"Absolutely not."

Zelpher didn’t even slow his pace as he said it. They were still within the inner parts of the palace. Atheline followed behind him listening to his rant.

Zelpher was clearly not impressed with being assigned the work of a babysitter.

"You won’t step outside like that."

Atheline increased his pace, catching up to him. He glanced at him sideways.

"Like what?"

Zelpher stopped, fully turning. For a man who spoke too little his stare did more than enough.

"Like a beacon," he said, then added more quietly," or do you think they wouldn’t notice. You’ll stop the whole court if you wander around like that, flashing your looks to everyone. "

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze drifted past the advisor, towards the distant opening where the city noise occasionally reached the halls.

"I was under the impression, " he said lightly, " they already recognise me."

"They do."

"Then what’s the problem. "

"The problem, " he replied, " is you are yet to be king, which means in their eyes you are replaceable."

His voice was calm and measured but there was a hidden edge within.

"The fact that you are a high elf doesn’t make things better. You might get surrounded or even worse, a walking target for assassins, " he said calmly, stating the hard facts.

Atheline smiled, a small almost invisible smile.

"So I have a lot of work cut out for me, huh," he said, his tone shifting to resignation.

"Yes, your highness," he calmly said," this court is not kind to the unfamiliar. "

This made him pause.

"It seems the agreement still needs some time to fully take effect, " he said, understanding, " it’s not like it’s any different back home."

Zelpher didn’t respond but continued forward, Atheline hurried to catch up to him.

Silence stretched between them, then he spoke.

"So, a disguise."

"Yes."

"You already prepared one."

"I assumed you had enough sense to accept it."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"You don’t think very highly of me, do you?"

"Quite the opposite, your highness," he said, glancing at him briefly a smile on his lips," if I could say, you’re a blessing to this palace."

’Especially to me, I don’t have to deal with her majesty’s tempers anymore’

Atheline chuckled.

"I’ll take that as a compliment then."

Zelpher led him through a narrower passage this time, away from the inner parts of the palace into the quiet less adorned parts of the palace.

The door opened to reveal a simple small room. Atheline stepped in first followed by Zelpher.

"Sit."

He didn’t argue. As he took the seat, Zelpher moved with practised efficiency laying out the items needed one by one. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

A dark cloth first.

He noticed his gaze.

"To cover your ears," Zelpher said," most won’t question it if you keep the hood low."

"Most?"

"There are those who will always be curious."

Next, a thin tunic band that spilled aether.

"Wear this. "

He picked it up, turning it between his fingers.

"What does it do?"

"Dulls your presence."

That got a small huff out of amusement out of him.

"I didn’t realise my existence was so overwhelming. "

Zelpher didn’t react.

"It is, your highness. "

With the answer hanging in the air, he slipped on the band. Testing the feeling of it on his hand. That was when he noticed it, he just felt... less.

Like he was there but he wasn’t.

"Your eyes," Zelpher said.

He blinked.

"What about them?"

"Too bright."

A small vial was placed in his hand. Atheline looked at the dark liquid then glanced back at him.

"Am I supposed to drink this?"

"Yes," they answered seriously, " it will darken the iris temporarily."

He drank it without further complaints. When he looked up again, Zelpher studied him carefully.

"Acceptable, " he said.

Atheline chuckled glancing towards the windows where he was reflected. His eyes had changed from purple to dark.

He stood up, pulling the cloak over his shoulder. When he had finished adjusting the hood, there was a small amount of aether then his skin turned the dark grey of the dark elves.

"Ooh, I didn’t know it could do that," Atheline said, " you should have told me about its functions."

Atheline had never really needed to hide his identity so this was a first for him.

"Let’s go," he said.

The door was closed behind them, Atheline walking beside him as they left.

"So tell me," he said as they moved towards the exit", how long have you been with Her majesty?"

Atheline glanced briefly at him, curious to know the answer. Lilith seemed to trust him more.

"You want to know how I ended up employed under her, your highness" he said the obvious.

"Yes," Atheline conceded," I’ve been quite curious. "

Zelpher slowed his steps just a fraction before picking up.

"Where should I start... I was nothing but an outer court elf, born in the furthest of farming villages at the coastal borders. I came to the court after my family got killed in one of the demon raids for moon crystals."

He was quiet for a moment. Atheline didn’t speak, just walked beside him silently.

"When I got here, I didn’t manage to really enter the Court due to the crown wars. Her majesty had finally managed to kill the former king, her brother, and a hunt had been organised to gauge her qualifications. "

"Hadn’t she already won, why would she still need that?"

Zelpher shrugged.

"In my opinion, your highness, it’s probably the best way to quell any sort of complaint since she was servant born and most considered that low blood despite having the king’s blood running through her."

He ran a hand through his hair in what seemed like frustration.

"It’s absurd and stupid but the good thing is, she turned around and killed everyone who had expressed their doubts. Both nobles and commoners. That was what earned her name."

"Commoners? Aren’t there too many?"

"During the hunting trials, everyone in the court is required to be present since it is for choosing their future leader. "

Atheline nodded.

"That makes sense."

"Back to the topic, " Zelpher said," I might have gotten lost in the forest since I wasn’t familiar with the terrain at that moment. She saved me before I could become beast food."

Atheline tilted his head slightly in thought.

"How did you even end up in their hunting grounds?"

"I was disoriented and hungry. "

The answer was simpler than he had thought. As they stepped out into the open, the noise hit fully.

"You wanted to see the real city," Zelpher said," this is it. Come on."