A/N: Sorry for the slow update. I've been working weekends. First Sunday I'm free, I wrote for you guys! *uhh stop with the self-acknowledgement, you*

Anyways, I'm sorry if Alibaba feels OOC several times. I'm trying to portray that there are two sides to him: the underdeveloped teenage boy, and the King. Please let me know if it doesn't come across. I love talking about how to improve the story!

Chapter 2: A Proposal at Sword's Point

"That damn king," Markkio fumed.

"Huh," Ithnan regarded his comrade…no, his colleague. "The first-class singularity?"

"Him, too," the odd-eyed banker remarked. An inane conversation their kind normally didn't indulge in. "But no, I'm talking about the brat of Balbadd."

"Oh…" Ithnan cocked his head as his mind went through the images the rukh had shared amongst them. He didn't have a lasting impression of the so-called brat, other than he was young. "…Isn't he…wet behind the ears?"

Markkio twitched. "The nerve of him, to have ordered merchants to stop accepting Fuan, exchanged all the Fuan existing in Balbadd's market with gold coins and refused any proposals from the bankers!"

Ah. Now Ithnan remembered. "That well-loved slum-born King."

"Yes," the confirmation to the statement was hissed. "He's hindering our plans to destroy Balbadd from within."

"Hmm," Ithnan rubbed his chin. A smirk slowly spread on his face.

"Shall I lend you a hand, then?"

"Your Majesty, the Deputy King!"

Sahbmad Saluja nearly jumped out his skin. He blinked at the harried secretary who called him. "Yes?"

"I can't find King Alibaba," the bespectacled brunet ran his fingers all over his hair, pulling them in his stress. "I need to confirm the agenda or tomorrow morning's assembly with him-"

"Calm down," the timid royalty tried to calm his brother's assistant before he gave himself a stomach ulcer. "Why don't you give the document to me? I'll find him," he said gently.

The secretary seemed even more stressed. "I can't possibly-"

"Adnan," Sahbmad interrupted him. He was one of the few people the former prince was comfortable enough to order around. "I think you should go home and rest."

The bespectacled man slumped. "…yes."

As the secretary slogged his way out of the corridor like the weight of his head was too terrible to carry upright, Sahbmad made for his closet, his mind running through a list of possibilities. There were a few places Alibaba always went to whenever he felt like he needed a temporary escape. He would check them out first.

Indeed, Sahbmad didn't need to search hard. Clothed in plain cottons with several guards flanking him, the long-haired royalty found his amber-eyed monarch squeezed within an inch of his life in the muscular arms of a hostess with two ponytails, small eyes and a long, crooked nose. Margaret, Sahbmad believed her name was.

"O-oh, B-brother Sahbmad," Alibaba was trembling as he tried to crawl out of the woman's embrace (if it could be called that), rouge smeared all over his face and neck, his disguise of a commoner's wear torn around the collar. "Y-you're coming to get me, aren't you?" The teenager sounded so grateful.

Sahbmad sighed and slapped the most amiable expression he could muster to this stranger…this scary-looking hostess. "I'm so sorry to have interrupted your time together."

Margaret replied him with a blank expression, all seven feet of muscles looming over him.

For a moment, Sahbmad feared for his life. He could sense the soldiers behind him crouching, their hands on the hilts of their hidden sword.

But his worry came to pass when the woman handed his blonde brother to him like a limp ragdoll.

"Come back again!" she sent them off cheerfully with a wave of her handkerchief.

"O-oh, my back…" Alibaba moaned as he hobbled alongside the Deputy King, leaning his weight on his older brother as the thinner man looped an arm around his waist. The stench of alcohol was thick in his breath. "You're a life-saver…"

Sahbmad didn't understand.

They walked back to the Palace in silence until the timid man could deposit his precious cargo to his luxurious four-poster bed.

"This is heaven," Alibaba nuzzled the cool of his silk pillowcase. "A-ah, why do I have such terrible luck with women…"

The Deputy King couldn't contain his question anymore. "Then why?"

The blonde King raised his head. "Huh?" he blinked blearily at his half-sibling.

Sahbmad plopped himself at the side of the boy he'd been ruling the kingdom with for over two years. The boy he'd come to admire and treasure, having shared many doubts and dreams together. "Why do you insist on going through the trouble of sneaking outside, then? There are plenty of fine female courtiers in the Palace."

Alibaba simply stared at him, his head hanging upside down, golden locks tousled against the dark maroon of his bed sheets. The maroon of Balbadd. He was so quiet Sahbmad thought he'd fallen asleep with his eyes open (he did that during morning assembly, sometimes), but upon closer inspection, those amber eyes were lucid.

"Brother Sahbmad, do you remember your first woman?" he sounded completely sober.

The non-sequitur pulled the rug from under the Deputy King's feet. "Huh!?" He scooted away from the blonde, flustered. "O-of c-course I-"

Sahbmad paused. He didn't know how to continue. Would he seem overly emotional if he said yes? Would it be too obvious a lie if he said no?

Would Alibaba pity him if he said he'd never had a good experience with a woman? That it was awkward at best and felt forced the handful of times he ever bedded one?

Alibaba rolled to his front and pushed himself upright, unbothered by the silence. "Nobody looked at me when I was a bastard Prince of Balbadd," he began in a low voice, "those lovely daughters of generals and nobilities, with seductive painted eyes and jewels on their cleavages? They used to keep their distance from me."

The young King of Balbadd, crowned at the cusp of adulthood, shrugged. "Then all of a sudden I became a ruler, and there was never a shortage of smiles and warm bodies. Don't you find it strange?"

Sahbmad looked up, and watched his brooding half-brother. His partner.

"I thought she was an unambitious, simple girl…" [1] The slum-born got up and strolled to the veranda, his gaze was faraway. Far as the moon in the sky. The monarch shook his head and sardonic smile graced his lips. "Only when I dress like a commoner, the truth stands out so starkly."

"Alibaba…" Sahbmad felt helpless. Even though he understood what Alibaba went through, he didn't know how to make him feel better.

The Deputy King tried his best, however. "Come to bed," he placed a hand on Alibaba's shoulder, hoping the gesture convey his will to support the monarch. "Tomorrow will be a long day."

Alibaba let himself be tucked under the covers. "Goodnight, Brother Sahbmad," he mumbled.

Sahbmad could only smile at the adorable sight. "Good night, Alibaba."

And tomorrow was a long day, indeed.

"Raising taxes is the only way to go! The state of our treasury is pathetic! And with Kou becoming such a looming threat, we have to increase our nearly nonexistent defense expenditure!"

Alibaba sighed, another migraine developing behind his eyes. They were nearing noon, but nothing was resolved. The assembly would end with no progress made from yesterday. "With all due respect, Lord Mohan," oh, how Alibaba had wanted to cut the man off before he could finish his sentence. But he couldn't be rude to his nobility. "We have raised consumption taxes last year; any more will bring the citizens to the streets. Meddling with taxes for trade owners would just hamper business activities. We should be thinking of other ways to raise funds."

The official snarled. "Like what!?"

As Alibaba was going to suggest some ideas like promising fixed future returns for citizens who were willing to lend money to the government [2], a guard ran into the throne room, his face pale like he'd seen a ghost.

"U-uh," he looked around, only then realizing that he was interrupting something.

"What is it!?" the Finance Minister barked. "How dare you disrupt the morning assembly, you-"

"I-I'm so s-sorry!" The uniformed man kowtowed.

Alibaba raked his head for the name of the guard. He'd seen him around… When he couldn't come up with anything, he simply said, "It's okay. Please let us know what you're here for."

The guard nodded gingerly and inhaled deeply.

"Fleets of Kou warships are seen at the horizon," the sentence was rushed out in a single breath.

There was one beat of stillness after the announcement, widened eyes in frozen expressions like everyone could not believe the news, until hell broke loose.

"W-we're finished!"

"I told you, I told you to strengthen our navy!" A panicked accusation.

"G-got to go home! T-tell my wife! Got to run-"

Sahbmad curled his fingers around his brother's arm. "A-alibaba," he fretted. "What should we-" he spoke quickly, like he was hyperventilating.

Alibaba was snapped out of whatever thoughts he was lost in. He rose to his feet and tapped his staff against the floor. "Everyone!" he addressed his people in a booming voice. "Please calm down!"

The blonde King directed his gaze to his General. "Barkak, to mobilise."

Everyone gasped.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the tall, imposing man dropped to his knees and replied.

Alibaba nodded, "Our priority is to maintain order in the city. Some troops will standby at the port, but there will be no offensive moves on our part, do you hear me? Meanwhile, I will contact King Sinbad."

Immediately, relief entered everyone's expression. "We'll be fine," hope overflowed the hushed reassurances the courtiers told each other.

Alibaba twitched.

Just as the blonde monarch returned to the throne and the military leader walked out of the hall, a huge eagle flew inside the room through one of the windows, majestic wings spread wide and casting shadows on the faces below. The predator was heading straight for Alibaba.

"You-" One of the guards thrust a long spear at it, but the eagle dodged, cawing as it bared its sharp talons at his attacker.

"Wait!" Alibaba saw a cloth bearing the Kou Empire's seal attached to its ankle. "It's a messenger!"

Three men tried to hold the angry bird down as another guard tried to wrestle a letter out of the compartment tied to its back. With arms full of scratches, they unrolled the scroll.

"Well?" Sahbmad twisted his hands nervously. "What does it say?"

"I-it…" the guard looked stunned, "P-prince Ren Kouen requested an audience with Your Majesty."

"Prince K-kouen!?"

"He's the Crown Prince, isn't he?"

"Hasn't he, like, defeated three dungeons?"

Whispers took over the assembly hall, once again.

Sahbmad bit his lip and peered at his King. "A-alibaba."

A dark look passed over the blonde's face as he clenched his fists. "Very well," his gaze was hard when he held his head up. "Let's prepare to receive our important guests."

"The eagle has returned, Your Highness."

Koumei took one look at the bird, and sighed. "It took so long, and it's returned this ruffled."

In response to its master's dissatisfaction, the eagle pecked the hand of the attendant, as though retorting, 'I'll have you know it was a terrible ordeal!'

His elder brother hummed noncommittally. "No doubt one of your pigeons would have done a better job."

"They're not as scary, however," Koumei waved his fan and complained, "Balbadd is ridiculously hot. What does it say?"

Another servant read the reply shoved in the compartment. "That they'll be glad to have your presence in the Palace."

"As predicted," Koumei nodded, and dismissed his subordinates. "Leave us."

The second prince was immediately obeyed.

"Let's go, then," Kouen put down the texts of Balbadd he was reading up on and rose to his feet.

"Not in that," Koumei sighed. "You need better clothes."

Kouen raised his eyebrow and looked around the empty room, as though saying, 'Well? You've shooed the servants out.'

Koumei twitched, but headed for the older man's closet. As he was giving a golden velvet overcoat the critical eye, Koumei whined, "Why do you want to see him? We have enough canons to subjugate Balbadd completely."

Kouen looked over the window, in the direction of the trading nation's royal residences. "King Alibaba Saluja," he said, testing the name on his tongue, "he's sixteen. Only Kouha's age. Yet he leads a flourishing Kingdom. Aren't you curious?"

Koumei paused, and glanced over, sharing the scene Kouen was viewing. "If he can be used, yes. He may just be a puppet monarch."

Kouen threw his head back and laughed. "He may, he may not. The only way to know is to observe him in his court."

Koumei slumped. And threw the robes he'd selected at his sibling. "Get ready, then."

If looks could kill, the princes of Kou would have been six feet under.

Kouen was used to hostile stares. He'd taken part in subjugating other countries for over a decade, after all. Decked in five layers of silk and fine clothes, he walked down the aisle leading to the steps to the throne with wide strides, like he owned the place, completely unfazed. His intimidating household was behind him, and both he and Koumei were metal vessel users. He could not be harmed even though he was at the heart of enemy soil.

"Greetings, Your Majesties, King Alibaba and Deputy King Sahbmad," Kouen clasped his hands together and bent his body forward in a respectful manner. His company followed suit. "I am Kouen. This is my younger brother, Koumei."

Balbadd's royalties…were not what Kouen had expected. The Deputy King was a timid guy who appeared like he very much wanted to disappear to the wall behind him, and the…boy King was…soft-eyed, his features rounded and gentle. He looked naïve.

Would Kouen be disappointed, after all?

Kouen did not hear any reply. The courtiers chattered noisily, grating on his nerves, until one of them raised his voice.

"Why do you not prostrate yourselves in front of our Kings?"

Another sneered. "We recognize that you are Princes from the esteemed Kou Empire, but Balbadd is ruled by our Kings. Do you not acknowledge their authority?"

Kouen dug his nails against his palm. Ah, these petty politicians. "I apologize," he spoke in an even, blank tone as he turned to his agitators, "I did not think it a custom of yours, seeing as none of you kowtow to your Kings."

The two appeared indignant. "You-"

King Alibaba laughed, the sound cutting through the tension. "You are right, in Balbadd, there is an old custom that touching the ground with one's head is a prayer for a pregnant woman to have easy delivery." The smile he presented his officials was extremely fond. "Lord Marcus and Lord Aini are well-travelled and know that this gesture has another meaning in other countries. They are just trying to look out for me."

Interesting. With a few sentences, King Alibaba had dissolved the argument while saving everyone's face.

"Have you visited Balbadd's markets, Your Excellency?" The angelic-faced monarch tilted his head. "You'll find the city quite safe, and there is no need to bring such an armada of bodyguard."

…And, Kouen's intention had been verbally slighted. What a man who could surprise. Decked in pink silk and with jewels on his head, neck and arms, Alibaba Saluja looked effeminate, but there was steel in him.

"Your Majesties," Kouen lowered himself to one knee, and smirked as he bowed his head. "I would like to request for a private audience."

Everyone reacted with alarm.

"You're asking us to entrust the lives of our Kings to you!?" This time, a military leader remarked.

"I will leave my men and weapon out of the room," Kouen promised.

Koumei and his household looked at him like he was crazy.

Kouen only had eyes for Alibaba at the moment, however. He was glad there was no fear in those amber eyes. They were assessing him, like he was assessing them.

Those full lips curled upward. "Very well," the blonde ruler assented.

"A-alibaba!" The Deputy King looked horrified.

But the blonde had rose to his feet and walked to the back of the throne room. Kouen, too, had been approached by a maid who was to lead him the way, the girl's hands and legs shaking.

Koumei and Kouen's household shared some looks before Koumei stepped up to him. "Brother," the half of his face which was visible to the world looked subtly worried.

"We'll be fine," Kouen murmured as he handed his sword to the maid, but keeping his armguard. Balbadd had never had a dungeon or involved herself in war. If he was lucky, they could have missed it.

Koumei noted Kouen's decision, and silently slipped his fan to his long sleeves.

The two Oriental brothers sat at one end of a long mahogany table, the Kings of Balbadd at the other end. Nobody spoke for a while; Koumei was leaning back, appearing totally bored while dissecting the situation with sleepy eyes. Kouen was looking over the blonde, too, until he found his eyes riveted to the short sword tucked to his waist, sunlight glinting off the vermilion ruby.

"Ah," King Alibaba realized what Kouen was looking at. "I hope you don't mind. I've never not carried this. It's a memento from my father," he took it out. "Well, indirectly. It was bestowed to King Sinbad of Sindria for their friendship. King Sinbad had been so kind to give it to me when I was grieving."

Ah, so that was the purpose of showing the sword off. To tell them that Balbadd had the Seven Seas Alliance behind them.

"Your Excellency, you are a dungeon conqueror, aren't you?" King Alibaba followed with a non-sequitur. "If you don't mind, could you please share some of your experience with me? I'm a huge fan of stories of capturing a dungeon! I've read Uncle – ah, King Sinbad's adventures repeatedly!"

Kouen was surprised. King Alibaba looked so enthusiastic it couldn't have been faked.

So he indulged the younger man, going into details with the monsters he'd encountered and less on how he'd fought and what his djinns could do. If King Alibaba noticed, he didn't say anything.

Talking to him was easy. So making friends was one of his abilities, too, huh.

After fifteen minutes, Koumei leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. "I'm tired of this," he interrupted Kouen's description of Astaroth's treasure hall. "Let's go straight to the point."

The grin on Alibaba's face disappeared, and Kouen caught a glimpse of that steel, again. The will to do anything for something the blonde had set his heart to. In a blink of an eye, the teenage boy was replaced by a King.

"Balbadd will not submit ourselves to you on a silver platter," Alibaba declared.

Koumei flicked his head to get his bangs out of his face. "You've seen our warships lined up on your shore."

"Uncle Sinbad has promised aid," as expected, the young King laid that card on the table, bringing up the close relation. "Besides," King Alibaba rested his chin on his head and taunted, "One doesn't cut the legs off a Fanalis to enslave him. You won't get your money's worth back."

So the boy knew. Balbadd's worth was as a trading post, and war would cause merchants to flock to other cities along the shore, may be even develop a new trading post. Kouen couldn't help but chuckle.

Koumei blinked at the first Prince. "Brother," his voice was sharp. They were trying to negotiate, here.

But the outcome Koumei was aiming for, the original outcome they had agreed on, was no longer Kouen's. Because an idea just formed in Kouen's mind.

"Kou Empire only lets family keep all their limbs," the General Commander of the Western Subjugation Army crossed his legs and smirked smugly. "You know what I mean, don't you?"

"I…I don't…" The blonde King was stunned. Oh, how Kouen enjoyed the sight.

"Marry into Kou Imperial family, Alibaba Saluja."

TBC

Review please!

Notes:

1. This scene is inspired by the doujinshi where Hakuyuu and Kouen talked about their first women and vol 13 omake

2. Yes, government bonds. My background is showing…