Chapter Text
Mydeimos Kremnos was dead.
The nation of Castrum Kremnos lost its only heir as well as their queen.
It was poison, some claimed. Other say they died in battle against their foes. None could be sure.
All that was certain was that the only living royalty the nation had was King Eurypon, and in truth, he was a King, but not a ruler. The future of Kremnos was uncertain, but none questioned the authority of their king who believed he would be able to remain in power for eternity.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Life in Aedes Elysiae was rather peaceful for the most part. It was a small but fierce kingdom with many alliances that made other nations fear it, thus allowing the common folk to lead harmonious lives and the royal family to keep good relations with their allied neighbors in exchange for their surplus yields of crops and livestock.
Mydei travelled to Aedes Elysiae over a decade ago. The journey from Kremnos was difficult and ardous, with only his mother keeping him company while his own somatophylakes and even his teacher Krateros covered their tracks so King Eurypon would never find them again. To this day, he wasn't sure if the others managed to succeed in their mission or currently led decent lives. He could only hope as much and thank them from the bottom of his heart for allowing him and his mother so many years of tranquility and safety from his tyrannical father.
They first arrived in Aedes Elysiae low on coin, unable to afford food or new clothing. They wore the attire of servants in order to make their escape and barely took anything with them—and certainly not items that were worth much. Even selling whatever could earn them a couple of coins didn't amount to a whole lot, only enough to make sure they didn't entirely starve.
That all changed one day, when Mydei met a very handsome boy the same age as him. His silver hair wafted slightly in the meadowy breeze and his eyes were bright like how the sunlight shines across the ocean and as brilliant as stars decorating a night sky. He wore a cape around himself, the sort wealthy travelers wore. It looked rather fancy, made of dark blue velvet and beneath he wore a simple white tunic, trousers, and long boots.
"Who are you?" the boy asked, tilting his head in an adorable manner. "I haven't seen you around here before."
Mydei didn't think much of it. He was on his way to buy some bread for his mother and himself, so he didn't appreciate getting interrupted. The blonde didn't bother with a response, only moving aside to continue on his path. This action shocked the silver haired boy, leaving him utterly dumbfounded like he had never been ignored in his life.
"Hey! Stop! I asked you a question!"
"Mind your own business HKS." Mydei replied, he continued to walk on regardless of the boy's words telling him not to.
"You're quite rude, you know! If you want people to mind their own business, i'm afraid Aedes Elysiae is not the place for you. Anyway, what does HKS mean?"
Mydei sort of understood what the boy was referring to. The people in Aedes Elysiae were rather loose lipped. Gossip flowed across the streets like a river, everyone was always up in each other's buisness. It wasn't the place to keep to yourself at all. Regardless, that didn't mean Mydei wouldn't try anyway.
"It refers to a hyena. Cowardly, or like a scoundrel. I'm calling you a scoundrel."
At those words, the silver haired boy paused in his steps, his face turning bright red as he was left on the street gaping.
"Y-you! I've never once met someone with as much audacity as you!"
Mydei gave a small, mean smirk at that. "Well, now you have."
The boy was at a loss, unsure of what to do or what to say. He hated losing very much and now he felt like a complete loser against a boy who wore a chitoniskos that only covered half his torso and whos hair was caked in mud.
"Hmph, like the words of some half-naked showoff means a damn thing."
Mydei's golden eyes widened at that, clearly not expecting his choice of fashion to be implicated.
"First you ask someone for their name without introducing yours and now your picking at my clothing. There's nothing wrong with it anyhow, mother said it makes me look handsome and it's comfortable. What's odd is you wearing such heavy articles of fabric towards the end of spring-time!"
The silver haired boy listened, genuinely listened to the other boy's words, realizing he was the one who went out of line here. He had been rude himself, just expecting people to follow his line of conversation without even introducing himself and blamed the other's clothing in a fit of rage. The boy's eyes turned watery and he let out a single sniffle, a choking lump forming in his throat and a pout weaving over his lips. Certainly, his elder sister would be incredibly upset at him if she were to have seen such a display. After letting out another sniffle, he wiped his eyes before any tears could fall and dashed forward, holding his hand out in a greeting.
"I'm sorry, my name is Phainon Khaslana. Would you honor me with yours?"
This time, the blonde looked at him properly while fishing out a coin from his pocket as he stood next in line for the baker. Slowly but surely, he smilled beautifully and grabbed Phainon's hand.
"I'm Mydeimos Kre—erm, Mydeimos Gorgo."
"It's a beautiful name."
Mydei blushed at the compliment, refusing to look at the boy in front of him while muttering out a soft "thanks." In the next second, his stomach began to rumble furiously, deepening the hue of his cheeks and making him want to run away as fast as possible. Before he could do just that, Phainon giggled sweetly, grabbing his arm and walked over to the baker where the latter purchased enough bread for Mydei and his mother to fill themselves for a few days.
"What are you doing? I can pay for it!"
Phainon waved him off, "we started off on bad terms, think of it as me making up with you. So, do you think we can become friends?"
Friends?
Mydei never had a friend before, not once in his life. He had royal parents and servants and vassals, somatophylakes but never friends. Once, he foolishly mistook those people around him as his friends but was quickly corrected that their relationship would never be as much so long as he held royal blood within himself.
He couldn't help his sparkling, hopeful eyes at the offer.
"Yes." he said immediately.
It was so wonderful to finally have a friend.
"I'm very happy I met you today then, Mydeimos!" Phainon exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around Mydei and pulled him into a tight hug. "I will definitely visit you again soon, and I must tell my sister that I made friends with the most pretty boy in Aedes Elysiae!"
With those words spoken, Phainon pulled away and waved the other goodbye before pulling his hood down and sprinting away.
Pretty…
That was never a word Mydei would use to describe himself, but for some reason it made his heart flutter.
Phainon Khaslana was the most odd person Mydei had ever met.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
A decade later.
The streets darkened as night fell. Once the final customer of the Gorgo Bakery left, Mydei closed up shop and lit an oil lamp to begin counting his earnings for the day. Unfortunately, counting and dealing with mathematics wasn't his strong suit. He could only do his best to count coins and remember the correct amounts that would be needed to keep the shop running and how much were profits, marking them down on a piece of parchment lest he forget and must recount over again.
Before, his mother would take care of this part when they opened the bakery six years ago, but she passed away the year before the last so there was no one else to perform the duty. Mydei considered hiring help before, but baking and piling up tasks was good to take his mind off things like grief and loneliness. Part of him didn't want the help at all.
It wasn't always this way. There were good times, better times. Gorgo was alive and she smiled after a hard days work. She laughed in joy while teaching Mydei how to bake bread and how to garnish baklava. He messed things up time and again, getting the heat of the clay fourno incorrect and his mother hugged him when his failures made him want to cry.
There were times when Phainon would visit multiple times a week if he could, always hidden and always in a hurry but making sure to spend as much time with Mydei as possible. The two played games and explored Aedes Elysiae in detail (Phainon loved being a tour guide and showed him the best spots where they could watch the entire city, the tastiest snacks, and the most gorgeous sceneries nature had to offer). A few years later, Phainon eventually explained that he was actually the crown prince of Aedes Elysiae and would one day become King. Mydei wasn't very surprised by then, seeing his lavish clothing and his demeanor. Phainon was clearly a person of high-society and either had to be someone of noble birth or a royal. It didn't take long to connect the dots considering Phainon had given his full name when they first met, cementing his suspicions.
The silver haired boy was enthused seeing that it didn't color Mydei's impression of him, (why would it, when he was a prince himself one day many, many years ago?) and increased their trust in one another. The two were completely inseparable, even when the Prince's elder sister, Princess Cyrene would come out to play with them once in a while, she'd poke fun at the two for making her feel like a third wheel.
By the time their feelings grew into something more than simple friends, with their meet-ups becoming a loss less simple games to play and more of the two hiding in between dense trees in the thicket as they shared passionate kisses, sweet words, and heated touches, Phainon's visits became less frequent and very rare. What used to be something for Mydei to anticipate multiple times a week turned into something that occurred once a week, then biweekly, and then every month.
He loved Phainon so much. More than anyone, Mydei knew the weight of the crown and what it does to people. He understood very well that the entirety of Aedes Elysiae would mean more than the heart of one man from Castrum Kremnos. The thoughts didn't stop Mydei from hugging his chimera plushie closer to his bosom, the one Phainon immediately commissioned by the finest toymakers in the land the second he heard the blonde was fond of the creatures; and sleep with an ache in his heart. Sometimes he feared, he feared power and crowns shaped people into something resembling his father. The thought horrified him, but just thinking of an effortless smile from Phainon as he enthusiastically told him about an ancient relic he discovered while browsing the markets or the slight tint of blush adorning his cheeks while making love to Mydei between the sheets cleared those thoughts from his mind. His Phainon was better than that, different. He would not end up the same.
Once Mydei finished counting the last of the month's expenses, cleared the fourno, prepared the ingredients to be left overnight, and swept the wooden floors, he arched his back to hear a relieving crack sound and gently squeezed his sore muscles from carrying heavy stacks of flour and from crouching while counting individual coins.
Just as he was about to make his way upstairs to his bedroom for rest, the wooden door creaked open and shut tightly behind.
"Apologies, we are closed for the day." Mydei said in a stern but clear voice.
"Hmm closed? Even for your dear prince? Surely, you'd make an exception for me Mydeimos?"
Mydei blushed, he didn't need to turn to see the owner of that voice. A breath of relief escaped his lips when he felt large hands wrap around his waist and pull him flush against the man's firm chest.
"I've missed you." Phainon said in a gentle whisper, his hot breath fanning over Mydei's ear, causing him to tremble.
The blonde finally tilted his head, angling it to take a look at his lover before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"Me too."
No more words were exchanged. The prince lifted the baker into his arms in a princess-carry, kissing deeply as they were moved to the bedroom upstairs.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Phainon kicked the bedroom door open with ease, wasting little time before setting Mydei down on the firm mattress and towering over him. Soon, the blonde's leg is lifted and the prince sets a quick peck across his clothed inner thighs that tingle with sensitivity. After having his fill, Phainon tugged the fabric off the other man's body, discarding it carelessly on the floor and revealing long and powerful legs. This time, when Phainon repeated his previous action of kissing the same patches of skin, he could hear Mydei's breath become far shakier. In that manner, the kisses trailed up from the ankles to the thighs, the navel and abdomen to a bountiful chest Phainon also squeezed with his entire palm making Mydei's breath hitch. Eventually, the kisses became less innocent and searing, hungrier.
"Ph-Phainon…" Mydei moaned, tilting his head up to give the prince more access to his neck. Phainon lavished the area with open-mouthed kisses and love bites. The blonde was very sensitive at his neck, fighting between small fits of chortles and wrapping his arms tighter around the other's neck.
"Yes, my love?" Phainon asked, pulling away slightly. His lips were red like the sweetest cherries—decadent and wet from the exchange of saliva. Mydei swallowed harshly.
"Don't tease me."
"I would never," the silver haired prince pressed a light kiss over Mydei's knuckles. The latter didn't miss the slight mischief in his eyes. "just say the word and it's yours."
Mydei didn't want to beg, it was far too embarrassing. He may not have lived as a prince for the past ten years, but the lessons drilled into him from childhood didn't leave him easily. He wanted to save face, needed to save face. What would those around him think otherwise, those that have risked their lives to protect a man they regarded so highly who would then beg another man for his cock?
Phainon was not a patient man, and he was also a rather spoiled prince. If he wanted Mydei to beg, he would make him beg.
"I'm not fond of being kept waiting." the silver haired man pouted childishly, pressing his cheek against Mydei's tattooed one and nuzzled.
"No…" Mydei whispered, he still pressed further into the warmth of Phainon's cheek.
"No? It saddens me that you'd want the night to end so quickly, but alas we can still hug each other to sleep. That's pretty good as well."
With a deep sigh, Phainon removed himself from the bed and attempted to pick up the clothes he abandoned on the ground and prepare himself for a night's sleep. Mydei knew the other too well, he wasn't pretending. If he didn't speak up, Phainon really would just give up on having sex and choose to sleep comfortably instead.
What a scoundrel!
In a panic, Mydei sat up quickly and grabbed Phainon by the wrist shakily. He didn't care how he looked with his hair messed and his face the color of a ripe tomato.
"Don't…don't sleep yet, please Phainon."
Phainon hummed, smirking, knowing the bait he casted in the water had given him a generous reward. He hated losing and he had won.
The prince grabbed Mydei's chin, tilting it upwards so they looked into each other eyes, serene sapphire against molten gold.
"Tell me, what it is you want and you shall have it."
"Please, Phainon…I want to feel your cock inside me."
Mydei chose his words carefully and explicitly. He remembered the last time he begged, telling Phainon instead 'I want to feel you inside me'. Thinking it worked, Phainon gave him a grin and began to finger him, making the blonde cum on his fingers several times, only to be told he had simply said he wanted to feel Phainon inside him, so surely his fingers would count for that?
Truly a sick bastard.
Thoroughly satisfied with the answer, Phainon smashed their lips into a brutal kiss, biting and licking his way into Mydei's mouth and intertwining their tongues together like a slow dance. He felt every inch of his mouth, his teeth, the roof, the cheeks, everywhere his tongue could reach it touched and it caressed in a torrent of violent emotions that wanted to bind them together so they would never part, to melt their bones and weave their flesh until they were one. Mydei's eyes nearly rolled back, dizzy with pleasure and letting out needy noises.
After what seemed like hours, Phainon pulled away and stroked his lover's cheek fondly.
"There, that's a good boy."
If he noticed Mydei's cock twitch and spurt more precum, he didn't say anything.
Slowly, Mydei was pushed onto the bed. He was still breathing heavily, gaining as much oxygen as possible after such a heavy kiss but the opportunity was short lived. Phainon poured an ample amount of oil on his fingers and thrusted them into Mydei's puckered hole. He first began with one finger, allowing the blonde to adjust while he searched for the spot that made Mydei see stars. It wasn't difficult to find with the uncountable times they were entangled.
Mydei's breathy moans were like music. Soon, the prince added a second finger and began to scissor him open. The baker was still too tight and his own cock too large. He pressed in a third finger, opening him wider and ignoring the thrashing and screams from the man beneath him. Phainon chuckled, he hadn't even put his length inside yet and he was still able to draw out such a cute reaction.
Finally satisfied, Phainon pulled his fingers out and watched in awe as the hole gaped, confused at the lack of fingers filling it up inside. It wouldn't be empty for long however. Phainon lined the tip of his girthy cock to Mydei's hole, and thrusted inside ensuring he bottomed out in one go. Mydei moaned, biting his cheek to quiet himself. His gold eyes were glazed with desire, his body sweaty and blushing from the tips of his ears to his chest. He looked so undone, so lewd with barely anything done to him yet. It was captivating. Phainon grabbed Mydei's legs and placed them upon his shoulders. With the access, he pulled his cock halfway out before slamming in yet again. Creating a heavy and brutal rhythm, he continued like this, pistoning in and out. The prince leaned down, kissing Mydei again and urging him to moan louder and louder, uncaring of their neighbors and of being heard.
"Mydei louder, please. I want to hear you, so don't muffle your sweet sounds."
The blonde let out a whine, "Ngh, what if someone can—ah—what if someone hears?"
Giving a fond smile, Phainon argued patiently, "there's only the two of us in this wood and mudbrick building, the other houses are a good distance away. I refuse to have your beautiful moans muffled without a reason."
Once the prince set his mind to something, it was nearly impossible to convince him otherwise. Furthermore, it was easy for him to persuade others to his side than the reverse, making him a beast in the realm of politics and a master of diplomacy. With the issue cleared, a symphony rang throughout the room in the most beautiful of songs Phainon has ever heard. He leaned down and licked a stripe over the other's nipple before mouthing over it hungrily and taking as much of Mydei's breast into his mouth as he could. Then, he finally let his teeth graze its divine meal and tugged harshly, his other hand copying the actions so the other side did not feel neglected. Mydei's feet were crossed around Phainon's neck, hanging on for dear life as he groaned at the feeling.
"Ah- ah Phainon, harder, please!"
"As you wish." Phainon's rhythm quickened, becoming harsher and more erratic. Mydei could swear he felt the length reach his throat, but he couldn't think about anything. His lips only meant to speak his lover's name over and over again between moans while his hips rolled to meet each and every thrust. Phainon switched to sucking on the other nipple, giving a loud 'pop' sound and tugging the one he freshly sucked on.
"Nnn Phainon, I, I'm going to…"
"Go ahead, come for me Mydeimos."
Pushed over the edge untouched, Mydei let out a filthy moan as hot, white ropes of cum splashed over his abdomen and on Phainon. It spilled for a while and a moment later, he felt Phainon's own seed filling him, warmth flooding the inside.
Once they shared a round, they panted into each others ears, holding their position for a few moments.
"Wow you really spilled quite a bit." Phainon mused, spreading the cum over Mydei's torso further.
"Shut up HKS."
"Haha, you like it when I talk~ you know, your body is a lot more honest than your mout-"
Phainon dodged a pillow hurled in his direction, laughing heartily.
"Let me clean you up, okay?"
Phainon was a caring partner. Despite the hungry and brutal sex (which he came to realize early on Mydei liked by far), he enjoyed the after care just as much. It was one of the times the prince was able to lavish and care for another rather than being spoiled and pampered himself. He pressed small kisses to the blonde's bruises and used a clean wet towel to scrub him over. Once the task was complete, he dove into bed. The mattress wasn't very large, enough to really fit one person comfortably so two grown men was a tight squeeze but neither cared. They faced one another, Phainon's arm wrapped around Mydei's waist while the latter's leg draped over the other man. They were a tangle of limbs even as they slept. It was the most comfortable position they could possibly be in and the best sleep they could have, filled of beautiful, welcoming dreams.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The next morning, Mydei woke up to find the other side of the bed opposite to him empty. It was always like this. Phainon was a prince, and he couldn't be caught having intimacy with a common baker. It was unbefitting his status, but Mydei hated it anyway. He didn't want to be a secret, didn't want to be rushed, and desperately wanted to open his eyes in the morning to find Phainon staring back at him with a gentle smile on his lips.
Mydei knew he was asking for too much. At least, he had the heart of the man he loved most, shouldn't that be enough for him?
After getting ready for the day and wearing more layers despite the summer heat to account for all the marks left on his body from the night before, Mydei opened up shop. Lines of customers chattered amongst themselves as they purchased fresh bread and baked items while Mydei pulled out new batches and from the clay fourno and offered them.
It was a regular day at the bakery, but for some reason, the chatter was a lot more lively than usual, especially considering it was so early in the morning.
"Did you hear?" a middle aged man asked cheerfully to a man he likely barely knew.
"The news, yes?" the response came fast. The first man wasn't surprised that the other already knew. Word traveled fast around Aedes Elysiae, unless you're Mydei, that is.
"Yes! To think our crown prince is finally getting engaged, the king and queen must be so ecstatic."
…
Mydei dropped the hot tray in his hands, uncaring how they burned at his feet when it felt like his heart dropped to his stomach. He couldn't hear anything and suddenly he couldn't see either. It was like being trapped in a room without light and without sound, unable to feel.
There was only one crown prince in all of Aedes Elysiae, and that was Phainon.
Phainon was betrothed to another, someone that wasn't Mydeimos Gorgo.
"I'm sure they are!" the man laughed, "but do we know the person who has earned his hand in marriage? Could it be princess Castorice of Aidonia, or Lady Aglaea of Okhema?"
The middle aged man rolled his eyes, "of course not! Our relations with Aidonia and Okhema are both well, don't you think our kingdom would try to branch out and create new alliances given the chance?" the man he spoke to looked confused. "what do you mean to say then? Who is the prince meant to marry?"
the man's eyes lit up again, "Apparently, he is to marry Mydeimos Kremnos—crown prince of Castrum Kremnos!"
Mydeimos Kremnos.
The name rang in Mydei's ears over and over again. That didn't make any sense.
Mydeimos Kremnos was dead for ten years now. His body unfound with none except his mother and most trusted confidants knowing the truth behind his disappearance.
If Mydeimos Kremnos was 'dead', then who was Phainon of Aedes Elysiae about to wed?