The Prince and the Thief (who stole his heart)

by Tandy Johnson

a MILESCEST story about a fairytale between a Prince (Miles) & a Thief (Gonzalo); inspired by Aladdin (2019)

MAIN CHARACTERS:

PRINCE MILES

Age: 15 - (his life expectancy is only 18~20 years)

Hobbies: Miles is forced to read a lot and draw, as he is locked up in his room most of the time

Strengths: his courage and determination

Weaknesses: his heart has a large hole due to an accident as a child and he is therefore very weak and sickly. The slightest infection can kill him. Therefore he is not allowed to go outside!

The Crown Prince lives in the Kingdom of Ahlam, which is a mix of African culture and the magic of the Thousand and One Nights. The kingdom may be rich, but the people are hungry.
However, the beautiful young crown prince has a serious heart condition and is therefore literally held prisoner in the palace.

He should be quickly married to the princess of the neighboring kingdom of Damar in order to prevent an impending war.
But Miles doesn't want to marry a girl he doesn't know and certainly doesn't love.

He plans his escape from the palace, but is prevented when the street thief Gonzalo sneaks into the palace and wants to steal the "Star of God" - a huge gemstone that resembles a diamond in the shape of a star.

At the beginning, Miles is still afraid of the intruder, but he quickly becomes fascinated by the strange boy and, after he was able to get Gonzalo out of the palace unharmed, he hopes to see him again soon because he has fallen in love at the charismatic street thief.

Little by little a romantic love story develops between them, but it has no future...

*******
GONZALO

Age: 17 - (He looks older because of his hard facial features)

Hobbies: As a thief, Gonzalo specializes in stealing and is considered the "master thief" among the kingdom's street thieves. But he also has knowledge of the healing arts, as his late mother was a doctor at the royal court. One day she disappeared and was found murdered. Since then he has lived with his uncle and learned from him how to steal through trick theft.

Strengths: He is very acrobatic and a very skilled fighter with his saber. He uses his special charisma to rob his victims.

Weaknesses: you almost want to say 'none' but it becomes the sweet prince after he comes into your life.

"I'm probably the most beautiful thief you've ever seen in your life!" is his favorite saying when he says goodbye to his robbed victims.

Gonzalo lives on the street because he was kicked out of the house he lived with his mother. He was somewhat wealthy as his mother had served as a royal physician in the palace. Accordingly, his clothes are much more elegant than those of the street thieves who now walk around in dirty rags.
In order to get back his mother's stolen medallion, which a fraudster took from him, he is supposed to steal the huge gemstone from the palace treasury, but he meets the runaway prince and has no idea how much this encounter will affect his life from then on will turn upside down.

He falls head over heels in love with the sweet prince and shows him the world outside the palace and what it means to be happy!

This story is inspired by the beautiful live-action version "Aladdin" (2018) and belongs to the SPIDER-MAN / SPIDER-VERSE universe.

This is also my first MILESCEST story that I am publishing here!

The locations:

AHLAM (Dream)

The fictional southern kingdom ruled by a popular royal couple.

They have a son: Crown Prince Miles

Ahlam is located by the sea and is constantly warm between 20 and 35 degrees during the day; 10 to 15 degrees at night

It is surrounded by forest and desert on the other side.

The residents have a golden brown to chocolate brown skin color.

Hair colors vary from brunette to black.

Eye colors often brown and green. Very rarely blue.

DAMAR (War)

The fictional kingdom is located in the north by the sea and is ruled by a warmongering king.

He has a daughter: Crown Princess Gwendolyn

Damar is surrounded by mountains and it is constantly cold between 5 and 10 degrees during the day; Subzero temperatures at night

The residents have a light complexion.

Hair colors vary between blonde, reddish blonde and brunette.

Eye colors are excessively blue or green.

AFTERLIFE

An in-between world where the dead have to wait to get to heaven.

Most of them died at the hands of others (murder, execution) and live a kind of "second life" on an island, under a very fast rising and setting sun surrounded by snow-white sands.

Characters:

Miles Morales as Prince Miles | Miles Gonzalo Davis - Morales as Gonzalo | Gwen Stacy as Princess Gwendolyn

Pairing: Miles x Gonzalo

Genre: Romance, Boys Love, Fantasy, Drama

CN: death, grief, depression, violence

FSK: +18 (There is a very intense sex scene)

support songs: "Breath" - Fleurie | "Fear in Me" - Louis Mattrs | "Running from the Night" - Gaits

THE PRINCE AND THE THIEF ( WHO STOLE HIS HEART)

A desert hawk flew high above the clouds. His majestic flight took him to a kingdom around which a huge city had arisen. The magnificent palace with its huge domes and meter-high thick walls could be seen from afar. He looked as if he had come straight out of fairy tale books known from the stories from the Thousand and One Nights. The sun slowly sank into the sea, which was sailed by large trading ships that brought the goods to the palace. The falcon gave a cry. He looked down.

There was life on the winding streets with the square sandstone houses. People shopped at the stalls in the bazaar squares. Children ran between the stalls. Women hid their eyes behind large fans and laughed quietly. But then things got hectic when 3 palace guards, who were ensuring security on the streets, ran past the stalls "STOP THE THIEF!" one of the men shouted. A hooded figure ran through the streets with acrobatic leaps. He turned around laughing "Catch me!" and dropped his smoke bombs. Coughing, the guards waved the smoke aside. "Stand there!" they croaked. The young thief with the purple cloak jumped with a somersault onto a ledge. "So where are you lame ducks?" and stayed sitting there. The guards threatened him: "Wait a minute if we get our hands on you!" "I can wait a long time!" He ran across the rooftops and turned around again. "See you!" and was gone. The guards panted from running as their armor was very heavy "You damn dirty thief!" "We'll catch you next time!" They waved and left the place. The boy with the cloth-like mask that partially covered his face threw a stolen crisp apple into the air. Caught it and took a hearty bite to temporarily satisfy his hunger. He stood up and pulled down his hood. Two braided pigtails blew in the light evening wind. His gaze went to the palace.

If he hadn't been separated from the mainland by a harbor bay, his view would have reached as far as the palace. There, accompanied by his guards who ran in front of and behind him, the Crown Prince walked across the top of the corridors. He paused for a moment and looked at the city, which seemed so small down there. His future kingdom, which he would one day rule without knowing it. Because the young crown prince was never allowed to leave the palace. They looked at each other, but their eyes didn't reach each other. They were too far apart.

Sighing, the very handsome and delicate-looking prince ran along with the guards. He lowered his head. They brought the royal heir to his chamber. After the doors were closed behind him, the door was locked behind him. It was dark in his large room. Only the last rays of the setting sun that he could see from his small balcony briefly illuminated the room.

The prince sat down on his bed and turned on the oil lamp so that he could continue reading his book. Music could be heard from far away because the people couldn't sleep due to the humid nights and preferred to celebrate small festivals in the streets. The young thief also sat by the fire and counted his loot. A man sat down next to him, patting him on the shoulder. "Did you get some big booty, Gonzalo?" The boy smiled "I can barely wear the jewelry!" he grinned. The man also laughed. "You're a real master thief now, nephew!" "Thanks to you, uncle, I can survive" The boy named Gonzalo looked at the golden domes of the palace "The ships are piling up. Tomorrow is the crown prince's birthday and there will be a huge party with food and drinks galore while the common people starving. Do you think the king has any idea how his people are doing?" The uncle shook his head. "The king doesn't care about us and that won't change when the crown prince comes to power." "Has anyone ever seen him?" Gonzalo asked the group, but was only met with a shake of the head. An older man across from him answered, "They say he's locked up in the palace and never goes outside. He's terminally ill and any small infection can kill him." "How do you know?" "I once served in the palace and before the population was suddenly excluded, I was able to escape because the old staff suddenly mysteriously disappeared" Gonzalo lowered his eyes to the ground "Like my mother!" He threw a small stone onto the sandy ground "Her body was washed up 3 days after she disappeared!" He stood up "And His Royal Majesty the King is throwing a lavish party for our Revered Crown Prince!" he hissed contemptuously "While we're STARVING DOWN HERE!" "To hell with the king and his family!" an older woman shouted into the night. She had recently had to bury her young child because she could no longer buy him milk.

In the magnificent palace, the king paced restlessly up and down like a tiger in a cage. "How are we supposed to prevent this? The people are already paying too high taxes! I can't arrange an increase to pay for war equipment!" the king rejected his advisor's suggestion. "There must be another way!" "Your Majesty! The Kingdom of Damar is threatening Ahlam with war! We must arm ourselves!" The king spun around angrily "I said NO!" He held his head "We have to find another way!" The advisor's head glowed until, in a careful whisper, he had a new idea "The King of Damar has a marriageable daughter and Your Majesty, have a son! The young Crown Prince will be 15 years old tomorrow and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Gwendolyn is only a year older , as His Royal Highness!" "What?" "If His Highness and the Crown Princess enter into a marital union, the Kingdom of Damar will no longer have any reason to attack and conquer the Kingdom of Ahlam! There will then be an oral contract. And if the Crown Prince also manages to produce a royal heir, then -" "Out of the question! Miles is far too young!" sighed the king, because the new suggestion made him think. "On the other hand..." "You're really thinking about marrying Miles?" The queen entered the room "He's still a child!" "But marriageable! And he should secure the bloodline while it's still possible!" "With a rotten fruit from an enemy country?" The Queen's wise words made the King doubt "I wish there was another option too!" He sighed deeply. "But I would rather sacrifice my son than spend the people's taxes on war equipment and accept the possible loss of Ahlam!" The queen bowed her head. She knew that this was the better way. But that didn't make it harder for her.

Tired, staring into the fire and listening to the stories of the people present, the image Gonzalo had of the Crown Prince began to crumble. "So he hasn't been seen since he was 11?" Since he couldn't take another story, he leaned on his uncle's shoulder. "I'm going to sleep," he yawned and patted him on the shoulder again. "Good night." His uncle smiled, "Sleep well!" The boy raised his hand again, but without looking back. He ran to a house that was already half dilapidated. Then he threw his device upwards on his belt. She hooked herself into the wood between the beams and he pulled hard. Beams of various lengths jutted out next to the wall. He walked over them as they functioned like stairs. A wealthy family had once lived in the shack he lived in. But this fairytale town had a big problem: a fraudulent city council that sold houses and put people on the streets. Gonzalo's hideout was located very high up. If he entered the dilapidated upper floor, he could see the palace.

The prince tossed and turned restlessly in his sleep. He had nightmares that always left him sitting in bed, covered in sweat, screaming. Knowing that his parents were worried about his health and the impending war, his own fear took over. He threw aside the thin silk blanket and walked barefoot to his balcony, breathing heavily. He pushed aside the gauzy curtains and stepped onto the marbled floor. The coolness of the ground was short-lived, as that night was once again sweltering. It was difficult for him to breathe, but he took a deep breath. He looked down at the city, whose lights he saw flickering.

Gonzalo looked somewhat surprised at the distant figure on the balcony. He got up from his seat and ran up the stairs to a half-demolished balcony until he couldn't get any further. This was where the destruction was greatest and if he wasn't careful he would fall down. For the first time he saw movement up there in the palace. "Is that the prince?" he asked himself. He turned around. Jumped down the steps over half the railing and searched in his chaos for the telescope that he had taken from a rich visitor. He found it under some blankets after searching everywhere and ran back upstairs.

The prince looked melancholy at the moon and the few stars that could be seen through the silver light. Then his gaze went to the sea and the harbor where the merchant ships were docked. He sighed, "With such a magnificent ship I could see the world..."

Once back at the top of his home, Gonzalo pointed the small telescope, which must have come from a ship, at the palace. He looked for the balcony and saw a person turn around and disappear back into the interior. "Shit!" he cursed and sighed, "This was the chance to see him!"

Tired and exhausted, Miles crawled back into bed. He closed his eyes and after crying himself to sleep, he slept peacefully until morning.

Gonzalo also had a quite luxurious bed, but in contrast to the prince, who lay pressed tightly against his pillow, he slept a blissful sleep with his arms spread out and halfway out of bed. He had to fend for himself since his mother died. Despite having an uncle, he preferred to live alone. This meant he could continue his training better and not be a burden to his uncle, who could barely feed himself.

Around noon there was a knock on the large white, arched door with gold decorations. "Good morning, Your Royal Highness!" shouted the servant with a silver tablet in his hand. On it was a small pill bottle and a cup of clear cold water from the courtyard fountain "It's time to wake up and take your medicine!" The servant unlocked the door and entered. Miles pressed the pillow over his ears. This routine was wearing him down. He felt like he was trapped in a time loop as every process repeated itself every day. He hadn't seen any meaning in his life for a long time and wished it was over.

The agony of surviving each day took a toll on his will to live. "And happy birthday, your highness!" The servant placed the tablet on the table. "Your Highness?" "What?" hissed Miles "I want to sleep!" "But your royal highness, your birthday-" "I'm not interested!" The servant bowed and left the room. 2 guards were now standing in front of the door to prevent anyone other than servants and his parents from gaining access. The Queen entered "Miles?" she asked into the room "Good morning darling" She only heard a contemptuous laugh. She sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked his beautiful son's cheek. "Time to get up, my birthday boy." She tried to ease the depressive mood. "Your guests are slowly arriving." "What's the point?! I don't know any of them and I don't want to! " "Oh, now don't be so grumpy. Come on, little man!" She kissed his cheek and cuddled him "15 years" she sighed "My little boy is slowly becoming a man" "Mommy!" he protested, then settled into the minutes the two of them were just mother and son before royal duties caught up with them again.

pWhile the prince was examined by his personal physician, the king prepared for the special news. The queen put her hand on his shoulder, equally concerned. "He won't agree!" "He must!" The king sighed, knowing that he would make his son, who was already disinterested in life, even more unhappy. "Sometimes it would be better if he..." He didn't dare say anything further. The queen nodded silently and looked towards the harbor where another ship was docked.

Tired, Gonzalo stretched and ran up to the last accessible point. He secretly hoped to be able to take another look at the prince, but the golden domes of the palace were so blinding that he had to put his hand in front of his face to see anything. He saw the white sails of the great ships of the majesties of the neighboring countries and kingdoms with which the royal couple had formed an alliance to protect each other.

But a kingdom wasn't on the list. The empire that had threatened Ahlam for years: Damar! A large empire that lay in the north and was ruled by a good king, but there were tensions and misunderstandings between these empires that kept igniting unnoticed. The king sat at the breakfast table with a bit of a stomach ache. The queen took a sip of fresh orange juice as the young prince entered the hall. The king looked at his son. The prince was dressed in a delicate cream-colored linen top that was bare midriff. Wore a white, gold-trimmed wrap shawl with small coin-sized bells around his hips and wore matching cream-colored linen pants that ended at his ankles. He also wore flat black shoes. Small hoop earrings glittered on his ears and he wore his royal bracelet, which his mother had given him on his 11th birthday, and the signet ring of the King of Ahlam. The king nodded to him. The prince did the same. Father and son had no close bond with each other. Which didn't mean that the king didn't love his son! It broke his heart inside to know what was coming for the young heir. The King left the table, flagging down one of his guards. "As soon as he has finished breakfast, bring the Crown Prince to me." "Very well, Your Majesty," the servant bowed. Since the prince didn't have much of an appetite, only a few dates dipped in honey and a cup of orange juice were enough for him. He pushed the chair back. The queen sighed "Aren't you hungry again?" "I don't want to eat anything yet. I just took my medicine. If I eat a lot now, I'll get a stomach ache again." "Okay. Your father wants to talk to you!"

As if on cue, the guard accompanied the prince to the king's study. He knocked "Your Majesty? The Crown Prince is here as ordered!" "Thanks! Miles, come in!" cried the king, rising from his chair and releasing the large rolled-up card so that it formed itself into a roll again. "Let me look at you, my son!" The door closed "15 years! It's hard to believe how quickly time flies. It seems like only yesterday that I held you in my arms after you were born. And today I have a young man in front of me " Miles smiled slightly as his father gently nudged him. "Actually, from today on I should send you to the Royal Guard Regiment for military training..." "Which is impossible with my illness," the prince whispered. He looked at the illustrations of the maps "I've been tied to this palace since that day" "Miles!" the king interjected harshly "It doesn't matter whether you receive military training to defend yourself or whether you just learn how to rule a country! You are the heir to this bloodline and the crown prince of this country! Your royal duties lie in learning of military strategy and diplomacy! And that brings us to the topic" The king clenched his fist and banged on the table "Damar is threatening us with war! They will attack us soon! If we do nothing, Ahlam will perish and fall into the hands of Damar fall!"

The queen was let in and Miles now suspected that the conversation had something to do with him "Then we have to be ready and try to negotiate with Damar-" "Miles..." said the queen "Damar doesn't want to negotiate! They give us another ultimatum. Then they will attack us!" "You know what that means!" "We must form an alliance with Damar!" "Correct!" nodded the king, proud that his son had already mastered this strategic thinking. The queen looked at her husband. "We are ready for that, but it will cost us the most valuable thing we have." Her eyes became heavy as she looked at her son. "What do you mean, mother?"

Miles already suspected it, but he still had hope that he was wrong. "You, darling!" The king bowed his head. "If we enter into an alliance with Damar, then only if we create a connection! You and Crown Princess Gwendolyn, you will get married!" "What?" "Your engagement will be announced tonight!" "Woah! Wait! Wait Wait Wait! Engagement?" Miles gestured a clear NO by crossing his hands and then pulling them apart, "I'm only 15 years old!" "Gwendolyn is a year older than you," explained the king. He saw the desperation in his son's eyes "No way!" Miles turned around and quickly left the room! Since they had already expected this reaction, they nodded silently to each other. The queen had a very strong bond with her son. She was let in by the two guards.

Miles lay on his bed, his back turned to her. The queen sat down at his bed "Darling..." She put her hand on his shoulder "It's all so unfair. I gave life to a beautiful little boy 15 years ago. A child whose laugh shone so brightly like the sun in the sky. Until the day you suddenly collapsed and we found out that you had a hole in your heart. You were suddenly so quiet and then we had to lock you in your room, cut off from everything at your age, playing, running around the garden and catching butterflies, riding a horse and collecting shells on the beach. The duties of a royal heir are overwhelming "To be a princess. They think that you have a carefree life and do nothing but dance at balls and play in the garden all day long. They don't know what we sacrifice for them." Miles turned around "Do I really have to marry this princess?" "As you know, I'm also from another kingdom." Now Miles sat up. "You were also married off?" "Yes," the queen nodded. "But I was very lucky to have met your father. And we had a wonderful son." She kissed his cheek, which he only commented on in annoyance.

Gonzalo hid with his stolen breakfast in a back yard of the bazaar, which was already being diligently worked by cloth dyers. He threw the dates out of the small leather bag into the air and caught them in his mouth. He heard a horn coming from the harbor. He skillfully climbed the walls and sat on the roof of the abandoned house. He could see big white sails. The magnificent ship from a far away kingdom was just docking. "Our crown prince is really having a blast," Gonzalo murmured to himself. Tossed the last date out of the bag into his mouth "I bet he gets really fresh dates covered in honey and an almond inside" He smacked his lips because the date was pretty tough and then stood up. His steps led him to the harbor. He was able to spot a Royal Highness.

A young prince, very adorned with jewelry. The kingdom he came from was very rich and their crown prince loved to represent that. Gonzalo whistled. "I would get a sack of bread for the necklace alone!" He lowered his head "Or I could finally redeem Mother's necklace..." Clutching his chest and not being able to touch the medallion made him sad and angry at the same time. He had sold them to a pawnbroker so he could support himself. When he wanted to redeem it again, the fraudster demanded three times the price. Too much for the 17 year old street thief. Laughing, the man made a suggestion: "You bring me the 'Star of God' and I'll give you your stupid necklace!" Gonzalo growled with a clenched fist until it hurt. "Sure, I'll break into the palace and steal a huge gem!" Then he tilted his head. "Actually, that's the solution!"

Miles furtively entered his father's room again. The king almost jumped out of the chair "Miles" "Can I talk to you, father?" "Of course, come in!" The prince sat down on the small sofa. He sighed "Mom explained everything to me and..." Once again and much louder and deeper he sighed "I agree to the marriage" "No you don't!" Miles looked up. He saw his father leave the seat and sit next to him. He took his hands. "But a king does what he thinks is best for his people. Even if he sacrifices himself for it by having to agree to an arranged marriage!" "Yes..." The king put his arm around his son. Miles leaned against him and closed his eyes. "Dad..." "You'll become a good king one day! You're already thinking about your future people and sacrificing yourself for them!" He kissed the prince's forehead. "But today you are the brightest star in this palace. Your guests have arrived and are gathering in the great hall. Go change so you can greet them!" "What about Princess Gwendolyn?" "No news has arrived from Damar yet." At the same moment the king's falcon returned.

The beautiful desert hawk sat screeching on its perch. He had a piece of paper in the device on his leg. Miles jumped up, got the glove that protected him from the claws "Hello Akhbar. Welcome back" The falcon chattered softly and let himself be petted because he knew Miles "Your feathers are still nice and soft" The prince took out the rolled up piece of paper and brought it him his father. The king unrolled the piece of parchment paper and let it fly over it, muttering quietly. Miles looked at him "So? What does it say?!" "She has already agreed to the marriage! She will arrive tonight!" The prince snorted. He had hoped for a different answer. "So I'm being forced into marriage..." Gently, like his mother always did, his father stroked his cheek. "Maybe you like her. I fell in love with you pretty quickly too Mother in love and the result of this union is before me." He held him by the shoulders. "It'll be fine! I've heard that she's very beautiful." Miles' eyes trembled, but he decided to be quiet.

From his hiding place above the bazaar, Gonzalo watched the people. He was looking for a victim to steal from. The dates wouldn't last long with the movement he got from his raids. This small group he had just spotted didn't seem to be from around here. But he was far from the only street thief in the city and discovered two female thieves who were already hot on his heels. Perhaps the small group that looked around the bazaar with such interest came on one of the ships or were foreign traders who wanted to check out the competition. The young woman, the young man and the older gentleman were just distracted by one of the thieves. While one pretended to be a friendly guide, the other rummaged through the bags. Then they turned around and ran away, first very slowly, then faster and faster. Gonzalo jumped in their way. "May I ask?" He held out his hand. Annoyed because it wasn't the first time he had gotten in their way, they huffed, "You're annoying, Gonzalo!" "Bring it on!" he now demanded and the two pickpockets handed him the stolen jewelry and the decorated goblet. "Satisfied?" they bitched at him and walked away. The boy shook his head "Tz! Amateurs!" He ran to the small group "Excuse me!" Feeling addressed by his striking, very charming voice, the young girl turned around and blushed. She had rarely seen such a beautiful young man like him. Gonzalo mastered the art of using his charisma perfectly, "You were deceived and robbed by 2 thieves!" In a panic, the woman looked for the cup and jewelry that she was keeping for her highness who was invited to the palace. "Oh my God!" "Don't despair!" Gonzalo smiled and held out the valuables to the woman. Because she had opened the bag wide enough to see whether the gold was still there, Gonzalo was able to take a deep look inside without hindrance. His green eyes flashed. He smiled "It's better to be careful here. The thieves here are very tricky!" "Thank you very much, young gentleman," the man and woman thanked with a slight bow, as they had no suspicion due to his somewhat more elegant clothing. "Our royal highness would behead us if the jewelry had been lost." Since Gonzalo now sees the girl as As an invited prince's maid, he took her hand. "Take care of yourself, my lady!" and kissed her. Blinded by his charm, neither the maid nor the older woman noticed that he had long since stolen the bag with the gold pieces. He had it tied to his belt behind his back. He looked up after kissing his hand. "Never forget me!" "How come?!" asked the maid and he grinned "I am probably the most beautiful thief,you've ever seen in your life." He danced around and disappeared between the streets of the bazaar. The three of them looked at each other in horror.

The prince got out of the large bath filled with milk and flower oil. It was a huge basin that was actually filled with water, but for today's occasion, warm camel milk was poured in, which made the young prince's skin even more supple. He had a mixture of exquisite honey and sugar applied to his face to remove skin imperfections and also to give his skin a golden, healthy complexion. His hair was washed with a mixture of egg yolk and milk. As a result, the otherwise stubborn, frizzy curls were a little softer. His hands were dipped in rose oil. Then manicured and given a light gold shine. After a short exposure time, Miles was led back into the water to rinse everything out with jugs.

The midday sun was now very high in the sky. Miles endured everything as he was dressed to greet the invited majesties and highnesses. To hide his sickly condition, he was given a delicate stripe of rouge on his cheeks and his eyelids were lightly made up inside and out. "You are so beautiful, Your Highness," enthused one of the servants who took care of his wardrobe. Miles was now dressed in silk. A cream-colored long top that ended just above his stomach. A gemstone with a sticky substance was glued into the navel. On his forehead he wore a thin tiara decorated with precious stones. The waistband of the pants of the same color was a very deep red, with light black tendril-like applications on it. Hoop earrings with a crescent-shaped middle section adorned with gemstones gleamed on his ears. He had a short necklace around his neck, also set with precious stones. Bracelets and leg bracelets to oppress his status. Only a royal heir of noble blood was allowed to wear so much jewelry.

There were also heirs in royal families who were conceived with a non-royal partner. These children were strictly forbidden to wear jewelry to show their status. But Miles was of very high birth. Emerged from the union of an equally noble-blooded crown princess and the then crown prince of Ahlam. Last but not least, Miles had a special, very dark red color applied to his lips. Now he no longer looked like a fragile child, but like a proud, strong young man. It was not only to maintain alliances with neighboring countries and established ties, but also to show that Ahlam was a powerful kingdom that had also produced a worthy hereditary prince as a future king.

The king and queen sat down first, as was proper. Then the guests, who had appeared in large numbers and now filled the actually very huge throne room, were asked to line up so that the welcome would now take place. But before that, the court spokesman announced the still missing birthday child, for whom everyone was already waiting. "Let me introduce you." He opened the heavy golden door and bowed. "His Royal Highness..." All eyes now turned to the boy who entered was "...Crown Prince Miles!"

There was silence in the hall. As he had learned, Miles walked slowly down the stairs with his head and shoulders held high to his seat next to the Queen. The guests bowed. "Your Highness" they repeated and Miles ran towards them, nodding. Fortunately, such occasions rarely took place because he hated showing himself to so many people as his illness had made him very shy. The sleeveless long vest with the gold decorations went very well with his cream-colored clothing. He also wore a scarf angled around his hips so that his very thin figure wouldn't be immediately visible. And a small saber decorated with precious stones on his hip to fool his allies into believing that he was receiving military training and was now a member of the royal guard regiment. No one knew about his illness and it would remain a secret of the royal family.

Whistling happily, Gonzalo ran to the pawnbroker with the bulging sack of gold. He was finally able to release his mother's chain again and would never move her again after that. He would probably starve! Speaking of hunger. He sighed. Because on the one hand he now had enough to afford a real meal, on the other hand the necklace meant more to him than anything else. And he would get an apple or a handful of dumplings from somewhere. He entered the pawnbroker's house and now demanded what was due to him "Hey Azul my friend, how about you give me back my property!" The man turned around. He acknowledged the young thief with a condescending look, "Gonzalo!" The boy slammed the bag with the gold pieces on the table. "Now!" "I told you, bring me the 'Star of God' and I'll give you the necklace!" "You give it to me now!" he growled. The man laughed "It can't mean that much to you, after all you sold it for a bag of dates." "I was hungry! But a fat idiot like you doesn't know what it is!" "I suggest you go now and bring me the jewel!" Gonzalo turned around angrily. "THE BAG STAY HERE!" the impostor called after him, but Gonzalo had long since taken him back. While he was still furiously trudging through the dusty sand, he suddenly stopped when his eyes went down an alley.

There were 3 children sitting there. The youngest couldn't even walk and was floundering around on wobbly legs. The other two - presumably the siblings - were rummaging through a box that a dealer had thrown away to find something edible. They jumped when they spotted the shadow Gonzalo cast as he stood in the sun. They quickly wanted to disappear, but the oldest of the children, a girl of about 14, noticed that the big boy didn't want to hurt her. She approached him carefully. She was barefoot and only wore a slightly torn and dirty dress. Her long black hair was disheveled. She probably hadn't eaten anything in days. She tried to make herself understood since she was deaf "Hungry... You have food?" she spoke very slowly. Gonzalo crouched down to her level, for from her perspective he must have been a giant. He smiled softly "No" and took out the bag with the gold pieces "But I can give you some!" He put 3 gold thalers into her hand. "There, in front, if you go to the left, is a merchant who sells large, juicy melons and further back there is bread. That's enough for you and your siblings to be full." "Thank you very much." she gave the hand signals and said it quietly. She smiled as he stroked her head. She looked after him with red cheeks,until he disappeared. The brother, 2 years younger, giggled "That was your groom!"

Since the sun was now shining very strongly and the heat was almost unbearable, Gonzalo had retreated into his dilapidated tower.

He sat on the sandstone remnant of the upper area and looked at the palace. There you didn't notice the midday heat because the walls and halls were well protected from the heat by the thick walls. The female guests still waved their fans made of peacock feathers or colorful fabrics with wooden handles to cool the air. One by one they were introduced. Only once did the Prince greet a Highness with genuine joy "... and His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Pavitr!" The prince from another part of the world, the Indian kingdom of Mumbaa, bowed. "It's nice to see you again, Prince Miles. Congratulations on your birthday," the Indian prince bowed. Miles could no longer stay in the seat and he greeted his friendly prince with a hug. "Nice to see you," he beamed for a brief moment. It was forbidden by protocol, but the king wasn't so strict about it.

The two princes had been friends since childhood. The Indian prince was only 1 year younger than Miles. It was festively decorated with jewelry, as was traditional in India. The welcoming of the other guests lasted until the early evening hours as all the kingdoms of the world were invited. The lower the sun sank and the day ended, the more nervous the king became, because there was still a guest missing and he had not yet arrived, even if he had been promised by message. Everyone had now retreated into the huge palace garden. Languages about trade, diplomacy and alliances. Shared wealth in stories and made new connections. When the traditional dance competition was about to begin, Pavitr could no longer contain himself and handed the cup to his aunt, who was traveling with him. Then he reached for Miles. "Come on, Your Highness! Dance with us, it's your birthday after all," the boy laughed, unaware that this could put a lot of strain on the crown prince. But in the last few days Miles had been given conversation lessons for exactly such situations. He politely declined and even had the appropriate excuse ready: "I can't, because we're expecting someone else and I'll have to look like I'm perfectly dressed!" "Who then?" Pavitr asked, still out of breath and now with slightly disheveled hair. Miles lowered his head and turned it to the side "My fiancée!" Pavitr clapped his hands together enthusiastically. "You're engaged? Oh how beautiful. I'm also going to marry Princess Gayatri next year. I'm so happy," he enthused and raved even more. "She's so beautiful and so smart and sooo graceful." Then he asked the question "And to whom are you engaged, Your Highness?" Miles looked down "With Crown Princess Gwendolyn of Damar" Pavitr suddenly fell silent. Miles just sighed. For what felt like the thousandth time that day, "I have to marry her, otherwise we'll be threatened with war! And the people will have to suffer even more under the influence of this warmongering kingdom." Pavitr was now serious. "Then you don't love her at all?!" "I don't even know her! My parents arranged the engagement to prevent anything worse from happening, because Damar has already given an ultimatum" He sat down on the edge of the well "I'm not even allowed to do that" "What do you think?" "You should only marry for love and I really wanted to fall in love before I die..." Miles revealed his secret to his former childhood friend. Suddenly Miles saw 2 guards running towards the king. He nodded to his son and Miles let out another breath. "She has arrived and is waiting in the forecourt." "I hope that she means it honestly, because you deserve to be happy," Pavitr smiled, holding Miles' hands and encouraging him.

The royal family stood on the steps to the palace after the king of the 'enemy country' entered the courtyard with his daughter "His Royal Majesty King-" Miles ignored everything. His ears were ringing. He was excited and almost frozen with fear at the same time. "And Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Gwendolyn of Damar!" The princess bowed as she was trained to do. "It's an honor to meet you, your highness!" She spoke clearly and didn't dare look up again until Miles was quietly asked by his mother to go to her. He stood at a slight distance from her and bowed in the same way. "The honor... is all mine, Princess!" His voice trembled at first. She raised her head because it was only after the Crown Prince had spoken to her that she was allowed to free herself from the pose and now look him in the face. Their eyes examined each other. Miles had to internally admit that what they said about the King's Daughter of the Enemy Land was true. She was really very pretty with her long golden waves in her hair and her ocean blue eyes that looked at him as well. Her fair skin was very exotic, as the people of Ahlam had a golden to cocoa brown complexion. Since she was used to other temperatures, she brought up the muggy evening air. "It's very warm here. It's the dead of winter where I live," she giggled quietly to break the ice. Miles agreed "Yes... It's always very warm here. But it's pleasantly cool in the palace." "Then we should go in too," the queen smiled and the king agreed with her "Yes, we should do that, and that Celebrate our children's engagement!" The enemy king nodded. "It seems they get along." He looked at his daughter again. There was a sparkle in her eye and she then smiled. "I can't wait to dance with you." She grabbed Miles by the hand. He shuddered and jumped. It all felt so wrong! But he had to respect etiquette and let her go first.

Gonzalo stretched tiredly when he woke up again. Since there was nothing to do in the city in the midday and afternoon heat, he had gotten into the habit of going to sleep. So he was able to use the slightly more pleasant nights to sit around the campfire with his uncle and listen to the stories of the older residents. He put on his vest and tied his saber around his neck. He put the stolen silver-decorated brass pot on his little fireplace to drink a nice hot apple tea. He had made this a ritual. He took one out of the bag of juicy figs he had bought and was about to bite into it to quench his initial hunger. He heard a loud bang and looked through the open window frames of the old tower. He saw a colorful light that had risen into the sky. Then another thing followed. This one was red. The previous green. The one below was blue.

The previously celebrated birthday celebration now became an engagement celebration after it was officially announced. Rockets rose into the sky and the people learned that the crown prince would soon be married. With his fig clutched in his teeth, Gonzalo climbed down the wall and jumped to the ground. The people had already gathered and marveled at the magnificent fireworks display. "It looks like we'll have a new king soon!" "His Highness the Crown Prince is engaged!" He heard the people present whispering, "That won't change anything." "Everything will still stay the same. The royal family up there is feasting on the most excellent food while we, the beggars, are starving!" a man uttered. Gonzalo turned to him. He was strangely dressed and far too fair-skinned for a resident of Ahlam. But his hate speeches against the royal family were well received: "Exactly! While the prince is bathing in milk, our children are starving because we can't buy milk for them!" This woman was also far too light-skinned and strangely dressed. Their clothing was made of much thicker materials that no one here would willingly wear. In Ahlam there were only 2 types of cloth to wear on the body. Linen and cotton. Only the rich residents could still afford organza and lining silk. It made him suspicious and he looked at the palace, which was brightly lit by the fireworks.

The majesties and highnesses stood on the large marbled area around the garden fountain. Miles sighed quietly, "Let's get it over with," and walked towards Princess Gwendolyn. He stopped just in front of her. Then held out his hand "May I ask for this dance, Princess?" She timidly placed her pale hand with the signet ring on her finger in his hand and answered him "You may ask, Your Highness!" As a guest at the royal court, she was no longer allowed to be addressed as 'Your Highness' after she had been introduced as such. From now on she was only addressed as 'Princess', since Miles, as the higher heir, had the sole right to be addressed as 'Your Highness'. As they both danced the opening dance of their famous engagement, the royal couple hoped that they would fall in love with each other so that things would be easier for their beloved son. But Miles still fought against it internally. "Why did you agree to the marriage so quickly, Princess?" She smiled "Nothing is further from me than to bore you, Your Highness, with this triviality." "You don't bore me. I just want to know!" Her blue eyes were full of sparkle as she danced with the prince. "Very well, I'll tell you. But at another time!" "How come?" "I just want to enjoy dancing with you" "Why don't you tell me?" Gwendolyn briefly looked down and then smiled "Very well, as you wish. I was told that the Crown Prince of Ahlam was a very handsome young man, with enchantingly beautiful dark eyes and that he had a very warm, kind heart. When I heard that ", my heart pounded and I really wanted to meet you. And the more I had to think about you, the more I longed for you." "And do I live up to your expectations?" Miles asked, a little blushing, as he was wary of strangers calling him 'beautiful'. Gwendolyn giggled "Oh yes and even better!"

The later it got, the more guests said goodbye. Some went straight home. Others were happy to accept the offer to stay. Gwendolyn bowed "I thank you for the wonderful evening and wish you a good night, your highness!" "Um, yes, I..." Miles forced a smile. "I wish you the same, Princess. Sleep well!" Exuberantly, she went on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. "I hope I'm dreaming of you," she giggled and turned around. When she had disappeared from his field of vision, Miles wiped away his lipstick with the back of his hand. "Wow" and snorted, "There's no way I'm marrying her!" He heard footsteps and turned around. His mother put her hand on his shoulder "Are you tired, darling?" "Yes..." "It was all very tiring for you today, huh?" The king gently stroked his son's head. "Now go to sleep. I will arrange for the princess not to be woken until midday so that you can be free of worries." "Thank you, father." He called two guards over. "Take the prince to his room !" "Very well, my king!" They bowed and walked in front of and behind Miles, as he was already used to. "Goodnight, darling," the queen called after him. She looked at her husband who was equally worried "I have a bad feeling!" "I feel the same way. I think she's nice, but something-" "-is wrong!" He finished her sentence and she nodded at him.

The two guards stood at the door, opening and closing it after Miles entered. He began to take off his jewelry, but then turned around. He didn't hear a click in the door. His heart beat faster. "You forgot to lock it," he whispered to himself and after a few moments, dared to open the door quietly. In fact, she was moving. He quickly closed it again. Ripping off his clothes, he put on a pair of more comfortable linen pants and his tight-fitting crop top. Tied a cloth around his hips to protect them from getting cold, grabbed a black cloak and carefully looked out into the hallway again through a crack that he had opened. Nobody was to be seen.

Under the cover of night and taking advantage of the commotion of the guests still remaining in the garden, Gonzalo climbed over the wall of the forecourt after sneaking in unnoticed as an assistant to a merchant. He looked around helplessly. "Phew, where should I start looking?!" He scratched the back of his head. His gaze went to a ledge where he saw a light shining. He quickly took cover. The small oil lamp was held by a hooded figure who ran quickly across the hallway. In between, the light stopped until it moved further and the person covered in a long black cloak also continued to run.

The hooded figure kept turning around. His heart was racing. The small oil lamp in his hand was supposed to guide him safely through the palace. He was afraid of being discovered every second. His eyes peeked out from under the hood. Only this hallway separated him from the entrance gate of the palace. Suddenly a hand grabbed him and pulled him into the darkened corner. The boy shrieked softly.

The figure holding him was slightly taller than him. About the same age and wore half gloves that covered his mouth. But the bigger boy made a mistake. The prince's hands were free. "Stop fidgeting! I won't hurt you! Just tell me the way to the treasury, then I'll be gone quickly." He pushed the supposed palace servant in front of him. "And no tricks! We don't want anyone Make some noise and maybe wake up the prince!" Miles quickly pulled out the saber that the burglar was carrying with him. "Well, surprise." He tore off his hood. "The prince is already awake!" The saber was now pointed at the burglar "Surrender!" he demanded and put down the oil lamp. "I won't call any guards, but you must surrender and-" "You are His Highness, the Crown Prince?" Gonzalo asked incredulously. Miles took the oil lamp and shone it in the intruder's face. He now recognized a young man with green eyes under the hood pulled low over his face. He couldn't see the rest of his face because the boy was wearing a covering over his nose. Miles lowered his saber and pulled down his hood. Black, shoulder-length hair tied into two braids. He wore small gold hoop earrings in his ears. Gonzalo backed away slightly as Miles' hand came closer to his face. Miles very carefully removed his mask. He now saw the typical rosé-red, sensual lips, since he was just as dark-skinned as he was. The prince's cheeks turned a pale red. His counterpart was beautiful and no longer seemed as threatening as he had at the beginning.

Gonzalo was also fascinated. This fragile-looking boy was the crown prince who lived hidden in plain sight in the palace?

Black, coarsely curly, short hair and large fawn brown eyes, which were, however, very sad. Rosy red lips. He wore gold crescent-shaped earrings. A short chain with a medallion hung around his neck. Large gold bangles around the wrists and the signet ring of the Royal Family. A gold decorated bangle on the upper arm. All the jewelry alone would feed Gonzalo for a month or more. He wore a cream-colored linen crop top around his petite body and tied around his hips a wrap shawl decorated with small coin-sized flat bells. Covered by a long black cloak designed to hide him from the eyes of the palace guards.

Neither of them dared to break eye contact. Miles had severe heart palpitations. He handed the saber back to the taller boy. Then, in a panic, he grabbed the thief by the hand and dragged him downstairs where the wall had no decorations and one could hide. "Have you found him?" "No!" "Then keep looking! The prince must be here somewhere!" snapped the head of the palace guards. "Find him!" he shouted and the guards left the place. Gonzalo looked at the crown prince. He could smell a faint scent of honey. Miles breathed a sigh of relief. "They almost discovered me." "Why are you hiding?" "Because I want to run away!" hissed Miles "But you ruined my escape!" "Your escape?" Gonzalo asked quietly. Miles lowered his head. "I don't want to be forced into marriage! Even if that means that the war with Damar will start quickly..." Gonzalo backed away, somewhat surprised. "War with Damar?" "Yes, Ahlam is about to go to war with Damar and to prevent that, I should marry the crown princess of this kingdom. But I don't want that!" "And that's why you wanted to flee the palace now?!" "Yes!" They made it a little further again until Miles reached the wall of the forecourt. There were no guards here and Gonzalo now understood that the prince had just guided HIM out of the palace safely and unseen. "All you have to do is cross the courtyard and then along the wall. Then you'll be safe!" "What about you?" The prince shook his head. "I can't climb over the wall, but if I get caught, I'll just be locked in my room. They'd kill you! Breaking into the palace is punishable by death!" The prince made a gesture that even the stupidest thief would understand. Gonzalo swallowed "I'm too young and too beautiful to die now!" Miles chuckled. Looked around again "Now hurry up!" "Thank you, Your Highness!" smiled Gonzalo and winced as Miles pressed one of his earrings into his hand. "It's not the Star of God, but it's better than leaving with nothing. And it'll keep you full for a while."

The touch shot through both of them like a bolt of lightning. Gonzalo hugged the earring to himself. "Thank you." He quickly jumped into the depths and landed safely on the ground thanks to his acrobatic skills. He looked up at the prince again. He actually wanted to thank him again, but the boy's sad look left him unable to find words. Their looks said it all. Gonzalo disappeared into the night. He didn't turn around again, but he felt the prince's eyes on him, even after he had long since reached the mainland again. Here he dared to turn around again, but the ledge of the wall was now empty. Gonzalo looked at his hand. She was still holding the earring tightly. He stroked the piece of jewelry and decided to keep it. The wound he had sustained tonight would torment him, but he would never be able to forget HIM again.

Miles had voluntarily walked back to his room. He felt the same way. His heart ached for him. Not because of the missed opportunity to escape. Not even because it was very tiring to climb halfway up the wall with the cheeky and equally charming thief. No. Something else hurt him. Something unknown. Something new, but at the same time gave him so much warmth. He paused for a moment when he saw the guards, but then ran with them without saying a word. He resigned himself to his fate because he would never see the beautiful thief again anyway. The door was locked behind him. The cloak fell to the ground. He placed the now single earring on the table. He stepped onto his balcony and looked down at the city. HE was there somewhere.

Gonzalo still felt the warmth of the prince's hand on his. He held the earring up to the moonlight. It sparkled in every color the gemstones had to offer. For the prince it was just a piece of jewelry, but for him it was probably the most valuable treasure he owned. Gonzalo turned to the side. Something unknown to him sat like stones in his stomach. It wasn't hunger. It felt different. He tried to close his eyes, but this new feeling made him crazy and restless.

The prince also stood on his balcony and looked into the night. He wanted to scream out all his pain, but like always he would suppress it and also lie. At some point the tiredness got the better of him.

Despite the fact that the sun was already high in the sky, Gonzalo made no move to get up. He was awake, but he didn't do anything other than hold the earring in his hand. He saw the beautiful prince in front of him and understood that his loss of appetite and the desire to just lie in bed had something to do with the fact that he was now looking at the palace full of longing.

There was a knock on the door, but Miles didn't answer. Even when the servant went to pick him up for the morning examination, nothing came from the royal heir other than a deep sigh. He was clutching his pillow tightly, lying on his stomach with his head turned toward the wall. At some point 3 servants managed to scare the Listless Prince out of bed. He stood bare-chested, wearing only a pair of lemon-yellow linen trousers, his arms outstretched horizontally, in front of his body, who was examining him like he did every morning. He listened to his heart and wrote down the heartbeat in a kind of musical scale so that irregularities could be recognized immediately.

The doctor looked at him in surprise. "I don't know what it is, Your Highness, but your heart can be heard very strongly today. It's beating strongly!" Miles blushed slightly because he kept thinking about the beautiful thief and how close they had been when he was hiding with him from the guards. Smiling, the doctor wrote it down in his daily report, which he would later have delivered to the king. "It seems we can raise your life expectancy a bit." "Wh-Really?" Miles asked incredulously. The doctor nodded and shouted over the 20 with a 25. "Yes, your highness! Maybe you can grow up after all!" He sealed the report and gave it to the messenger.

The heavy double doors opened "His Highness the Crown Prince!" announced the door guard as he entered the small hall where he was to have breakfast. But he lost it when he saw the two guests at the table. Princess Gwendolyn stood up and threw her arms around her fiancé and soon to be groom's neck. "Good morning, your highness." "Morning..." he sighed and then tried to hide his disdain. "Princess." She smiled and snuggled into his shoulder. "My daughter seems to you "Already completely devoted, Your Highness," smiled the king of the kingdom that this one most wanted to subjugate. Miles in no way shared this affection, but had to politely say, "It seems so!" He sat down "Although it still seems strange to want to marry a man she doesn't know" "Miles!" growled his father and ordered that the prince be poured his orange juice. The opposing king laughed "I like this open honesty!"

The queen pushed him a plate of sliced oranges, apples and figs. More servants brought skewers of fried meat, lightly toasted bread, and a small bowl of congee. Another bowl of almond stuffed dates and honey. Put down a large glass carafe of water. Then they each brought a plate of flat fried eggs of the same size and placed small jars filled with various jams on the table. They walked backwards back to behind the chairs of their majesties. Gwendolyn tilted her head and pointed to the round flat egg dish. "What is that?" "Banana pancakes" the queen answered faster and pointed to the plates "And these are normal pancakes made only from eggs and milk" "And they taste good?!" Miles took a spoonful of the strawberry jam and spread it on his normal pancake. "Just try it. These ones have banana pieces and this one only has egg." Skeptical but also curious, Gwendolyn had a banana pancake put on her plate and bit a small one Piece off. She put her hand over her mouth in shock. Miles looked up. The king, queen and the princess's father looked at her confused "Is everything okay, darling?" The girl just nodded. "It's so delicious. I've never eaten anything so sweet and delicious," she enthused. "It's called a banana," Miles shook his head, rolling his eyes. The king now banged on the table "Miles!" The prince threw half his pancake on the plate "I'm not hungry anymore!" pushed his chair away "I'm in my room!" and left the hall despite protests. The queen looked after him sadly and tried to save the situation. "He is very moody sometimes. I ask for your forgiveness." "Don't be! He is a very honest young man and my little piece of gold here..." The opposing king cuddled his daughter , which she only found somewhat good "...can get pretty bitchy, right?" "Yes, especially when you annoy me!" the girl replied.

After breakfast the queen ran to the prince's chamber. The guards stepped back and she knocked. But since Miles didn't react, she stepped in. "A word, young man!" but she couldn't spot him right away. Miles sat on the crescent-shaped, backless chair that was on the balcony. "Am I going to be grounded now? Oh no, wait, I've had it for half my life!" The queen looked at him angrily "What was that about?" "What?! That I show her that I can't stand her and that I think she's a liar? Is that what you mean?!" "Miles!" "I'M SICK!" He threw the book he was reading onto the floor which really slammed "I'M SICK OF THIS DAMN LIFE!" he shouted and said for the first time what he had kept hidden deep within himself. "I'm not allowed to do anything! I'm not allowed to go into the garden. I'm not allowed to go swimming in the lake! I'm not even allowed to walk alone through this cursed palace, without a guard immediately sticking to my feet like a shadow! And now I shouldn't even be allowed to decide who I can fall in love with!"

The queen actually wanted to wash his head, but the desperation she saw in his eyes made her just react like a mother. She pulled her son into her arms and held him tightly. He cried out all his pain. "If I hadn't been running around like that, then I wouldn't have fallen and none of this would have happened. Then I would be healthy and strong now. Then I could fight and defend Ahlam. I feel so useless and powerless " The queen sat down on the chair next to him and stroked his cheek soothingly. "You are not useless! And it is not your fault. Nobody is to blame for what happened. You are my wonderful son and the proud, beautiful and noble one Crown Prince! No one can take this away from you! It's a part of you as long as you live!" Miles snuggled up to his mother. The only person in this huge palace whom he loved and trusted unconditionally.

Pursuing a new victim across the rooftops, Gonzalo stayed at a safe distance. Then he waited and took the chance. The two women were just as clueless as the victims who had already been robbed in another part of the city. Here you only had to climb over one of the walls and you would reach another section. The streets were winding and full of traders or hustlers. Colorful hustle and bustle in the bazaars and the side streets. He jumped off the roof and landed deftly on the ground. "Have a nice day, ladies!" He bowed. "Having to carry something so heavy with you on such a hot day..." He pointed to the heavy jeweled bracelets. "...is a real punishment!" "You dirty thief don't come near us!" "Woah, gently!" he grinned and did a backflip when one of the women pulled out a diamond-encrusted dagger and thrust it in Gonzalo's direction. "Go back into the hole you came out of!" one hissed while the other, younger one, was enraptured by the young man's beauty, even though she could only see his eyes through the covering of her nose and mouth. But Gonzalo had recognized that these two people were also from another country. They were just as light-skinned as the men who had suddenly appeared and told lies about the prince. He pulled away, but grinned as he continued to watch her in his hiding place. In a narrow side street that the two women were walking down, he took advantage of the opportunity because they had to dig through the cloths hanging there. Also a street thieves trick that only the locals knew, but to get to the other larger bazaars you had to walk through here.

Jewelry, gold and other valuables changed hands in no time at all without the owners noticing. And when they did, it was already too late and the thief disappeared unseen with the loot. The older woman complained about the hot weather "I hope the wedding is quick and we can leave this disgusting hot country again" "They say the prince is very reluctant to marry our princess" "Whatever! The main thing is that she makes her plan quickly through. I want to go back home!" Gonzalo had heard everything and put the dagger and the bracelets in the small pockets he had made on his waistband. Now he had proof that the people who had lighter skin than the people of Ahlam were residents of Damar. He immediately remembered the moment when he had spoken to the prince "Ahlam is about to go to war with Damar" he heard his sweet voice in his head "I have to warn the prince!" He made plans for the evening visit. "But first I have to do something for my reputation!" He jumped acrobatically up the sandstone ledge and had the two women in his sights again. The dagger was still in the Elder Servant's hand. He managed to take it from her unseen when he appeared in front of the younger servant. "Hello, me again!" "Dirty thief!" the older one immediately snapped, "Get out of here!" "But not without a little souvenir!" he wiggled his index finger and grinned "I'm probably the most beautiful thief you've ever seen in your life!" "Like What?" Laughing, somersaulting backwards and then jumping over the wall, Gonzalo disappeared. "It just always works"

Miles sighed deeply "I'm sorry" "I know this isn't the life you were hoping for, but you are the crown prince and this task has weighed on you since birth. Your royal legacy is a heavy burden. I and your father are already trying to take so many things from you, but it is also your royal duty to make sacrifices for the good of the people." The queen spoke calmly while stroking her son's hair. "I understand all that too, But there must be another option than forcibly marrying this fake snake!" "What exactly are you not telling me?" Miles jumped slightly "G-Nothing..." His mother couldn't see it, but the prince looked away and his eyes trembled.

As the day drew to a close, Gonzalo ran whistling to his uncle's house, who was already waiting for him. "Well, if it isn't my very good-humored nephew!" "Hey" They slapped their palms together in greeting, as they were best friends rather than blood relatives. They told each other what they had experienced in the last few days and when Gonzalo heard that his uncle hadn't been doing so well in his raids, Gonzalo removed a small pouch from his belt. "Here, I'll give this to you!" Gonzalo held out the rest of the captured gold coins to his uncle. This one revolved around "Don't you need this yourself?" "No..." He gratefully accepted it and placed the still sizzling pan on the table "Dinner is ready" The fried bananas smelled delicious, but Gonzalo waved them off "Thanks, I'm not hungry" "Are you sick?" the uncle asked somewhat sarcastically, because his nephew actually filled his stomach as soon as there were fried bananas. Gonzalo sighed deeply and took the earring out of his vest pocket. The uncle saw him and whistled. "That's what I call a clunker. Who did you steal it from?" he laughed. Gonzalo's look became longing. "The prince gave it to me... I was supposed to sell it, but I... I can't..." He pocketed the piece of jewelry. "I have to see it again!" Gonzalo resolutely threw his cloak over himself. The uncle tried to talk him out of it: "Gonzalo, that's too dangerous!" The young man nodded "I know, but I'll die if I don't see the prince again!" He disappeared into the approaching night, hoping to make it back to the palace unseen so that he could meet the beautiful prince again, with whom he had fallen head over heels in love.

Miles stood on his balcony, clueless. He looked into the distance, lost in thought. The fishing boats went out to sea and wouldn't come back until tomorrow at dusk. "If I were a bird, I could fly out into the world right now..." He sighed heavily. "Or to him!" he whispered to himself. He bit his thumbnail slightly because these strange, foreign feelings were bothering him.

He knew WHAT it was, but not how it happened. And that it was forbidden to him! This made it so difficult for him to just get into his bed and go to sleep. The longing for the beautiful, mysterious intruder from the other day made him lie awake restlessly at night.

The prince's balcony was in sight. Guards patrolled underneath, but there was a corner that was unguarded and also very dark. He landed quietly with a jump over the parapet on the balcony. He couldn't see anything at first glance. Only a few candles burned. The wind played with the delicate curtains. The prince's room was very large. Gonzalo's gaze swept from left to right. The door on the left was in the shape of an arch and the pillars were decorated with gold tendrils. A hallway led to two more rooms, but you couldn't see them from here. Then came a large open cupboard with many small rectangular compartments. There were stacks of books in every compartment. There was a chest of drawers on the wall on the left side that led to him. Above it was a huge picture drawn in oil and gold of the kingdom as it had previously looked. All you could see was the palace and a few isolated houses.

The large harbor that separated the palace from the mainland of Ahlam did not yet exist. Then there was a small table with a candle burning and a leather folder on it. When he reached Gonzalo, his gaze now went in the other direction. There at the top was the prince's huge bed. There would easily be room for one more person. It was covered with a sky and had wafer-thin sheets on the sides. A small stool stood in front of it. Next to it another table. There was a tablet with a glass carafe of water and a golden goblet that was half full of water. Next to it is a bowl of fruit and other fruits. Apples, a peeled orange, a handful of dates and ripe juicy figs. The prince had not touched any of it. Gonzalo's gaze fell on the small can containing small beads. He knew immediately what it was. Pills for something medicinal, which he sometimes made himself because he had learned how to make medicine from his mother. But he didn't know what these pills were for. He carefully crept to the bed. The young prince lay there and slept. Lying on his side, he had one hand under his pillow.

The other was next to his face. He seemed like an innocent sleeping child. Very carefully, Gonzalo dared to look at his face so that he could get a closer look at him again. He had beautiful, long, thick eyelashes. The same sensual lips with the delicate pink color as him. If you looked at him like that, you could see the small freckles that ran along his upper cheek area. Gonzalo flinched slightly. A tear rolled down the prince's cheek. It hung on the tip of his nose for a glance and then dripped onto the pillow. He heard him sigh softly and decided it was better to leave now. He had looked at it long enough and turned around. He bumped into the small stool that was on the side of the bed. Gonzalo didn't know what the prince needed it for, but the marble floor was not only cool, but also smooth. The stool squeaked quietly and found a new place. With his eyes closed and rigid, Gonzalo remained in his pose. "He didn't hear it. He didn't hear it. He didn't hear it," he repeated in his mind like a calming mantra. He cautiously dared to open one eye. There was silence. He briefly breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly heard something cold on his throat. It shone in the pale moonlight that now shone in. "I'm dead!" every one of his thoughts screamed. The prince held his dagger, which was hidden under the pillow, to his neck. "Who sent you?" the prince hissed and pressed the dagger even tighter to Gonzalo's throat since he couldn't see him. "If your mission was to kill me in my sleep, then you have failed! I may be weak and terminally ill, but not defenseless!" "Your Highness, I didn't mean anything to you-" Gonzalo felt the cool metal leave his throat and the prince distanced himself from him. Gonzalo slowly turned to him.

The prince's eyes widened "You?" "I hope I didn't scare you, Your Highness?!" Gonzalo made a slight bow. One arm in front of your stomach, the other behind your back. Put your foot forward "How did you get here?" asked the prince, still frightened and joyful at the same time. Gonzalo grinned "Just pull yourself up on the wall and be careful not to get caught!" He took a step towards the prince. Miles took a small step back. "And then just..." Miles's heart was pounding and he looked at him with a trembling look. Gonzalo looked him up and down. A tight wrap-around-the-chest top with short sleeves. Bare-bellied as always, wearing only light, knee-length linen trousers. A golden circlet around the ankles on one side. Nothing around the wrists. No more necklace, but small earrings. So he seemed like a completely normal boy in this city "...Climb over the balcony!"

Miles looked at him skeptically. "You climbed over the wall and then over the balcony?" "Child's play for me," Gonzalo waved him off, but the prince came up to him. "Why are you here?" His voice was quieter and his eyes full of longing. Gonzalo looked away briefly. Denying it and lying to him was pointless. He had already heard it in the question and approached him too, "Because I had to see you again!" A gentle smile played on Miles's lips. His heartbeat increased. Gonzalo gently stroked the prince's cheek. He confirmed it again "I couldn't take it any longer..." Miles closed his eyes and his cheeks blushed gently.

He felt the same way. Since the evening they met, he had longed for the charming street thief. His heart was pounding as Gonzalo bowed his head slightly. Their lips were only a few breaths apart. Miles slowly closed his eyes and whispered "I've never been kissed before." "Then it's time" Gonzalo whispered back before pressing his lips to the prince's. They kissed tentatively. Gonzalo held him by his narrow hips to pull him a little closer to him. The prince chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around Gonzalo's neck. Previously he had rested his hands flat on his vest. The kiss became more intimate and Gonzalo became a little cocky as he lifted the prince into his arms to carry him to bed. "You should go back to sleep now, your highness. It's not good for your health if you don't get enough sleep." "You are Physician?" asked the prince after Gonzalo had gently laid him in bed and covered him with the silk blanket. "Something like that." He sat down next to him on the edge of the bed. "My mother was your personal assistant." "Was it?" "Yes..." Gonzalo lowered his head "She died and I learned the craft of medicine from her" He got up "Sleep well" and was about to leave. Miles threw the blanket aside and ran to him. Gonzalo couldn't turn around quickly and felt the prince's body heat on his back. "Please come back." He couldn't see it, but the prince snuggled up to him and wrapped his arms around his waist before tucking them slightly under the front the vest pushed "I'm waiting for you, lover!" he whispered. Gonzalo nodded "I'll be back tomorrow night!" Then Gonzalo tore himself away.

Miles ran after him here too and caught him on the balcony. "Wait! What's your name?" he called after him. The thief smiled "Gonzalo" Their gazes held each other. Miles looked down at him from above, wishing he could go with him "Gonzalo... How pretty" Before Gonzalo managed to climb over the wall, he looked again at the now distant balcony where the prince was still stood and watched him until his eyes could no longer see him in the distance.

Full of longing for each other, they spent the day thinking about each other. As soon as Miles went back to bed, he remembered the kiss. He gently stroked his lips and then, slightly ashamed, crawled under the blanket "My first kiss" and then giggled softly.

Now knowing that the sweet prince reciprocated his feelings, Gonzalo jumped onto the stone wall and balanced on it until he landed with a somersault in a perfect posture on the sandy ground. The crowd applauded because the thieves knew each other. "Hey Gonzalo, you should perform in a circus with your acrobatics." "You would be the main attraction there!" He bowed and then continued dancing, his hands clasped behind his neck and whistling. He could have embraced the whole world.

There was a knock on the prince's room door. Miles turned around, startled, as he was deep in thought drawing. He frantically closed his sketchbook and threw it under the bed while being asked, "Are you salon-worthy, Your Highness?" "Um, just a moment," he called back, quickly throwing his robe over himself and tying it up. The book had arrived on the other side of the bed and was therefore out of sight. "Good," he nodded to himself and remembered the servants in front of the door. "I'm ready." The double doors opened and he stood innocently in front of his bed. "Come on "We're here to take your measurements," explained the two young women who had come with an older one and were kneeling in front of the prince Clothing room "-I already have enough gowns and suits" "But your highness" one of the girls giggled "We are here to tailor your wedding suit" "Aha" replied Miles and his good mood dropped. He stood silently on the small stool and allowed himself to be measured. The day of the wedding was getting closer and closer and it was giving him a stomach ache.

Sitting on the roof of his tower, cutting a stolen apple into pieces and eating it, Gonzalo watched as the newly arrived ships were unloaded with goods. "All for free!" because even if he didn't yet know how, he would try to prevent this marriage, just as Miles was already imagining several scenarios in his head. One thing was that he would act particularly sick that day. But he had someone else. His gaze went to the city. He wanted to try to run away again, but he would need help. And he knew that his secret lover would help him. After everyone was finished, they left the prince alone. He was then picked up for his examination and returned to his room late in the evening. Pulled out the sketchbook and continued drawing until he got tired. Then he put it back under the bed and snuggled up in the blanket.

The shadow came closer. He lay threateningly over the sleeping prince and then pressed his hand over his mouth. Startled, he opened his eyes and saw a hooded figure with green eyes. "Shhhttt" the person said and pulled the hood down with his other hand. The prince's eyes that had been looking at him in shock now softened "Gonzalo" Miles wrapped his arms around his neck as he sighed happily and pulled him onto the bed. They kissed deeply. Gonzalo felt Miles push his cloak aside. Gonzalo sat up. Removed the cloak and let it fall carelessly next to the bed. Leaned down to Miles again to sink into an endless kiss. In between their kisses, needing to catch their breath, they removed each other's clothing. Miles pushed the vest Gonzalo was wearing off his shoulders. But he didn't do it quickly, but slowly. He stroked his shoulder blades over his muscular chest and then under his vest, pulling it off his shoulders. Gonzalo closed his eyes. It was his first erotic adventure with a same-sex partner. So it was very exciting for him. He felt slightly hot as Miles' fingertips stroked his chest. Leaning over the prince, now bare-chested, he kissed his neck. Miles groaned softly. He bit his thumbnail to suppress it. Also because the cool gold, the chain Gonzalo wore and his braids touched his heated skin. Gonzalo opened the little hooks on the side of the top Miles was wearing and removed it from him. Despite the fact that the prince seemed so fragile, Gonzalo found his delicate chest to be well trained, even if not as muscular as his upper body was. His lips wrapped around the nipple on the left side, causing Miles to moan again. He pressed his face into the pillow as Gonzalo's hand slid over his flat stomach, down to the waistband of his knee-length pants. Miles licked his lips and stroked Gonzalo's hand. It felt so good and so beautiful. Yes, he wanted to, but he couldn't!

"Don't," gasped Miles, his eyes closed in pleasure but sighing softly because he had to end it there. "I don't know if my heart can take it." Gonzalo withdrew his hand. "You don't know if you-" "If "I'll survive, yes" Miles looked regretfully at his lover "I'm sorry" Gonzalo shook his head "No my prince! I always forget that you are deathly ill and any effort could kill you immediately" He distanced himself from him, which Miles said with tears in his eyes he longingly said, "Forgive your Highness!" Looking down at the floor, sitting on the edge of the bed, Gonzalo pulled his vest back over himself. "It's probably better if I go now." "No!" The prince grabbed his wrist and snuggled into his arm "Don't go! Stay with me tonight!"

Unsure if he should do it, Gonzalo looked over his shoulder at him "Forgive me. I'm sorry" "I'm not!" Gonzalo turned to him. Miles clawed his fingers into the fabric of his pants. "I'm tired of feeling sorry," he hissed, angry at his weak heart and the severely limited life he had because of it. "I'm not allowed to do anything! Not even that!" He looked at Gonzalo "But maybe we can..." He looked to the side with red cheeks "...it's different somehow..." Gonzalo lowered his head with a smile. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently took his face in both hands. Miles looked at him as lovingly as he did the prince. They lay back on the bed kissing and Gonzalo whispered something in his ear. Miles wrapped his arms around him and nodded. Gonzalo kissed his cheek and they snuggled together. In Gonzalo's arms, Miles felt more safe than ever before. Even his mother couldn't make him feel that way, even though she loved her son more than anything. Gonzalo not only gave him security, but also warmth and love. Just before Miles fell into a deep sleep, he expressed his feelings for the beautiful street thief
"I love you!"

Gonzalo opened his eyes. He had only kept them closed to feel the touch more intensely as Miles' fingertips played with one of his pigtails while he pressed against his chest and closed his eyes to listen to his heartbeat even closer to his ear. Gonzalo supported himself slightly. He looked into the sleeping prince's face as he lay on his side. Looked at him once, as the moonlight was now brightly illuminating the bed. Miles breathed evenly and calmly. His skin was flawless. Since he had been stroking it the whole time, he knew how velvety it felt. He carefully, delicately stroked his neck down to his rump, which was only covered by the silk sheet. They hadn't made love, but they were both stark naked because they just wanted to feel each other. He grabbed the silk sheet and pulled it over Miles to his waist. The night was warm, but the petite prince was quickly susceptible to illness. Gonzalo looked at him with loving eyes, "I love you!" leaned down and kissed his cheek "And I'll get you out of here!" He promised himself. Then he slipped back into the lying position and pulled Miles close to him, which the half-asleep prince commented on with a soft sigh and cuddled himself even more.

As the First Dawn appeared over the sea, Gonzalo blinked, stretching cautiously. He looked around. The prince's room was still dark and only lit by the glass vessels containing candles. Then he remembered again and lay back, wanting to look at the prince's beautiful face. He stroked his cheek. Miles blinked tiredly, but then he smiled when he recognized his lover. "Good morning," he grumbled sleepily, but after rubbing his eyes and stretching extensively, a smile played on his lips and he repeated the words in a more alert tone. "Good morning, my prince," Gonzalo replied, leaned over him and they kissed deeply. Gonzalo kissed his neck and his tender chest. But before the desire for the beautiful prince overwhelmed him, he ended the kiss because his hand had pushed itself deeper and deeper. Miles whimpered softly "No, please don't stop" He bit his thumbnail lightly "That feels so nice" "I have to, otherwise I don't know what will happen!" "But you want me, don't you?" "More than is good for you, Your Highness!" Gonzalo pressed another kiss to his stomach, which made Miles moan. Gonzalo leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Pack up as much as you can carry when you're put to bed tonight. I'll come if you send me a signal." "What signal?" "Put a candle on your balcony" "And then?" "Then let's escape!" Miles smiled "You want to kidnap me from the palace?" "Something like that!" Gonzalo got dressed and when the sun's rays reached the beach, he climbed down the railing of the balcony. "I'm waiting for you!" Miles called after him.

He threw himself onto his bed and sighed, "Yes, we're going to run away together tonight." In his mind he was already thinking about what he wanted to take with him.

Both counted the hours until sunset. Gonzalo had prepared everything and informed his uncle. He found the idea very dangerous, but knew that he couldn't talk his stubborn nephew out of it. No matter what dangers he pointed out to him. He couldn't wait to have the prince with him, but even if the plan worked, there would always be a risk that someone would recognize him. That's why he wanted to hide him up here for a while. And when the search for the prince subsided, she would leave the city with him at night so that he could be free. The day passed quickly and Miles was bid farewell for the night. After the doors were closed behind him, he rushed around and stuffed everything that was important to him into a large cloth bag. Clothes, jewelry, his wooden pencils and the sketchpad. But he didn't pay attention to the fact that it was open and some leaves had slipped out. They fell under the bed. Then he lit the candle on the balcony. Gonzalo sat in the tower with his binoculars and waited for the candle to be lit.

After the signal went off, Gonzalo jumped off the ledge and headed for the palace. Miles stood on the balcony and looked out. Over an hour had already passed. The moon wasn't visible today. But the stars are even clearer. The moonless night made it impossible for guards to recognize an acrobatic burglar. Miles jumped, having almost fallen asleep. There on the upper wall was a shadow. His heart jumped. Just a few moments later, with a skillful somersault, Gonzalo landed on his balcony. They fell into each other's arms and he kissed the prince's curly hair. "I came here as quickly as I could." Miles closed his eyes and sighed happily. It filled him with bliss to hold his lover in his arms and listen to his heartbeat. They looked at each other and kissed long and deeply. Then they looked into each other's eyes for a long time. "Ready to run away with me?" "Yes!" smiled Miles and took the sack "I think I packed way too much" he chuckled slightly embarrassed and held the back of his head.

Gonzalo threw the packed sack over the palace wall. Then he jumped into the depths. Landed safely and looked up "Where are you, Your Highness?" With trembling knees, Miles looked back again. This palace was all he knew. His birthplace. His home.

But also his prison "Farewell" tears ran down his cheeks because his decision was made. Gonzalo called him "Prince, you have to jump! I'll catch you, don't worry!" Miles looked at him. Gonzalo stretched out his arms to him. "Jump!" Miles gathered his courage and jumped into the depths. As promised, Gonzalo caught him. Miles looked at him with red cheeks as he had his arms wrapped around his neck while Gonzalo held his petite waist. Breathing a little heavily, they looked deeply into each other's eyes and Miles felt his heart pounding in his throat. Gonzalo gave him a kiss on the lips and then let him down. Their gazes never left one another. They kissed for a long time until Gonzalo shouldered the bag of clothes the prince had taken with him and they disappeared together into the night.

Gonzalo guided his guest unseen via hidden paths and winding alleys up to the entrance to the tower in which he lived. Miles looked around "Do you live up here?" "We're almost there" Gonzalo held Miles' hand "Just up the steps" Miles looked at him confused "Steps?" Winking, Gonzalo turned a small crank on the wall and where there were previously holes, small beams now moved out. Miles looked on in amazement. "It's like magic." "A little bit, yes! Come on." Together they ran up the improvised steps. Then Gonzalo turned the crank back and the beams retracted. There was a lot of space in the half-ruined former tower. Miles stood in amazement in the large, round room. "This is your home?" "And now yours too, my prince." Gonzalo put down the bag with the clothes. "If it suits you!" he grinned and Miles turned around "It's wonderful here." He looked up where Gonzalo had a glass lamp hanging. She sparkled in all the colors of the rainbow. Standing halfway under a stretched sky, made of linen cloths sewn together, Miles now discovered the many little things. Boxes, books, blankets, a small table were or were lying around. There was even a real bed in the corner, which Gonzalo had also covered with sheets. "It's really cozy here." "That's just the beginning!" Gonzalo held out his hand and Miles placed it in his. Together they walked up the steps and Miles realized that from up here you could look directly down on the entire city and if you turned your gaze you could look at the palace. "You've been watching me the whole time?" Gonzalo wrapped his arm around his hips "Yes! I was able to look at your balcony with the help of my little telescope..." He kissed him on the neck "... hoping to discover you, love"

"This is the first time I've seen the outside of the palace..." the prince almost enthused, but the rumbling of his stomach quickly made him come back to reality. Gonzalo chuckled softly. He walked downstairs to the small table and poured a sip of tea into the newly acquired ceramic vessel. He looked up at Miles. He stood leaning against the railing and looked at his former home. "But I won't go back!" With the tea in his hand, Gonzalo ran over to him, "Be careful, hot" and gave it to Miles, who slowly blew off the edge to take a sip. He placed the empty cup on the wooden edge that served as a railing. Gonzalo slowly came up behind him. Wrapping his arms around her delicate waist. The small bells clinked softly on the cloth that the prince wore tied around his waist.

They looked deep into each other's eyes and kissed in the darkened side of the tower. Only the stars shone above them. Then Gonzalo picked him up in his arms "Time to go to sleep!" "I'm not tired yet," the prince giggled and received another kiss from Gonzalo. Whispered something in his ear, making Miles blush softly. The prince cuddled up to him in love.

The flowing silk curtains covered the large bed. Even though Gonzalo's quarters were open from all sides, there was one corner that remained hidden from all eyes. He kissed Miles again before gently sliding him onto the bed. The prince looked up at him with red cheeks. His eyes reflected curiosity, but also fear. To take his last breath away, he leaned down and kissed him. He bent one leg and slowly ran the palm of his hand over the knee and along the thigh. The young prince's skin was as soft as a rose petal. And despite the fact that he had worked up a bit of a sweat while escaping, he still smelled faintly of the honey and milk bath he had taken earlier. Gonzalo's lips slowly felt their way down his neck, which Miles commented on with a deep sigh, down to his tender chest. At the same time, Gonzalo's fingertips crept under the skirt-like garment, with the small golden bells jingling delicately. Underneath he felt the material of a covering that started just below the bottom and was tight. Miles pushed his head a little deeper into the firm pillow and groaned. He liked what Gonzalo was doing and made his stomach area tingle. Gonzalo took his hand away, opened the prince's belt and let the cloth attached to it fall to the floor next to the bed. The small gold, coin-sized bells on it rang lightly. He pushed up his cropped, tight top.

Then took a slight distance. Miles sat up and pulled it over his head. He panted slightly as Gonzalo's touches and kisses almost drove him crazy. His cheeks were red and his eyes were transfigured. He ran his palms over his lover's exposed chest and pushed the vest over his shoulders. Gonzalo was more muscular than him, which also excited him a lot. Miles scooted a little closer to him. Gonzalo wrapped his arms around his narrow waist and Miles sat on his lap with his legs slightly apart. They kissed before Gonzalo licked his neck. Miles wrapped his arms around his neck. The braids caressed his skin. Gonzalo had crawled his hand back under the long wraparound skirt and was stroking his round little bottom. "You're so tender. I'm almost afraid to touch you," Gonzalo grinned, but immediately ended the conversation. "Forgive me, your highness!" He was afraid that he had now destroyed the beautiful, very tender atmosphere between them. Miles smiled with his eyes closed and shook his head, "It's okay." In order not to talk to himself any more about his head and collar and maybe even the beautiful night that had dawned, Gonzalo closed his sometimes too big mouth with Miles' lips.

Kissing each other deeply, they lay back on the bed. Gonzalo braced himself with one hand on the sheet. He removed the belt from his pants. There were no bells on them, but small bags in which he kept his throwing stars, which he sometimes needed to escape the guards who patrolled the streets to arrest trick pickpockets like him. Anyone who was caught was taken to prison and hanged the following day in the palace courtyard to the cheers of many townspeople. He removed the knee pads from his pants and took off his sturdy calf-high boots. These fell next to the prince's flat shoes.

And again, while the tips of their tongues probed each other, he slipped under the prince's wraparound skirt. But this time he touched his crotch. He left his hand there rubbing up and down and gently pinched the beautiful young man's hard nipples with his teeth to excite him even more for the act. He opened the knot of the wrapping cloth and freed the prince from it. He kissed his stomach and moved the tip of his tongue deeper and deeper. Gonzalo had skillfully removed the prince's tight trousers. He paused briefly and looked at the fragile-looking prince. Miles moaned loudly and tried to stroke Gonzalo's head. But he gave up and clawed his fingers into the pillow, enjoying and pulling out a long groan, pushing his head back. He bit his lower lip and moaned louder and louder the harder and faster Gonzalo sucked his penis. Miles felt like a hot wave was rolling over him. He arched up slightly and cried out his first orgasm through tears. He gasped for air after turning his head to the side. His eyes were still closed. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Gonzalo looked up at him. Tears rolled down his nose and landed on the pillow. But not tears of pain, sadness or suffering - but tears of relief. His entire tense, stiff body was now relaxed and his breathing slowly calmed down again. You could hear him gasping. Miles only heard a slight rustling and knew that it had been Gonzalo's pants. He felt that the warm, humid night wind was not touching his sweaty body and knew that his lover was now bent over him. Miles turned his head to Gonzalo's face and pulled him down "Love me!" he breathed to him. "That's an order!" "As you command, Your Royal Highness!" Gonzalo joked. Miles was shaking slightly. He was excited. His first time was coming. They had almost done it in his bed once, but the fear of the experience was still too great.

Their deep kisses became longer and longer the more often they took a short breath in between. Gonzalo gently pushed his tongue between his lips. Miles hands explored Gonzalo's body. He was very muscular and slightly sweaty from the muggy night air and the heat between them. He stroked his sides. Hips down. He heard Gonzalo sigh softly because he liked it so much. He nibbled along the prince's neck to distract him from slowly pulling his legs apart a little.

He whispered something in his ear "You still have the chance to say NO if you do -" "I want it! Maybe it's the only time I can experience it and my heart stops, but if - Then I don't want to die a virgin!" Gonzalo held back his quiet laughter. He kissed Miles slowly and briefly at first, then longer and more deeply as he penetrated him. The handsome prince groaned, curled his well-manicured fingernails into Gonzalo's sweaty skin, and then bit his bottom lip to muffle the next soft scream as Gonzalo began to slowly move up and down. Miles wrapped his arms around him. Crossed his legs around his waist and then let himself fall. He surrendered to it, free from fear that they would be caught. Slowly the steady thrusts and moans of the two turned into a beautiful unified melody. Until Gonzalo broke out as his breathing became more uneven. He increased the pace of his thrusts. Their hands clasped tightly together and he pushed himself away from the prince's body. He threw his head back and his pigtails flew. The next moment he moaned very loudly and for a long time. He pressed himself as hard as he could against the delicate prince, who was breathing more and more irregularly now that he had felt Gonzalo's orgasm. Gonzalo paused for a moment and tried to calm himself down. He swallowed and licked his dry lips. Then he leaned over Miles and began thrusting him again, slowly at first, then increasing in speed. With her hands free again, Miles clung to Gonzalo's skin. He was drenched in sweat and tossing his head back and forth as he tried not to hyperventilate. He was so dizzy. Tears streamed down the sides of his cheeks. He pushed his head back as his body reared up and cried out. His cheeks turned deep red as he felt that he had just spilled his own sperm. At the same time, Gonzalo did it again and was now happy that his wish of experiencing it together with him had come true.

They held each other tightly in each other's arms. Miles was shaking and could barely calm down. Gonzalo tenderly wiped away his tears again and again and kissed him alternately while wrapping his arms around him and stroking his heated skin. Lying in each other's arms, they stroked each other's skin. Gonzalo stroked Miles' arm as he caressed his neck and played with one of the pigtails. "That was very nice," he sighed softly, still blushing but happy. Gonzalo stroked his spine as Miles lay on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. They talked about everything. They laughed or Miles hid in his arms and cried. Just like now when he confided to Gonzalo everything he had to get rid of "I've never ridden a horse before. I've never felt the sea washing around my ankles. I've never climbed on a rock before," the prince listed and Gonzalo understood that he knew nothing about life and at the same time had so little time to experience everything.

Then Miles became quieter. He closed his eyes. Gonzalo smiled. If the prince seemed so fragile one moment, he was so strong the next. He gathered his courage and asked, "What do you do all day if you've never been outside the palace?" "Oh... Uh, I sleep very late because I don't have to get up early in the morning," he answered with an embarrassed look and touched the back of his head. "It's usually already midday when I wake up. Then my examinations come. Then I have breakfast, Well, I'm trying. Because of the medication I'm not very hungry. I read a lot or draw. Then in the evening I take my bath and then I'm locked in my room again. But sometimes the guards forget to lock it. Then I walk across the door "I sit there under the starry sky and count the stars." Gonzalo took his hand. Miles looked up at him. His 'captor's' eyes were full of compassion. He gently stroked his cheek. Miles felt his heart beating faster. Gonzalo gently pushed his chin up since he was taller than the handsome prince. "Now you are free and can do whatever you want." He ran his thumb along his lips. Then he bent his head down and lowered his sensual lips to the prince's.

No one had noticed his escape yet, but that would change when the sun rose. Shivering slightly, Miles snuggled up in the blanket. Gonzalo's bed cover was not made of cotton or silk, but only linen and it got cool in the room at night. Miles rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked around confused. It took a few blinks before he realized that he had actually done it and run away from the palace, as he had dreamed of so many times. But this time it was reality. He looked next to him and saw his lover's sleeping face. He smiled and snuggled up again.

Gonzalo opened his eyes slowly. He sat up and was startled. The side of the bed next to him was empty. He looked around slightly panicked. It hadn't been a dream, because the two bags containing the prince's things were still there, untouched, where they had left them. He quickly put on his pants and ran to the stairs that led up to the last floor. From a distance he recognized a figure standing there and breathed a sigh of relief. The young prince looked melancholy into the distance. "I will die soon..." Gonzalo winced. The prince's words hurt him very much. "My life expectancy is 18 to 25 years. But it looks like I won't even reach adulthood." "That's why the forced marriage..." "Yes, so that something of me remains. I "I'm supposed to produce a royal heir before I die. But I have no desire whatsoever." He felt his lover's strong arms wrapping around his slender waist. "I'm scared," Miles whispered as Gonzalo kissed his neck slowly. He ran his hand over his delicate chest and breathed into his ear. "You survived the night with me, my prince. Your heart can't be that weak." Miles chuckled, slightly blushing. "That's true." He tilted his head in Gonzalo's direction "Just call me Miles! After all, we spent a passionate night together!" They kissed deeply and Gonzalo lifted his royal lover into his strong arms to carry him to the bed again. Nestled close to each other, stroking each other's arms and necks, they enjoyed the warmth that radiated from their closeness. The sun could now be seen from the sea and was rising higher and higher. "The bells will ring soon," whispered Miles, half asleep, in the arms of his lover. "And then all hell will break out in the palace. The guards will fan out and search the city. Until they found me!" "But they won't find you!" Gonzalo kissed his forehead "No one will ever find you again!"

As Miles said before, it started calmly and quickly became a major panic. The queen knocked on the door to wake her son earlier today. But no one answered. She entered and, assuming her child was still sleeping, walked slowly to the four-poster bed. She sat down and whispered "Get up my darling. It's time for you" There was no response. She smiled and stroked the blanket. "You little morning person." She pulled slightly at the silk blanket and was shocked when only pillows and old stuffed animals fell together. "Miles?" She looked around confused "Miles?! Darling?" Then she got up and looked for the prince in the two adjacent rooms. "Darling, if this is a joke, I don't find it... amusing..." she said, becoming more and more quiet when she saw so many compartments in the dressing room were empty where previously there had been piles of clothing. She opened the drawers. Pieces of jewelry were also missing. Then she discovered more and more things missing, such as shoes and medication. Care products that the prince used because he paid great attention to his beautiful appearance despite his illness. His pens and the leather-bound folder with his drawings. The Queen realized it "He's gone!" and immediately ran to her husband's study to tell him the news

"MILES IS DISAPPEARED!"

The king looked up in disbelief. "Excuse me?" "Our son! He...He's missing! Many of his clothes and things of his are missing!" "What are you saying?" Their Majesties hastily rushed back to the orphaned room of their son "MILES?" cried the king, his voice stern but concerned. The queen shook her head. "He ran away like he always threatened," she sobbed. The king's worried look changed to anger "WAAACHEEEN!" Immediately the general and three of his best men came running. They knelt before the king. "You called, your majesty?" "The prince has disappeared! Search every corner of the palace immediately! And then expand the search to the city!" "What, you think Miles left the palace?" the queen asked confused. "How could he have done that? There are guards everywhere and he is seriously ill. He won't survive long without medical care and all the influences of the city." Sheer panic was written on the queen's face. She suspected that it had been wrong to shield the prince from everything, because even the slightest cold could kill him now that he had almost no immune system. And just as predicted, the great bell sounded, reaching into every corner of the huge city that lay at the foot of the palace.

Not only did she frighten the couple who were hiding in the tower and were lying back on the bed kissing after their passionate lovemaking, but she also woke up the two guests in the palace. The princess jumped up in shock. Her eyes hidden under a sleep mask because she wasn't used to such early sun. She ripped off her mask and ran out of her room "What happened?" she asked one of the guards rushing past her after grabbing his arm. "His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince was kidnapped from his chambers tonight!" "Kidnapped?" asked the princess, slightly shocked "But how... can this happen?" "We are already looking for him. Don't worry. Your fiancé will surely return to you!"

"I hope so!" she called after the man. "I hope so!" she hissed again, because this little incident threw her entire plan into disarray.

Miles looked down at Gonzalo as he leaned over him "Now it's known!" "They'll give up eventually! And until then, we'll be safe here. Nobody knows this place and has no idea how to get up here." He stroked Miles' face. "You'll be safe here. And once the commotion has died down "Let's disappear!" "And where are we going?" "Wherever you want, love!"

All hopes and prayers came to nothing as the guards returned to the palace in the evening without the news that the prince had been found. She ran into the prince's room and sat on the bed. "Where are you?!" she asked to the empty room. As she stood up, something rustled under the bed. She turned around, looked underneath and saw that there were sheets of paper lying there.

Giggling, Miles kneaded his hair with the shampoo he had made himself before Gonzalo doused him with the jug as a warning: "Caution, very cold!" The jug slowly emptied and Miles curled up even more as the water was icy cold. His teeth chattered. The shampoo was rinsed out and Gonzalo quickly threw a towel over him. "Rub your chest and your arms will warm up on their own." While Miles heeded the advice, Gonzalo rubbed his hair halfway dry. The night heat would do the rest. He wrapped the prince in the large towel. Kissed him on the cheek "Are you still cold, darling?" he asked and Miles looked him tenderly in the eyes. "No, my love." Gonzalo smiled and they both kissed. After the kiss, Miles looked deep into his eyes. "Will you grant me a wish?" "What sweetie?" Gonzalo kissed him on the neck "Marry me!" Miles' eyes trembled. Smiling, Gonzalo nodded "When?" "As quickly as possible!" They cuddled together. While Gonzalo closed his eyes, Miles looked down. He wanted to experience so many more things, but he was running out of time.

After she fished out the papers, she saw that they were drawings by Miles. The only things he could find joy in while imprisoned here were reading his books and drawing pictures. The prince could draw very well, as the queen saw. She recognized the small garden with the fountain in the middle, in which fish swam and in the summer water lilies bloomed, which in turn attracted bees and butterflies. As a child, the prince often sat in front of the fountain for hours and listened to the frogs or tried to catch the butterflies. She pushed the picture she saw behind the next piece of paper. But this time it wasn't a landscape. No sunset over the sea. The view of the stars from the balcony or a captured childhood memory. No, this picture showed a very beautiful young man with two distinctive braids and a daring look.

Under the cover of night, Gonzalo brought the prince back to their now shared home after they had picked up groceries from his uncle. Here he was able to take off the covering cloak and turned around "I can't wait to get out of here. Somewhere where no one will look for me" He took Gonzalo's hand "I want to be free and not just live in fear, that's me discovered and brought back to the palace" How could he resist those eyes. Since Miles was with him, they were clear and radiant. Miles rarely fell into his depressive mood and simply cried without warning. As they sat by the fire and drank hot tea, Gonzalo placed one of the stolen silk blankets over his shoulders. Up here in the tower it wasn't as hot and humid and stuffy as it was down in the houses. Despite hot days, Miles also only knew cool nights. Because of his light weight, he quickly got cold and Gonzalo liked to cuddle up to him and warm his body. Most of the time what started at the fireplace ended in bed. Looks, kisses, closer touches, kisses that become more intimate and finally a passionate night of love.

Then the queen discovered another drawing. This made her jump and then cover her lips with her hand in horror.

She had always thought she knew her son. But now she learned that he had secrets from her and that there was a special reason why he was so reluctant to have a relationship with the princess. It wasn't just the peace treaty with Damar, but his recently awakened feelings for the street thief Gonzalo.

The days and nights in which the missing prince could now live freely flew by. Miles and Gonzalo enjoyed their time together. They were currently romping through the tower, enveloped in the warm light of the setting sun. Miles' robes billowed as he tried to avoid being caught as he ran down the stairs. His laughter resounded within the walls. Gonzalo hid and as the prince ran past him, he wrapped his arms around his waist, holding him tight. "I've got you!" Miles shrieked, laughing more happily than he ever had before. They both laughed and then looked deep into each other's eyes. With Gonzalo standing behind him, Miles tilted his head back slightly while Gonzalo leaned forward. Their kiss was deep and hungry. Their love had grown even stronger in the past nights and days. So strong that Gonzalo was now ready to fulfill his prince's greatest wish. But to do this he had to 'get rid of him' for a little while because he wanted to make the proposal really romantic and worthy of the prince.

The uncle looked at his nephew irritated when he saw the hooded boy next to Gonzalo. "Come in, be quick!" He instructed the boys and quickly pushed them inside his house. There, after covering the windows, Miles was then able to remove the hood. Still in disbelief, the uncle looked at the prince, who had just discovered the huge aquarium with the many colorful fish and was standing in front of it in amazement. "I still can't believe it because you kidnapped the crown prince." "Saved!" Gonzalo corrected him and saw Miles watching the fish with shining eyes. "Look at him. He's like an innocent child," Gonzalo smiled, but then became serious. "He has to stay here for a short while. I'll get him when I'm finished am" "Are you going to steal?" He whispered it quietly to his uncle, "I want to propose to him!"

The candles flickered in the small glass holders like twinkling stars. Under the high sky in the tower, both stood and danced to the sounds of the street music that could be heard up here. It felt like they were really floating in seventh heaven "Where did you learn to dance?" asked Miles, who had been taking lessons from the age of 12. Gonzalo whispered it to him "On the street. There people dance in the evenings just like that or because someone always has a reason to celebrate. Despite the fact that the people are very poor, they don't miss the opportunity to be happy." "And that is "Very nice. I wish I could rule it..." Miles lowered his head and tore himself away. Gonzalo reached out to him, but he decided to give him time. After a few moments passed, he went to him. Miles looked down at the city. "I'm worried about what will happen to my kingdom if I..." Showing him that he wasn't alone in his fears, Gonzalo stroked his shoulders. "You would have made a wonderful king. I would have loyal to you-" Miles turned around "You would be?" He pouted "Get on your knees before your future king!" he said in a commanding tone and pointed his finger at the floor. "Forgive your highness." Gonzalo did so, but then he couldn't manage to stay serious anymore and they both giggled. Miles hugged Gonzalo "Thank you for being by my side" "I always will be!" Gonzalo felt Miles' tears running down his face. He had to change the subject quickly now, otherwise Miles would fall back into sadness and only think about the inevitable happening soon. He stroked his hair and saw the glittering gold ring on his finger. Yes, he had made a promise to Miles. That he would always love and protect him for all eternity. Until his death - which unfortunately was getting closer and closer. Gonzalo kissed him on the forehead "I'm always with you!" He whispered the rest in his ear. "And since we're married now, our wedding night awaits us." Miles bit his lower lip slightly at these words.

People were dancing, laughing and celebrating as tonight was a bit cooler. The fire burned and the sparks flew high into the starry sky. Autumn had slowly arrived.

Miles and Gonzalo didn't notice that it was cooler. They made passionate love several times and cuddled tightly together under the covers. They were already halfway asleep while Gonzalo stroked his fingertips along the arm of the prince who was snuggled up against him. Miles' fingertips played with the braid that hung over Gonzalo's chest. He sighed "So that's what it feels like" "What?" "Happy to be married" Miles giggled with red cheeks "I just read about it in my books and imagined what it's like to be married" "To who? A princess or a prince?!" Gonzalo asked "It doesn't matter. I just wanted to be loved and happy"

Every morning the queen ran into her son's room and sat on the bed. She had kept the drawings to herself. Meanwhile, the king had ordered the guards to search the houses in the city to find the prince. "He's been missing for a week now. Hopefully he's still alive..." He hit the table. "I should have "You shouldn't force him to marry the princess." "It's not your fault, darling," the queen tried to reassure her husband, who, out of concern for his beloved son, now showed more feelings than he had before. "I would have given him more to show that I love him as much as you do! He must have felt unloved." The queen sighed and shook her head. "He knows that he is loved! He was just very lonely..."

Today was another one of those times where Miles wasn't feeling well. The changing air bothered him. It was harder for him to breathe. Also because he no longer had any medication. Gonzalo came running up the stairs. He had a small bowl of crushed pills with him. "Sorry, I couldn't find anything else. But they'll help, I promise." Miles sat on the ledge and looked down at the city. "How much longer..." "What do you mean, love ?" "How much longer am I supposed to hide here? I've just been running from one prison to the next-" "Miles!" Gonzalo interrupted, dropping the bowl. He knelt halfway away from him. "Be patient. The guards are still looking for you, but I've found a loophole in case we..." "are discovered," Miles whispered. Gonzalo shook his head "No, in case we have to escape quickly!" He stood up and kissed his forehead. "I'm already 3 steps ahead of the guards. I told you, I won't let you be taken away from me again!" Miles looked at him, Gonzalo leaned down and they kissed. Miles' stomach growled, which made both of them giggle. "Ok, I'll get us something to eat first." He took the bag from the table and shook it out. But only 3 coins rolled out. They had been able to live well for over a week from the last raid, but Gonzalo had spent a little too much on the small wedding decorations. Miles saw that his lover was pondering what he should buy with the three coins. The prince took off his earrings and handed them to him "Here!" Gonzalo looked at him questioningly "Sell it!" "But" "You'll get a lot of gold coins for it" smiled Miles and gave him a kiss on the cheek "You can even buy a few mangoes and strawberries with it" "No, the jewelry is too flashy. You can immediately see that the highest quality gold is .Not to mention the gemstones!"So steal again?" Miles asked quietly. Gonzalo turned around. "I'll think of something." Then he left the tower.

Miles also threw on his cloak and had his pockets full of jewelry. Since he knew where the fence had her business, he ran there. He placed necklaces, bracelets and earrings on the table. The woman looked at him in disbelief. "Where did you break in, Gonzalo?!" "Um..." Miles pulled his hood further over his face and tried to disguise his voice. "To the palace!" "I actually believe you! These are extremely high-quality pieces of jewelry. You must have at least cleared out the treasury for that," the woman joked. "No, but the prince's chamber! The jewelry belongs to the prince!" Miles cleared his throat. The woman examined the diamonds, sapphires and rubies with a gemstone loupe. The silver and gold jewelry "The prince really owns the highest quality-" "Yeah, um, what do I get for it?" Miles urged as 2 men had entered and he now felt uncomfortable. The fence gave Miles a large, very bulging leather bag. "But I really can't give you any more! That's 500 gold coins!" "500?" Miles asked again, because the golden jewelry alone was worth that much and even more. "This is the best and purest gold that can be found in Ahlam! The silver is just as much more-" "Very well." The fence knew that she couldn't fool what she believed to be a professional street thief and put 5 more bags on the table. "10,000! It's really not possible to do more than that!" "Wow, thank you very much." She shook everything into a sack, which Miles quickly hid under his cloak. As the hood slipped slightly, the woman saw that the young man had NO pigtails and was quickly blushing as he pulled the hood back up.

At the market he bought dates, strawberries, mangoes and bread. He quickly ran back to the tower. Because if Gonzalo came home early and didn't find Miles, he would be worried and the nice surprise Miles had planned would also be gone. He was lucky and quickly gathered everything together for a delicious breakfast. Boiled tea, put the plates with the cut fruit and bread on the table. Lighted a few candles and waited for his husband under the high sky. He heard the beams being pulled in and heard the footsteps coming up the stairs. A little surprised, Gonzalo slowly came closer and saw what Miles had done. "What..." "Are you hungry, love?" "From where?" "I told you, the jewelry will bring in a lot!" "You sold all your jewelry?" "I don't need it" Gonzalo sat down "And you bought all of this?" "A lot more, but we still need something to eat for tomorrow and the day after." Miles sat down on Gonzalo's drank tea and fed each other strawberries and kisses in between.

Delighted with the valuable jewelry, the fence ran to a stand where she could exchange it for gold coins. "This is really the best thing I've ever gotten." One of the guards stopped her, "Where did you get that?" "The?" She tried to hide the earrings, but another guard grabbed her wrist. "This is the prince's jewelry! From the royal birthday party!" The woman turned pale "Oh my God... That... That was really the prince who offered me those pieces of jewelry!"

The woman told the guards everything she knew "I thought it was Gonzalo, but then I saw he didn't have any pigtails and his voice was a lot louder too, now that I think about it" "Who is Gonzalo?" asked one of the guards "A thief! Cunning and very charming. Pretty boy. Always steals the best. That's why I thought it was him" "Where is he?" "Nobody knows! He comes and goes! Nobody knows where he lives or is. He's like a shadow!"

Miles now shamelessly surrendered to his lover when the urge came to her. Like now, sitting on Gonzalo's lap and bobbing up and down with pleasure from his kisses on the neck and light bites on the shoulder. Slumped together, Miles kept his arms wrapped around Gonzalo's neck and jasped lightly. Gonzalo kissed his forehead "Are you okay, sweetheart?" "Yes..." Miles blew out a breath and looked into his husband's eyes. "I'm doing great!" He pressed a kiss to his lips "And you're the reason why!" They embraced each other and kissed each other. Gonzalo lifted Miles from his lap and fell to the floor with him, laughing. Now somewhat ashamed, Miles pulled the cloth that he had tied around his hips lower to cover his pubic area. Gonzalo kissed him on the neck. "Here or in bed?!" "In bed!" the sweet prince breathed to him, excited.

Since the guards now knew that the prince was in the city and, above all, that he was still alive and moving around freely, they searched all the houses. Also that of Gonzalo's uncle, who pretended to be ignorant. One of the guards discovered a small golden bell on the floor, like the one the prince wore on his hip scarf. "Look, captain! This is the finest gold with decorations." The man looked at the coin-sized flat piece of gold in his hand. "His royal highness was here!" "What are you talking about, man. There was no prince here!" Aaron defended himself, but he was pushed against the wall and kept at bay with a saber. "Look around here!" the other two security guards were given orders. On the table in the next room there were photos of Aaron with a boy. They brought him the photos. "This is the boy the fence was talking about!" "Yeah man, that's my nephew!" "Where is he?" Aaron shrugged.

"The boy's grown up. I'm not hanging on his waistband!" "Where does he live?" "Now here, now there," Aaron answered snippily, which greatly annoyed the captain. "Where is his highness?" "Isn't he in the palace?" "That's enough!" The captain twisted Aaron's arm behind his back and led him away. "You'll talk again!"

Gonzalo's head rested on Miles' chest and listened to his heartbeat "It beats fast but strong" "Luckily" Miles stroked Gonzalo's thick straight hair and played with a braid "Otherwise we couldn't enjoy this" They kissed and changed positions , but just to enjoy their closeness a little more.

In the midday heat it was pleasantly cool in the tower. Miles had proudly spread out his exchanged gold pieces and they both counted what they had left. Nodding, Gonzalo smiled "That's enough to get out of town!" He got up. "I'll quickly tell Uncle Aaron that we're leaving tonight. I'll be right back." They always kissed each other goodbye. But Miles had a bad feeling. "Better wait until it gets dark. Remember, the guards are still looking for me and we both look pretty similar." Gonzalo looked thoughtfully at the ceiling. "That's right again!"

In her room, the very bad-tempered princess threw everything that was on it off the shelf. Various perfume bottles were broken. "They're all incompetent bunglers!" The king sighed "Calm down!" "I don't want to calm down!" Gwendolyn snapped back. "You should find the prince so that I can take this kingdom under my own control. But that's only possible if I'm officially married to the crown prince!" "Every stone will be turned over, but I'm sorry Princess!" sighed the guard of her own guard "Prince Miles has disappeared from the face of the earth!" "Then keep looking!" She stomped her foot "Find him!"

At dusk Gonzalo ran to his uncle's house. He saw that the door was ajar, which seemed unusual to him.

He walked very slowly into the interior "Uncle?" he asked in the silence and saw that chairs were overturned and glasses were broken. "Uncle?! Are you there?" He carefully walked slowly through the rooms. Suddenly he heard voices and hid behind the curtain that led to the pantry. Through a small gap, Gonzalo could see 3 guards. He tried to escape through the window, but knocked over a vase. This attracted the men and they spotted the boy "That's him!" "That's the guy we're looking for!" the guards shouted pointing. Gonzalo winced. Nobody could know that he was hiding the prince with him! He fled across the rooftops in a panic, but ran in the opposite direction to keep them away from the tower. He cursed himself for not listening to Miles. "You were right, I should have waited until it was really dark!" The guards wandered around "Damn, he escaped!" "Look for him! He can't escape! This dirty little thief has something to do with the disappearance of our crown prince!" Gonzalo put on his hood and just walked along the rooftops in a crouched position. Luck was on his side, as dusk quickly turned into protective night. He made it back to the tower unseen. Ran up the stairs "MILES?" The prince turned his head towards the shouts of "What's wrong?" and came to meet his lover. Relieved, Gonzalo pulled his husband into his arms. Held him tight and hugged him tighter "What...?!" "Pack up what you can carry! We have to leave!"

Since Gonzalo had already planned ahead, he knew where to take Miles. The man was given a bag of gold coins and the small wooden cart was already hitched up and waiting. On the cart lay a folded tent, warm blankets, a cloth with flares in it and on top there was a large basket filled with food. Next to it is a large clay jug with water. They threw the knotted sacks onto the cart, covered themselves and left the alley very slowly instead of conspicuously quickly. But the old man had become greedy after holding the gold coins in his hands, grinning. He ran to one of the guards he saw from afar and hobbled over to them. "You're looking for his highness, right?" The guard spun around "I know where the prince is, but the information costs 1000 golden thalers! Then you will also get information about where a certain thief you are looking for is," he grinned, rubbing his hands conspiratorially. The security guard was now fine with everything, if only he could finally achieve success. "Here!" He gave the old man a bulging bag, but then drew his saber. "If you lie, I'll cut your throat!" "You're this way!" he pointed with his bony finger. "They're traveling on a wooden cart. I helped them escape, but I also have to see where I'm staying." "HAVE IT!" the captain instructed his guards and the horses hurried through the streets.

The sky above them became clearer the closer they got to the adjacent forest. Miles shivered slightly. He only had very thin clothing and the cloak wasn't warm enough. Gonzalo looked at him "Are you cold, love?" "Something," Miles lied, because he was terribly cold but didn't dare say it. He, the spoiled prince, complained at just a few degrees below the heat death, knowing that he was cold but knowing that it was due to his physical condition. Smiling, Gonzalo pulled one of the blankets out from behind him and handed it to him. "Here! Cuddle up and get some sleep. We're still on the way to the next town." "And you?" "The night is my day! You know that. I don't sleep until dawn in the morning. Except when I was with you." The cart stopped briefly. Miles lay down on the other blankets. The couple kissed. Gonzalo covered the prince and climbed back onto the carriage seat to continue his journey. With his heart pounding with excitement and happiness at the same time, the prince fell asleep. The palace guards were now hot on their heels, for the old man had sold them the same card he had offered to Gonzalo.

Miles woke up late in the night. He saw the starry sky above him and was amazed "Wow" "Hm?" Gonzalo turned around "Oh you're awake?" "How far is it to our destination?" "Do you see that mountain over there?" Gonzalo pointed to the coming landscape. "Behind that is the city!" "So still very far" "Yes..." Suddenly Gonzalo listened and spun around. He heard horses whinnying, getting closer and closer. The wind carried every sound through the forest. He quickly turned the cart around and drove deeper into the forest. "Such a damn one! I should have cut his tongue out!" "What's up?" "The old man has betrayed us! These are palace guards!" "WHAT?" The fear of being caught and taken back to the palace caused panic to flash in Miles' amber eyes. He clung to Gonzalo's cloak "NO!" shook his head "I don't want to go back! I don't want to be separated from you!" Tears ran down his cheeks "I'd rather die here and now!" "Hold on!" Gonzalo gave the horse the command with the reins "Go!" and the horse changed from a trot to a gallop to escape. The captain was now dangerously close and could hardly believe his eyes. "The prince!" Miles looked straight into the face of the guard he knew too well. "Faster!" Miles shouted to Gonzalo, who was literally beating the horse's reins. "Please run faster. They can't get us. I promise you that I'll take care of you then, but please get us out of here now!"

Suddenly the cart stopped. Miles and Gonzalo hurried to secure the blankets and the tent. Miles had wrapped the groceries in a cloth. He held the cloth tightly while Gonzalo, now sitting on the horse with him, disappeared into the forest. The guards stood in front of the burning cart and had lost track of it. "Cursed" "They want to go to the next town!" The men set off, but Gonzalo now had other plans "We've left them behind! They're riding on into the city now, but we both -" He kissed Miles on the cheek "- have a new destination! " "And where are we going?" "You'll see that then!"

With the big lead they had now that the guards had no chance of catching up with them, their path led them into the desert.

Miles was asleep. He still didn't know why Gonzalo had chosen this path. But he trusted him and was happy for the reason. His lover would do anything that would bring him joy or moments of happiness, knowing that the prince had already wasted half his life. There was still so much to discover and experience - but time was its worst enemy!Miles felt this too, but he kept it to himself. The first sign was that he was quickly out of breath.

The guards humbly knelt before the King and Queen as they reported "We only caught a glimpse of him!" "Was it really the prince?" "Yes, Your Majesty! His Highness saw us too, but he..." The captain lowered his head lower. "He was panicked with fear." The queen sighed and left the hall. She ran into Miles' room and pulled the drawing out from under the pillow. "Please take good care of my son!"

During the day, while it wasn't too hot, they both ran through the desert. Adjacent rocks provided them with shade until it got cooler again. At that time they were sleeping. Then they continued running. Suddenly Gonzalo stopped "Wait!" "What is it?!" "Close your eyes and take a deep breath!" Miles did so and said what he smelled. "That smells like salt." Gonzalo looked lovingly into his face. "And what smells like salt?" Miles opened his eyes "The sea!" He held out his hand to Miles. "Come on!" and both ran along the highest point of the sand dune.

Billions of stars could be seen above them, whose silver light shone particularly brightly here. They reached the beach. Gonzalo threw his boots into the sand "You wanted to feel the sea washing your ankles" Miles smiled "Yes, that was still missing. I've already ridden a horse and climbed up rocks" The prince shook off his flat shoes " Now I want to feel what the sea feels like!" He slowly and deeply breathed into the sea water. Closed your eyes. Tears ran down his cheeks. He exhaled and opened his eyes "This feels indescribable. The best feeling I've ever had" Gonzalo smiled, whispering in his ear as he walked up behind him "Better than what we did last night?" Miles bit his lower lip and grinned slightly. "No" turned his head and kissed his lover. "Nothing can beat that!" They kissed and Miles giggled as Gonzalo pulled the top over his arms and head. "Come on, let's bathe!" "Seriously?" "Yes! Get undressed! Or should I do it, Your Highness?!" "N-No, I'll do it myself!" squealed Miles as Gonzalo grabbed him and dragged him into the water "We're going swimming now!" Miles shrieked and laughed. "But I can't swim," he admitted. They both laughed and enjoyed the cool water. They stood in the water, hugging each other up to their chests, kissing and enjoying their togetherness. After the hot desert day, swimming in the sea was a nice way to cool off.

Miles had his arms wrapped tightly around Gonzalo's neck. The kiss lasted longer. Nobody bothered her. No one saw them run out of the water and lie down on the sand washed by the sea. No one saw them making love under the stars. No one heard the prince's releasing cry. When he opened his eyes, only he saw how the starry sky had spread out above him. Gonzalo looked Miles in the eyes. The silver lights reflected in it until he leaned over Miles and calmed the heavy breathing with a kiss.

Gonzalo pulled a blanket over them both as they watched the stars pass overhead together. Miles sneezed and Gonzalo hugged him tighter, which he accepted with a giggle. He hugged his muscular chest tightly. Stroking a scar and playing with one of the two braids, "How did you know this was the sea?" Miles asked. Gonzalo sat up and Miles did too. The taller boy's look became wistful. "Because that's where I come from." Miles looked at him while Gonzalo fell into a memory that led across the sea to another land.

A large harbor with merchant ships and fishing boats stretched out into the bay, in front of which a large city could be seen. Small white stone houses in staggered rows stood in the foreground. People also greeted each other on the street. Children ran around in the winding streets and played hide-and-seek. The people were happy and trade in the marketplace flourished. Merchants of silks, spices, flowers and fruits shared places with fish, live animals and basketry sellers. The most popular were the bird sellers who advertised exotic birds in their raffia baskets. It was pleasantly warm and people were walking in lightly covered clothing to protect themselves from the sun. A man walked past the stands with 2 security guards. He stopped at a jewelry stand. "Her Highness the Crown Princess would certainly be pleased with such jewelry," remarked one of the men. Her fiancé stopped. "Then I'll buy her this necklace here," he agreed and continued walking after the purchase.

High up in the royal palace, a man knelt submissively before the king. He was the king's advisor and left the throne room because his suggestion had been well received. Eyed jealously and cursed by another man who had also applied to be a consultant. The advisor left the palace to be with his wife and his young newborn son. That night, the rejected man sneaked into the house and killed the kind-hearted advisor. But his wife and the baby were able to escape. To escape death, the widow hid with the child on board a ship sailing across the sea. However, she had deliberately chosen this ship because her husband's brother lived in the kingdom of Ahlam. Here the woman raised her son with the help of her brother-in-law, who was very fond of his nephew. The woman had knowledge of medicine and healing. So, thanks to a coincidence, she was accepted into the royal court as an assistant to the palace doctor and lovingly looked after the little crown prince - until she suddenly disappeared

"My mother was murdered, as was my father!" Gonzalo lowered his head "And I think my uncle is dead too" Miles remained silent. He was still very small, but he remembered the funny woman who had allayed his fear of the injection that he had received to vaccinate him against the deadly disease that immigrants had brought with them.

Cuddling up to his loved one, Miles said what he had suppressed all these years. "I was just a child and played in the palace gardens with the royalties from the treaty countries. We played hide-and-seek and I climbed the tallest tree. My nanny is almost desperate, because I was so wild and cheeky. She was overprotective and kept shouting for me to come down. She betrayed me and I was mad at her. I tried to chase her away with my hands and feet. Then I lost my balance and... I fell. I don't remember anything except that I woke up in my bed. I was injured and the friendly woman who was my doctor told me that I had been unconscious for 3 days. I was in the head and chest injured. There was a thick bandage there. And I felt a sharp pain in my chest. The other doctors said it was from the fall, but your mom-" Miles looked Gonzalo in the eyes "- felt that something was wrong . She said that a splinter of the branch that had pierced my chest in the fall might have broken off and injured my heart. Because when I started coughing, I cried out because of the pain. They didn't take her seriously and made fun of the fact that a herbalist who came along knew more than trained palace doctors who had studied medicine. But your mom was proven right and by the time it was discovered, it was already too late. The splinter sits in my heart and moves when I exert myself. That's why I was no longer allowed to do anything that could be too strenuous. And any little cold, because of the cough, could kill me in an instant!" "But you've done a lot of strenuous things in the last few days," Gonzalo gently pushed him with his arm. "Especially at night!" Embarrassed, Miles bit his lower lip and played along the fingers "My mom often told me stories about the little prince when she was at home. She always said that he looked just like me and that she would like to introduce him to me someday. We could then play together and he wouldn't be so lonely anymore. But the queen rejected it. Now I know why!" Gonzalo put his arm around Miles' shoulders. "I just want to protect you from suffering and harm with everything I have!" Miles snuggled into his chest. "If I were stronger, then I would do that too !" Falling asleep listening to his heartbeat, the prince dreamed something that scared him. He was in a dark room.

He heard his lover's voice "HELP ME!" Gonzalo shouted, reaching out to Miles. But thick bars prevented them from reaching each other. And when Miles turned around, the enemy crown princess was standing there in her wedding dress. Then Miles saw a large pillar with a long rope attached to it. A gallows! He heard his lover scream and then sudden silence.

Miles jumped up, startled. He was breathing heavily and struggling for air. Then he saw that he was lying in the tent. Beside him, Gonzalo lay sleeping peacefully, apparently dreaming of something nicer. Then he found his way back and sighed softly before opening his eyes "Did you have a bad dream?" "Yes..." Miles wiped away his tears and snuggled into his arms "It was just a dream!" Gonzalo reassured him with a kiss on the forehead and wrapped his arms tighter around his narrow waist. "Just go back to sleep." "Hmmm." Since his warmth not only gave him protection but also security, the prince quickly fell asleep again. This time dreamless.

Instead, the queen, who had fallen asleep on Miles' bed, woke up after a dark dream. She actually just wanted to smell the scent of her child in the pillow and had her eyes closed. She dreamed of a shattered glass ampoule. She saw her son smiling with tears in his eyes then disappearing into a light "MILES!" She struggled for air. Had she just dreamed of the death of her beloved son?

Concerned, Gonzalo rushed back to the tent when he found the medicinal herbs. "Heya! Faster!" he ordered the black horse. He had been looking for it for days. The prince had been coughing for a while and was starting to feel sick. The tarpaulin of the tent was torn aside. "Miles, I found a handful. I'll make you some tea right away!" "It's fine" Gonzalo felt his own forehead and that of the prince and was startled "Dearest, you have a fever" "Don't worry about me" Miles took Gonzalo's hand and kissed it "I'm just tired" "No, you need real medicine and lots of bed rest. But you won't find that out here..." "What do you mean?" In his eyes, Miles knew exactly what his lover would answer and shook his head, "No, I don't want to go back!" "But only in the palace can you get your medicine and have your soft bed" "NO!" Miles shouted, holding his head and collapsing in his arms. "Please... don't take me back." A tear ran down his cheek. "Kidnapping is punishable by death. You will be hanged and I can't live without you!" Gonzalo pulled Miles even closer to him and held him in his arms. "And I wouldn't be without you either!"

The black stallion raced across the desert, along the forest and through the city. The prince noticed nothing of this; he had fallen into a deep, feverish sleep. Worry-sick, Gonzalo had chosen the only right thing, knowing it would not only break his heart but also bring death. But perhaps one would also show mercy, considering the circumstances: "Hold on, we'll be there soon. You'll get your medicine soon. Then you'll get well again and live on for me!" He kissed his forehead, left the tower in which he had put him, stopping only in front of the huge gate. The guards pointed their spears at him "STOP! Don't take another step!" they threatened. Gonzalo dismounted and knelt. "I must speak to their majesties immediately!" "Get out beggar!" one of the men hissed. "Thief!" Gonzalo corrected him "I have stolen something very valuable and I am bringing it back to His and Her Majesty!" "And what is that supposed to be?" "The most precious thing that no treasure in the world can be worth" He looked at "Your son!"

The huge double doors opened. The queen stood in the forecourt and walked, first slowly and then faster and faster, to the young man whom she recognized from the drawing. "Where is my son?" she asked him with great concern and joy at the same time. Gonzalo lowered his head "Safe! I have brought the prince to a place where no one but me will find him! If you give me your word that nothing will happen to me, then I will take him to the gate tonight!" "I just want my son back!" replied the queen and took his hand. "I beg you, give me back my child. No harm will come to you, but please..." Gonzalo nodded. "When the moon is above the dome of the highest tower, I will take the prince to the Palace. I promise!" "Thank you very much" The sadness in the queen's eyes was similar to Gonzalo's, as he would probably never see Miles again after this "Please protect him! Protect him from all harm. He will understand, but he will have to suffer a lot of pain... And I'm sorry for that" To his surprise, the queen placed her hand on Gonzalo's shoulder "Only those who love sincerely suffer great torment and pain for the right reason!" Tears gathered in the green eyes and Gonzalo said it "I love him! I love him from the bottom of my heart!" "And that's exactly why you're ready to face this pain!"

As agreed, two people wrapped in cloaks now ran to the palace. The queen was already standing there in front of the gates, waiting longingly, and standing next to her was the king. Gonzalo had an uneasy feeling when he saw the guards, who were no longer just two of them. The princess watched the events from her balcony. She grinned to herself "Welcome back, fiancé! Enjoy your last few hours! There's a wedding tomorrow evening and then, unfortunately, you'll have a very unfortunate accident in the next few days!" She placed a vial with a blue liquid content on the table and walked past it. Downstairs, the queen held her son in her arms, whose silent tears wouldn't stop flowing. "Oh Miles, my darling. I was so afraid for you." She knelt in front of him and looked at him, "Are you okay? Are you hurt "Are you -" "I'm fine Mom..." he whispered and looked to the side. The king also embraced him. Just as Gonzalo breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave, the king raised his hand "SEQUENCE HIM!" Gonzalo spun around "What?" So the extra guards had meant exactly what his uneasy feeling had been trying to tell him. The boy was grabbed "Into the dungeon with him!" growled the king's voice. Miles held out his hands to him "NO" The queen wrapped her arms around him and turned away. Gonzalo's eyes were wide open "You gave me your word" "The Queen's word doesn't count!" she whispered "I'm sorry." Miles also had to watch helplessly as his lover was dragged away by the guards with the repeated "HELP ME" from his nightmare.

They both spent the night separately. Miles was lying on his bed. His sobs could be heard throughout the palace. All the way down to the cold, murderous dungeon where Gonzalo sat chained. The legs are pulled tightly to the body and wrapped around each other to provide some warmth. He knew that he was now spending his last night on earth. It was as the prince had warned. Death awaited him!

The princess ran to the door in a hypocritically friendly manner and tentatively knocked on it. "Your Royal Highness?" she asked in a quiet, gentle voice. "Are you still awake?" Miles had turned on his bed to face the wall. That way you couldn't hear him crying so loudly. He turned around "Who is it?"

He wiped away his tears as he played with the bracelet Gonzalo had given him just before he left him to go to the palace "It's me, Your Highness! Princess Gwendolyn" He sighed softly. He didn't want to see her now. "Go away," he hissed and threw the pillow over himself. "I don't want to see you!" "I understand that... But I would like to give you a wedding present! I allow you your..." She swallowed hard, because the thought of her fiancé having had a liaison with another boy bothered her a bit "... whatever he is for you to see again!" She turned around and looked at her fingernails and counted quietly "3... 2... 1..." The door opened "Even I'm not allowed into the dungeon, even though I was ordered to take me there. And I am the crown prince!" "Who says we ask anyone?!" Miles looked at her. Gwendolyn smiled and took his hand "Let's hurry up!"

Standing in front of the guards, the otherwise delicate-looking princess became loud and commanding, "My fiancé wants to see the boy!" "I'm sorry, your highness but-" "Nothing but! He can see him now, otherwise I'll get very uncomfortable. And believe me, you don't want to upset your future queen!" The man raised his hands defensively. "It's okay, then come on. But quickly!" Miles ran through the unlocked screen door "Gonzalo" "Miles?" came the voice that made his heart stop for a moment. "Miles, how did you get here?" "It doesn't matter" They grabbed each other's hands through the bars. Miles cried out softly, "Your hands are ice cold." "Are you okay?" Gonzalo asked as Miles tried to warm his lover's hands with his breath. "Yes, I got medicine and took a hot bath in honey and those herbs you gave me." A smile crossed Gonzalo's lips. "And you're wearing that Bracelet. It belonged to my mother. I now know what happened to her. The doctors, who were too stupid to realize that you were seriously injured, couldn't stand it and simply killed her the truth and I look forward to seeing it again." Tears ran down Miles' cheeks at the words, which Gonzalo only managed to say tremblingly. "Now I'm not afraid anymore!"

They squeezed their intertwined fingers tighter and tighter until Miles got up from the floor and at first only gave the command quietly, "Open the door!"

The guard said no because he had his own orders. Miles got louder "Open the door!" Again the man said no, until the prince shouted at the top of his lungs "OPEN THE DOOR!" The guard had flinched. The princess nodded. And Miles' pained face, with hot tears streaming down it, made him forget his order. As soon as he was open, Miles threw himself into Gonzalo's arms, who hugged him tentatively at first, then tightened. "My prince." He buried his face in the soft hair and smelled the scent of honey. Felt his lover's tears flowing down his muscular chest. Since she couldn't hear anything anymore, the princess slowly walked to the dungeon cell and saw the two kissing passionately. Seeing the boy she had now fallen in love with, no matter that she wanted to kill him after marriage to steal his kingdom, kiss someone else gave her a stab in her heart.

Miles walked back to his room in silence. The princess looked up at him. Silent tears ran down his cheeks. He could hardly bear the thought of his loved one being hanged at daybreak. "As Crown Prince...as Future King, do I have no say at all?" had been his desperate words, screaming into his father's face. In response he felt the king's strong hand on his face. He then ran away crying and threw himself on the bed in his room. He wanted to do the same again now. Just curl up in a ball and cry until he fell asleep. And maybe not wake up again! That would be the best thing for him. Finally leave everything behind. There was no point now anyway! Without saying another word, Miles disappeared behind the door. Slid down her and remained seated. He had no strength left.

In his cell, Gonzalo also sat against the wall, holding himself tightly and looking at the moon that had emerged from behind the clouds. A smile crossed his lips. He thought of the beautiful night in the desert. How they had made love under the stars and watched the stars. Ironically, it had been their last night of love. Afterwards, Miles became ill and Gonzalo decided to save his life and take him back to the palace - knowing that death would then await him.

If this were a Disney film, both of them would sing about their brief happiness and the current pain of being separated by the fear. They would scream at the top of their lungs and express the suffering that brought them broken hearts.

Miles had tried to get into bed again during the night, but collapsed in the middle of the room and then fell asleep, exhausted. The queen came to the door with heavy steps. She sighed, because today would probably be the hardest day Miles had ever experienced. Especially since he tells his parents "I HATE YOU!" had shouted in his face. She opened it quietly, assuming her son was still asleep. But she screamed "MILES" and ran to him. The boy was still on the floor. The queen quickly tried to pull him up. "You're ice cold, darling." She felt his forehead. "The fever has gone down," she breathed a sigh of relief, but the boy's otherwise reddish lips were pale. A sign that he wasn't feeling well. He pushed himself out of her embrace and stood with his back to her "Leave me alone!" "You have to-" "I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING!" he spun around. The queen was frightened, because anger was really glowing in his eyes. "I'M TIRED OF ALWAYS HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING! I'M SORRY OF IT!" the prince shouted and clenched his fists. "It's best to bury me right next to it!" He rushed past his mother and quickly hurried down to the dungeon. The guards tried to stop him, but Miles seemed to have gained superpowers overnight. He pushed the men aside and screamed at them. This was also heard by Gonzalo, who got up from the ground and heard Miles now shouting at the guard "I'M NOT DISCUSSING!" when the man spoke back to him. Like his colleague last night, he also gave in and, bowing his neck, unlocked the door to the cell. The fact that the otherwise quiet prince was suddenly so commanding and loud was new to the guards. With one big step, Miles fell into his lover's arms. "Gonzalo..." he whispered and snuggled up to him. "I will follow you, my lover!" he swore, but Gonzalo shook his head. "Our meeting was fate. And I would rather die now than live even a second without knowing you!" He gently stroked the prince's cheek, "I love you!" "No! I won't let that happen!" sobbed the prince "Miles..." Gonzalo smiled "We'll see each other again. Someday. In a world without pain and suffering I will wait for you!"

Once again they held each other tightly. Then the door opened again and 5 very muscular guards, who really only answered to the king, entered. No one could override their orders. Only the king himself. They dragged the prince away from Gonzalo.

Miles fought back,stretched out his hand towards Gonzalo, screaming "NOOOOO" without the prince's tears, they dragged the condemned man out of the dungeon. They turned their hands behind his back and put thick chain shackles on him. Miles collapsed to his knees.

The gallows stood in the forecourt of the palace. The gate was open to the public. Executions were rarely carried out in Ahlam, but people wanted to at least see the crown prince's alleged kidnapper. But Gonzalo's true crime was his love for Miles and his daring to break into the palace. Miles had taken the guards to his room, where his servants dressed him. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks as he endured everything. He had died in the dungeon and only his shell functioned. He got a black suit with gold applications. How hypocritical to give him that color when he was the only one in the palace who would actually mourn today. The popular royal couple took their seats to the thunderous applause of the people. And for the first time in so many years, living hidden behind the huge walls, the people saw the prince. They immediately whispered, "Is that our crown prince?" "He's beautiful" "How old might he be now?" "He's already a young man?!" The king raised his arm, silencing the people. The defendant was led across the square. Quiet murmurs could be heard. A linen sack had been pulled over Gonzalo's head and he was made to walk barefoot to the gallows with chains around his ankles. He was breathing heavily because he was afraid.

Miles, who was forced to attend as a member of the royal family, held on tight with his hands in his silk trousers. The executioner read out the indictment: "The street thief Gonzalo repeatedly broke into the palace without authorization and in the end even kidnapped our crown prince in order to extort ransom!" "Nonsense!" he grumbled under the sack. One of the guards kicked him in the knee. "Shut up!" so that the boy fell to the ground. Then he was pulled up again "He was therefore sentenced to death by hanging!"

Miles jumped up "No! Don't take him away from me! LET ME DIE WITH HIM!" he screamed. The guards blocked the prince's path as he tried to break away and run down. Nobody noticed that the princess was sitting next to the angry prince with a sly grin. She was looking forward to finally being rid of her competitor so that she could continue pursuing her plan. A blue liquid glittered in her particularly striking ring, but you could only recognize it as such if you knew what it was. The executioner placed the untied knot around Gonzalo's neck and tightened it. Under the wooden cladding of the gallows was a trap door through which the hanged men fell and, after their death, were cut down to be taken to the morgue, where they were then burned. The queen had asked her husband that Miles be allowed to bury his lover unharmed in the palace garden. This was the mercy she could ask for the young man, in gratitude for bringing the prince back, knowing what awaited him.

The pain they would inflict on their son would at least be somewhat alleviated. They also knew that they would now lose him through this judgment, because he would never forgive them. The linen sack was removed. Gonzalo breathed heavily in fear, but dared to speak to the king. "May I speak?" "Granted!" he nodded. Gonzalo sought the prince's gaze. "Your royal majesties and your royal highness! I haven't had an easy life and sooner or later I might have actually ended up here. But I don't regret anything! And especially not that I love Miles!" The prince's chest tightened "My prince! Never forget the starry sky under which we lay" Miles shook his head "Never!" He replied, feeling like he couldn't breathe anymore. Only they both knew that this meant their last night of love. "And don't forget what I said to you in the dungeon!" They both said it out loud. "We'll see each other again. Someday. In a world without pain and suffering, I'll wait for you!"

Trembling, knowing that if he didn't say it he would regret it forever, Miles spoke to him now, "I didn't respond to your words because I was so desperate, but I do now!" "Miles!" thundered the king, raising his hand for the signal. But the once shy and taciturn prince got up and ran to the parapet that was directly opposite the gallows square. "I'm sorry I forgot to tell you, but I'll do it now!" "MILES" the king threatened again, but in vain "I want it to be the last thing in this world that you hear from me, so that you never forget it!" The prince took a deep breath and said it or shouted it out "I LOVE YOU!" Gonzalo smiled and Miles saw his lips form the same words. Time seemed to stand still for a moment. It was his last breath.

Miles' pleas for a pardon had faded. Only his threat to kill himself weighed heavily. The king slapped him in the face for this. The prince's look was full of contempt now, while the king shot down his hand as a sign to open the trap door. "You'll regret this!" Miles hissed. Then the murmuring of the population grew louder. As if in slow motion, the prince turned around. The silence between the onlookers was almost unbearable. Miles' scream echoed throughout the palace courtyard.

The executioner had pulled the mechanical lever and Gonzalo had fallen into the shaft. The momentum had immediately broken his neck. He died instantly, without suffering, instead of what the previous hanged men had to endure when they were made to climb onto a stool and then pushed it over. Some of the convicts had been tormenting themselves for hours. Things happened very quickly here.

Now nothing could stop the prince. He pushed the guards aside, causing some of them to fall. He ran to the square, right through the people who were still amazed at what they had heard and seen. The undertaker just pulled Gonzalo out of the crate and was amazed to see the prince "Oh your royal highness" 2 guards were about to pull the boy away "Take your hands away!" Miles ordered them, snatching his lover's body from the old man. He held him close and threatened anyone who even dared to think about coming closer. Miles sat on the floor crying. Countless tears dripped onto his loved one's face without causing a reaction. Broken, knowing he was dead, Miles lost his strength. The guards took advantage of this and grabbed him, while the old undertaker took the deceased with him "NO, LEAVE HIM ALONE!" shouted Miles, knowing that the bodies were being cremated "NO!" The old man smiled "The queen has decreed that the young man be buried in the palace gardens" "What?!" Miles raised his head. He didn't know that. "So I have to take him with me now!" Miles could only watch afterwards, because he now allowed himself to be arrested without resistance.

The princess stood up. "That was fun! But now to the really important things! The wedding! I want it to take place this evening!" The queen looked at her "First give the prince time to mourn!" "I've already given him way too much time!" The girl stood up "Well... tomorrow evening! That's my last offer. Otherwise I'll leave again and come back with a large force! I'll go make the preparations now!" The queen looked after her "Such a bitch!" She lowered her head as she looked across the square, which was now empty again, as the prince let the guards drag him along without resistance. They took him to his room. The queen quickly ran after them. "Wait!" Miles raised his head heavily. He was just weak and didn't speak a word when the queen accompanied him into the room. He collapsed onto his bed and turned his back to his mother. His love for her had expired at the same moment Gonzalo had lost his life. "Go away..." he whispered, since he no longer had the strength to speak. She sat on the bed and tried to touch him. But he slapped her hand away. "Leave me alone!" "Miles... I arranged for the boy to be buried under the big tree. So you can at any time- " "You have taken away from me the only person in this world that I have ever loved. And you expect that I am grateful to you for allowing me to cry over a pile of earth?" He turned to her "You just killed him!" His pain overwhelmed him "YOU MURDERED MY GONZALO!"

The queen stood up in shock. Miles built up his anger and pain "THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EVER MADE ME HAPPY!" The tears dripped incessantly onto the bed sheet "HE WAS ALL I HAD!" He took a short breath. "He was the only one who ever understood me. I went with him voluntarily because I just couldn't stand this prison anymore! I wanted to be free! I rode a horse. I hit a rock "I climbed up. I had my feet in the sea. I was walking through the desert and..." Miles swallowed and said it. "We made passionate love under the stars!"

His heart clenched. "We wanted to escape across the sea to the land he came from..." Miles played with the bracelet. "...just be happy and dream of a life I never had. But now I don't have any dreams anymore!" Hatred and anger were reflected in his dark eyes. "You destroyed and took everything from me! And you will be very sorry for that!" The queen ran out of the room. She clung to a pillar, crying. It broke her heart to hear her beloved child speak and feel like that. Realizing that he now hated his mother and would never forgive her was unbearable for her. She ran to the undertaker, who had just carefully laid out the boy's body as instructed. She walked around the coffin "He looks like he's sleeping" "That was the order!" smiled the older man "Yes... He looks similar to Miles. He's a little older, but actually he was still a child too" she sighed. As she walked back to the palace, she saw Miles walking down the hallway towards the royal physician's room. Inside he stood in front of the shelf with small bottles while the doctor mixed the new medicine. It was laced with snake venom, which dilated the arteries to make the heart beat better. Miles laughed quietly in contempt. The doctor drew up the syringe with the antidote. "It might burn a bit," he warned before the puncture. "I doubt there is anything more painful than the fact that I had to watch the man I love get killed today!" The prince didn't bat an eyelid when the needle pricked his arm. Back then he had always cried bitter tears, but now he had none left for such things. The doctor explained to him what was happening now. "You will feel a little weak and maybe feel unwell. But that will pass in a few minutes. Then I will give you the mixed poison. Then we will do a few more tests and you can go!" "Too bad it's not pure poison!" sighed the prince, feeling the effect "Is it normal that I want to vomit?" "Yes. It's almost over," the man waved and held the cup with the medicine in his hand. Miles tilted his head "Maybe I'll die from it" "Your Highness... The new medicine increases your life expectancy to up to 25, if nothing even well over 30 years! You could even become king!" "Then I don't want her!" The prince got up and left the room. He could have let go of what he came for anyway.

There was a small ampoule in his hand. He put it in his pocket and walked back down the path. He paused for a moment when he saw a grave being dug in the palace garden, under the large tree from which he had fallen. He supported himself on the parapet. He felt sick and his legs threatened to collapse when the coffin was brought in. Miles held out his hand "Gonzalo" and tried to run down the stairs "I want to see him!" he shouted repeatedly. The two guards put the coffin down. "Your Highness, we have orders to bury the coffin!" "Leave him here!" "Do what His Highness commands you!" came the queen's voice. Miles turned around "Mom... Please leave him out here! Don't put him in the ground yet." The guards put down the half-glass coffin made of white wood and walked away. Grateful, Miles half threw himself on it. Seeing his lover in it broke him again, but at least he could see him before the day came for the funeral. Miles opened his eyes slowly. "He's so beautiful..." Gently, trying to comfort him, the queen placed her hand on Miles' shoulder. "You look alike." "Somewhat, yes..." "There's a lot here under the tree Shadow and coolness. But the boy will be buried in 3 days! So you still have 3 days to say goodbye" "It's good," Miles nodded. He closed his eyes and then opened them with a look of complete determination. It wouldn't take him 3 days!

Singing sorrowfully to herself, the princess combed her golden curly hair and looked at her wedding dress. She put the ampoule with the blue contents on her garter. She paused briefly "It's a shame that I have to kill him... He's beautiful and smart. Actually the perfect husband..." She sighed "But Ahlam belongs to us! And you have to make sacrifices for that!" There was a knock on the bedroom door and her father came in.

"Am I disturbing you, darling?" "I was just trying on my dress for the wedding tomorrow evening" "The triumph is getting closer!" He poured some of the wine into a goblet and handed it to his daughter. "To our new kingdom!"

At dinner, Miles just sat silently at the table. He touched neither food nor water. He just stared aphatically at the empty plate until his tears came again. They splashed lightly on the porcelain. The princess, who was sitting at the table, looked up. The prince's eyes were already red from crying and slightly swollen. He pushed the chair away from the table and ran out of the hall sobbing loudly, ignoring his father's angry shouts. He ran to his room and slammed the door. Then he slid down it.

He no longer knew how much time had passed. But suddenly there was a knock on the door and the princess asked to be let in. "Your Highness?!" "What do you want?" "First, to express my deepest condolences for your loss. And then I wanted to discuss wedding details with you!" Miles sniffed contemptuously. What a hypocrite!

The prince listened bored. His thoughts were completely absent and he drew in his sketchbook "Do what you want!" He didn't care about anything. The princess became angry "Once you are my husband, half of the kingdom will belong to me. And based on your health, you won't live long either. After your death, I will inherit the entire kingdom! And then my father and I will conquer it !" She laughed softly "I'd say I won! And now I'm going to go try on my wedding dress" and disappeared. Miles closed the door, grinned and opened his hand, which he had kept locked behind his back the whole time. Inside was a small ampoule. It was empty. Only a tiny drop of blue liquid remained. But you could still read the writing on it 'Poison' He closed his eyes "And I would say: Checkmate!" He clutched his stomach. The poison he drank began to take effect very slowly.

After he finished his drawing, he took another sheet, but this time he soaked a beautiful peacock feather in a small jar of ink. Then he wrote a letter. He put it on the bed and climbed - like Gonzalo once did - from his balcony into the front garden. He quickly hid from the patrolling guards. Then, barefoot and dressed in a pretty white robe, he dashed into the large palace garden. He stopped in front of the tree. The coffin was there. He looked around, but no one was in sight. He strained to push down the heavy lid. This cost him a lot of strength, because the poison in his body was spreading more and more. Sweat ran down his forehead. "Not yet... I need a little more time," he pleaded, because the poison would first paralyze him and then make him fall asleep. He slowly climbed into the coffin and lay down next to Gonzalo. His skin was cool, but it looked like he was just sleeping.

Miles' fingertips gently stroked his face. He knew about the reality, but he suppressed it as he grabbed Gonzalo's hands and turned his body so that they were now both snuggled up together in the coffin. Miles closed his eyes and played with one end of the braid. The poison made it a little harder for him to breathe now, but it would happen quickly now. "I'll be with you in a moment, my lover!"

Singing to herself, Princess Gwendolyn danced in her wedding dress in front of the mirror. "It's a shame it's not a love match. The prince is very handsome and lovely." She put the little crown on her head. "But that's life and he'll die soon anyway !"

The light was so bright that the prince partially covered his eyes. He just continued "What kind of place is this?" His feet stood on snow-white warm sand. In front of him was a sea with turquoise water and a very fast moving sun.

His gaze followed a bird flying overhead. He followed him and came to a large meadow. There were people there who picked the flowers or fruits from the trees. A woman looked up "Who is that?" "Who then?" asked the boy, standing with his back to the newcomer. His two braids were very distinctive. Then he turned around and looked at the former prince. The apples he had just picked fell out of his hand. "Miles?" The boy's eyes widened "Gonzalo?" The boy with the pigtails opened his arms while Miles ran towards him, crying but still smiling. With a small jump he landed in his arms. Cuddled up to him and was really crying now. Just like Gonzalo couldn't contain himself anymore "My prince" He wrapped his arms even tighter around the petite body "My beloved sweet prince" "My beautiful thief who stole my heart" Miles whispered, wiping away his tears and smiled "We are finally together again and this time nothing will separate us!" Gonzalo nodded to him and they kissed. They then looked deep into each other's eyes and held each other until the woman ran up to them. Gonzalo took a little distance from Miles, not because he was ashamed of his feelings, but because he thought, "My prince, you still remember my mom!"

Miles looked at her in surprise. "Yes, that's the doctor who was always so nice to me when I was a child." "Your Highness," she bowed, but Miles waved him off. "I'm no longer a prince! Just Miles!" "Of course, I'm sorry. You've grown up so much and become so beautiful."

Then she smiled and shook her head "No... you were a beautiful boy even as a child." The prince blushed slightly. He looked around "Where...Where am I here?!" The woman smiled and explained to him. "This is AFTERLIFE, an in-between world where the dead are waiting." "Waiting for what?" "To go to heaven" Miles turned around. This voice belonged to Gonzalo's uncle, who was taken away by the guards and hanged for treason because he helped hide the supposedly kidnapped prince.

Gonzalo put his arm around Miles. "Everyone who dies at the hands of another comes here." "But I committed suicide! I drank a bottle of poison," Miles admitted somewhat sheepishly. Gonzalo's loving look reassured him, because there was an explanation for that too. "But the poison was prepared by someone else. Not by you! That's why you can be here - with Me!"

It was getting dark and the queen ran to her son's room. She wanted to go to the grave with him. She knocked and then entered. She sat down. "Good morning, darling. I would like..." Since she didn't get an answer, she tried to touch his arm, but reached nothing. She pulled the blanket aside slightly. Faltered because the bed was full of stuffed animals instead of a human body underneath "Miles?" There was a brief rustle and the letter fell to the floor. He landed at her feet "What is that?!" and leave him. It was a farewell letter!

Startled, she stood up, dropped the letter and ran frantically from the palace hallway into the garden. "MILES?" she kept shouting, panicking, because there were two words on the letter: LIVE WELL!

That was more than clear and so the prince carried out his threat. She still called to her son, but received no answer.

Her steps led her into the palace gardens. She was surprised that the coffin was open and walked towards it with slow steps. She found it increasingly difficult to breathe. Then she saw that Miles was lying in the coffin "OH MY GOD" she shouted and shook her son "Miles! Miles wake up!" She screamed because the prince's skin was already cool. Screaming for help, she rushed back into the palace, into the doctor's room, and came back with him and the undertaker. The two men felt for the prince's pulse. However, they came to the same result. They bowed to the queen. The undertaker shook his head "I regret to tell you this, Your Majesty... but His Highness has passed away!" "My deepest condolences" chimed in the doctor "The prince passed away tonight" "WHAT?" shouted the king who rushed to support his wife.

The princess combed her hair while standing on the balcony and was amazed at the commotion. "What's going on?" She leaned halfway over the railing. She saw the queen clutching herself, crying and shaking. The king who shouted distraughtly at the guards because, in his eyes, they hadn't done their job properly. The next moment the princess's father stormed into her room "The prince is dead!" he shouted excitedly "He killed himself!" The princess' tiara fell out of her hand. "W-What?" "We have to leave, now!" "How come?" "Because otherwise you'll be charged with murder!" There was a pounding on the door. The palace guards broke them open and grabbed the princess "Search the room" ordered the captain and his loyal men rummaged and rummaged everywhere looking for evidence "Here!" a man shouted, lifting a vial of blue liquid that had been hidden under a variety of clothing. "The same poison as in the broken bottle we found on his highness!" The princess turned pale.

She now understood why Miles had been so disinterested. He had known for a long time that he would no longer be alive. But he knew about the princess's murder plans and didn't want to let her get away with it. Because of the suicide he committed with the stolen poison, they would immediately be suspected. To do this he had to hide another ampoule from her. While she was bathing, he left the small bottle with her. Then drank the poison from the one that had already been stolen. Because the antidote had previously been administered in a syringe, he had had enough time to plan everything well. While he was waiting for death in his lover's coffin, he became tired from crying so much and finally fell asleep peacefully.

There was no point in denying it, because the poison was identical to the other vial she was carrying. They and the king of Damar were thrown into prison. The next morning both were hanged. Before her death, Gwendolyn confessed that she had fallen in love with Miles and would no longer have married him just for the warmongering reasons that her father had instilled in her - but for love.

The prince and his lover lay sleeping arm in arm in a flower meadow over which a gentle breeze was blowing. Miles had his head resting on Gonzalo's chest and was listening to his heartbeat with a smile. He played with one of the pigtails.

Here, as Gonzalo said, there was no more pain or suffering.

Only love!

END