Twisted Empire - Episode 75&76

 

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire - Episode 75&76

(Her Blade, His Neck )

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

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[Ambrose Ranch, Kalynda]

It's some minutes past midnight, and the sky has been rumbling with stretching streaks of lightning for a while, indicating the nearness of rainfall.

It's a dark, moonless night. The uncles are at the artillery, arranging their next batch of goods to be sent out of town.

The silence in the room is heavy, the only sound being the rattling of the weapons they're throwing into the black bags.

Uncle Paul picked a pistol, faced the adjacent wall and fired a long bullet.

It's resonance echoed in the room, and Dave dropped the last weapon into the bag before taking the gun from Paul, tossing it on the table.

"You heard what she said," Paul grunted.

"And you don't have to shoot this artillery down cos of it." Dave shrugged, opening a bottle of beer to chug, Paul kicked it away before it could reach his lips.

The bottle fell and crashed.

"Paul!" Dave stood to his face.

"I have a strong feeling it's dangerous staying with that man, and you know I'm right cos there's just something about him we're yet to pinpoint, but you were gonna start drinking?" Paul's voice went high.

"I met with the President before the wedding, remember? I tried to get him to say why he's so opposed to the idea of Teal and Four, but he couldn't say anything. All he told me was Four is a bad dangerous person and we'd be shocked when his connection with Rue and Vaughn's death comes to play. Now tell me why he was talking in parables if it's not that he's just a wrecker? He's the same man with several pictures of Rue in a room according to Teal. Just think for once!" Dave went high in pitch, too.

Paul strolled to the other side of the table, pressing his arse into a stool over there before exhaling.

"You know why I'm being like this. I just can't stand anything happening to Teal. I don't want her to get hurt in the future, especially not with that man. I only want the best for her."

Dave smiled, "I understand your intentions, we have same thing in mind, but why not let's slow down for now and let her handle it. Maybe it's time for us to focus on her parents bodies. We should know the whereabouts before she'd find out herself, else she won't ever forgive us.

"I know," Paul nodded. "But the pictures of Rue in the President's Mansion, I refuse to believe he's just a fan."

"I guess that's part of what we have to investigate, and while at it, we should send a chicken stew to Teal." Dave grinned.

"You think she'd still forgive with chicken stew? C'mon, she's not 18 anymore." Paul laughed, sighing, then he suddenly stood.

"I'm gonna show you something, follow up." He zipped up the weapon bag.

Dave followed him out of the artillery, and when they got back up, Paul led him to the old park at the back of the ranch.

He lifted the rusty garage cover, and a car came to view—the Ambrose couple car.

It's a brown-coloured Volvo, and Vaughn had bought that particular color cos someone made him love it.

The body is knocked in from several angles, blotched paint and scratched metal. Rickety door, broken handles and shattered windows, even the roof. It's a mess.

The uncles had the car dragged from the cliff river to this place that year after the accident, and it has been here since them.

Cobwebs embroidered the space, they had to start parting them with their fingers as they entered the garage.

"What are we doing here?" Dave blinked at Paul.

Paul opened the door and leaned inside, opening the half-destroyed drawer and bringing out black shades. 

"Vaughn's shades?" Dave muttered.

"Yup, this only just came to my mind last night. The fact that his shades is still safe inside the drawer even after the fatal accident only means he took it off before the accident. And we both know Vaughn never took these glasses off, cos whenever he did, his eyes got watery" Paul explained.

"So what? You're saying Vaughn wasn't blind?" Dave scoffed.

"Think about it, why would a blind man be the best medical student of his set when we're not in a magical world? He even performed several successful surgeries before he was banned from medical line, then he became a painter. Even throughout the painting years, he was better than Rue. He was more of an expert." 

"No, Paul. Vaughn has been blind since birth, and he's just a lucky gifted human. You're overthinking." Dave frowned.

"What if his sight got restored somehow and he kept it from everyone just to get popular? There were several other painters during their time, but he was more popular cos he was blind. What if—"

"I'm tired of your sick hypothesis, what's your real point?" Dave sighed.

"That day of the accident, what if he survived with Rue somehow and he took Rue out of the car, then they've been living fine somewhere since then?" Paul analyzed.

"Living fine without their daughter?" Dave smirked.

Paul sighed again, running his fingers through his slightly grey hair.

"Those two can't live without Teal, you know how much they adore her, so stop these hypothesis. Did you take your drugs yet?" Dave asked.

"No. I missed yesterday's dosage." Paul replied.

Dave pat his shoulder, tentatively.

"Now I see where the delusions are coming from. Rue and Vaughn are dead. They died in the river, so they probably got swept away by the currents. We only have to search harder, and we'd find their bodies."

He left the garage, and Paul took another look at the ruined car, groaning out.

Behind the garden, leaves rustled as someone jumped out.

--

[Therapeia Mental Institute]

Axel came here after he left the wedding hall earlier, and he has been waiting for Empress to get done with her shifts, but it seems she'd never be getting done cos it's been hours, and he's still at the visitor's area, counting the number of nurses and doctors passing by.

He checked his wristwatch and stood. It's 1am already.

He was about to go barging into the special wards when Sierra settled down beside him.

"I never knew you roll with my mum, too." She rolled her eyes up at him.

"I'm not here for you, Sierra." He took fast steps down the hall.

"I wouldn't go into the annex if I were you. She hates seeing anyone in the surroundings, and if her dogs get you, even your bones would disappear." Sierra said.

He stopped, turned back and came back to her.

"Then go tell her I'm here! We need to talk!" 

"What's there for you both to talk about? Gosh, you're worse than I thought." Sierra stood, clicking her tongue.

"S+x at 10? Ew!"

Axel gripped her shoulders, surprising her as a whimper broke from her mouth.

"Y'all are exaggerating! You call that s+x? It's not even up to two minutes cos I couldn't get hard and she wasn't wet! We were still young! I was struggling to get inside her but it was impossible! I stopped after trying for two minutes! It wasn't exactly s+x so y'all including Four should stop coming at my face!"

Sierra got a strong hold of his arm, then she turned around and flipped him to the ground.

"Bî+ch!" He grumbled lowly, holding his back.

Sierra flipped her ponytail, adjusted her belt and smiled down at him.

"You're shameless than I thought, wastoid. Anyways, thank you. You made it easier cos now Hera is gone from the list of people I have to strike out."

She disappeared down the corner, and Axel sat up, taking out his phone to text Empress for the tenth time.

--

[Annex]

Lights are turned off, and there's dead silence which is odd considering how this place is the noisiest place in this institute.

The place smells like sickness and ailments. One could feel it through the walls and grounds.

And as the lights came on with a rush, even the flashes are sick cos they're flickering.

There are several wards in the annex with small beds which have mentally sick patients on top of them.

They look unkept—hairs, nails, skin. It's a total nuthouse, but the patients are currently sleeping under the influence of sedatives, reason for the silence and calm.

Empress's heels made threatening clicks with the tiled ground as she walked the corridor with just one attendant beside her—her most trusted attendant who's a man.

He's wheeling a box containing the needed equipments.

They kept going under the unstable lights till they arrived at the last room in the annex which looks secluded. Number 44 is written boldly on top of the door.

The attendant opened the ward door, and Empress wheeled in the box alone while he attendant stayed by the door.

She turned on the light in that small room, and a face got revealed in bed—a lady.

She looks crazier than the rest cos she's got blue scratches on her skin from her own nails, but she looks peaceful cos she's currently asleep.

Pleasingly, Empress opened the box and got an ampoule of the shot she'd be administering. 

She drew it into the syringe, but the lady's eyes flipped open just as she was about to inject her.

She revealed her long nails and sank them into Empress's face, wounding her brutally.

Blood sprinkled on the sheets.

She jumped down from the bed, dashing for the door.

"Wench!!!" Empress yelled as she flung the door open, hitting it on the face of the attendant.

She ran down the corridor with a crazy speed, and Empress came out of the ward, blood crawling out of her stabbed faced and staining her white coat in different places.

"Do I have to run after her?" The assistant asked.

She smiled, the wound on her face making her look like she was drawn out of a horror film.

"No, she'd get outside." She crooked, hitting a button on the wall.

And she was right, cos the moment Number 44 broke out from the annex, she was met with the wild dogs from the cages.

She couldn't go further than the garden before she was dragged down. Her cries punctured the air as the animals drew insane patterns on her body with their razor-sharp teeth.

One of them tore off one finger from her right hand, and her blood splashed on their fur. She cried louder, rolling on the leaves.

A loud whistle from Empress sent the dogs back to their cages as she came out of the annex with the assistant.

Number 44 lay there, crying and clutching at her bleeding finger.

Empress kicked her tummy, and she tumbled over, crying out again.

"Thinking you can escape this place should be forbidden to your mind." Empress squatted beside her.

"You can't keep it forever!" Number 44 laughed scornfully, "Sierra isn't a DeVille! She's not Pedro's daughter and she doesn't deserve to be in that base at all, but you're aiming to make her the future General? You're a pathological lier! And I also know how you killed Yulia's first three babies you witch!!" 

"How would you tell that to anyone? You'd be stuck here forever anyways, that's more torturous than killing you. You should have kept your mouth shut." Empress laughed callously.

"The world deserves to know how insane you are! You drag healthy people into your annex and run them mad only for your entertainment! Where is your humanity!!!" Number 44 yelled, kicking uselessly.

"Get her back inside, treat her finger and stop the bleeding. She can't die, yet." Empress sideyed the assistant.

"Yes, Chief." 

The man dragged Number 44 back into the annex, and her cries grew more pained, stabbed with anguish till the door closed behind them.

"That nearly ruined my night," Empress muttered.

She got an hanky, wiping the blood on her face as she strolled out of the area. Getting to the main building, she came across Sierra first.

She didn't even look fazed by her wounds, the kingdom ruled by Empress is literally the kingdom of wounds. She's used to her flesh getting torn.

"Have you seen Axel? Dude's here searching for you." She reported.

"Why are you here yourself?" Empress lowered the blood-soaked hanky from her face.

"Two weddings ruined, and right now I'm sure Teal and Four are together." Sierra folded her arms.

"Go back to the base, I know what to do." Empress muttered.

"What are you gonna do?" Sierra's face knotted.

"Go back to the base, sweetie. I'll see you at the outdoor swearing in ceremony tomorrow." Empress enunciated.

Reluctantly, Sierra left the building. Empress moved forward, but at the end of the curve, she met Axel.

"You took too long! I've been waiting for hours!" He snapped, not giving a damn about her wounded face.

"Oh wow, it's the rapist." She mused.

"Did you see the video at all? I didn't f+ckin force her! And I didn't even get to enter her!" Axel defended.

"It's still s+x so far you tried to fit yourself inside so stop trying to redeem yourself. I know you're dirtier than sewage—just like me." Empress angled her head.

Axel stomped the wall, angrily.

"Why are you here?" Empress questioned.

"I was thinking I'd make Four leave the base when I finally become General, but now that I

I had a rethink, I need him gone completely." Axel looked straight ahead.

"Are you...scared of him?" Empress grinned.

"That bastard saw me doing that with Hera several years ago, and he said nothing since then. He has been watching me with those unreadable eyes like a hunter. I don't know how he thinks, I don't know what he might do, I don't know how he works! He's madly wicked, I'm telling you." 

"So you're really scared of him," Empress grinned again.

"It's not fear! It's something else I can't pinpoint." Axel explained, looking crazy.

"So now you suddenly want him gone? That thought crossed my mind earlier, too. I've seen Yulia's tears when Pedro died, it's time to see that countryside bumpkin tears when Four dies." Empress shrugged.

"But I need his weakness to enter him. People like him must have a trappable weakness." She continued.

"Teal, it's her." Axel chirped.

"Are you daft? You're talking about the same person who's in the same level of strong with Sierra? She's his strength! Not weakness! I need a weakness from Four himself!" Empress yelled.

Axel bent over her, and she smiled languidly when he whispered something in her ear.

"Good, I'll see you at the swearing in ceremony," 

She took two steps away from him, but he went closer.

"Why are you looking for Usman?" He asked. 

Empress went still, undecided for a while before speaking.

"I need him, madly. That's all I can tell you."

"What if I have a way to make you communicate with him? I mean... after my swearing in?" Axel said.

"You're not as useless as I thought," Empress nodded.

"I guess." Axel nodded back.

--

[Restaurant]

The armies are still there.

Not because they knowingly wanted to stay longer than their cards permit, but because most of them got drunk. 

Even ones who aren't deeply drunk are tipsy, so they're all waiting for the alcohol to clear off before they move.

The only sane people are Rook and Theo who're still outside the restaurant, sitting at the valet park.

Rook's jacket is on Theo's shoulder though, and Rook is just drinking occasionally from his non-alcoholic drink bottle.

He's sniffling too cos it might not be snowing, but the weather is cold.

He brought the bottle to his mouth for another drink, but Theo pulled closer and took it from him, keeping it down.

Rook rolled his eyes to him.

"You... shouldn't get drunk too," he said awkwardly, looking up to catch the soft gaze in Rook's eyes.

Rook pulled the jacket closer to his body, and Theo embraced it.

"You still care about the guy you believed a bî+ch over?" He said.

"Stormy sounded so sure and I was ... I was stupid." Theo muttered, looking like a puppy beside him.

"Really stupid, so you'd believe a passing dog if it told you I once loved an animal too." Rook said.

"I know I'm childish, but I'm really really inexperienced. I know I'm naive, too. And I stress you too much. I'm sorry." Theo mumbled.

"No, don't say sorry. We're gonna be fixing your childishness right here and now." Rook stood.

"What do you mean?" Theo stood with a blink.

With a rough shove, Rook pulled him to the back corner of the restaurant where a tight space is.

He shoved him to the wall—face-first.

Theo was gasping in repeat as Rook's breathings slapped the back of his neck, and his hands undid his zip and button, pulling down his pants.

He heard the unmistakable rattle of belt metal.

"What are you doing, Rook?" His voice shivered a bit as his fingers adapted to the coldness of the wall.

"I'm obviously gonna take you. Try to keep your voice low, or you'll wake the innocent sleeping people around." Rook harshly replied, bringing his palm to Theo's mouth.

"Spit on it." He ordered, roughly again.

"R-ook—"

"Spit on my palm, Theodore. I'm gonna be needing it as lube, or I shove myself inside dryly and you won't be able to sit throughout tomorrow." Rook interrupted.

Theo's palms became completely sweaty on the wall, but he didn't make any move, so Rook dropped his own pants too, proving himself right.

He palmed his d+ck and pushed forward to Theo's behind, stroking.

"Rook... please—"

Theo's face smashed on the wall, cutting him off, and his jaws hurt, but the hurt extended to his butt when Rook inserted himself into him.

"Rook! Ouu!!"

He broke into tears again, and it's not a pity cry this time. 

They're real, hot tears.

Rook had to pull out immediately. He covered both of them up, then he made Theo sit back on the sofa, hunkering in front of him.

He held his face...

"Talk to me, orexi. Please." He muttered, his eyes emotional.

"They...they...SA'd me, the terrorists." Theo hiccupped wetly.

"S+xually assaulted you?" Rook's eyes widened, and Theo nodded.

"I was just 18, they made my father sleep with my sis, one of them slept with my mum, and another one forced his way into my backside, and then they killed my family and...and..."

"Shh," Rook caressed his face.

"It's ok, it's really, really ok. Don't talk anymore. I get it. I get it,Theodore. I'm so sorry." He said gently.

"You won't ever die and leave me alone, right?" Theo hiccupped again.

"No one's dying, come here." Rook went on his knees, embracing him tightly and warmly.

He stroked his hair while at it, his will to kill Usman expanding.

Gawd... How hard would it have been? Just how hard would it have been for him?

--

Meanwhile.... inside the restaurant, everyone is drunk expect Sergeant Kash and Paine who're just a little over tipsy.

Brent's head is over the table, and he's counting imaginary ants.

Shannon and April are drunk-chatting, and they crowned each sentence with laughter.

"I can't believe Skye is really gone" April muttered.

"And I can't believe my sister is this stupid." Shannon replied.

That was followed by a drunk laughter which lasted long, and when they stopped...

"Why are we laughing?" Shannon blinked.

"I have no idea," April replied.

Another laughter followed, and they both almost fell from their chairs.

"Stop, it's getting too loud here." Brent covered his ears on the table.

They're hopeless," Paine muttered across the table, dabbing his face.

"Only a sip is left for you to get drunk which I'm sure you'd have had if I wasn't here. Don't judge." Sergeant Kash replied, trying to keep himself awake.

Paine turned to him.

"Are you ok though? I mean...the whole Cassie stuff."

"I'm not crying as you can see," Kash faced him too.

"Yunno initially sir, I used to think you're one cocky, egoistic senior army." He said.

"But now?" Sergeant Kash frowned.

"Now...I dunno. Maybe you're not that bad. You're too simple cos if I were you, I'd kill Cassie. But don't worry, even if you don't kill her, leave her disgrace for me. I'm good in that area, sir." Paine assured, yawning.

Kash just smiled, sweeping another gaze round the restaurant.

At exactly 2am, he dragged the three drunk armies into the van with Rook and Paine's help.

They drove back to the base, and each returned to his or her barracks.

On getting to the female barracks, Shannon and April found it very hard to sleep a wink.

Morgan is crying loudly in her bed. Only those who're already asleep are lucky, but them? Morgan isn't giving them the chance.

Shannon blocked her ears with the pillow, April blocked hers with her palms, but it's still what it is.

"Morgan!!" They both yelled.

Morgan didn't stop, so they left their beds at the same time, went to Morgan's bed and dragged her down.

Morgan didn't struggle.

They dragged her out and locked the room door, then they stuck hands and returned to their beds.

--

[Daybreak, Four's Private Mansion]

Four knew he felt a crawling sensation on his back skin when morning came, but he just lay there, allowing whatever it is to continue.

He felt Teal's soul thickly, so he's aware she's behind the crawls. She's probably drawing something on his scar. He didn't move.

"I know you're awake, Eros." She mouthed to his ear.

"Do I have a tell for that too?" He replied, voice thick and madly seductive that early morning.

"Yeah, your body temperature was warm when you slept, but it grew slightly cold when you woke." She replied, focusing on her drawing.

"You psychoanalyze now?" He groaned.

"It's not psychoanalyzing, idiot. It's understanding weirdos like you." She chuckled and bent over his back.

She's done with her drawing, so she kissed the scar deeply, running his tongue over it.

When she sat straight, he sat up, his posture straightening.

His muscles and biceps flexed, and she fought the urge to bite her lip as he brought an hand to her face to caress her chin with sinful, raw possessiveness.

"Idiot?" He ran his thumb on her lips. "Know that you're the only one who can talk to me that way, and in private." He cleared.

"Understood, daddy." She replied.

His brows gathered in a frown that indicated his likeness for that word, but she already slid out of bed, giving him an hand.

"Come take a look at the painting." 

Four took the hand, and her slender fingers disappeared inside his own as they walked to the full mirror where he turned his back.

She actually drew a small orchid flower tree on the scar, and it's so beautiful.

"It's permanent ink, so don't think of ever wiping it off." She said.

"And what made you think I'm gonna wipe it off? I love your idea of marking me." He faced her, curling his arm on her slim waist.

"I didn't mark you, silly." She slapped his arm lightly, taking in as much of his scent as she could.

"Await my tattoo on your body. Maybe my d+ck on your belly?" He said with a straight face, and she slapped his arm again.

He cupped her a$s cheeks in response. She's wearing just his long shirt—nothing under.

"I'm not Hera. You know that, right?" She whispered.

"But you're mine, isn't it?" He rested his forehead on hers.

She didn't reply, she just peered deeply at his eyes, so he groped her a$s again, softly...

"I'm yours, though. Weather you like it or not. You can't weed me, I'll germinate in your throat." He whispered back.

She rode her palms on his chest.

"Merry Christmas in arrears, didn't get the chance to say it to you since Christmas was bitter." She muttered.

"New year would be bloodier, but better. Blood makes things better." He replied, and she giggled.

"You're sick,"

"That makes two of us, Teal." He called her name with a sharp T like he does, and she smiled shortly.

"Sorry about your dad, I haven't had the chance to say RIP to him. Couldn't even attend the funeral." 

"You'll get the chance after the swearing in" 

"The swearing in..." She pulled back. "What if Axel really becomes the General? I mean...you made a fool out of the Marquis and the President, and they won't just sit still." 

"I never wanted them to sit still," Four shrugged.

"What's the plan? You promised to carry me along, no secrets." She said.

His phone chimed in bed, and he went for it quickly. It's Jason, calling.

He picked this one.

"Yes?"

"I'm at your mansion door, Master."

Four strode out of the bedroom, pulling the main door open. Jason stood there with his phone to his ear and a smile to his lips.

"Very sure your night was cool," he winked knowingly, and Four rolled eyes before leading him in.

Jason stopped when he met Teal in the living room. She's still wearing Four's shirt, so her bre+sts are poking through, and her thighs are all out.

"Turn around," Four ordered, and he immediately did a U-turn.

"Say whatever it is like that." Four continued.

"Who's he?" Teal asked curiously.

"Jason, he's my boy." Four said curtly, and it's obvious he doesn't want to supply more.

"I don't think I can talk in the presence of your... woman?" Jason said.

"Follow me outside," Four began going for the door.

"Eros," Teal spoke up.

"We'll talk when I get back, Teal. You have my word. Stay put." He gave her a short look.

She sighed. "Fine, I'll make breakfast."

"No. I don't want you in the kitchen. I'll order breakfast." Four declined.

"I wanna cook, I feel like cooking. You're not ordering food. I. Will. Cook." She rolled eyes and entered the kitchen.

Four nearly followed her inside, but he stopped in the last minute and followed Jason out to the car.

"So I tried seducing Katerina the President's secretary like you ordered, but she was so closed off and I lost all chances. But by communicating with her, I found out she and the president and Rue and Vaughn attended same highschool and college, studied same course." 

"Medicine? A blind man studying medicine?" Four scoffed.

"I know, right? But then last time at the ranch, I overheard the uncles saying the Ambrose couple body were never found. They only disposed fake skeletons to the waterbed to make Teal think they've been found." Jason continued.

"So they might still be alive?" Four stressed.

"Earlier tonight, I eavesdropped again. Paul was laying an hypothesis that Vaughn wasn't really blind. And that he might have saved himself and Rue somehow." Jason said.

"And all of these are connected somehow." Four muttered.

"Of course, we only have to find how they are." Jason shrugged.

"Spyros must be emotionally attached to Rue. He has her pictures in his mansion which he dedicated a whole room to. Meaning, he likes Rue, but Vaughn was being an hindrance, and Rue herself was too into Vaughn, so...." Four shadowed his eyes.

"If he can't have Rue, he'd kill the two of them?" Jason completed the statement.

"It's not supposed to be this straight. I feel like there's something I'm missing out, something big." Four muttered.

"That apart, how do we handle the swearing in? I know you have no fear or weakness, but I'm slightly scared. What if the unexpected happens? Too many eyes are on you." Jason said.

"If the unexpected happens," Four faced him. "Then keep an eye on Teal and Blackie. Kash will take care of the squad."

"Don't talk like that! Fine, forgive me for thinking bad. You ain't going nowhere. There's still so much to uncover especially this bastard Usman who's definitely planning his next attack, so please..." Jason begged.

"Good" Four smirked.

At one of the mansion windows, Teal stood behind the glass, gluing her ear to the surface and trying hard to listen to what they're discussing.

--

[President's Mansion]

The Marquis is here.

He's in the circus with the President, and they both look greatly unsettled even on their seats.

"Hera is still sick, she has been crying since last night." The Marquis said.

"Can we not talk about your daughter yet?" President Spyros looked up.

"Are you really gonna swear him in as the new General tomorrow? The Marquis asked restlessly.

"He has support from the security sector. I might be the president of this country, but switching from him to Axel after switching from Axel to him would make me look idiotic. The only solution is when he's gone." President Spyros said.

"Hera likes him!" The Marquis stood.

"She does, but he disgraced you during the wedding by playing that 2 minutes video!" 

"You can't kill him! Hera's sanity depends on his wellness! Do you want me to lose my only daughter?" The Marquis argued back.

"So what now?" President Spyros calmed.

"You can't change change your statement again, but I'm the Marquis, the oldest army in this country. I'll speak to the security sector myself, just set the meeting and I'll make them agree to Axel. I just want Four disgraced tomorrow and watch him crumble when his father's position slips away to his incompetent brother." The Marquis said.

"Fair enough," President Spyros shrugged, looking around.

There are no guards, butlers nor cameras around the circus at the moment. Spyros dismissed them before the start of this conversation.

He was about to use the intercom to summon a butler for coffee when Xanthe entered, holding a tray containing two mugs.

"Why you? There are maids and butlers." President Spyros frowned as he set the tray on the table.

"I enjoyed serving your coffee myself when I was a kid despite the numerous maids, so I'm merely reminiscing." He said simply.

"He's so well-mannered. If Hera didn't want Four, and if you didn't want Teal for him, he'd have gotten married to Hera." The Marquis said, taking one cup from the tray.

"I know, right?" President Spyros smiled, picking the second cup.

They sipped at the same time, and Xanthe left the circus with a low snicker touring his whole face.

He left for three short minutes, and by the time he came back, the two old men already fell asleep on their respective sofa.

He checked their individual cups to see they both drank everything to the last drop.

With a breathless run, Mrs. Katerina entered the circus, gasping.

"This is all shades of wrong. You drugged the two most powerful men in this country. If the presidential office finds out, you might be exiled out of the country."

"And that's why you're not gonna tell anyone." Xanthe sighed.

"But—

"You wanna act like a mother to me, isn't it? This is your chance. A mother keeps his son's secrets." Xanthe cut her off sharply.

She went silent.

"Get them to the President's bedroom and tuck then in the same bed like soulmates. Lock the door, and if anyone from the presidential office visits, handle them and tell believable lies. If any of the Marquis guards come by, blind them with lies, too. No one can see them like this. No exceptions." Xanthe ordered.

"Yes, sir." Mrs. Katerina replied with a respectful bow.

Xanthe threw the sleeping men another look. They're gonna sleep for maximum 48hrs. By the time they wake up, he'd be done setting the military base in place at the swearing in tomorrow.

Gawd help him.

TBC.

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