Chapter 5- The Thing He Should Not Want

Atlas woke before sunrise.

Not because he had royal duties or anything.

He woke up because of a farmer.

He laid on his bed staring at the ceiling, restless.

Jacob’s face kept appearing in his mind.

Atlas groaned and buried his face in the pillow.

“This is madness.”

A prince should not be thinking about a common farmer like this.

Yet here he was.

Again.

Philip pushed open the door without knocking.

He stopped when he saw Atlas awake.

“You look like someone who lost a war.”

Atlas rolled onto his back.

“Leave me alone.”

Philip leaned against the wall.

“So… problem in paradise?”

Atlas rubbed his face.

“No.”

Philip nodded.

“Alright.”

“Philip.” Prince Atlas called.

Philip raised an eyebrow.

“Yes?”

“We’re going back this evening.” Atlas said.

Philip closed his eyes slowly.

“Absolutely not.”

Atlas blinked.

“What?”

Philip crossed his arms.

“You heard me.”

Atlas frowned.

“Since when do you refuse royal orders?”

“Since the royal order is risky.”

Atlas stared at him.

Philip continued calmly.

“You’ve gone there twice already.”

“So?”

Philip leaned closer.

“I have a bad feeling.”

Atlas rolled his eyes.

“You always have bad feelings.”

Philip shook his head.

“No.”

“This one is different.”

Atlas stood and walked to the window.

“Philip.”

“Yes.”

“You worry too much.”

Philip’s voice dropped.

“I think someone is watching us.”

Atlas turned slowly.

“Watching us?”

“Yes.”

Atlas laughed.

“You’re paranoid.”

Philip didn’t laugh.

“I’m serious.”

Atlas looked him for a moment.

Philip rarely sounded this tense.

Still…

Atlas shrugged.

“Even if someone was watching, they would see nothing.”

Philip raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

“We are simply riding through the countryside.”

Philip sighed.

“Atlas.”

The prince froze.

Philip rarely used his name instead of his title.

“This is starting to look serious.”

Atlas looked away.

Philip continued carefully.

“You’re a prince.”

“Yes.”

“You’re about to be married.”

Atlas’s jaw tightened.

“Yes, I know that very much."

“And yet you keep riding out to stare at a farmer.” Philip said.

Atlas said nothing.

Philip stepped closer.

“You may not realize it yet…”

“But people will notice.”

Atlas looked out the window again.

Then he said quietly,

“…I just want to see him again.”

Philip rubbed his temples.

Atlas turned back to him.

“Is that too much to ask for?”

Philip sighed.

“Alright, if we must go…”

Atlas waited.

“…we’ll take another route.”

Atlas frowned.

“Why?”

Philip continued,

“If someone really is watching, they’ll expect us to use the same road.”

Atlas considered it.

Philip crossed his arms.

“And if my instincts are wrong…”

Atlas tilted his head.

“Then?”

Philip shrugged.

“Then I’ll shut up forever.”

Atlas laughed.

“That alone makes this plan worth it.”

Philip glared at him.

“Fine.”

—

Evening came slowly.

Atlas and Philip rode out again.

But this time they didn’t take the main road.

Instead they followed a narrow path through the forest.

Atlas felt excited.

Like a boy sneaking out of the palace for adventure.

Philip remained tense.

His eyes kept scanning the shadows.

“Relax,” Atlas said.

Philip didn’t answer.

They eventually reached the countryside fields again.

Atlas’s heart beat faster, As they approached closer.

He did his usual: kept his distance, yet stared at the farmer with a raw, hungry longing look. As if he was already imagining those strong, calloused hands pinning him down and making love to him.

On their way back. He kept on talking to himself

Jacob might actually have the same feelings.

Maybe he should approach him.

Maybe talk to him.

Maybe…

Philip suddenly spoke.

“Someone’s ahead.”

Atlas looked up.

Two riders stood near the palace gates.

Waiting.

Atlas frowned.

As they got closer, he recognized one of them.

Prince Gaius.

His younger brother smiled slowly.

“Well well.”

Atlas stiffened.

Gaius leaned casually against his horse.

“Out for a stroll, dear brother?”

Atlas dismounted calmly.

“Yes.”

Gaius tilted his head.

“You’ve been taking quite a lot of strolls lately.”

Atlas shrugged.

“The air helps me think.”

Gaius’s smile widened.

“About your wedding?”

Atlas’s expression hardened slightly, and a frown grew.

Gaius continued smoothly.

“You seem… very unbothered about marrying Lady Katerina.”

Atlas said nothing.

Gaius circled him slowly.

“Most men would be celebrating.”

Atlas finally spoke.

“Most men are not me.”

Gaius chuckled softly.

“No. You’re definitely… unique.”

Atlas walked past him.

“I’m tired.”

Gaius called after him.

“Oh, by the way.”

Atlas stopped.

“Father wants us to dine together tonight.”

Atlas nodded once.

“Fine.”

Gaius watched him walk away.

But the smile on his face slowly turned darker.

—

Dinner that night was cold.

The royal dining hall was grand as always.

Long table.

Golden candles.

Servants moving silently around them.

King Aaron Mavros sat at the head.

Atlas on one side.

Gaius on the other.

And the youngest prince,

Theodo.

Theodo was cheerful as always.

He greeted Atlas warmly.

“Brother! You look happy today.”

Atlas blinked.

“Do I?”

Theodo laughed.

“You’ve been smiling all evening.”

Atlas cleared his throat.

King Aaron leaned forward slightly.

“I’ve noticed something.”

Atlas froze.

The king’s eyes were sharp.

“You’ve been leaving the palace frequently.”

Atlas forced a calm expression.

“Yes.”

“What’s the secret?”

Atlas leaned back in his chair.

“There is no secret.”

The king raised an eyebrow.

Atlas continued quietly,

“You have decided to force me into a marriage I do not want.”

Silence filled the table.

Atlas took a slow sip of wine.

“So I decided to take evening walks.”

The king watched him carefully.

“Nothing more.”

Gaius suddenly laughed softly.

Atlas looked at him.

Gaius tilted his head.

“Are you sure?”

Atlas’s eyes narrowed.

Gaius leaned forward slightly.

“Are you sure it’s just evening strolls?”

Atlas felt a flicker of anger.

Before he could reply.

Theodo spoke quickly.

“Oh come on, brother.”

Everyone looked at him.

Theodo smiled easily.

“Atlas is practically a god to the people.”

Theodo continued cheerfully,

“Everyone admires him.”

He shrugged.

“He’s the last person who would do something reckless.”

The king chuckled softly.

“That’s true.”

Gaius leaned back again.

But his eyes lingered on Atlas.

Watching.

—

Later that night…

Gaius sat in a dark chamber.

His servant knelt before him.

“Well?” Gaius asked.

The servant swallowed nervously.

“I followed the prince today.”

“And?”

“He only went for a stroll.”

Gaius frowned.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“He didn’t visit the farmer?”

“No, he took another road.”

Gaius slammed his hand against the table.

“You idiot!”

The servant flinched.

“You should have followed him!”

The servant stammered.

“He changed routes! So I thought…”

“I don’t care what you thought!” Gaius said.

Gaius leaned forward, eyes burning.

“I need evidence, something strong against my brother.”

The servant bowed his head quickly.

“I will do better.”

Gaius’s voice turned cold.

“You better.”

He stood slowly.

“Because if I don’t get something useful soon…”

He smiled darkly.

“…I might start regretting hiring you.”

The servant trembled.

“I understand.”

Gaius waved him away.

When the room emptied, Gaius walked to the window.

Looking toward the distant countryside.

“Let’s see what you’re hiding, brother.”

—

Meanwhile…

Atlas stood on the balcony outside his chambers.

The night air was cool.

Philip stood beside him.

“You handled dinner well.”

Atlas shrugged.

“I didn’t lie.”

Philip raised an eyebrow.

“But, you avoided the truth.”

Atlas sighed.

Philip looked at him.

“You’re thinking about him again.”

Atlas didn’t deny it.

The silence said enough.

After a moment Atlas spoke quietly.

“…Philip.”

“Yes?”

Atlas hesitated.

Then said something unexpected.

“I think I should approach him.”

Philip froze.

“You mean Jacob.”

Atlas nodded slowly.

Philip rubbed his face.

“This is how disasters start.”

Atlas leaned against the railing.

“I just want to talk to him.”

Philip didn’t answer immediately.

Finally he sighed.

“I can’t stop you.”

Atlas waited.

Philip looked him in the eye.

“But you need to be careful.”

Atlas nodded.

“I know.”

Philip shook his head slightly.

“No.”

“You don’t.”

Atlas looked toward the distant countryside again.

Where the garden waited.

Where Jacob lived his simple life.

Unaware of the storm slowly building around him.

Atlas whispered softly,

“…I just want to know him.”

Philip stared at the prince.

It’s obvious the Prince is in love but hasn’t realized it yet… But a Prince can not fall in love with a commoner let alone a farmer. A man!. Philip said to himself.