Chapter I

Alec moved closer to the stranger to take a better look at his face. He tilted his head and frowned as he was confused about their resemblance. "You look so much like him. Who are you?" he asked.

The scarred-faced man didn't say a word nor moved or flinched. He stared at Alec with cold eyes as he studied his face. His fists clenched when the swordsman suddenly took off his hat.

Alec widened his eyes when he saw the stranger's blond hair. Now he was sure it wasn't his friend playing a joke on him.

He pressed his lips nervously and put the hat back on the man's head. Then he was about to touch his face when the stranger grabbed his arm strongly and pulled him closer to mutter, "Don't ever touch me." 

Alec felt shivers run down his spine when he heard his low voice. His best friend also had a manly voice, but this one was deeper— scarier.

The raven-haired apologised to the man and turned around, ready to leave when two tall guards stood in front of him. He frowned and put his hand on his sword's handle, ready to draw. "What's going on here?" he asked.

Alec's breath hitched when he suddenly felt the stranger's chest against his back and his warm breath against his neck. "You broke the law." the man's deep voice caressed his ear. "Punishment is what you will get."

The swordsman froze and looked around as he hoped to find a way to escape. It was done for him. The authorities were now aware of his night job. He knew that being a hitman was dangerous, but he had always made sure not to get caught and stay discreet. He was sure that he was not being followed yesterday night or the nights before.

Alec mumbled a curse and was ready to draw his weapon, but the stranger was quicker. He stole his sword and put it in front of his neck, threatening to slice his throat.

The dark-haired stayed still, and his breaths deepened. He wasn't sure what to do as he knew that one single move could cause the end of his life.

"Listen, I didn't really have a choice, you know?" Alec chuckled nervously. "It's not like I wanted to do it."

"But you did." the stranger's breath tickled his skin. He watched the guards move closer and felt his sword touch his neck. "You dared to touch the king."

Before Alec could wonder what the man was talking about, the guards hit his head, and he fell unconscious.

Alec woke up with a horrible headache. He groaned because of the pain and waited to rub his head when he realized his hands were handcuffed. "What the hell?" he muttered.

He looked around and frowned when he saw the dark and soiled walls surrounding him. He struggled to sit down and mumbled a curse when he noticed he didn't have his sword. They must have taken it.

Alec saw two guards standing outside his cell. "Hello!" he called. "Uh, where am I?"

No answer.

The young man pressed his lips, "Don't you think it was a little unfair to attack me? They stole my weapon. I was unarmed!" he raised an eyebrow.

Still no answer.

Alec rolled his eyes and stayed still for a moment, wondering what he could do to get out. He thought that Keith must be looking for him now because he was sure that the villagers saw him being attacked, and they must have told his friend.

He deserved to be locked because he broke the law. He killed people for coins. But then, it was never his intention to hurt them. He had no choice because of his family. He was the only one who could look after them and feed them.

But the moment had come, and his crimes had come to an end now. He knew what the stranger meant by punishment— beheading.

Speaking of the stranger, Alec wondered how he could look so much like his best friend. Aside from the hair colour and the scars, they were the same person. That's why he mistook him for Keith earlier. But who was the man? And why did he mention the king?

Someone unlocked the bars, interrupting his thoughts. He recognized one of the guards from this morning and gulped.

The soldiers moved away from the door to the corner and bowed their heads as another man entered the cell.

Blonde hair and a large scar around his right eye, it was the stranger from earlier. But this time he wasn't dressed casually like him or the villagers. Now he wore a pair of black trousers, a black shirt with golden embroideries and a long silk jacket adorned with golden symbols. The man had a crown on his head.

Alec widened his eyes as the situation started to make sense to him.

People had never seen the king's face nor a portrait of him. They had only heard tales and rumours about him. His eye scar was one of them.

"So, that's you," said Alec. "The Mad King everyone talks about."

The said man stopped walking and frowned. He was expecting his prisoner to bow to him like the rest of his men and be scared of him, but Alec looked quite peaceful.

"I didn't recognize you this morning. Maybe because our king never dared to show his face," added Alec.

"Shut up!" one of the guards hit him hard, slamming his head against the ground. Alec groaned and watched the king approach him before he knelt in front of him.

"You are one shameless man, aren't you?" asked the king with a voice as deep as the troubles he's got himself into. "How dare you speak to your king in such a disrespectful manner?"

Alec looked at him and gulped. It was like his best friend scolding him but in a less heartful way.

"Answer me!" shouted the king.

"I have nothing to say, my king. This is how I am." Alec shrugged, and soon he felt a large hand against his cheek. "Bloody hell," he mumbled as a devilish warmth haunted his skin.

"Insolent brat." muttered the king. "Take him to the main yard! He is to be executed!" he ordered his men.

Alec's heart threatened to explode as he watched the guards grab his arms and lead him outside the cell. For a moment, he regretted having acted so rudely with the king.

The sun rays from this morning have given way to a dark sky. The moonlight and the fire torches lightened the palace courtyard where he was to spend the rest of his life.

Alec thought about Carolyn and their little brother, Jared. They were going to be alone now, and it terrified him because they had no one to protect them or feed them. His father may have been alive, but he was like a walking corpse.

His only hope lied in his best friend, Keith. He trusted him and knew he was going to look after his family when he dies.

The guards push him to the ground and force him to kneel. He looked in front of him and saw endless stairs that separate him from the palace— the hellish residence of the devil in person.

Alec has heard many tales about the Mad King; he murdered his parents and sister when he was sixteen, imprisoned women and raped them when he was named king and ate children for his breakfast.

The Mad King was no merciful man. He's heartless and cold-blooded.

Alec watched the man walk down the stairs slowly, and his heartbeats quickened at each of his steps. The king's golden crown shone like thousand stars under the moonlight, and his scar was now more visible. It was redder than fire and crossed his eyes like lightning.

"It is not your day of luck." spoke the blond-haired. "You just happened to fall in my hands."

"The devil's hands," mumbled Alec.

The king raised an eyebrow as he hadn't heard him, "What?" he asked, approaching him.

"It's incredible how you look alike, but act so differently," said Alec as he looked closer at the king's face.

The scarred-faced frowned and walked to his throne to watch the bloody spectacle comfortably.

The executioner put a blindfold on Alec's eyes and straightened his back. The prisoner could only hear his loud breaths at that moment. His end was nearer than he thought.

Alec gulped when he heard the man draw his sword. He whispered a prayer and hoped for his friend to look after Carolyn and little Jared.

A deafening silence reigned around the yard. The king rested his chin on the palm of his hand and watched his prisoner wait silently for his death. It amazed him how calm he could be when he was on the verge of losing his head.

Usually, his prisoners would beg for his mercy, submit to him and sacrifice their freedom for him. But it was not the swordman's case.

The king tapped his fingers on his chair handle as Alec's words replayed in his mind.

It's incredible how you look alike, but act so differently.

Something was wrong— unexpected.

The executioner lifted the sword, and the king rose from his chair. 

"Halt!" he shouted.

The hangman looked at him with confusion because no execution was ever interrupted before. He pulled the sword back to its place and retreated.

The king stood before his prisoner and took off his blindfold slowly. "After all, it is your day of luck."

Alec's heart nearly burst inside of his chest. He looked at the king and rolled his eyes, "Come on! Finish with it already!" he shouted anxiously. He was scared, he had to admit it. He really thought the executioner was going to cut his head only a few seconds before, and now the king was playing with his mind.

"Just kill me already," he mumbled.

"No, I won't." the king crouched down and smirked. "You may be of use to me."

Alec raised an eyebrow, "And how is that?"

"Start by telling me who Keith is."