"Please! I'm sorry!", bloodcurdling screams echoed through the halls, as two soldiers dragged a young man into the room.

The king turned his head and raised from his throne. The soldiers pushed him forward onto his knees before the king.

He was sobbing, panicked and afraid.

"I'm so sorry, your majesty", he cried, bowing his head, not able to stand.

He looked poor, dirty and malnourished.

A commoner from the other edge of the kingdom. "What are you sorry for?", the king asked, but the man couldn't get out a single word. "He stole from the carriages that transport the fruits into the castle"

The king walked up to him, reached for his chin and tilted his head to meet his eye.

Tears were streaming over soft features, washing away some of the dirty on his face.

His eyes were barely open, as he sobbed, but the blue of the iris was so bright Sapnap could still make it out. His lips were chapped and overall his face matched the rest of him, thin and malnourished.

"I just wanted to help the kids. They are starving, I didn't want to watch them suffer. I'm so sorry", he cried and looked down, body weak and fragile.

The king swallowed. He knew his kingdom was suffering ever since his father had died, the winter had been rough and there wasn't enough crops to feed everyone.

"Someone- Someone tell the chef to prepare bread and the chicken. Tell them to bring fruits and vegetables and wine.", he said and wiped away the strangers tears.

He felt sorry. Seeing what his reign had done. "You won't kill me?", the young man asked and the king shook his head.

"No, not- not for trying to safe those children", he said, "Not for being desperate for someone to help. You shouldn't apologize to me, I should apologize to you"

"Thank you, your majesty, thank you", the man sobbed, "Long live the king"

"Non of that, not now. Not now that you're my guest", he said and took off his cloak, gently wrapping the shaking body in it.

"Thank you, my king", he cried and weakly leaned against the others shoulder.

"What is your name?" "Karl, you majesty", he replied, voice shaking uncontrollably, when suddenly he was picked up by gentle arms.

"I will take care of you, Karl", his voice had taken a soft shift, "And I promise to you, those children will get taken care of too."

"The kids, oh god, the kids. Save them now, I can wait, just please, the children they will die in the next winter if nothing is done", he pleaded and Sapnap heart cracked.

The innocent had suffered from his mourning. He wasn't the king they deserved.

"I promise you, I will do what I can as soon as I know you're taken care of", he said, "You the ambassador of the people"

Karl quietly sobbed as he leaned against his shoulder. He had suffered, for a long time, Sapnap could notice by the way he held himself. The way he looked like he had taken so much torture, survived all the struggle.

Sapnap nodded over a few servants, told them to fill a bathtub with warm water and bring fresh clothes.

Within minutes everyone was moving, coming after the kings wishes and then finally they were left alone in the bathing halls. Sapnap gently set him down and then he turned around.

"Take off your clothes", he said and after a short silence Karl almost whispered: "Yes, my king"

The sound of clothes being taken off and a sudden tension in the air between them mingled in the room.

"Get in the water", Sapnap said and again Karl whispered: "Yes, my king"

Sapnap felt the feeling of a shiver running down his spine at the title.

He heard the water and then he turned around, saw Karl emerged in the water to his collarbone. The water hid every bit of him just fine in the dim light of the room and his eyes were reflecting the warm tint of the candles and the near by fire place.

His lips were parted, just slightly, shaking breaths escaping just barely audible.

Sapnap kneeled before the tub, gently held Karls face in one hand, as the other wiped the dirty from his face with a damp cloth.

"My king, why would you do this? I can take care of myself. I really do, no need for you to get your hands dirty", Karl whispered and Sapnap looked at his eyes just for a moment, before he said: "As a king I'm obligated and happy to serve my people and to care for them. I haven't for a long time and I hope to gain your forgiveness for being ignorant to what you needed."

Karl hesitantly reached for the hand on his cheek and leaned forward. "You're forgiven, my king", he whispered, "I believe your sorrow and your regret and I trust you will do better for this kingdom. You, my mighty king"

Sapnap felt his heart stumble in his chest, taken of guard and in a way he hadn't expected. Karls hand was warm on his and he was confused by the gentle touch, by his kindness.

His thumb gently ran over Karls cheek, caressed the skin and quietly he said: "I'm at your fingertips, whatever your wish is I will fulfill it as long as I draw breath"

"Help the children. I want them to see the blossoms of next spring, feel the warm sun of the next summer and play in the falling leaves of the next autumn.", Karl replied softly, "Please, my king, if I never ask for anything, but for this."

"I will make sure of it. I promise.", Sapnap said and leaned his forehead against Karls, "They will survive and see the beauty of the world, just like I'm here to see yours."

Karl blushed and looked down on himself.

"There is no beauty of mine that is worth going on about", he whispered and Sapnap shook his head. "Have you ever met your own gaze? Your eyes are like an entirely new world of oceans and pieces of free land. Fierce and unrivalled. Your voice is unmatched in melody and your lips are the softest rosé the world has ever seen. You are like a painting of a brilliant artist and if someone were to tell me which god created you, I would pray to them every night for showing me such true magnificents and purity of heart and soul"

"You're a poet, my king", Karl said to him and Sapnap gave a tired smile. "For you, I will be everything.", he replied, "And if it takes a poet for you to see your own beauty, then I will be just that" "I- thank you, my king"

"May I steal a kiss?" "Under the eyes of the gods? Outside of the safe haven of marriage?", Karl asked and Sapnap nodded.

"Yes, but only if you wish for me to do so."

Karl looked down at his lips, slowly leaned further forward. "Yes, I wish for you to do it"

Sapnap closed the gap between their lips, for a gentle kiss.

His heart jumped and then he slowly broke the kiss. "Thank you for bestowing such graciousness on me", he said and Karl smiled just a bit. Reached for his cheek with warm fingertips, water droplets meeting his cold skin. "My king", he whispered, before pressing another gentle kiss to his lips.

Sapnap leaned in further, pulled Karl naked body almost sinfully close as his tongue touched Karls for the first time.

If this was what sinning felt like, Sapnap would never want to be a pure soul again.

Karl breathed heavily as they parted, every bit of movement exhausting him quickly.

Sapnap gently made him lean back and rest, washing his body with soft, careful hands, before turning back around.

"Dry yourself off", he said and after a moment he heard wet feet hitting the stone floor, then heard gentle steps and then felt a hand on his shoulder. "I don't wish to hide my body from you, my mighty king", he whispered, "You treated it with such gentleness before and I- I trust you to lay your eyes upon me."

Slowly Sapnap turned around and pulled Karl closer around his waist. He didn't look down on him, just met his eyes and watched his pupils dilate as his hand touched skin.

"You're gorgeous", he said and took the towel, drying him off. "Thank you, my king"

After dressing Karl, they left into the dining hall and Karl teared up at the sight of the perfectly set table. Sapnap guided him to the table and sat down next to him, instead of the head of the table.

Servants quickly exchanged looks, before rushing to reset the table, bringing plates and silverware to the kings new seat.

But Sapnap didn't even notice, just had eyes for Karl, reassuring him that he could take whatever he pleased and that he deserves this. "I promise, whatever you want, is yours.", he said and Karl took his hand and bowed his head. "Thank you, my king"

"After this I will take you to my chambers so you can rest, my darling", Sapnap said softly and Karl visibly blushed at the gently whispered nickname.

Two hours of conversation and dining later, Sapnap offered Karl his arm and guided him through the halls, into his royal bed chambers. He pulled the curtains close and told Karl to take some rest, while he would make sure the children would be fed as soon as possible. "You want me to lay in your bed, my king?", Karl asked, "Are you sure?"

"Darling, I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't sure. You may find some peace and quiet now", he said and gently pushed a few loose strands of hair out of Karls face.

Karl leaned closer, stole a short kiss, before he let go and went to lay down under the covers.

Sapnap touched his lips and smiled as he heart jumped. He left the room, quietly closed the door, before he told his servants to bring all the leftover food into the kingdom for the children. He told them to bring them fruits and vegetables, that would last them for a day and a night, before they would find out how much they needed to feed every family tomorrow morning.

The servants rushed to the kitchen, packed up everything and told the horses caretakers to get the carriages ready for a big transport.

The king watched as the preparation were done, saw them off and then returned to his chambers.

Quietly he walked to the bed, saw Karl looking over, still awake despite his obvious exhaustion. "I feel so lonely in a bed this big", he whispered, "Join me, my king"

Sapnap took off his heavy royal uniform, was left in linen and cotton, as he went to lay beside Karl. "You may call me something else.", he said softly. "Do you prefer your majesty?" "No, something affectionate, if you please", Sapnap whispered and Karl looked at him with a gentle smile.

"May I call you my love?" "Love? I love it when you call me love", Sapnap replied quietly, with an involuntary smile, before he gently pulled Karl against his chest, "Now rest, my darling"

Karl relaxed in his grasp and within seconds he was fast asleep. Sapnap joined soon after and fell asleep as well.

On the next morning they woke up and gently Karl kissed him, while Sapnap pulled him closer and eventually hid his face in the nape of Karls neck.

He groaned, pleased, as Karl gently massaged his head. "That feels so nice", he hummed and kissed the soft skin of Karls neck. "You're so adorable", he whispered and Sapnap smiled, blushed a soft red.

For the first time since his loss, he felt like the loneliness subsided. Like he deserved good things. He looked up at Karl and smiled, before he kissed his cheek.

"You're my saving grace, my darling", he whispered and sighed when Karl gently touched his cheeks, pulling him in closer for a soft kiss on the lips.

"You treat me with kindness, like I deserve it.", Sapnap said quietly as they parted and felt Karl press another kiss to his forehead, before he whispered: "You do, my love."