Alibaba joined Kou Empire because Kouen promised him that he could rule over Balbadd. Despite unwilling at first, he enjoyed it when he started to get to know the others. The servants were really nice to him—except some people with position in the palace. He enjoyed it, although Alibaba tried not to show it too much, or else Aladdin will view him as a coward who just seek the safest place.
…not that he wasn't like that, Alibaba is quite an opportunist, although his bravery and naivety won most of the time.
Kouha is nice, although he might be a little bit weird, he's really friendly and he knew how to make Alibaba enjoyed his time. Koumei might be a little rude, but he's smart and Alibaba couldn't argue of whatever he said to him. It was hard to accept, but Alibaba only could make a stupid comeback and being ridiculed more.
Hakuei and Kougyoku are the exception, they are really nice—REALLY NICE with big letters. Alibaba found Hakuei's maturity as something comforting and having his best friend Kougyoku beside him made everything better.
Kou Empire wasn't that bad experience for Alibaba, except Kouen's existence. Nothing about him actually screaming kindness—the first time he laughed at him when Koumei and Kouen found out Alibaba didn't have any experience with woman, it made a really bad impression for him. Even Koumei actually apologized he touched that sensitive manner! And yet, the old goat seems like he didn't really have any guilt for doing that.
Alibaba dislikes Kouen, although he didn't have any reason to say it out loud aside from personal grudge.
"Koumei-san! Can you imagine, this time Kouen told me to work with him three days straight without rest because I have to learn about how he did his work—and you too. He was angry when I didn't have time to read about the history of Kou Empire in depth, but it was him who took all my time!" And not mentioning all the sexual harassment he received. Although not physical, Kouen always said something along the lines of 'no wonder no girls want to be with you' every time Alibaba showed his embarrassing side.
Koumei sighed, the complaint was always the same that he actually grew tired of it. The only thing made him interested enough in the story was Alibaba's face. Koumei wasn't going to lie that he's actually enjoying Alibaba's expression and he understood well why Kouen kept teasing him. He wanted to do it too, but the image of Kouen not wanting people messing his property made him shivers.
Kouen might be his brother, but Koumei knew that they weren't that close. Koumei is one of the general, so the relationship with Kouen is mostly professional. He didn't realize it at first when Kouen insisted Alibaba to join him—Alibaba didn't hold much value in Koumei's eyes. If Alibaba refuse, then they didn't lose anything. In terms of power, all of them are strong enough to beat Alibaba one on one—even himself. Work force? Koumei was sure he did the best and having Alibaba can only reduce his workload, but Koumei rarely complained about it.
It was not long until he realized Alibaba is rather adorable than annoying. His naivety would make other people wanted to protect him—or crush him, probably Kouen wanted the latter.
This is the only time Koumei could feel superior compared to Kouen, because everytime Alibaba needed someone to rant about the old goat, then he will come to Koumei. He didn't have anything else, especially the look. No matter how much Alibaba tried to say that he'd rather shave Kouen's goatee than slitting his throat when he had the chance, Kouen still look good—although not much to Koumei's type. He prefer to sleep with Alibaba because he could imagine how cute Alibaba being dominated on the bed.
He really doubt Alibaba to be a king, he's more like a servant of a country. He couldn't rule and easily influenced, people had to lead him. Even Koumei understood this much, Kouen must had been knew this from the first they he laid his eyes on Alibaba.
"It's seems you're pretty close with Alibaba recently." Kouen commented on Koumei when they were together—without Alibaba. Last time Alibaba threw a tantrum and Kougyoku had to come to comfort him, Kouen felt a little bit lonely, but his work can't be abandoned.
A surprise expression appeared on Koumei, although he tried to hide it with his fan.
"Not really, he just kept complaining with his workload. Nothing much, we're not that close." Koumei stated the truth, because they rarely talk aside from the complaint. For light hearted and fun conversation, Alibaba always went to Kouha or Kougyoku. Koumei didn't understand why when it came to complaining, Alibaba ran to him. He was annoyed when he remember this, but he enjoyed those little things rather than not having any interaction with Alibaba.
Kouen raised one of his eyebrow and then continue to work.
Koumei glanced a little bit to Kouen—thinking if he was always like this with Alibaba. If he were Kouen, probably he will kept worrying about Alibaba who is a newcomer and might need a lot of help adapting himself into a secretary-like work. He would care about Alibaba, a lot, and only share a handful of work because Alibaba is still adjusting. He would—
It made him more irritated because he couldn't do anything to change himself as 'complaint dumpster' for Alibaba into something higher. He didn't aim for lover, but it would be enough if Alibaba talked about something about himself.
Koumei shook his head lightly, he should focused to his work and not Alibaba, although now he wonder what is Alibaba up to.
"Are you sick?" Kouen showed a little bit of concern, but it was because Koumei kept spacing out and Kouen could see that Koumei wasn't even reading the scroll. Koumei, realizing he was not doing anything, shook his head and went back to work.
"No, thank you for the concern. Pretty sure Alibaba did his work well, right? Although I doubt that he could, with his complaining and the workload you put on him." Koumei planned to stop after the 'concern', but suddenly he brought up Alibaba's name in the conversation. He sensed a confusion from Kouen, but it's better if Kouen didn't reply to it at all.
"Did he really think I gave him too much? He was doing really well…aside from trying to ruin the scroll by drooling on it…" Kouen responsed, this time he actually averted his attention from the scroll he was reading.
Koumei scoffed, he knew the story. That time, Alibaba was nearly crying because he fell asleep and his droll nearly touched the scroll and Kouen was mad when he saw Alibaba slacking off, and then Alibaba blamed everything to Kouen that didn't gave him enough time to rest. Koumei didn't even need to listen to Kouen's story, he knew all of it.
"He's doing well, maybe you should increase his workload." Koumei smiled, it would help him a lot too because his workload decreased significantly, he had more time to rest. Probably, Alibaba would realize that it's better to spend time with himself ranting about Kouen rather than playing with Kouha and Kougyoku. Sometimes Koumei helped him
Kouen thought it was his laziness that made him suggest something like that, but he felt that Koumei said that with another reason, but he couldn't figure out why for now.