Chapter seventeen.

(I shed a tear.)

Simon's POV.

I found myself meticulously prepared for the meeting with the king, his father. I in a suit, stood nervously in the throne room, the atmosphere tense and solemn. We had agreed to disclose our relationship to the king, but the absence of the guards and other attendants suggested that the king was feeling apprehensive. As the we knelt before the king, i could sense his surprise, adding to our already heightened anxiety.

The king's voice echoed through the throne room as he asked with concern, "What's the meaning of this? Where is the bride I was expecting to meet today? And why is there a servant accompanying you?" His questions hung in the air, demanding an explanation from us. The tension was palpable, and the i could feel my heart racing, unsure of how the king would react to the truth.

I watched as Melus bravely spoke up. "You wanted to meet my wife. Here he is... Well, husband actually," Melus said with an awkward chuckle.

The king commanded, "Stand up!" I quickly obeyed, bowing in fear.

"Father!" Melus exclaimed.

The king responded sternly, "You can't just wake up and disrespect me like this, Melus. Find a wife and bring her to me. I don't have time for your fooling around."

Turning to me, the king continued, "And you, you're fired. I don't want to see you next to my son ever again!" He banged his fist on the armrest for emphasis.

To the king's surprise, Melus laughed, seemingly unphased by his father's outburst. "I don't get it," Melus started. "If I don't marry someone, I can't be king, and you can't step down even though you want to." His tone was serious, challenging the king's expectations.

The king sighed, seemingly at a loss for words, and suggested, "I'll speak to Evan. Perhaps he would be interested in becoming king."

Melus laughed again, his demeanor unfazed by the king's suggestion. "Good luck getting him to marry a woman when he's interested in men, just like I am," he said, staring straight into his father's eyes.

The king looked between Melus and me, his face contorting as if he was about to have a heart attack, but he remained silent. The tension in the room was palpable as we waited to see how the situation would unfold.

"I may not fully understand this, Melus," the king began, "but the royal court won't accept this. It's not as simple as you make it out to be."

Melus, determined to convince his father, said, "You're the king. They listen to you, so I doubt they'll go above your decision. Please, father, I love him so much it hurts. I can't imagine my life without him. We're already engaged; can't you just let us get married?" His plea was genuine, filled with raw emotion.

The king appeared to be deep in thought before he turned his gaze towards me. "Come here," he ordered. Trembling with fear, i knelt beside Melus.

"I am giving you my blessing," the king declared. Then, he turned back to Melus, a hint of doubt in his voice. "Are you sure this is what you want? No more surprises?"

"No," Melus answered confidently, drawing his father's attention away from me"I'll call the royal court. You don't have to be present for that. And I believe that the next day, you'll ascend the throne, and the wedding can follow. Is that acceptable?" the king said, his tone suggesting a semblance of resignation.

Melus couldn't help but grin, a mixture of relief and joy washing over him. He embraced his father tightly. "Thank you, father. You have no idea how much this means to me."

The king returned the embrace, though his expression still held a hint of uncertainty. "I hope you know what you're doing, Melus. But remember, I'll always support you, no matter what."

With the king's blessing secured, Melus turned to me, his eyes gleaming with happiness. "We did it," he whispered, barely able to contain his excitement. I felt my own heart swell with joy, knowing that our love had overcome yet another hurdle.

The following day, the royal court convened at the palace, and the tension in the air was palpable. As i walked by the throne room, i could hear the arguments taking place inside. Melus urged me to ignore it, but i couldn't help feeling uneasy. The royal court's opposition was a significant concern for me; how could Melus rule effectively with such a large number of people against him?

Despite my discomfort, i was instructed to stand by the door, where i found myself scrutinized by the members of the court. Some smiled at me, while others rolled their eyes in disdain, treating me as if he were a mere pest. I tried my best not to let their judgment affect me, reminding myself that the king's support for his son was unwavering, regardless of the court's opinions.

As the day of the coming-of-age ceremony dawned, the palace was adorned with elaborate decorations. I noticed a marked change in my status; i was no longer expected to perform menial tasks, and others were now assigned to serve him.

On the day of the ceremony, both Melus and the me were filled with nerves. Melus had informed me that we were expected to walk hand in hand into the throne room, an act that caused him great anxiety. However, Melus offered him reassurance with a tender kiss, promising that everything would turn out fine.

Together, they walked up the grand staircase, the red carpet beneath their feet symbolizing the importance of the occasion. Melus held the my hand, gazing at me as if i were the only person in the world. In that moment, i truly believed that i mattered to Melus, and any doubts i had were swept away.

As we entered the throne room, all eyes were fixed on us. The royal court scrutinized our every move, but my focus remained solely on Melus. I felt empowered by our love, knowing that our bond was strong enough to withstand any judgment or adversity we might face.

The coronation ceremony passed by in a blur, almost too quickly for me to fully process. I couldn't imagine the immense pressure Melus must have felt, but from my perspective, the event didn't seem as daunting as i had feared.

Afterwards, the decorations remained untouched, creating a sense of anticipation for the upcoming wedding. However, i was dismayed to learn that i wouldn't be allowed to see Melus that evening, as they wanted to preserve the magic of our first sight at the ceremony. The separation felt unbearable, but i had no choice but to comply, knowing that our reunion would be all the more special for it.

The day of the wedding arrived, and the palace was transformed into a breathtaking vision. I was dressed in a suit that seemed far too luxurious for me, I found myself struggling to process the overwhelming emotions of the moment. It all felt surreal, as if i were living someone else's dream.

As i descended the grand staircase, the doors swung open, revealing a crowd of guests awaiting my entrance. The reality of the situation hit me—this was actually happening. The ceremony unfolded in the throne room, adding to my sense of awe and disbelief.

Upon seeing Melus at the altar, i noticed that he was fighting back tears. I, too, felt the urge to cry, but i held back, determined to savor every moment. As i took my place beside Melus, an overwhelming sense of happiness washed over me.

As the time came to exchange our vows, i found himself momentarily speechless, overwhelmed by the weight of my emotions. Finally, i managed to find my voice, pouring out my heart to Melus.

"Look, I love you so much. I've been in love with you since the very beginning, even when I was just a servant. I can't explain why I fell for you, but I did. And when you started leading me on, I felt stupid—like you were just playing games, given your history of fooling around. But now, I want you to know that I'll be by your side forever, even when you don't want me around."

My voice softened as he continued, "God, I hated how arrogant you were, but in the end, you became my arrogant royal, didn't you? I love you."

In response, Melus pulled me in for a passionate kiss, disregarding the customary words of affirmation. "Skip the words of affirmation," Melus whispered. "I just want to kiss you, okay? You already know I love you. Can I just kiss you?"

As Melus and I kissed, the tension that had been building throughout their journey dissipated, replaced by an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance. The crowd cheered and applauded, celebrating the union of the two young men who had dared to defy tradition and follow their hearts.

In the days and weeks that followed, Melus took on the responsibilities of his new role as king with confidence and grace. The royal court, though initially skeptical, came to respect the young monarch and his unconventional choice of partner. Together, Melus and Simon worked tirelessly to create a kingdom that embraced diversity and love in all its forms.

Though their path had not been easy, they were grateful for the struggles they had faced, knowing that they had made them stronger as individuals and as a couple. And as they sat together on the throne, surveying their kingdom with pride, they knew that they had found something truly special—a love that could conquer all.