KNEEL BEFORE THE CROWN (BL)

"You called me Your Majesty?"

"Sit down."

Dinner time was about to start. Still in his luxurious office. Weithia and Adam sat facing each other on a wide sofa.

"Did I do something wrong, Your Majesty?" Weithia asked nervously.

"Knowing your strength will create humility, but not knowing your strength will only create a lack of confidence. A knight should not be easily afraid of something. Even with a King. How many times have I told you to always be confident and not bow your head."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty."

"Raise your head."

Adam's two blue eyes stared at the man in front of him. There was no doubt there. "How is it? Does working with Anthony and Robin make you happy?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. They are very kind and cooperative. But it seems, Mr. Tivius doesn't really like me." He chuckled.

"Really? Did he do something to you?"

"No. It's just... before that I want to apologize about yesterday's incident in the greenhouse." Weithia quickly prostrated herself before Adam.

Adam smiled faintly, "Do you feel guilty? Tell me what you did wrong."

"I hugged the Princess."

Adam's voice sounded deep and intimidating. "Sit back down. And why do you consider it a mistake?"

"Because... I shouldn't have done that to her, Your Majesty."

Adam chuckled. "Do you feel guilty about me or her?"

Weithia seemed confused in answering all of the King's questions. "To you, Your Majesty."

Adam shook his head in disappointment, "Wrong. What made me angry wasn't because you hugged her, I don't care. You're mine now, you've taken an oath. You shouldn't act without my orders first. You're free to hug or kiss any girl. But with my consent." His voice sounded pressing.

"Understand?"

Weithia nodded slowly. She glanced at the King who was now staring at the night sky.

"If I were the moon, I would be willing to make you my night Weithia."

"That's your poem, Your Majesty?"

"No, those were just words that crossed my mind earlier." The man adjusted his sitting position, "What if I offer you a deal?" it sounded like an invitation. "Of course, anything Your Majesty."

The King smiled weakly. He began to speak slowly and intimidatingly. "I will be called Erates. Who educates, protects and sets an example for his eromenos. You. The reward I get will be your beauty, your youth and your loyalty."

"I don't quite understand Your Majesty."

"I will make you the strongest Knight in the entire country. Give you fame, luxury and knowledge. My reward? Your body and soul."

"But didn't I swear that during Your Majesty's inauguration?"

"That's different. Now it's more.... private." Adam turned his face away.

"Private? What do you mean?"

"Think of it as masculine virtue. If you want to remove the word intimacy I don't mind. Right now I'm trying to declare it."

"I-I still don't understand Your Majesty. Masculine virtue?"

Adam laughed, "Maybe you don't realize that soldiers who fight and fight for their country have a drive. That drive is called love. They love their country, so they fight tooth and nail to win. And love also allows them to reunite with their families at home. The sacred ribbon of strength."

Weithia nodded, indicating that she understood the King's explanation. Adam continued slowly, "Same as what I've been talking about. I never had the drive. The drive that gives me the fighting spirit. Therefore, I want. You and I. To take that role. So?"

Weithia raised her eyebrows, "So you mean love?"

"Affection. It could be. Or. Caring for others." Adam explained quickly, starting to regret talking about something like this to Weithia. His self-esteem could fall. "I became a role model. The pederastic paradigm. The ideal scheme for this relationship."

"What should I do then?"

"Nothing, do everything as usual."

"Are you indirectly asking me to be your lover? With a pederastic bond?"

Adam was silent hearing Weithia's words, not knowing what to answer. Now he was the one who didn't understand.

The young man chuckled. "Your Majesty... I once heard a story. A holy guide said, 'Be careful, when dealing with soulmates, never let them meet, because after one meeting, their minds and bodies may forget each other, but their souls will never, no matter how many reincarnations they go through.'"

"Then what happens?" Adam asked.

"They will always try to find their soulmates. Sometimes they can find each other well, and that's good, but sometimes they are so far apart or there are so many misunderstandings that they can't find each other. It's very disappointing"

Weithia continued. "But our meeting was a blessing. I am just a farmer's son who suddenly became a Knight. If you think about it, it is impossible. You who have become a King are also God's decision. Our meeting seems to have been destined by the universe."

"I am happy to be your eronemos, or whatever you call it. If that means putting myself close to you, of course I will. You can create a new life from your dreams."

"Dreams?"

"Mr. Tivius said this afternoon, if you have a dream of freedom. I think even if you are not a King, you are free to do whatever you want."

"Not all storms come to destroy your life. But some come to clear your path. Not everyone has a beautiful past, including you. Falling is just a part of life, but getting back up is the real life."

Adam smiled with his melancholic gaze. "You are much wiser than I imagined, Weithia."

"I am young but my mind is much more mature."

Adam chuckled, "Really? I don't believe it."

Weithia lowered her gaze, "Perhaps you can explain more about our agreement."

"I... am not only interested in your beautiful face, but also your personality, abilities and mind. Not for sexual purposes, but I just want you to feel my affection. I never know who to give it to. Something inside me tells me that you are the right person."

"Could it be that my soul has given me a message?" Adam chuckled. Followed by Weithia's nod that seemed reluctant – or perhaps shy.

"But Your Majesty, I think the pederastic paradigm seems rude."

"Then what do you suggest?"

The night sky felt like a deep abyss, he could be dragged into it. The stars were like an ocean that could make Adam and Weithia drift. With him, was there anything he wanted more than that. Adam stared into those gray eyes.

"I want you to stay here. But for now, go. To dinner. Represent me to meet the Princess and the others."

"You're not coming? Then I will also stay here with you."

Adam raised his eyebrows and laughed, "You just refused my order, young man. The servants know that if I'm not there, they'll bring food to this room. I just want to be alone now."

"I'll accompany you."

"Go."

Something about life is a divine secret. The deepest desires can lead one astray. Strange, isn't it? Every person's life touches so many other lives. The King didn't have forever to be trapped in an imbalance of heart. Adam believed that it would be good if he dared to try – the result he received was not a failure either.

He smiled. Carving a crescent moon on his thin lips. At that time the room was so quiet, the sound of sheets of paper echoed – the wind carried them moving falling from the table to the cold floor.

This year would be the eighth year of his reign.

The dissatisfied parliament members urged Adam to speed up the solution to the case that was terrorizing Wilhelmia. News of the witch spread widely. The death of the woman followed. And now news of the dead nobleman had also reached the ears of the higher-ups. They were angry because the King was not transparent about what was happening.

As a result, one more victim was killed. In fact, Adam was only afraid that someone would betray him from within. He was very careful to choose who had the right to know. "Please calm down, Sirs." All the seats were full at that meeting.

Back to his daily life behind the table and on his throne. "This is my fault. I admit it. Life is inevitable like death. All you can do now is go home, love and appreciate your family while you still have it,"

"What do you mean by that, Your Majesty!?" shouted a Minister.

"I have tried various languages ​​to speak to you. What else can I do now? Please understand! This case is indeed slow but it never leaves my mind day and night."

"Then why don't you let us help!?"

"You all have helped. All the information I got from you is one of them. Look, we ourselves don't know who our enemy is. Who we are facing. It could be that one of them is in this room with all of us."

"Are you accusing us!?"

"I never said anything like that, Sir. Say not always what you know, but always say what you know."

"You seem incompetent in solving this trivial matter!" someone said so arrogantly. Adam tried to control his anger.

"Are you questioning my way of working? You say that I am incompetent? A mouthful of food that enters your stomach in the morning Who is this from? People demand freedom of speech as compensation for the freedom of thought they rarely use. Next time, do not set foot in this place, Sir."

"Your Majesty, please also consider the safety of the people of Wilhelmia. Shouldn't you make a law on magic?"

He laughed wryly, "A Magic Law? Seriously? A legislative rule that calls for hostility towards anything that smacks of magic and black magic?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Religious authorities also have authority in my opinion. Their voices are also worth hearing."

Adam took a deep breath, "I respect your decision, but first, this is not a democratic country. But a monarchy. Understand? Religious authorities will only mobilize the people to make wild movements like yesterday's parade. Not against false threats like I did. I am not saying that I am against your beliefs. And of course I am thinking about the safety of my people."

"As cruel as the animal world is, there is nothing more cruel than human nature which is full of intrigue and rotten politics to eliminate its own kind." Adam emphasized his words.

"You gentlemen don't understand either, huh? You are smart and educated. But your brains seem to be unused. Did you all enjoy yesterday's harvest party?"

The room was suddenly quiet, "No one answered? Silence means yes. Gentlemen, please think and read books. The arrival of witches will only bring disaster. Such as crop failure, livestock deaths, disease. But look at the reality! Our harvest is abundant and there is no epidemic. You are all healthy if I see. Doesn't that open your minds?"

"Ackerley, take note of my words." The man nodded. "I will not open the court for unreasonable accusations. I strongly oppose, declare my open objection to all forms of torture. Put it in the Tropes square for everyone to read. Also, tear down the gallows if the people act arbitrarily."

All the members of parliament present in the room regretted, seeing the King who was angry because of their words. "I end the meeting here. I make sure there will be no more people who die mysteriously. Respecting ourselves guides our morals, but respecting others guides our manners." Adam stood up and walked out of the room with annoyance that had reached the top of his head. Letting the high-ranking officials eat all the words of the King. Weithia and Ackerley followed behind him. "Your Majesty?"

"What?"

The three men walked through the long hallway, with a thick red carpet. "I'm sorry you have to bear the anger of the Ministers." Ackerley said.

"Those people have lost respect for me because I have been soft on them. Now. Where is Trevor!?"

"The General is probably at His Majesty's headquarters."

"How could the news of the nobleman's death be spread too? Who did that? There were only me, you, Trevor and Anthony in the morgue at that time." he said sharply.

Weithia knew that Adam would vent his anger on the General. "Your Majesty, wait! It is possible that the person who committed the murder spread it. There is no way the General would do something like that. Impossible."

"Are you going to defend him, Weithia?" Adam asked coldly.

"No. But look! The General works hard, he is very loyal and dedicated. General, Mr. Ackerley and Mr. Tivius would never betray you. I personally accompanied them to investigate."

Adam paused, his expression softening. "Alright, if that is your assessment. I accept it. Ackerley put all the documents for today's meeting on my desk. Then inform Trevor and Anthony about this. Tell them if I get angry." His feet entered the study alone. Leaving Ackerley in shock.

"How did you do it?"

"Did what, Sir?"

"The King is anger. How did you calm him down like that? So fast." Ackerley narrowed his eyes suspiciously – his forehead wrinkled.

"I don't know, Sir. I just think so."

The man laughed, "You seem to have a place in his heart as a good servant of the Kingdom. His Majesty's nature is quite temperamental like his late father, so be careful. Especially because of the fatigue of formality that became his daily food. Especially the impolite treatment that the Ministers did earlier."

"Are we going to talk about His Majesty in front of his room like this? He will hear us, Sir." Weithia chuckled.

"The King probably won't mind being talked about behind your back by you Weithia."

Ackerley extended his hand, "It is a pleasure to work with the first Knight in His Majesty's government."

He returned the position firmly.

Weithia felt the sun setting earlier that day. The air was sultry – even though she had been soaking in a tub full of cold water for quite some time. His clothes were a little wet, plus the water dripping from his hair. His eyes were now drawn to the blank paper on the table. He remembered last night thinking hard to write a few words with the quill given by the King. But the black ink made his hands dirty, because he was not used to writing. Then her gaze shifted to the pile of new books neatly arranged on the table beside his bed. Again, a gift from His Majesty directly.

His head turned towards the wooden cupboard in the corner of his room which was now filled with expensive clothes. Adam had indeed promised many things at that time, and today he had more or less gotten them. He was happy with the King's treatment. But this happened so suddenly that he believed it was a dream.

He did not crave luxury.