Chapter Text
Saying that Charles was feeling peaceful would be a lie. He'd been literally send to another kingdom for his own safety but was he really gonna be fine there ? He wasn’t sure of that. He'd heard that the current king wasn’t ruling himself for now, his heir doing it on his behalf. He'd also heard about the prince and it wasn’t that great. Some were saying he looked and acted like a monster, just like his father did. Others were saying that once you entered the castle, you would never leave it. And yet, everyone thought it was a great idea to send him here because he would be under one of the most powerful kingdom's protection while looking for someone to marry. It didn’t seem that great, if anyone asked him. No one did though. He'd never been asked his opinion about it.
Suddenly while he was deeply thinking, the carriage stopped, weird noises coming to his ears. Charles was quite afraid, something was happening. He'd heard some voices from a side, his mind and body making him go through the opposite window maybe running for his life. He was supposed to be safe here. He wasn’t. He ended in a wood, trying to not fall but distancing himself from anyone. At some point, he'd heard someone behind him but it was already too late, a hand grabbing his arms. He'd turned around, being face to face to this stranger, his blue and cold eyes almost analyzing his. Something in it was familiar but he didn’t know what. Charles was out of breath, the stranger stared at him before talking.
" You can't be from here or the village with those clothes."
" I-"
It was hard to hold back the tears that were about to fall on his face. He was afraid.
" Give me your name."
" Charles."
" Leclerc ?"
Charles felt like he'd made a mistake. This man knew his name, what if he was with those who'd attacked him ? He didn’t look bad though, wearing nice and priceless clothes for sure. His tone sounded surprised, not harsh almost sweet.
" I'll take you to the castle." The stranger said.
" How can I know that I can trust you ?"
" You can't." He smiled, " You may not survive alone here either. You must follow me."
The prince had not choice. In the worst case, he would die. In the best one, he was gonna end in the castle with this heir who was compared to a monster. All of this was such a mess anyway. He chose to follow him, not even knowing his name.
" What's your name ?" He dared to ask.
" Do you really think it matters ?"
" It does. How did you know I had to go to the castle ?"
" Where else Monaco's prince would go ? And we've met before, you know."
" We didn’t."
" I assure you we did."
Charles wasn’t remembering anything about such a meeting. What was he remembering from before though ? Almost nothing. He'd been thinking deeply till they got to the horse where he'd watched him getting on it before offering his hand. He'd taken it to get on the animal as well. The prince's chest was against the boy's back embracing him to not fall, it was pretty embarrassing but being alive was better.
" Have you ever met the prince of this kingdom ?" The Monegasque asked.
" Why ?"
" I've heard a lot of things…"
" I suppose the rumors are pretty right."
" Is he an ugly monster ?!"
" You'll see." The stranger laughed.
" I'm going to be killed."
" Princes can't be killed easily, you'll be fine."
" Really comforting."
The prince had noticed it seemed he hadn't been fooled, seeing the castle becoming closer. He still didn’t know who was this boy, if they'd ever met then he must be from a wealthy family which was confirmed by how he was dressed. His scent was nice too. Charles tried to stop thinking, he was starting to have weird thoughts. Now that he was fully in his mind, his eyes were bright but cold, blue like some oceans or watercolor. He was pretty quiet but also sarcastic. He must be a funny person to be around, he would never know. He also had an accent he couldn’t make fun of since his own wasn’t the best one. The Monegasque stayed quiet till they reached the castle, getting off the horse. He'd looked around, no one was there, it was strange. A castle with no guards or knight outside ?
" There is no one ?"
" There is someone, they're just discreet. Or maybe the prince had killed most of them."
" You're the worst person I've ever met."
The boy chuckled before getting interrupted by a knight who didn’t look surprised.
" Pierre. I found Monaco's prince in the woods."
" Then we must be glad you went there without any notice."
Oh. Another sarcastic person. Was it a common trait in the kingdom ?
" He must be checked by the doctor just to be sure everything is fine with him."
" But I'm fine." Charles said.
" For now."
" Please, follow me your majesty." Pierre asked.
Charles was feeling a little shy, nodding and following before stopping, staring at the person who'd saved him.
" Wait, I haven't thanked you !"
" At our next meeting then." He answered while leaving.
The Monegasque resumed his walk behind the knight while thinking, not saying a thing when he stopped to talk to a maid.
" What a strange person." Charles whispered.
" Welcome in the kingdom, your majesty. The prince had asked me to be your personal guard during your time here."
" He did ? Why would he do that ?"
" I have no answer for his demand."
" When will I meet him ?"
" You already did."
" No, I've never." He confusedly answered.
Did he ever meet him in the past ?
" Here we are." Pierre said opening the door, " The doctor will be here in a bit. If you could patiently wait inside. I'll stay by the door."
Charles had nodded, entering and sitting. His legs were feelings a little weak, not enough to be worried but to be careful. His journey had been tiring and the events weren't helping. Now that he would relax and think, they've seemed to be aware there was precious thing in his carriage. He should be glad that nothing with a sentimental value was in there. He'd never had sentimental things anyway, nothing that he could cherish to remember things, memories. Maybe he did before but he'd forgotten. Did he ever had good and sweet memories ?
His thoughts had been stopped by the doctor who checked on him but as he'd stated earlier, he was fine. It didn’t last long, letting him go quickly. He'd followed Pierre once again, something he would surely do a lot meeting various people along the way and greeting them. At first, they'd looked a little surprised before responding with a smile. Was it that uncommon ? Or was it inappropriate to behave like that in this kingdom ?
" Pierre ?"
" Yes, your majesty ?"
" Please, call me Charles…"
" I can't."
"…Only when we're alone then ?"
" We'll see. Do you have a question ?"
" Is it inappropriate to greet maids or anyone else here ?"
" They're not used to it but there is no rule against it."
" Is there anything I need to know about rules ?"
" I can't really answer to this. Rules for us and for you will be different, Prince Lando doesn’t have any rule to follow when he comes here. I suppose it'll be the same for you."
Charles had heard about Lando but he didn’t know much about him. Was he friend with Max ?
" But your prince and Lando… They're friends. Maybe that's why."
" We'll see. What happened to you in the woods ?"
" Oh, that was horrible."
The Monegasque had lost himself in his explanation, Pierre carefully listening and asking questions. The knight had stopped in front of a door.
" Here is your room. Everything you'll need will be brought to you later on. Do you need anything right now ?"
" No. Thank you."
" You'll eat soon, take some time for yourself. You have a good view to the garden from your balcony."
Charles had smiled, getting in and discovering. The room was great with soft colors. He went to lay on his new bed, staring at the ceiling. He felt nervous to meet Max, not knowing how he really was. After some time, he went to the balcony, watching the beautiful garden full of flowers. He'd heard a knock, a maid coming in saying it was time to eat. Charles followed her, Pierre not being too far behind. Each step was increasing his stress, he was the first one in the dining room. Pierre didn’t come in, the Monegasque sitting while the maids were bringing food.
" Where is…" Charles started.
" We've met again quicker than you thought, don't you think ?"
Charles had quickly recognized his savior's voice, surprised to see him entering and sitting. Now, he felt dumb.
" You're Max ?!"
" I am."
" But Pierre haven't-"
" Said anything ? He wanted to have some fun seeing how clueless you were."
" Oh my… I- I'm sorry." He said before whispered to himself, " I knew he was too well-dressed to just be anybody…"
" There is nothing to be sorry about. You should eat."
" I called you an ugly monster…" He answered as he started eating.
" You were just asking about rumors, you'd never stated it as your own opinion. I'm not offended If that's your concern."
" Still, it wasn’t kind or polite of me." Charles said, " Did we really meet before ?"
" Years ago."
" Oh… I'm sorry, I have no memories of it."
So he did meet him. When ? Which occasion ? What happened ? He was too embarrassed to ask and no one beside close relatives knew how much he was struggling with his memories.
" It's nothing. You're totally free here, do whatever you want. Pierre will always look after you and explain if there is anything you don't understand because it's not the same in Monaco."
" Thank you for welcoming me."
Max only smiled, leaving Charles with questions. Why was he kind towards him ? Why accepting his presence ? Why saving him ? He wasn’t as he'd heard. Not monstruous or anything. Indeed, he was charming and quite lovely. Where did all those stories come from ?
He'd started to get his answer when a knight came in saying some servants had tried to steal in the castle.
" Kill them then."
It was so cold, Charles had shivered. He'd stared at him, seeing he was serious and emotionless.
" They're your servants."
" Fine, I'll judge them myself after finishing here. What did they try to steal ?"
" Precious things and your crown."
" Stupid idiots. Leave and get them ready in the throne room."
The knight bowed, leaving and the Monegasque stayed silent. He had nothing to say. There was nothing to say in the situation. He'd quietly finished his meal, waiting till Max got up.
" I'm sorry. As you'd heard, I have something to manage."
Charles couldn’t speak and only nodded, watching him leave. He'd gotten up, leaving and meeting Pierre again. He'd seen guards and servants passing in front of him, looking like they were in a rush.
" Where are they going ?"
" Watching thieves dying in the throne room."
" What ?"
" Everyone can come. His majesty isn't known to be merciful, they'll be killed. Maybe tortured before. We never know, it depends on his mood."
" I want to go."
" Trust me, it's not something you want to see."
" I'm gonna stay here. I want to see."
" Fine, If that's what his majesty wants."
He'd followed, discreetly entering the room where Max was sitting on the throne, looking pretty bored. His elbow was resting on the throne, his hand supporting his head, sighing while looking at his 3 thieves.
" Go ahead, stupid idiots. Give me your useless excuses."
" It's a misunderstanding your majesty. We've never tried to steal. Please, have mercy."
" Mercy ? Fine since it's only a misunderstanding."
Surprised, the suspects stared at each other. Something was wrong. The prince haven't moved before talking again.
" You won't be killed." Max started, "But the guards will cut off your hand. Or both? I don’t know."
"Majesty," One of them tried to say.
"You upset my day, I thought you didn’t want to die. That’s pretty fair, don’t you think ?"
" It's for everything you stole from your people." Another answered.
This time, Charles had noticed Max straightening with a colder look. He was afraid to breath as if he would hear him.
" I've never stolen people. It's your due."
" You're making us go through hell !"
" Please, stop." Tried his friend.
"No, I won’t stop! Don’t you understand that he’s going to kill us anyway because that’s all he knows ? He would kill us all if he could! I hope you and this castle burn for all your..."
He didn’t had time to finish, many servants choked while the man's blood was slowly covering the floor. Max eyes were impassive, cold. Charles had looked away, getting closer to Pierre as if it would change anything. So that was true. Max was someone cruel. Was it all false since they met ? He'd ordered this execution with only a gesture to his knight who'd acted quickly as always. He'd gotten up, getting closer of the remaining thieves.
" Kill them and clean this mess." He coldly said before leaving.
Charles chose to not witness more, leaving with his now knight. They were guilty for sure but was it really needed ? He'd felt sick seeing so much blood while it didn’t matter to Max. Which Max was the real one ? The one he'd met in the woods or the heir ?