“So, Your highness,” began the official with the longer hair at Oliver as he looked into some paper documents. “Why do you think you should have the throne instead of the King's first son as it is supposed to be?” he asked. Standing up, Oliver comported himself to answer the question. “First of all, as I have mentioned before, I have more knowledge of this kingdom than my step brother does.” He pointed out. “Ever since I was little, I was trained to know how the kingdom works. I’m familiar with it’s political aspect as well as the financial aspect that if I were to rule this kingdom, it won’t fall into shambles,” His eyes met with his mother’s again and he saw her give him proud nod, building up in him the confidence he needed to continue his speech. “If the kingdom were to be attacked by another stronger kingdom, how are we sure you won’t lead the army men to their deaths and cause the kingdom to be captive?” The dark lady official questioned as she rested back into her chair. “

“Hey,” he called out to the boys as he approached the scene in an attempt to get their attention, which he very well got. The teenage boys – as they were about four persons – stared at Adonis like he was walking poop. “What’s going on here?” he inquired, his being keen on knowing why the boys bullied the lesser boy who looked lanky in size and distraught as his gaze never raised from the floor. “What do you want now, Mister?” The oversized teenager among them jeered. Adonis turned and gave him a cautioning glare, before repeating his question. “I said, what's going on here?” “What does it look like to you, Mister?” another with blonde hair and freckles piped up in an impolite manner. “We're trying to get our money from this idiot who refuses to pay us.” Adonis saw himself in the boy on the ground twenty years ago, when he'd gotten in trouble with the seniors at the orphanage. Just as in this scenario, he had been rounded over and had been severely beaten, all because he’d taken a

The news that he had to reveal his identity came as a unexpected yet expected surprise that he had to think on it for hours. If he calculated rightly, Oliver still did not know his identity yet as the Prince, his brother, and as Adonis, and he still didn’t want the latter to find out. But he couldn’t run away from that anymore. He had to accept the fact that they were going to know his identity sooner or later. But it seemed better later than sooner. But meanwhile, the next day, Adonis made up his mind to get a new set of clothes as a change. His old, casual ones were wearing out, and were bringing him batches of insults, so he needed a change. That he wanted a low-key profile didn’t mean he was going to keep on dressing like someone he needed desperate financial help, which was not his status anymore. He left the hotel for the nearest cloth shopping store, and the one he found made his insides scream perfection. It was as small as a boutique, yet had a glamorous and inviting ext

Prompted by his employee's question, Mr. Joe, the owner of the hotel, came down to the reception to know the reason why such question was asked. There, he met Adonis – the man he’d thought low of the first time he’d seen him and Valerie – the lady from abroad and deserving of respect – standing at the reception table where his employee stood behind.“Is there a problem here?” he asked when he drew closer. Adonis gave the man a look over, his mind confirming the fact that he was the owner of the hotel from his memory of him.“Sir,” the receptionist remarked to her boss. “This man thought he’d paid for the room he lodged in recently for three weeks. That was why I called to confirm, sir.”The man casted a snide look at Adonis.“And is he trying to argue?” he asked. The receptionist couldn’t give a proper answer as she fixed her gaze on Adonis who was thinking a way out of his situation. “Sir, ” the man began speaking to Adonis. “Our records have it that you only paid for a few days, an

Work desired his attention, yet the shackles of annoyance, frustration and hatred for the man he’d wanted to desperately ridicule gripped him tight. Piles of paperwork filled the table in Oliver's room – paperwork he needed to attend to soonest – but the desire to bring to shame that coffee blonde man than had in all manners disrespected him plunged through him deeper. He very well knew that the guy would have been ridiculed the day before at that clothing store if Valerie hadn’t come and nosedived into the matter. Anger surged through him as his muscles contracted, dispersing the hard sense of tension in the atmosphere of the room. He didn’t want to let the matter pass; he never let any matter as this that involved his mockery pass him by without properly taken care of. Though he did not know the guy well, although from what his private investigator had found out, the guy was Adonis, Harriet's ex-husband. That discovery alone made him pissed that he’d blacklisted Adonis and thought o