea keeps those names in mind, but her eyes wander across the wide hallways, decorated with portraits and expensive vases. She stops in front of a particularly large and elaborate portrait and reaches out to tug on Daphne's sleeve.
Daphne turns to see the other pointing at a portrait of King Eurypon.
“This one is of His Majesty, correct?”
The maid smiles in response to her Lady's question. “Yes, it is. Are you curious about the King?” Watching Alithea nod, she continues, “His Majesty is a very prideful warrior. Many seem to think he has grown greedy and malicious, but I can not say anything about it.”
“Scared of being executed?” Anaxa suppresses a huff.
Alithea snaps out of thought and presses further. “If you happen to know, may I know why it is that the King is… doing this?”
Daphne raises a brow in slight confusion, and then realizes the meaning of the question. “A prophecy was revealed at the time of the Crown Prince's birth, it stated that His Royal Highness would be the end of the Kremnoan Dynasty. Everyone at court knows the story, are you not familiar with it?”
Alithea shakes her head. “My father never allowed me to court.”
The maid hums in understanding, royal courts can be very dangerous places. “I see. No matter. The King's first thought was to be rid of the Prince and conceive another child, but Queen Gorgo went against it. They… got violent, and it resulted in the passing of the Queen. So, His Majesty decided to… help His Highness have children through you.”
Alithea nods and turns away, gesturing for Daphne to continue leading the way to the lounge.
Of course, he need not follow-up and ask why he was selected. After all, he is the one who spread rumors of Alithea's “fertility.” It's only natural that the King would choose him.
However, Anaxa can't help but feel a little sad for Mydeimos’ situation. Good thing he's here to end the King's disgrace of a plan.
Alithea sits in the lounge for a while. Daphne had returned to help prepare her room, so she’s left alone with no source of entertainment. Well, maybe having some time to think is a good thing.
That prophecy is very interesting, was it implying that the Prince is infertile? That sounds unlikely. Eurypon probably already got his son tested, otherwise there would be no reason to do any of this. The prophecy has a different meaning, one he may have to ponder later.
Moreover, Mydeimos is strangely nowhere to be seen. Best case scenario, he’s busy with royal duties, worst case scenario, he is purposefully avoiding Anaxagoras for some reason. That wouldn’t be good. Obtaining the Crown Prince's trust is essential to getting closer to the King. He should ask Daphne about Mydeimos once he gets the chance.
He is quite the odd one, that Crown Prince. The man seemed concerned for Anaxa when they first met. Could it be that he appears unwell? He could've sworn he looked just fine when he left.
Alithea quickly stands up and looks around for a mirror, standing before one and inspecting herself closely. Her makeup remains untouched, so it has nothing to do with her face. She is skinny, but not enough for it to be disturbing, all her bones are covered with a sufficient amount of flesh.
Maybe she does look concerningly skinny in the Prince’s eyes, he, after all, is used to receiving three nourishing meals a day, and he probably works out judging by what she saw of his physique. She may have to eat a bit more to reach his standards.
Letting out a sigh, she tears her eyes away from the mirror and looks around, contemplating whether she should roam around. Even if she gets lost, she does have a map.
Alithea takes out the map given to her by the guard, her finger traces the path from her room over to where she is now. According to this map, there should be an exit nearby that leads to the garden.
She makes her way to the garden, glancing at the map every now and then to ensure she's headed the right way. Stopping before the window, she turns to look outside at the garden and spots none other than the Crown Prince himself.
Outside, under the light of the setting sun, stands a shirtless blond swinging his lance at a dummy, and quite aggressively one might add.
So this is where Mydeimos has been this whole time? Training? …No, it looks more like he's taking out his anger on that poor dummy. Anaxagoras holds back a frown.
“Is it me he's frustrated with? Perhaps he hasn't taken a liking to my performance. Come to think of it, he may not be attracted to the quieter type. Kremnoans value strength, after all, I should be standing up against this situation with a brave face... How troublesome.”
Alithea turns away and decides not to bother the Crown Prince, for now. She looks back down at her map and decides to head to room 206 upstairs, the library.
She didn't just choose the library because she enjoys reading, while that is one reason, the more important reason is that she'll get to see the types of books Mydei has in his library, which should tell her a little more about him.
Luckily, the library is unlocked, so she just wanders in and puts her map away into her pocket.
Of course, Anaxa is the one who had to sew a pocket into each of the dresses he bought. It's ridiculous how those things don't come with pockets, especially in Castrum Kremnos. Isn't this place supposed to be progressive? ... Well, maybe not after Eurypon went crazy.
She walks up to the nearest shelf, running her fingers over the spine of each book as her eyes gloss over the titles.
“Traditional Kremnoan Recipes”
“Tale of the Lance of Fury”
“Five Hundred Souls”
“The Best of Aidonian Cuisines”
“Titans in Purest Form”
“The Poison of Power”
“The Art of War in Ancient Lands”
“Twenty Dishes in Okhema”
“The Most Beloved King: Alexander I”
Anaxa can not hold back the genuine smile growing on his face. “What an interesting selection of books,” he thinks.
The Crown Prince seems to have a knack for cooking, among an interest in History and Mythology, as well as many questions as to what makes a good versus a bad ruler.
Alithea looks around at the three bookshelves, each with about forty books each. Could the Crown Prince have read every single book here?
Well, he should be around twenty-three, and there's about one thousand two hundred books here, so he would have had to read approximately fifty-two books a year. That sounds highly unlikely, especially considering how thick some of these books are.
Actually, some of these are written in Kremnoan. A good opportunity for practice, but not now. Now, a different book has captured her attention.
Alithea grabs a book off one of the shelves and sits down to read it. Mydeimos has very comfortable seating arrangements in this room. The cushions are soft and there's even a warm blanket available. With the two windows blocked and a few candles filling the room with dim orange lighting, the mood here is perfect for reading.
At some point, she has to get up and light another candle to illuminate the room so that she can keep reading. One of the candles had been burnt out completely, but this room is such a paradise that she has no desire to leave.
Her hand moves to flip the page, but trembles at the sound of the door being practically slammed open. She looks up and meets the gaze of a maid, who lets out a loud sigh of relief.
“My Lady! We’ve been searching all over for you,” The girl exclaims. “Dinner is awaiting you downstairs. Although it may have even gotten cold already…”
Alithea holds back a frown and closes her book, placing it on the small table next to her seat before rising. “My apologies, I got carried away.” She walks up to the servant, tilting her head with curiosity, “And you are?”
The maid quickly bows, “Thresa. Please, forgive my poor manners.”
“You look a little young to be working…” She murmurs. “How old are you?”
“Twelve years… Um, this is only my second week working here, so Miss. Iris is still training me. Please forgive my behavior!”
Alithea raises a brow, but decides to pay it no mind for now, instead clearing her throat. “To the dining room, if you may.”
Thresa raises her head and leads the soon-to-be Princess to the dining room.
Alithea sits at the dinner table alone with food that has now grown cold, but it isn't the food that she minds. “Where is His Highness?” She asks, turning her head towards Daphne, who's been waiting here this whole time.
An unsure expression flashes across Daphne's face before she answers, “His Royal Highness requested to eat in his private study today.”
Alithea frowns and looks down at her food. “So, he truly doesn't wish to see me at all today.” She sighs, but goes on to eat her dinner.
She drowns in her own thoughts for dinner, barely talking to any of the servants, making the meal silent and dull. After which, she calls it a day and heads to bed in her now fully furnished room.
Her bed is big and comfortable, and with curtains blocking the eternal sun, she falls asleep almost instantaneously.
.
.
.
The next morning, Anaxa awakes early and gets up to prepare.
He washes up; wears a pale blue peplos robe dress; puts on some makeup to hide the dark circles that refuse to go away; ties the brown wig glued his head into a messy bun; and then accessorizes with some jewelry. Finally, he takes a small sip of the voice-altering potion he brought with him before deciding to spend his morning in the garden.
With a deep breath, the mask falls onto his face.
With her map in hand, Alithea walks over to the garden, passing by a few of the servants who have only just risen and begun to prepare for breakfast.
She sits on the grass and decides to undo her hair to braid it instead. Hopefully the Crown Prince will show up today, he did say that he would. Honestly, seeing Mydeimos’ library made her all the more curious about him. He seems interesting.
Turning her head away, her gaze lands on the rising sun peeking out from beneath the hills in the distance.
Undercover missions like this never fail to make Anaxa feel a kick of home sickness. This place is very beautiful, yet he can't help but miss the scent of the forest back in Grove.
As a scholar, the Grove of Epiphany is where he should stay, he should have continued to study, he should have become a Sage. Yet the sacrilegious path he chose instead led him to a much bloodier life.
As a child, he would’ve never seen himself as an assassin, but it's not like he's completely abandoned his previous life.
He has a house in the Grove of Epiphany; he experiments with things he finds along the way on his missions; he does research and alchemy in his free time; and he uses the money he gets from missions to buy books and supplies for spells and whatnot.
Besides, being an assassin gives him free victims to test his potions and spells on.
Hearing a faint rustling sound behind her, Alithea whips her head around and looks up to see golden eyes staring back at her.
She stands up and moves her braid to rest over her shoulder. “Your Highness, you're awake! Good morning.”
Mydeimos nods, “Good morning.” He clears his throat, holding out a familiar book. “You were reading this yesterday?”
Alithea takes the book, glancing down at the title. “Dromas Care 101.” This is the one she was so busy reading before being interrupted.
“Yes, I was reading it yesterday. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish before it was time for dinner.” She looks up at the Crown Prince and asks the question that's been weighing on her mind ever since she saw this book in his library. “Do you have one? A dromas?”
To Anaxagoras’ absolute delight, the Crown Prince gives a light nod. “Kokopo III. It resides in a stable just east of the castle along with a few others belonging to the servants.”
Alithea tries to contain the excitement she feels as she speaks. “You wouldn't mind if I were to… accompany you on a visit to this stable, would you?”
Mydeimos faintly raises his brow, somewhat amused by the eagerness displayed by the other. “No, I wouldn't mind. We can go visit after breakfast if you'd like. Do you like dromases?”
Like? Anaxagoras adores dromases, he would even go so far as to call himself a dromas expert and enthusiast. If there were a school in the Grove dedicated to studying dromases, then he would surely be its Sage.
Alithea smiles, holding the book against her chest, “Yes, I like them a lot.” She walks past him and continues, “Come with me. I want to put this book in my room so I can finish it later.”
The Crown Prince wordlessly follows behind her.
“So, where were you yesterday?” She questions, curious to know more about why he just up and left her the other day.
“I didn’t leave the castle. I was merely writing to my father, alongside training and royal duties. However, I did hear that you had quite a fun time in my library.”
Alithea quirks her brow, but decides not to question where Mydeimos got that information from. “I tend to lose track of time when I get invested in my reading.”
The Crown Prince pauses for a moment, “You were invested in reading a guide on how to take care of dromases? I can’t imagine guides such as that being very entertaining.”
“Oh, it was very enjoyable, I assure you. All the demonstration pictures of dromases were adorable. It was also fun finding the little inaccuracies in the book. For example, the book states that dromases stomp their tails on the ground when irritated, while this is true, the behavior is not unique to anger and can also signal anxiety or joy. And contrary to belief, a notable percentage of dromases actually like dressing up, however they don’t like anything that might hinder their movements.”
Mydeimos smiles with mild amusement. “You sound like you know a lot about dromases.”
She stops before her bedroom door and then opens it before walking in to place the book on her bedside table.
Mydei glances around, his eyes drawn to the windowsill that has a stack of books on it. “It seems you already have a few books in here.” He walks over and picks one up.
She turns to him and tries not to react. “Oh, I brought those ones along with me from home.”
Anaxagoras mentally curses, “Damn it. I forgot I left those out.” He can only pray that Mydeimos picked up the least questionable one.
The Crown Prince is unsure of what to say as he slowly puts the book back down. “I didn't take you as someone who would be interested in the arts followed by the cults of Thanatos…”
Alithea keeps a calm exterior and swiftly comes up with an excuse. “I’m a fan of history and mythology. The cults of Thanatos are a very mysterious part of the past, and they play important roles in a lot of myths.”
Mydeimos’ expression subtly softens. “Oh? You find those things intriguing? I also think history is a very fascinating topic.”
She nods her head lightly, “I know. I saw the books you had in your library. I have a feeling you and I will get along quite well. At least, I hope we will.”
The Prince tenses up again, turning his head away to hide the nuanced frown on his face. “Well, it’s not as though we have much of a choice, do we?”
Alithea opens her mouth and then closes it. She has been getting so carried away that she completely forgot why she was truly here.
It really is terrifying; being used as nothing more than a tool, a baby machine.
If Anaxagoras were truly the woman stuck in this position… Well, just the thought of that makes him want to throw up.
Eurypon truly is a tyrant beyond saving. If he were not here to get rid of the old King, then the real Alithea would likely be shown very little mercy from that man. Perhaps Mydeimos might've been able to prevent Alithea's fate. But, why hasn’t he done anything now?
Mydei looks back at her and clears his throat, answering the question unbeknownst. “Apologies. I didn’t mean to sour the mood. I… have been trying to reason with my father, but to no avail.”
Her eyes narrow, gaze lowered to the ground. “If reasoning with him is of no use, then do something else. Your Highness, can you truly just stand by and let something like this happen? King Eurypon has long since been a bother to Kremnos, is it not about time you did something?” She looks up to see the serious expression on his face.
“You want me to take the throne? To slaughter him like he did his father? I…” he pauses, turning his head away to think of how he can phrase his words right. “I don’t want for th-”
The door swings open.
“My Lady! Breakfast is ready!” Thresa declares in the same loud voice from last night.
Alithea turns to her maid and sighs, doing her best to wear a soft smile. “You sure do have a knack for interruptions.”
The young girl chuckles nervously and quickly bows feeling all eyes on her. “Haha… sorry…”
Alithea walks over and pats her maid on the shoulder. “Stand up, let's go. I’ve no interest in eating another cold meal.”
Mydeimos silently walks out before them and speedily makes his way to the dining room first.
Alithea and Thresa leisurely walk side by side, and the taller one notices the way the girl keeps glancing at her.
Although it isn't difficult to figure out that the maid is curious about what just happened, Alithea still entertains the question. “What is it?”
“My Lady, what were you and His Highness talking about? He looked upset and dashed right when I walked in.”
She keeps her silence for a while before giving an answer she knows won’t suffice, “Grown up business. Best for you not to know.”
Thresa frowns but doesn't probe any further.
At the dinner table, Mydeimos and Alithea sit across from each other, leaving a large distance between them.
Anaxagoras’ mind is preoccupied, so he pays little mind to the food he's eating, barely even chewing.
He’s been wondering why he was hired for this job.
The Crown Prince is supposed to take the King's life and crown, it's a Kremnoan tradition, there should be no need for an assassin.
However, Mydeimos seems to be hesitant to take his father's life. That part is the most confusing. Eurypon is the reason for Gorgo's death, Mydei should hate him.
Perhaps the King did something to the Prince as a child to make him afraid. Eurypon has only shown selfishness and greed so far, so it wouldn’t be surprising.
“My Lady, if you eat like that, you might choke.”
A delicate gloved hand gently takes the fork and knife out of Alithea's hand, cutting sausage into smaller pieces for her.
Alithea looks over and then moves back realizing how close the gorgeous woman is to her.
Iris puts the fork and knife down before looking at Alithea with a smile. “Apologies, did I startle you? I noticed you were in a daze and weren’t chewing your food properly. You ought to be more careful.”
Alithea mutters a thank you before going back to eating. She spotted Iris earlier today, right when she woke up. The maid was already dressed, hair in a perfect bun with two wavy strawberry blonde strands of hair perfectly framing the woman's face.
When she first saw her, Alithea almost thought some noble Lady had come to visit the Prince, but was stunned to notice her in a maid uniform.
Alithea glances over at Mydeimos, who seems to be in deep thought as well. He, on the other hand, is very careful with chewing and swallowing.
She looks back down at her plate as she swallows. She has almost wiped her plate clean. That means they can visit Kokopo soon. The thought of that makes her pick up her pace.
Iris frowns, “My Lady, please slow down. Are you really trying to choke?”
Alithea has already swallowed down her whole plate.
She rises from her seat and goes to the washroom, which takes a while because she has to pull out her map and locate the nearest one. Once she returns, she finds Mydeimos gone.
She whips her head around in confusion, “Where is His Highness?”
Iris, who's helping a butler clean up the table, responds, “He just left.”
“Where to?!”
The maid hums, carrying a few plates and a bowl of uneaten fruit to a service cart. “If I had to guess, he probably went upstairs to his study or outside to train.”
Alithea sighs and heads upstairs, pulling out her map.
There are two rooms that say “Prince's room.” One of which should be his bedroom, the other, his study. The one closer to her bedroom should be his bedroom, so the one closer to the library should be his study.
She heads over to room 204, which should be his private study.
She gently knocks on the door, “Your Highness, are you in there?”
No response.
With a sigh, she goes back down to check the garden.
He isn't there either. Why does he always disappear like this? Maybe she'll have more luck going to his bedroom?
She goes to head back upstairs, walking with increased speed fueled by irritation, but as she's looking at the map, she bumps into someone and falls backwards from the impact.
“Ah, sorr-”
The other person catches her by the waist, sparing her the rough landing. She looks up to see soft blond locks framing a face that's too close to her own.
“Be careful. Walking that fast without looking is dangerous, you know,” he advised with disappointment.
“Your Highness, where have you been?”
Mydeimos steps back and crosses his arms. “Apologies, I was changing. You wanted to see Kokopo after breakfast, right? We should head over to the staple.”
Alithea's eyes fill with sparkles and she puts her map away, letting Mydei lead her outside the castle to the staple nearby.
.
.
.
There's a dromas caretaker accompanying the four dromases present, two of which are wandering around.
Guessing which one is Kokopo III was not exactly hard, since as soon as it spotted them, it walked right over to greet them.
“Grumph!”
Mydeimos smiles and raises his hand, to which the dromas lowers its head to allow him to pet it.
“Hello to you too, Kokopo. Been doing well? Training hard?”
Alithea stands a step behind the Crown Prince, admiring the dromases with a look of adoration.
Mydei steps back holding out his hand to gesture to Alithea, “Kokopo, I want you to meet… …” He pauses, realizing he never asked her for her name.
“Alithea” She chimes in, not even caring that he didn’t know her name. She’s just glad to be introduced to this dromas.
Mydeimos continues, “My… fiancée.” He struggles to get the word out of his mouth.
Okay, that one hurt a little. “Maybe he does hate me…” Anaxa wonders.
Kokopo does not seem to be very impressed either as it turns its head away, she can almost see a frown on its face.
“Now THAT hurts!”
The Prince clears his throat, “Kokopo, be nice.”
“Grrrumph!”
Alithea steps back, eyes wide with shock. That was not a friendly sound.
There's no way… Anaxa has never met a dromas who doesn't like him. Did he do something to offend Kokopo? “But I’ve yet to do anything!” He thinks as he tries to hide his misery.
Her hand goes up to cup her cheek, her face painted with shock and panic.
Mydeimos stares at her in slight concern. He sighs and turns to Kokopo. “Apologize, and be friendly.”
Kokopo III glares at her and stubbornly turns away, stomping its foot.
“Kokopo. Either you apologize, or I won't talk to you.”
The dromas’ eyes widen and it turns back towards Alithea's nervous face. It grumbles before lowering its head and apologizing.
Anaxagoras lets out a silent sigh of relief.
Alithea slowly raises her head and carefully reaches out to pet Kokopo, who allows her to do so without resistance, but with a small frown.
“You should go meet the others. Hopefully, we'll have more luck with them.”
She nods and goes to meet the other dromases, observing each of them and trying to learn more about them as they play catch and whatnot. As she gets carried away playing around, Mydeimos is left to watch from the sidelines for pretty much the whole time.
“Alright, alright, enough playing, the dromases need their rest now.” The dromas caretaker brings all the dromases back to their stable as Alithea stands there with a small frown.
Alithea waves to them with a bittersweet expression. “Bye Jasper, bye Kairos, bye Onyx, bye Kokopo!”
Mydeimos stands by her side, waving goodbye to Kokopo III before they turn around to walk back to the castle.
“You sure did spend a lot of time with the dromases. It should almost be time for lunch by now.”
Alithea lets out a soft sigh, hands clasped together behind her. “Such a shame, I wanted to spend more time with them. Next time, I should read them a story.”
Mydei raises a brow, “Really? You think they might listen?”
“Of course they’ll listen. Dromases may not be the brightest, but that certainly doesn’t mean they lack brains and can’t be smart. In fact, they have more potential than you think.”
The Crown Prince smiles as she continues on to ramble about dromases and their qualities. He isn't terribly interested in dromases, but he still listens closely.
“... Those are the three most important things required to create a Super Dromas.”
She glances over at Mydeimos and realizes that she's been blabbering. She stops, turning her head away. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
Mydei shakes his head. “There's no need to worry. I don’t mind listening to you speak if you want to discuss a passion of yours.”
Alithea shakes her head, “No, I shouldn’t have gone on for so long. We have much more important things to talk about, well, to continue talking about. Our conversation from earlier-”
“We should talk in private. None of the servants will interrupt us if we head to my study. Come with me.” Mydeimos’ expression is noticeably darker. He looks ahead as they walk into the castle.
She follows the Crown Prince to his private study. Perhaps she should’ve waited until she had Mydei's trust to bring this back up, but it’s important that they talk about this regardless.
Mydei locks the door behind them and sits at his desk, gesturing for her to take a seat too.
Alithea sits down, looking at him with a serious expression. “Your Highness, what do you really think of the King's choice, of me being here, knowing what my ‘purpose’ is?”
The Prince lets out a sigh, and decides to clarify something first, “I have no desire to turn you into a broomdare like my father wants, I don't see you as a tool in any way. I think his decision was made out of fear and perhaps even selfishness, but I also don’t want to kill him just yet.”
“Yet. So he does intend on taking the throne…” Anaxa keeps those words to himself, placing his hands together on his lap and maintaining a calm air.
Mydei continues, ”I don’t want to follow the prophecy, I don't want the Kremnoan Dynasty to end because I know it means a lot to my people. A King's purpose is not just to rule, but also to serve. I wish to give the people what they want, to lead them forth to a future they desire.”
Anaxa hums. He could chime in right now, but maybe it's better for him not to say too much. It would not be good to have the Crown Prince see through him right away. Besides, the Mydei probably won't open up to a stranger.
Alithea lowers her head, “I understand, but, what of your fate? What of mine? You may not want to use me, but your father intends to do so and he'll do anything to make sure it happens.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to prevent. I want to convince him of another way. I don't want to have children just out of obligation, I don't want to be rushed into a marriage and then rushed even more to have children. I want to do it out of love,” Mydei answers sincerely.
“As of now, I’ve been trying to ask him for more time, but I know that it won't be easy. I've scrapped nearly a hundred letters by now,” He says, pointing to a pile of crumpled papers on his desk.
A small frown grows on her face. “It's difficult to reason with a madman, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince's hands ball up into fists on top of the desk. “Is that how you see him? As a mad man beyond saving? Do you.. think I should just kill him and be done with it?”
She stares at him in silence, unsure of what to say in response to the seemingly hurt expression on his face. “Well, I don't know him personally. I guess you would know if he's too far gone, you’re the closest to him after all.”
Mydei turns his head away, letting out a long breath. He stands there quietly. It's clear by his expression that he has something to say, that there's more to it, but he's hesitant.
Anaxa mentally hums, observing every little detail of the Prince's body language. Mydei and Eurypon's relationship might be just as complicated as he thought. However, Mydei doesn't trust him enough to open up to him yet.
Alithea reaches over and places her hand on top of his. “Listen, Your Highness, I don't know about your relationship with His Majesty, but I do know that you can tell right from wrong, so I trust that whatever choice you choose to make will be the right one.”
The Crown Prince looks over to her, and then slowly nods his head. “Thank you for believing in me. I can only hope that I won't disappoint you or any other Kremnoans.“ He closes his mouth again, staring at her, completely unfazed by the knocking at the door.
Alithea looks towards the door, guessing that it's probably time for lunch. “Enter.”
A butler walks in and bows immediately. “My apologies for the disturbance, but your lunch is ready.”
She glances towards Mydei, “I think we should have lunch here. What do you think, Your Highness?”
Mydeimos sits back in his seat, his hands moving away to settle on his knees. “Bring it here, Felix.”
The butler bows once more before leaving to fetch their lunch.
Alithea watches the door close before looking to Mydei, unsure of whether she should continue. “If you want advice, I’d be delighted to offer you the knowledge that I have.”
“What do you really think of my father? As a citizen?”
“I do think that his recent decisions have been… wild. I think he made some unnecessary changes to certain laws, especially those involving violence and what makes it legal. As for the question of his sanity, I certainly don't think his mind is stable.”
“And what do you think I should do? Give him a chance or kill him?”
“You know, some people can't be saved. Even if you want to save them, even if you try your very best and give them all the support they could need, it ultimately comes down to whether the person is willing to change.”
Mydei falls silent again, staring at the crumpled letters on his desk.
“Does that answer upset you? You look displeased.” She mutters.
The Prince shakes his head lightly, “Even it did, it isn't a big issue. After all, we have more important matters at hand… aside from my father.”
“There's something else?” She inquires, her brow raised in curiosity.
Mydei clears his throat before speaking, “The council will soon hold a banquet to welcome their soon-to-be Princess, and by soon I mean tomorrow night.”
“Ah. I see.” Her words sound calm and simple, but her eyes are wide.
He lets out a small huff, finding her reaction somewhat amusing. “Don't be nervous. They won't eat you.”
Just as eating is mentioned, Felix the butler returns with a tray of food and sets it on the desk between them.
“Damn. I thought I had more time to practice." Anaxa curses, but holds himself back.
The nobleman who hired him warned him that the council often holds meetings where they speak majority in Kremnoan if not completely in the language. Looks like he'll have to be studying away the rest of the day. It's important for him to be ready for this. Unlike the court, the council is a very small circle of higher ups who get to decide on the future of Kremnos, they're the elites closest to the King.
Alithea absentmindedly chews on her food, just as she had during breakfast. She seems to be deep in thought, so distracted she doesn't even notice that the fork she ate from was not her own. Well, that is until she feels mouth start to burn.
She glances down at her hand, and then over at Mydeimos, who’s holding out the fork she just ate a pepper from.
The Crown Prince tilts his head to the side, a small smirk resting on his face. “Welcome back. Do you always think so hard when eating?”
She isn't sure whether her cheeks flushed from the spice or the fact she just let him feed her. “Sorry... I was in a daze,” she mutters, shaking her head to wake up from the daze.
He lets out a sigh. “Just eat. You must be tired anyway, you woke up quite early this morning.”
Alithea nods and focuses on her food once more.
.
.
.
Mydeimos spends the next day's entry hour in the Palace of Castrum Kremnos, attending a private meeting alongside his father and a limited number of high-ranked nobles.
After lunch, he returns, but Alithea is too busy getting ready for the council meeting. Having her head pulled front, back, and left by Iris, who seems to be an expert at intricate hairstyles. Daphne somehow takes what feels like hours to apply the lightest makeup look, and Thresa holds up jewel after jewel for her Lady to choose from.
Anaxagoras feels like a doll getting powdered and blushed before being put on the sale rack. Yes, sure, this is going to be his first appearance at court, but all of this seems like a bit… much?
Once the three helpers are finally done, Iris brings Alithea over to a full sized mirror, adjusting the long brown faux knot braid adorned with red gems.
Iris looks at her with a gentle expression, “What do you think, My Lady?”
“Pretty, but do you think His Highness will like it?”
The maid frowns, then shakes her head lightly. “What matters is that it pleases you.”
“Well, yes, but appealing to Mydeimos is the top priority for my mission right now,” Anaxa thinks as he puts on a smile and looks back at his reflection. … Maybe if he lost the wig, he would look more like Diotima.
“How could I not be pleased by all your hard efforts? I truly am grateful.” She turns, snapping out of thought to take Iris’ hand. “To you, to Daphne, and to Thresa.”
Iris’ smile returns and she briefly glances towards the other two, who are putting things away and cleaning up. “We do it entirely for you, so,” Her gaze returns to her Lady before she bows. “No need to thank us. The pleasure is all ours.”
With all three maids in tow, Alithea heads over to the carriage waiting at the entrance of the castle. The servants stay home, but wave goodbye from the front doors. She sits alone with Mydeimos.
Turning to face the window hole up front, she watches the dromas driving the carriage towards the palace, squinting and tilting her head, trying to catch a glimpse of its face.
“It is Kokopo, if that's what you're trying to find out,” The Crown Prince clarifies with a small grin.
“It is?” She doesn't bother looking at him, and instead yells out to the dromas, “Hello, Kokopo!! Good work pulling the carriage!”
“If you want, we can visit the dromases once we get back or tomorrow entry hour depending on the time the banquet ends. Have you picked out a book to read for them yet?”
Alithea turns around and sits down properly to face the Prince, shaking her head. “I haven't. It's not a problem, though, I’m sure I can visit your library and find a suitable book in no time.”
Mydeimos hums in understanding, after which, a somewhat awkward silence envelopes them. He finds that looking outside the window might seem rude, so he keeps his eyes on her, his gaze glossing over her dark red and purple dress.
“Red looks good on you,” he mutters as his eyes wander back up to her face.
Alithea leans back, hands gripping the edge of her seat. “You think so? I'll wear it more often then… I think I'm supposed to be anyway, since it’s the signature color of the Crown Prince, so logically his wife should wear it too.”
She sits back up, realizing she might mess up her braid if she leans on it, but she certainly doesn't miss the way he so subtly winces at the word “wife.”
Mydeimos clears his throat. “You're right. Still, you don't have to force yourself to wear the color. Just wear whatever makes you happy.”
Alithea nods, then remembers something and quickly opens her mouth. “Will your father be attending the banquet?”
He crosses his arms, turning his head to look out the window. “Of course. The whole council will be there, and naturally he has to meet his future daughter-in-law.”
She tilts her head to the side slightly, “Should I be nervous? Is there anything I should know?”
Mydei shakes his head. “Nothing in particular. Just be yourself.”
“Are you sure? Don't Kremnoans like someone with a little more backbone?”
He turns his head back to face her, “Are you implying that you lack one? You're Kremnoan. You're strong enough.”
Unconvinced, she bites her lip, fiddling with her fingers nervously. “What if they hate me?”
“They won't, stop worrying,” he reassures with a concerned expression.
“How could I? This is a very important moment for me, it'll determine my whole image. We all know how much our people love you, and if the people find me undeserving of you, they'll surely want get rid of me.”
“Alithea, seriously. You’re going to be fine, just trust me.” He holds out his hand.
She glances at the gloved hand before placing her own on top of it.
Gripping her hand, he looks at her with an arched brow, “Feel better?”
Alithea takes a deep breath in and out. “Yes, thank you.”
A confident smile grows on his face. “See? You're fine.”
“He winces at the sound of me being his wife, but has no problem comforting me and holding my hand.” Anaxa’s gaze sinks to the ground as he hums in his head.
“Perhaps I was moving too fast. Mydeimos did say that he wanted to take some time so we could fall in love naturally. Although, I reckon my mission will be over before then… Hopefully it will, at least.”
Mydei squeezes her hand, “We're here. Deep breaths, okay?”
Alithea absentmindedly nods. When she looks up at him, his hand slips out of hers so he can dismount. She quickly hops out after him and looks at the palace, a big fancy structure of white stone with blue and gold accents.
“Want to hold my hand again, or are you alright now?”
“Well, since you offered…” She reaches out and takes his hand again.
They walk in and head to the central courtyard, a vast open space with minimal greenery around the pillars that hold the courtyard's structure.
Only a handful of people are currently present, some surround a large table full of food, and a few lining up to write things on a scroll in front of a large white platform.
Alithea grabs Mydeimos and turns his attention to the platform, “What are they doing over there?”
“That scroll holds all the issues the council will discuss today. We do this regularly, so this is pretty much a normal meeting with an added bonus.”
Her eyes sparkle at the sound of discussion and debate. “May I join as well?”
The Crown Prince holds out his hand towards the line of people, “Go ahead.”
Alithea heads over to stand in line so she can write her own topic on the scroll. It doesn't take very long for her turn to arrive, and she reads over the things others wrote.
Should we open up a new trade route leading to the Grove of Epiphany?
The Black Tide is drawing near. Should we strengthen our defense?
What should we do with the rebels that burned those temples of Nikador?
There’s a water shortage in the west of Kremnos. Where should we build wells?
Should we establish firmer relations with Okhema in case we're overpowered by the Black Tide?
She hums as she pens her own question down.
What should we do about the possibility of a revolution in Castrum Kremnos?
This will spark quite the discourse, add a little fun to this boring meeting. Perhaps Eurypon will even feel more pressured to make cautious decisions that will please the people in favor of saving his life.
Alithea turns around to go look for Mydeimos, but spots him talking to a council member. More people have arrived at this point. She goes to the banquet table to ask someone when the decision discussion will be held, and they continue to converse further but are interrupted by the King’s flashy arrival.
Trumpets are blown with a servant standing in the middle, introducing King Eurypon before bowing and scurrying off to give Eurypon the limelight.
With everyone's eyes on him, the King begins, “I'm sure we all know the reason for this meeting. Besides the usual decision making, we are also here to welcome a new council member and my son's fiancée, Alithea.”
At the mention of her name, she questions going up to stand next to the King. She hopes that she won't have to give a speech, she's already having trouble speaking Kremnoan to everyone here. Feeling someone nudge her shoulder, she steps away and turns her head to find that it's just Mydei.
“Do you want me to go up with you?”
Alithea absentmindedly nods, reaching for his hand. “Sure.”
Mydei walks her over to stand beside Eurypon, who continues to speak.
“I assume some of you may already know her as the daughter of one of our council members, Demetrius.” He gestures towards one of the men standing in the crowd. “So, please welcome our future princess, Alithea.”
Alithea tightens her grip around the Crown Prince's hands as the crowd applauses the King.
“Bow,” he whispers to her as he goes down as well.
She bows along with him, holding the form until the crowd disperses and everyone returns to what they were doing before. She finally rises with a soft sigh.
Mydeimos seems distracted, however.
Following his gaze, she finds that he's staring at Demetrius. “Your Highness?”
His gaze doesn't break away, instead he gestures at the man. “Your father. Do you want to go talk to him?”
Alithea tilts her head, although she isn't very surprised that the Crown Prince wishes to speak to her father. “You want to meet him? … We can go if you want.”
This time, it's Mydeimos who's squeezing her hand, seemingly nervous as he stands before his father-in-law.
Demetrius wears a calm exterior, holding a smile as he bows with respect. “Ah, Your Highness, hello... And Alithea, finally come to say hi to your father?”
She turns her head away with a huff, frowning deeper than ever. “Oh, please, I only came along because His Highness wanted to say hi. I would never want to greet a coward like you.”
Her father clicks his tongue. “Come on, did you want me to get beheaded? You know that if I objected to them taking you away, His Majesty would have just taken you forcefully.”
“And so what if you lost your head? Wouldn't it be an honor to die protecting your family?”
Mydeimos raises their intertwined hands, causing Alithea to turn to him. “You shouldn't argue here. Besides, you already know that I won't let you be turned into a broodmare. If you have no faith in your father, have faith in me.”
Demetrius crosses his arms. “See? You ended up perfectly fine in the end. You two are already so close.” He turns his head to Mydei, “Your Highness, thank you for taking care of my daughter. I hope she hasn't caused you any trouble.”
The Crown Prince shakes his head, “None at all. Your daughter is a fine woman. In fact, it should be me thanking you for raising her.”
Light laughter sounds from Demetrius’ mouth. “It’s all the work of her wonderful mother. Truly, I wouldn’t have been able to bring up Alithea if it weren’t for the help of my wife.”
A cough comes from behind Mydeimos and he turns around to see his father's royal advisor.
“Pardon me, Your Royal Highness, His Majesty wishes to speak with you.”
The Crown Prince nods before being escorted away.
Alithea watches him walk away before turning back to her father. “Let's walk, shall we? I need to continue scolding you.”
Demetrius slowly walks next to his daughter. He keeps his voice low, “How are things going with His Highness?”
She keeps her eye out for anyone getting too close by, her tone just as quiet. “Well. He seems nice. He also seems rather righteous, but he’s delaying taking the throne due to internal conflicts.”
Her father hums, “I see… You may not even have to do anything yourself, if you can just push him to wear the crown, it'll be enough. Whichever way you decide to go, I’ll be sure to compensate you.”
“Pressuring someone into staining their hands isn't something I'm very fond of.”
He shakes his head, “He would have to do it sooner or later… well, maybe not if you succeed in doing it first. Either way, he should be prepared to do it, I'm sure all he needs is a little shove in the right direction.“
Alithea cups her hands together behind her back, her eyes roaming around to find Mydeimos, who's speaking with Eurypon. “We aren't close enough yet. I’m not entirely sure what's running through his head. Either way, the crown will end up in his hands soon.”
“How soon?”
“It shouldn't take me more than two months.”
“Two months is soon to you?”
She lets out a sigh, bringing her gaze back to Demetrius. “It would be sooner if it weren't for His Highness wanting to take things slow.”
Her father hums in understanding. “No matter. So long as the Prince gets the crown, you get paid.”
“Don't worry, you'll get the outcome you desire.” Alithea stops in her tracks. “That's enough chatter. I need to go eat before we start discussing the important matters.” She turns to Demetrius and bows. “Farewell, father.”
He gives a light bow in exchange, “Farewell.”
Alithea walks over to the buffet and takes a plate to stack on some food to munch on. Once she's done plating her food, she glances around to find Mydeimos, but he's still speaking with his father, and with a frown on his face no less. She only manages to eat a few bites before being interrupted.
“Alright everyone, gather around. The council will now discuss the matters brought to its attention.”
She walks over to stand in front of the platform with the crowd, and feels Mydeimos tap her shoulder. “Hm?”
“I was speaking with my father about our marriage. He said he'll delay it two months, and that if I want to push it back further, I would have to speak with him privately after the banquet.” He whispers, cautious of the people around.
“Congratulations, Your Highness. You've managed to escape me for a whole two months.” She whispers back, smiling as she playfully nudges him.
The Crown Prince lets out an amused huff and then turns his attention to the speaker on the platform.
Alithea eats her way through the council meeting, listening in only when things get interesting. Finally, the last question is brought up.
The speaker reads it out loud. “What should we do about the possibility of a revolution in Castrum Kremnos?”
She can't help but smirk hearing people break into chatter instantaneously.
“Is this about those rebels trying to go against His Majesty?”
“It’s more internal, I heard someone in the council was plotting treason.”
“Someone here? No way.”
“Oh please, if anyone is going to kill His Majesty, it's obviously going to be His Royal Highness!”
“Should the Crown Prince not have gone through with it by now? Why is he waiting for so long?”
“Quiet down, they'll hear you!”
“Who dares to bring up something like this?!”
“You know, there's a rumor going around about His Majesty's intentions with the Prince's marriage…”
Alithea turns to Mydeimos, who's looking at her with the faintest frown. “What's wrong?”
The Crown Prince’s brows furrow slightly. “You- …” He glances around and pulls her closer, whispering into her ear, “Why would you write that down?”
“What? Is it not a relevant issue?”
“Don't act ignorant. This kind of stuff shouldn't be brought to the Council. This is between me and him, don't get others involved. My father is already paranoid-”
“Treason is punishable by death, and that fact doesn't change no matter who commits the crime. It seems some people have forgotten that. To answer the question, we will remind those rebels of the consequences." Says Eurypon, loud and authoritative.
Mydeimos’ eyes meet his father's, and he lets go of Alithea before looking back at her, noticing her flushed ears.
She slowly shakes her head, speaking in a tone only audible to the Prince, “People are losing their lives for speaking up. How can you stay silent?”
The Crown Prince clutches his fists, his frown deep as he glances over to his father. Feeling her breath brush against his ear, his gaze snaps back to her.
“I know it's a lot of pressure, but your people need you to act.” She mumbles before leaving the Prince to go put her plate away.
The ride home was silent. The light from the sun seems to burn a little.
Anaxa wonders if he made the right decisions. He knows he said that he doesn't want to pressure Mydei, but the situation has escalated with Eurypon deciding to execute anyone who dares to whisper treason, and security is sure to tighten around it. Just in case he can't fulfill his mission, he needs the Crown Prince to wipe the King off the face of Amphoreus, as a last resort, of course.
Maybe he should talk to Mydei some more, he needs to know more about why the Prince is hesitating.
“It's too late to visit the dromases now, they're probably sleeping.” He says, breaking the silence as they pull over to the gates.
Alithea lets out a sigh, looking over at the eternal sun shining from Okhema's direction. “Sadly.”
He steps out of the carriage and holds out his hand to her, “It's alright. Tomorrow we will.”
She takes his hand and hops down, but doesn't let go. “Are you tired, Your Highness?”
“No. Why?”
“Walk with me, then. The sky looks pretty today.” She intertwines their fingers and starts walking over to the garden.
Mydei's eyes linger on their hands. “You like holding hands, hm?”
“I like you.” She murmurs, her gaze focused on the sky as they stroll through the garden. “You're really interesting, Your Highness. I want to learn more about you.”
The Prince frowns. “... I'm sorry for what happened at the banquet today. I shouldn't have talked to you like that. You're right, this situation is much bigger than just me and my father. It affects the whole of Kremnos, and I know that. I suppose I've just been running away from the truth. Maybe I'm not ready to be a King yet…”
She goes silent for a while, but decides to speak up. “What makes you think that? I think you would be a great leader, Your Highness.”
“You don't have to keep addressing me so formally. Just call me by my name.”
“Mydeimos… Son of Gorgo.” She tries out the name, her tone hushed. “You never did meet your mother, did you?”
The Crown Prince remains quiet for a moment before answering, “No. …Well, at least I wasn't old enough to remember it.”
“She was brave, I heard. A strong warrior, a righteous ruler.”
“That's what I heard, too.”
She turns to see the faint pain in his eyes. “Reminds me of you. Strong, righteous, brave. Even if you don't realize it yet, I see it in you.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Are you saying that to encourage me to take the throne?”
She shakes her head. “No, I'm being serious. You don't have to kill your father to prove yourself to me. I know you have your reasons, and that's fine. You still have a bit of time, use it wisely.”
“But I’ll still have to kill him.”
She stops walking. “Do you not want to?”
He stares at her with hesitation, silently watching as she bends down to take off her heels and relieve her sore feet.
She sucks in a breath through clenched teeth, painfully rubbing the red heel of her foot.
Mydeimos slowly goes down next to her. “Let's sit down.”
Alithea plants her bum on the warm grass and stretches her arms, taking in the scent of the fragrant pomegranate flowers planted around; their color the same crimson the Prince adores.
He takes a deep breath in and out. “I don't approve of what my father is doing, but I want to stop him without simply killing him. I want to… change him, help him be better, like he was back in his youth. Then, he can have a peaceful rest.”
She remains quiet, but tilts her head to the side slightly to show her curiosity.
“I ruined my family. That's what he used to tell me. Not those exact words, but that was the message. Him and my mother were happy before me, before the prophecy. If I kill him the way he is now, I would have put my whole family in a bitter grave.”
Anaxagoras looks closely at the Crown Prince's expression, that vulnerable look in his eyes, the agonized furrow of his eyes, the frown barely holding back the emotions he’s been trying to bury.
“Kremnoans are known to be violent and aggressive brutes. That isn't what we are at all, we may thrive on a bloody battlefield, but we too wish for happy endings. I just want… to feel like I'm more than just a wrecking ball. I want to fix something instead of destroying it. If I can't do that, how can I lead a kingdom?” He raises his head towards the sky, trying to stop the tears.
Anaxa reaches over and places his hand on top of Mydei's. He feels bad. The Crown Prince is being vulnerable with him, being honest, yet he's in here all dressed up in a disguise, fooling the other man.
“It sounds to me that you've already made a choice. Hm? You want to change your father, do it.”
Mydeimos hears her shuffle closer and he turns his head to face her, her hand going up to wipe his pretty tears. “I don't know how.”
“Spend time with him, your goodness will rub off on him. You can talk about life with him, tell him your opinions, and justify them. If he isn't too far gone, he'll listen.”
“If he isn't too far gone…” Mydeimos closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“Even if he is, that doesn't make you a bad person. You tried, and that's enough to prove that you have a good heart. Besides, there are so many more opportunities out there for you to prove that you're capable of doing good.”
Mydei looks up at the sky again, his gaze mapping out the clouds. “You’re right… There's no need for me to stay stuck on this for so long. I suppose, I always felt my life didn't exist beyond the walls of the royal palace, but there's so much more. All of Kremnos, all of Amphoreus, I can do more out there than in here. I just need to make the right choice here, and I have to be quick.”
“Precisely. I knew you would understand. Must be all those books you’re reading, you should keep doing it. Knowledge is very important, especially to a ruler.”
“You know,” he turns to look at her, “you’re a good person, an admirable one. I'm glad my father chose you.”
She smiles softly, reaching over to pick up her heels. “Let's call it a day, okay? You should rest.”
The two stand up, holding hands all the way over to Alithea's room, where they say goodbye, and Mydei departs to his own quarters.
Alithea locks the bedroom door behind her, closing the blinds and getting ready for bed.
Anaxagoras has found himself very interested in Mydeimos, beyond the mission. He wants to get to know the Crown Prince personally, and wants to become friends with the man. It's a strange feeling.
He's rejected friendships since childhood, believing that no one understood him, yet Mydei seems like the first person who might.
Maybe, he can befriend the Prince as himself instead of Alithea, after the mission that is.