Act II— I am your Friend.

  "...Prince? Are you done?" one of the servants said.

  Daniel blinked. He was in his bed. The world came back into focus.

  "Yeah," he said, pushing the naked girl off his chest. "I'm done. Get her off me."

  One of the servants took the girl from the bed and put her in a wheelchair. "What would you like to be done with her, Your Highness?"

  Daniel stretched. "Let her live. I was... pleased."

  "So, you would like to let her get out of the castle alive? And return her to her family?"

  "Yeah, do that," Daniel said, getting out of bed. "Also, bring me some food. I'm starving."

  Daniel yawned. Stretching. As the king came inside his room.

  "Did you succeed?" the King said.

  "No, I couldn't, father."

  The King slapped Daniel across the face. "Do you know how much this hurts my reputation? You can't even bring a child from one of them!"

  "Don't slap him, father," Maryal said, her voice sharp.

  "Bu-"

  "I said don't slap him," she repeated, stepping between them. "My brother is a great man. Any woman would be lucky to live with him for the rest of her life."

  "Thanks, sis," Daniel said, rubbing his cheek. He pushed past his father. "Anyway, get out of the way, old man. I'm starving."

  Daniel went to the dining room. He took a piece of steak, put it on his plate with some rum, and took a bite. He made a face.

  "You know, I want some chicken today. I don't like steak."

  He clapped his hands. A maid came running, holding a tray of food. Daniel looked her up and down, liked her body, and took her hand.

  "You will sleep with me tonight."

  "That would be my pleasure, Prince," she said, not meeting his eye.

  "And so, as I," he said, pulling her into a chair. "Come, sit and eat with me."

  She sat, nervously, and ate. When he was finished, she was also finished. "You can continue your meal," he said, smiling. "I'm not a monster, like my father is."

  "No, I'm... I'm really done."

  "What is your name?"

  The maid looked shocked. He was asking her name? "Joy, Your Highness."

  "Joy. What a pleasing name," he said. "Tell me, Joy, what happened in the country? Was the 'One-Eye Alley' problem solved?"

  "No, Prince. It hasn't been solved."

  "Then what are you waiting for?" he said, standing up. "Get my carriage ready."

  "Sure, I'm... I'm going to do that."

  "Plus," he said, "dress in something different. You're coming with me. As my girlfriend. So don't dress like a maid."

  "O-okay, Prince."

  He went and cleaned his hands. until the carriage was ready, He got out of the castle the sky was blue like an ocean but with no fish in it.

  He got into the carriage sitting next to Joy.

  But he wasn’t with her he was looking at the gardens of the palace. Gardens that meet the sky.

  And the trees of Ruther.

  Trees so massive a tower could be built inside them. These trees were more than 80 years old.

  Which had blue leaves .And when it blooms it made the garden look like an ocean.

  Daniel got out of his carriage. The city of One-Eye Alley was clean, but too clean. It was like a clean glove hiding bloody hands.

  "Let's go, my lady," he said, taking Joy's hand.

  They walked to a big house. The mayor's house. A woman, Samly, was waiting at the door.

  "Welcome, Prince," she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "What a pleasing thing to see in the morning."

  "The pleasure is all mine, Samly."

  Samly's eyes flicked to Joy. "Who is she?"

  "My girlfriend."

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  Samly let out a small, bitter laugh. She looked at Joy. "I should warn you, dear. He is the most unfaithful boyfriend I have ever had."

  She turned back to Daniel. "Anyway, what brings you here?"

  "You need to fix the population problem, Samly."

  "What do you mean, Prince?" Her tone changed, going cold.

  "I know that you hate men... because of me," Daniel said. "But you can't make every woman in this city hate men, too. I know you got Type 3 agents to kill any man who enters this city. I'm not blind."

  He sighed, his voice dropping. "So just know this: if you don't fix this problem... I'm going to kill your son."

  He paused.

  "Our son."

  "No," she whispered. "You can't."

  "Yes, I can," he said, his voice flat. "I know where he is. I didn't tell my father. And even if you told him, he wouldn't believe you. Why would I put myself in problems with my father over pregnancy... if I already have a secret son?"

  He leaned in. "So be a good girl, like you always were, and stop it."

  "You... you son of a-"

  "A King," Daniel cut her off. "I am the son of the King."

  He smiled, turned, and walked away. "Good day, Samly."

  Joy’s face became snow and the blood ran from the monster.

  "I know you're shocked," Daniel said, as they walked.

  "No! I'm not, Your Highness," she said, too quickly.

  "Joy," he said, stopping. He took her hands as if they were lovers on a date in spring "I have been with women since I was 12. I can tell when a woman is lying." He paused.

  "Plus, today, you are my girlfriend. So do what you wish to do. I'm not going to stop you or get you punished. Anyway, let's do something fun. What's on your mind?"

  "W-What you choose, Your Highness..."

  Daniel brushed her face. "What 'Your Highness' chooses... is that you are his girlfriend. And his girlfriend has free will. So don't make me regret taking you." He said softly.

  "O-okay," she stammered. "Maybe... I would like to watch the 'Seven Kings' play?"

  "That," Daniel said, smiling, "is an excellent choice. Let's do that."

  They watched the play. And maybe for the first time, Joy was having fun. Daniel put his head on her shoulder. She froze, trying not to move so he could be comfortable.

  "Move as much as you want," he whispered. "You are my girlfriend. You have free will."

  The night ended, and they got home. Joy went to Daniel's room. She immediately started undressing.

  Daniel raised his hand stopping her. "If you want to do this, I will do it. But if you don't... then I will free you in the morning. I'll get you back to your family."

  Joy stared at him. She thought it was a test. "No... I want to do it, Your Highness."

  Daniel sighed. "You're lying. Don't try to please me. I have a thousand other maids who can please me as much as I want."

  He stepped closer, and his voice went soft.

  "But you are different, Joy. You... are my girlfriend.".

  He took her head in hands.

  Warm that Joy hasn’t felt. Warm that she thought was a lie. But for those seconds she couldn’t resist anymore.

  And the tears came out without her order.

  The night was normal. Nothing happened between them. For two more days, he was the perfect gentleman.

  Until she herself fell in love with him. And so, she slept with him.

  ...Afterward, a servant entered the room.

  "Prince? Are you done with her?"

  he yawned "Yes."

  "Were you pleased?"

  He nodded.

  "What would you like to do with her? Get her back to her family?"

  "Yes, do that."

  The servant took joy on her shoulder then she got her on a wheel chair and she wheeled out of the room. And Maryal entered

  "Why do you do that, my brother? Why didn't you just do it on day one?"

  Daniel looked at his sister, Maryal, and smiled.

  "Because she would be too stiff. But if she is loving you... she is much, much more pleasing, my sister."

  "I don't care what you do to them, brother," Maryal said, "but can you promise me something?"

  "Anything for my little sister."

  "Don't be like our father," she said, her voice quiet. "Don't be unfaithful after marrying the woman you love."

  Daniel smiled. He looked at Joy's sleeping form and then back at his sister.

  "That's why I'm doing all of this, sis," he said, his voice low. "So, I can fulfill my lust now. Get it all out."

  He paused, and his voice went cold.

  "Because when the time comes... 'love' will give me what 'lust' never could."

  "And what's that?"

  "Stability."

  Maryal smiled. "Now that's my big brother."

  A servant came, took Joy on a wheelchair, and wheeled her out of the room.

  Daniel went to the dining room, took some chicken, and started eating. But today, he didn't want another "Joy." Today, he wanted to fix some problems.

  "MARK!" Daniel said.

  A big, white-haired man in a suit came running. "Your Majesty. What can I help you with?"

  "Did you fix the traitor problem?"

  "No, sir. I couldn't."

  "Why is that?"

  "It's... out of my power, sir."

  "Great," Daniel said, taking a bite of chicken. "Well, that means three things. It's either your wife, or one of your sons..." He sighed. "Or my father, mother, sister, cousins, or my uncle."

  He looked at Mark.

  "Your wife is too pure to do that. I tried to make her rule over some cities... she refused. Good choice, by the way. From you and her."

  "Your sons are too young. And if one of them is really that much of a genius, then he should rule the country, and I would be his loyal servant."

  "So. Now it's one of my family. Is that correct, Mark?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Great." Daniel took another bite. "My mother is the reason my father is still alive... because she is too naive."

  "She knows he's the most unfaithful man that ever lived, but she still calls him the most faithful man she ever knew."

  "What a liar she is... and what has she made me become, just to fix her lies?"

  He shook his head. "My sister wouldn't wage a war to kill my father. She would just kill him for me. And she would at least tell me."

  "My father would just poison me. He wouldn't wage a war for it."

  "So, that leaves my cousins and my uncle. Is that correct?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "My cousins are too loyal to me to do that. They would even kill their father for me."

  Daniel put his fork down and looked at Mark, his eyes cold.

  "Then that leaves my uncle. So, my eyes weren't lying... when I saw his jealousy toward my father."

  "Now... the other problem," Daniel said to himself. "That man who is called my father is too busy bedding servants to notice. And so, he has given his 'loyal' brother authority over the Type 3s. Nice. Really nice, Dad."

  He went up, grabbing a drink.

  "And so, if I kill my uncle, that would throw the country into chaos. Thanks to my father. And if I kill too many Type 3s, they'll notice."

  He swirled the drink. "Maybe I should give them freedom? Nah. Most of them were too poor. They're just too loyal to do that. But... loyal they are for the money. Not to my uncle."

  He finished the drink and set the glass down.

  "Mark."

  "You mea-"

  "Yes, that one. Captain Black, who trains the Type 3s." He straightened his cuffs.

  "I would like to be there as fast as possible. So, until I change my clothes, get the carriage ready for me, would you?"

  "Of course I will, sir."

  "Great. That's my Mark."

  Daniel changed his clothes to something less fancy and got in the carriage. As it moved, he looked out the window.

  He saw the great streets that had earned him the love of the people.

  He saw the street where he fixed the sewers. He looked at the alley where he fixed the drug problem.

  He saw the simple houses he had built, for free, for the people who couldn't even afford the material to build.

  He got his head, rested it back, and thought of the farmers' problem.

  The one that was going to wage a civil war. He remembered going into his father's room to warn him, only to find him bedding a servant.

  When he told him about the problem, his father's only reply was: "Fix it yourself, Daniel."

  And so, he did, many, many, many times.

  He closed his eyes, searching his mind for a cure for all this... this headache.

  "Maybe I should just kill the old man... and rule the country myself." He whispered to the ceiling of the carriage.

  Daniel got to the villa. Captain Black was waiting. "Welcome, Prince," Black said, his smile tight. "A pleasure to see you so early."

  "Same to you, Captain. You look happier than last time."

  "Of course," Black said, leading him to the office. "I have a wife now."

  "That is a great thing," Daniel said, taking a seat and accepting a drink. He swirled the glass.

  Black sat opposite him. "So, what brings you here, Prince?"

  Daniel didn't answer. He just sipped his drink and stared at Black. Finally, he said, "It's difficult, isn't it?"

  "What is, Prince?" "Loyalty," Daniel said. "My uncle... he promises so much. A new order. Power for men like you."

  Black went still. "You're speaking of treason, Prince."

  "Am I?" Daniel smiled. "I'm speaking of ambition. But he can't win. Not while I'm here."

  “I don’t get what you are saying prince.”

  “I thought you were smarter, Captain. But it turns out you are blind.” The prince sighed taking a sip from the glass of water.

  “You take the wrong side captain. You take the side of the weak.”

  Black's patience snapped. "You?" he said, his voice a low growl. "You want me to take your side. You are a boy. A hedonist."

  " Your father's shame. I can kill you right here. It would be easy. In fact, it’s going to be easier than killing a fly."

  He stood up and grabbed Daniel by his shirt.

  Daniel didn't flinch. He just smiled. "Go on, then. Try."

  Black stared, confused by the lack of fear. He squeezed... but his hand wouldn't close. He tried to tighten his grip, but his muscles were frozen.

  "What..." Black whispered.

  Daniel hadn't moved. He just... wiggled one finger.

  And Daniel was out of his grip.

  "My father," Daniel said, his voice a soft, cold whisper, "was afraid I'd be killed, so he hid my power. He told everyone I was a Type 0. He was... partly right."

  Black's eyes went wide. He tried to move, But he couldn't. He was paralyzed, held by a man who wasn't even touching him.

  "You're... you're not a Type 4..." Black stammered.

  "No." Daniel pushed Black's hand off him with a single finger, and the General stumbled back. "The 'royal minute.' The 'royal second.' You know the legends, Captain."

  He stood up and straightened his clothes.

  "I am the man who could kill you, your wife, and every Type 3 in your army from my bedroom... but I love the people of this world. I wouldn't want to frighten them."

  He smiled. "But if you, or my uncle, ever hurt me or my sister... I will make you see what a 'Type 5' really means."

  He walked to the door.

  "Now. Am I correct in assuming you will be following my orders from now on?"

  "Yes... Yes, Prince. I'm sure I will."

  "Good. Have a great rest of the day, Captain."