Kian observed his surroundings and frowned in dissatisfaction. This wasn’t his palace, and it wasn’t a wealthy residence either. He couldn’t hear the buzzing sound of the city, and the sun was already high. Instead of the comfort of his home, he found himself in a wooden log cabin in the middle of a forest. It was surprisingly well maintained for its location. No dust or trash was laying on the floor. This place wasn’t luxurious, but it was clean and had everything it needed.

“I apologize for my incompetence,” Ezrel exclaimed with all his heart. “First, please take a seat, so I can explain what happened during your absence.”

“Fine,” Kian accepted before glancing at Malak, who was standing next to him.

Malak didn’t seem to have noticed yet, but their appearances changed ever since they walked through that gate. Although he was in another body, his soul remembered everything and adjusted accordingly. It was like changing clothes. There was no pain or discomfort. Now they were back, magic freely poured in their veins. The limit they once had was removed.

With the both of them following Ezrel to another room containing a wooden table at the centre, they all took a seat. Kian and Malak were sitting next to each other as Ezrel was facing them. Suddenly, a maid appeared out of thin air and placed a cup of tea in front of each of them.

Once again, Kian frowned at the simple fare. Just by the scent, he knew it wasn’t the same tea leaves they usually served him at the palace. With the situation they were in, he was fearing the worse. He was absent for a lot longer than he planned, and this was the result. Did he lose his Kingdom to the human rebellion? Did another country invade in his absence? He needed to know what happened.

Malak carefully brought the cup of tea to his lips and took a sip. For him, the taste of the tea brought back multiple memories of his family. Before Malak knew Kian, he was living a simple life as a commoner. Tea leaves were expensive, and so were coffee beans. But this kind of tea leaves was the only one cheap enough, so the common people could occasionally buy and enjoy.

Remembering his training as a royal member, Malak gently put the cup down on the table. He straightened his back and closed his eyes temporarily to control his emotions. He couldn’t show any weakness, even among trusted servants.

“A few months after your Majesty left, I relayed your orders as requested. In a few months, the Lord of Casrum, Serik Albimbert, quickly gained the other Lords’ favours and organized a coup. We were taken by surprise and offered little resistance. I’ll accept any punishment.” Ezrel elegantly got to his knees next to Kian.

Kian quietly listened with his arms crossed. He was expressionless during the entire explanation. Malak rarely involved himself in politics. It wasn’t because Kian had forbidden it. He didn’t want to trouble his husband. Before their wedding, a lot of the Lords and Ladies disagreed with their union. But as the sole ruler, Kian went along with it. This was why Malak only accompanied Kian during social events.

“Rise, your dead body won’t be of any use,” Kian quickly dismissed him as Ezrel thanked him for his grace. “The Lord of Casrum is now ruling in my stead. How does he fare?”

“He rules the Kingdom as he ruled his trading city. Although the economy is overflowing, the taxes are heavy on the people, and most of the inhabitants in small villages have nothing left at the year-end.”

“I once thought he deserved to rule a bigger territory based on his merits and results, but it seems I overestimated him… Do you have the list of the other Lords that joined him?”

“Here it is,” Ezrel quickly handed a document he prepared beforehand.

Kian grabbed it and quickly scanned it. The names written on the list didn’t surprise him. Finished, he handed it to Malak. The garbage needed to be thrown out.

“What about the others?”

“A part of them are secretly helping us, while others try to get in the Lord of Casrum’s good graces.”

“Quietly spread my return to our allies, but mention nothing else.”

“Yes, my King. I’ll take my leave,” he saluted both royals before quietly stepping away, leaving the couple alone.

“You must be tired,” Kian turned to face Malak, who smiled.

“I’m alright. You needed it to be done.”

“Let’s get to our bedroom.”

As they stood up, the same maid who served them tea appeared near the door. She guided them to the biggest room and left without a word. When Malak thanked her, her expression didn’t change. It stayed blank and cold. Malak, however, noticed the scars covering her hands and arms. He wanted to help but didn’t know what to do or what to say. Therefore, she simply bowed her head before closing the door behind her.

Kian sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed. Malak quickly joined and offered his attention, hoping it would be enough to relive some of his worries.

“Ezrel didn’t change,” Malak started on a light subject, hoping it would clear the darkening clouds.

Kian and Ezrel shared a long history. For as long as he could remember, Ezrel had always been on Kian’s side. Ezrel became his most trusted man and his best friend when he was trained to be his aide.

“He didn’t,” Kian smiled. “But it seems he’s the only one…”

Malak grabbed his lover’s hand. “Let’s go sightseeing.”

“You need to be a tourist to do that, and it’s too dangerous.”

“We will be careful, and you can always use magic. It’ll be good to see how the Lord of Casrum rules.”

Kian pondered the pros and the cons, but it didn’t last long. “Alright, but we need to change.”

“Thank you!” Malak kissed his cheek.

The maid appeared with two cloaks and a change of clothes, as though she had been summoned. Malak discarded his old clothes before putting on the new ones. Not only the fabric, but the style also changed. It was similar to the 1900s fashion.

Catching a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror, Malak stopped and observed his features. More than a decade passed since he saw this part of him and yet, the change didn’t shock him. His light brown horns matched the colour of his hair, so their addition wasn’t much of a shock. It was his eyes. They were originally hazel-coloured, and it was now replaced with a pinkish-red. His canines were also slightly longer.

Then, Malak also noticed the grey hue glowing from his body through the mirror. However, when he looked at his hands, the glow couldn’t be seen. He turned and almost gasped at the darkness surrounding Kian. It was so thick and so dark, any light would get swallowed. He blinked a few times and his eyesight returned to normal. Although it took some time to notice because of Kian’s raven hair and horns. The shape of their horns was the same, but Malak had smaller and thinner ones.

“Let’s go,” Kian handed him a black cape with a hooded cloak.

Malak snapped out of it and took it and quickly attacked it around his shoulder. As they walked out of the room, Ezrel walked by. His eyes widened at our appearance.

“May I ask where are you going?”

“You should come too,” Malak proposed before looking at the maid, who understood the silent order. “Show us around,” he smiled.

Ezrel seemed like he wanted to object, but he didn’t voice it. He knew Kian already agreed to it just by looking at their outfit. While shaking his head with a smile, he took the hooded cloak the maid presented to him and quickly put it on.

Before leaving the house, they all put the hood on. Outside, they found themselves surrounded by trees. In the Bazahian Kingdom, there weren’t many lands filled with trees, and not with this density. Knowing his lands well, Kian couldn’t guess the region they were in.

“We must be near Nulundarar?” Kian asked as they followed Ezrel on a narrow dirt path.

A small smile of pride tugs at the other man’s lip. “Exactly, I’m impressed.”

Kian smirked but said nothing. Malak walked in between the other two with a frown. He tried to remember where Nulundarar was situated. There are twenty territories in the Bazahian kingdom. While the King reigned in the entire Kingdom, he had to share the burden with nineteen Lords and Ladies. They composed the nobility; they held little power outside their territory. The centre of command was in the capital, Narakzir, where the King lived.

“This is Gathun,” Ezrel pointed to the town at the bottom of a small hill. “A town of roughly eight thousand citizens. We can find anything we need here.”

Even from afar, Malak could perceive the buzzing plaza where most of the markets were. Because of the view, he remembered the time when he also sold his products in the plaza with his mother. It was a very long time ago but Malak could still remember the noise of the plaza with all the women bargaining for a cheaper price, the smell of cooked meat on charcoal, the taste of his mom’s cooking. He was back.

“It’s a town where there aren’t many visitors. Please, be careful to not attract attention,” Ezrel warned.

“I’ll be counting on you, as always, Ezrel,” Malak answered with a warm smile.

For the first time, the demon smiled back. “It is a joy to have you back.”

Kian cleared his throat before grabbing Malak’s hand. “Let’s go.”