(Xerxes's POV)

I'm so bored. This is pointless. The Prince of Pandora, Xerxes Break, though irritably.
He refocused on the lecture about morality that the Head of Maids, Mariam Futapie, was giving him, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. The woman was annoying him to no end. He was ruler of Pandora. He could do however he pleased.
"Yes, yes, now if you're quite finished." Xerxes interrupted, having had enough. He waved Mariam away. "If you will excuse me, I have other things to do." Without waiting for her to respond, he turned and left in a huff.
A sudden, wayward thought came to mind. A girl with golden hair, blue eyes, and a brilliant smile. Arte...
It had been seven years. Seven years since his friend's death. Seven years since he'd seen her. Seven years since he'd laughed with her, joked with her. He had never smiled like he did when he was with her. Not since her death. Only she could have drawn that smile out of him, but she was gone. Dead. Far beyond his reach. She should have found happiness and peace, but no. She, who had deserved it more than anyone else, was gone.
He was left all alone.
Xerxes recalled his parents' funeral, four months ago. They had both died on the same day of a strange disease. A strange bacteria. The illness had, fortunately, been eradicated, but not fast enough. Not fast enough to save his parents. He'd cried during their funeral, and had truly, truly been sad. But somewhere deep inside him was anger. Resentment toward his parents. He could never forget how they had taken Arte away from him. He had never forgiven them for that, no matter how much he loved them.
Arte...
What would she be like, right now, if she'd lived?
She'd be twelve years old, to start with. Her hair might be longer, because she'd always loved it long. She would quite possibly have tied it back, because, had she lived, she would have been a healer at the palace, just like her mother. Her eyes might have gotten larger, her face and body more developed. A wave of sadness washed over him. She should have lived. She'd deserved it.
"Your Highness." Xerxes turned to see a frightened looking maid with light brown hair and brown eyes. She had prostrated herself in a shaky curtsy, but her form was slouchy and improper. He sneered. How dare this pathetic commoner show such disrespect? "First of all, Miss Maid, your curtsy is disgustingly deformed. Please right yourself before I have you flogged for your insolence. After all," he smiled politely at the girl's terrified look, "It is fully within my power."
The maid shuddered. "P-please forgive me, My Prince." she stuttered, and tried to properly curtsy, but she still could not do it right. Xerxes narrowed his eyes. "Your posture is still incorrect. Are you mocking me, you brazen slave?"
The girl was shaking so hard at this point that she was practically having seizure. "N-no, Your Highness.. I simply...I just - "
"And now you stand in front of me and dare to lie to me. I have had enough of your impudence." Drawing himself up, Xerxes looked at the maid full in the eye. Her face paled until she was almost as white as paper, her eyes widening with horror. "I sentence you to de- "
"Your Highness."
Xerxes turned, annoyed at the interruption. The maid didn't react - she was still trembling like a leaf.
Mariam stood behind him, curtsying in the correct way. She would do well to teach that audacious girl how to show proper respect. Xerxes thought. Out loud he said in an exasperated voice, "What do you want, Mariam?"
"Celia only came to inform you that the man captured yesterday for stealing is ready to be put on trial by your Highness."
"Huh? A prisoner? When did this happen? Why was I not told?" Xerxes demanded.
Mariam shifted. "You were informed, My Prince."
Was I? Hmm...I don't remember. Xerxes thought. Oh well. "And this concerns me because?"
"My Prince, you must judge the man."
"What? Me? Why me? Let one of the ministers do all that." said Xerxes. He didn't want to waste time with all those boring courts and trials and judgement. It was too complicated and tedious for him. Leave it to his advisers and court.
The Head of Maids sighed. "Please, Your Highness, you must. It is your duty as the ruler of Pandora."
Xerxes pouted. "Fine."

A few minutes later

"So...if I understand correctly." Xerxes said, staring down at the kneeling figure of the man. He was obviously poor, with his filthy, threadbare clothes and his scrawny frame. "You tried to steal a loaf of bread from the bakery to feed yourself and your family, is that it?"
The man nodded nervously. "Y...Yes, that is so, My Prince."
The entire court stared up at Xerxes, awaiting his ruling. Tapping his scepter against his chin, Xerxes smiled. The room seemed to freeze. "Well, as I see it, mister, you have committed a crime. That is not to be tolerated. Stealing is forbidden. This is the kingdom my father left me, and I cannot allow it to be soiled by people like you. Therefore," he paused, letting the tension hang in the air. "I sentence you to death. Your punishment shall commence at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon." The man's face was blank. It always seemed to take some time for a death sentence to sink in. Xerxes smirked indulgently. "I wish you a pleasant last few hours of life. Guards, escort the criminal away."
The guards bowed their heads and dragged the man, now blubbering and pleading, out the door of the throne room. Xerxes stood up in irritation. He'd had enough of these dreary matters. "Adjourned."
Everyone in the court bowed down as Xerxes left the throne and walked past them, heading for the doors.