Although it was a beautiful day outside with sunlight streaming into his quarters, the crown prince paced the floor as the storm of his conflicted feelings rages on. Leaning against a wall not far from the door, a young man shakes his head in slight amusement before approaching the prince. "You're gonna leave a rut in the floor if you keep pacing." The young man said with a slight hint of teasing, causing the prince to turn his attention to his companion. "I'm just nervous, Markus. That's all." Xerxes stated, causing Markus to smirk a bit. "Well, it was your idea to take matters into your own hands, Your Highness. And besides, that girl is the ocarinist who you tend to listen to whenever you snuck out." Xerxes quickly shushed his companion as he look around to make sure they're the only one around. "That's because I don't approve of having my life lived out for me." The prince said with a whisper, only for Markus to continue. "But you're in love with her. So, there's no need to be nervous."

~~~KH~~~

"She didn't want to feel like she's living a prisoner's life. And I just wanted to make her happy. Besides, I'm not sure if she feels the same for me– she doesn't even know she was having that discussion with the prince." Xerxes stated. Markus laugh, "I'm sure she's gonna like you a lot. I mean, the two of you have so much in common that it's almost as if you're both destined for each other." "Do you really think so?" Xerxes asked his companion. "Oh, I know so. Besides, how long have we been friends, Xerxes?" Markus said, earning a smile from the prince. "Long enough to know that you'll never steer me wrong." The two men laugh, "All right, then. If you say so." The prince said before opening the door, "Let's get going." And with that, they left for the Grand Hall.


Upon arrival, Xerxes sat down in his father's throne before nodding to his mother beside him to send General Haman to retrieve the crown princess. Queen Vashti noticed that there's something on her son's mind and was about to ask him when an unfamiliar voice rang up, bringing her back to the present– and to the man standing in the throne room. "Hello, Your Majesty." The man said with a curt bow, "Who are you?" Xerxes asked the man. "I am Bigthan– Your royal chef, Your Highness." The man replied, causing Queen Vashti to narrow her eyes a bit. "What are you doing here? I don't recall summoning–" She began to question before Bigthan cuts in, "Forgive the intrusion. But according to customs, the union between the newlyweds is celebrated with a cake, is it not?" and with that, he pushed in a cart with the most beautiful cake. Xerxes blush when Bigthan thinks that he and Esther are 'newlyweds' when they hadn't formerly meet yet.

~~~KH~~~

"Oh, my… what a lovely cake! Did you made that?" Vashti asked as Bigthan noticed, from the corner of his eye, that his brother Teresh is struggling to keep a carbuncle from going for the cake. "Yes, Your Majesty." He replied, "Oh, you shouldn't have! It looks delicious. Why don't you serve everyone with a piece?" The queen stated. Bigthan looked around nervously, "Well, you know… I was thinking that everyone could come serve themselves– starting with the Royal Family." Xerxes narrow his eyes when Bigthan made this suggestion. "Now, why in the world would we need to come over to–" The former began to ask before being cut off by the latter, "Oh, Your Highness. It's the light." Bigthan explained. "The light in this particular spot is just perfect. You see, the cake is like a work of art– you can only appreciate the full beauty of this masterpiece in the proper lighting. And it would taste better when you cut a piece yourself."

~~~KH~~~

"Oh, is that so?" Queen Vashti asked, "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt…" Xerxes looked at his mother in shock as she began to stand up. "Mother, are you sure about this? Something just doesn't seem right about it." He said just as she left her throne and walk toward the cake, just as General Haman enters the throne room with Esther. "Who is this, Your Majesty?" the former asked, prompting Bigthan to grow nervous. "I am the royal chef." Bigthan replied. General Haman narrows his eyes, "I've never seen you here before…" "Oh! That's because… I'm new." Bigthan replied as Mordecai noticed something, "Psst!" he quietly called out to Esther, prompting her to approach him. "Esther… You might want to look at that carbuncle over there." Mordecai whispered before she noticed the carbuncle squirming in the arms of another Azurian. She knows it would only squirm like that if it detects an herb-like plant that they love, but it's highly poisonous to Azurians. So why would the Azurian holding the carbuncle like that, unless… "Did you tell him what can happen to those who appear before the Royal Family without being summoned?" The General asked the queen, "Well, no. we were too busy admiring that cake. Doesn't it look delicious?" Queen Vashti answered as Bigthan offered her a knife to cut the cake.


Esther let out a gasp in realization of why the Azurian is holding the carbuncle, "No! Stop! The cake's poisoned!" Not only the court was surprised, but the Azurian holding the carbuncle, as well– so surprised that the carbuncle slipped free from his grasp and darted straight for the cake. Xerxes' eyes widened as murmurs arose in the Grand Hall when the carbuncle happily chew away at the cake, confirming Esther's accusation. Bigthan glared at his brother before both of them realize how bad it look and made an attempt to leave, "Guards!" Queen Vashti shouted before the brothers were stopped by Mordecai. General Haman took a better look at the two Azurians, "Aren't you the Shiku brothers? The most wanted criminals in Laputa?" he asked.

~~~KH~~~

"That's right we are!" Bigthan admitted defiantly, "And even though we were successful in assassinating the king by poisoning his food, we could have put an end to the Royal Family and taken over the kingdom if it weren't for that meddling princess!" Teresh added as Esther and Xerxes share a glance with one another. Esther felt her breath getting caught in her throat as she recognize the crown prince as the young man with whom she was talking to before being chosen as the crown prince's bride, "You saved our lives…" The Queen said, bring Esther back from her train of thought. "Actually, Your Majesty, it was Lieutenant Mordecai who saved your lives. He sensed something was wrong and alerted me." Esther explained, "If anyone deserves your thanks, it would be Lieutenant Mordecai."

~~~KH~~~

The whole court was quiet for a few seconds before Haman spoke up, "My queen, what should the punishment be for these two dangerous terrorists? The most wanted criminals in Laputa who not only appear before you without being summoned and tried to assassinate you and your son, but also admit to the role they played in King Cyrus' death?" Queen Vashti thought about it before looking at the two brothers. "Although it grieves me, the punishment should be death by drowning." Despite the brothers' attempts to plead for their lives, their fates are already sealed. There are two things you shouldn't do in Laputa. One of them is attempting assassination to the Royal Family, especially when you already killed a member and then admit to it. The other is appearing before them without being summoned or granted an audience with them. The Shiku brothers learned this lesson the hard way.