As hard as King Frederic seemed to Eugene, he still granted him a room in the palace. Rapunzel begged her father, the king refusing many times, until he finally fell through. It was the softest Eugene's seen the king since he's started living in the palace.
The King gave Eugene a room on the lowest floor, above the dungeon. It's small, but larger than he's used to. He's found it comfortable, but, wished, silently, that it could be bigger, judging he is in a palace. But, Eugene isn't one to complain in front of the king. The king doesn't like him and that's final.
Eugene has grown attached to his room though. There are little crevices and holes in the walls and floors to hide things. Not that he's stolen anything. He's had to resist the temptation a few times. At this point, it's just instinct. However, if the king ever caught on he was stealing again, well, let's just say he's in trouble.
That's the last thing Eugene wants from the king. His ultimate punishment. He's already died once. For Rapunzel in fact. If only the king could see that, then maybe he would be on better terms with the king. But, for now, he has to build up his trust with King Frederic, as difficult as that seems. In fact, it seems nearly impossible.
King Frederic has been staring at Eugene the whole time, at least, when he wasn't busy with his family. Sometimes, Eugene could feel the king burning a hole through his skull. Or, it's just permanently there. Once, he turned to face the king, who wasn't looking at him, but instead, talking to his wife.
Eugene's already hidden a few things in the little crevices of his room. Granted, it's nothing he stole, well maybe a few things, but those have been on him for years, like the comb he carved his signature into or his dagger he stole from the Baron, which he also carved his signature into.
He hasn't cared to unpack. He doesn't know how long he's going to be there, or how long the king will let him live. The king could put him on this super deadly mission to try and get himself killed for all he knows.
Eugene found the bed to be quite comfortable, except for the pillows. He's never been a fan of feather pillows. Rapunzel has promised to get him cotton pillows, but she hasn't found a free chance yet. Eugene is in no rush for a new pillow, but if he wants to save his spine, he probably should worry more.
There came a loud knock on Eugene's door in the morning. "Ryder!" the Captain of the Guard yelled from the other side of the door.
"What?" Eugene asked, half awake. The knock startled him, enough he almost fell out of bed. "Get up!" the Captain yelled.
"But it's so early," Eugene complained.
"Ryder! You get out here right now!" the Captain bellowed.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming," Eugene moaned. Eugene threw his blanket off, sat up, and rubbed his eyes. "It's too early for this," he muttered.
"I can hear you in there, Ryder!"
"I'm coming!" Eugene yelled back. Eugene slid his shoes on and shuffled to the door. When the Captain wants you, there's no time to do anything. Eugene does care his head looks like a mess, but, who can argue with the Captain, especially when he's yelling at you at the top of his lungs.
"The sun isn't even up yet," Eugene yawned when he opened the door.
"Fix yourself up, Ryder!" the Captain commanded. "The king wishes to see you."
Eugene stared at him for a moment. "This early?" he asked.
"Ryder!"
"Okay, okay, you don't need to wake up everyone," Eugene said.
Eugene closed the door and fixed up his clothes. He rolled his sleeves up, rebuttoned his shirt, replaced his vest, the black one Rapunzel got him when he returned to Corona with her, and fixed his hair in the mirror, using his signature comb.
He opened the door again forty minutes later. The Captain greeted him with a look of anger, but accepted his look and led him to the King's throne.
"Your Majesty," the Captain said. "I fetched Ryder."
"Thank you," King Frederic said. "You may return to your duties." The Captain bowed and left. Eugene yawned in the hallway before entering the room.
"King Frederic!" Eugene said. "Pleasant morning, isn't it?" The king didn't reply, and just returned with a stare. "Ryder," the king said, "I have an important task for you today."
"Yes, sir," Eugene said.
"I want you to help Max and take supplies to the next kingdom over," King Frederic said.
"I'm...I'm being a delivery boy?" Eugene asked.
"You could say that," King Frederic said. "I would prefer to say that you are helping our kingdom keep trade with the other to not start a war."
"Ah, sorry, sir," Eugene said.
"Max will lead the way, but you must protect the carriage," King Frederic said. "There will be thugs on the roads outside of Corona. You must keep everything inside safe, and there must not be a thing missing, understand?"
"Yes, sir!" Eugene said.
"Very good," King Frederic said. "I expect you to grab everything you need to prepare for the road, and return home safely with Max. If I find a single scratch on that carriage, you would prove to me that the decree must be kept, understood?"
"Y-yes, sir! Right away, sir!" Eugene said, saluting.
"You are dismissed," King Frederic said.
Eugene left the room, quickly, but not too fast to seem eager. "Geez, this guy is trying to get me killed!" Eugene muttered. "Nope, nope, Eugene. Keep it together. You're doing this for Rapunzel."
Eugene entered his room again and grabbed a few of the necessities: his knife, his comb, and another dagger. He left the room, raided the kitchen for a few things for the road, the cook complaining about the things he was grabbing, claiming they were for the princess, and leaving, to meet Max outside.
"Okay, Max!" Eugene said. "Where are we heading?" Eugene threw his bag of food on the chair of the carriage and opened the back, while Max whinnied. "Ya know, I don't know why I asked you. It's not like I can understand a word your saying," Eugene said.
Inside the carriage is bags of fish, bread, steel, iron, and coal. "We got a big load today, huh, buddy?" Max stamped.
Eugene hopped onto the carriage's chair and grabbed the reigns. "All right, Max, lead the way."
Max whinnied and started walking off. The guards checked their carriage before allowing them access outside the kingdom and wished them luck.
The road was silent for a good while until Max came to a stop. "Hey, Max, why'd you-oh." Blocking the road is a large tree. "Well, that's not good."
Eugene hopped off the carriage and walked closer to the tree, examining it. "Do you think there's another way around?" Eugene asked. "You know, one that doesn't involve me moving a tree?"
Max whinnied, huffed, and pointed ahead with his nose. "What do you mean?" Eugene cried. Max huffed again and stamped on the road a few times. "You're not leaving the path?" Eugene asked. Max nodded and pointed at the tree again.
"Oh, come on!" Eugene cried. "Okay, fine, but I'm angry with you, ya know!"
"Dad?" Rapunzel asked. "Dad? Where's Eugene?"
"I sent him out with Maximus," King Frederic said.
"What?" Rapunzel asked. "Why?"
"I have some things for him to do," King Frederic replied. "He will be back in just a few short hours, dear."
"Why?" Rapunzel asked, sounding hurt.
"Rapunzel, listen," King Frederic said. "I have some things for Eugene to do before he can officially-"
"Gain your trust?" Rapunzel cried. "Dad! He brought me home and saved me from Mother! Aren't you happy for me?"
"Yes, dear, but-"
"But?" Rapunzel cried. "But? But what? Why can't you be happy for him? Why can't you trust me? Why can't you trust him?" Rapunzel ran off, crying.
"Harsh," a guard said. King Frederic glared at him.
"Dear," Queen Ariana said. "Please talk to your daughter."
"I tried, honey," King Frederic said. "She doesn't want to talk."
"Honey, tell her the true reason you sent Eugene out, please," Queen Ariana said. "It's the least you can do. Besides, she's his girlfriend. She deserves a right to know, after all."
"You're right," King Frederic said. He sighed. "I will speak to her."
"Thank you, dear," Queen Ariana said. "Please be gentle with her."
"Right," the king said, kissing his wife on the cheek and walking out.
King Frederic stopped in front of Rapunzel's door. "Honey?" he asked. "Can I come in?"
Rapunzel muttered something before answering. "Yes." King Frederic opened the door and smiled at the paintings on the walls and ceiling. "You're decorating this room very well, dear," King Frederic said.
"Thank you," Rapunzel muttered. She hugged her knees. "Rapunzel, look," King Frederic said, sitting down on the bed next to her. "I know that-This is-" he sighed. "Rapunzel, you aren't going to like this but I need to tell you the truth." Rapunzel turned her head away from him.
"An ancient decree by King Harold, states that any convicts, thieves, or anyone who has been causing great harm to Corona and it's people must be put to death, no court necessary. But, I sent Ryder-err-Eugene out to do some tasks for me to earn my trust and see if I can bend the rules ever so slightly. I know he means a lot to you, dear, and saved my only daughter from the hands of evil, but he has done many years of terrible deeds and is considered a felon. If I didn't have any belief, or trust, in him or you, then I wouldn't send him to do those tasks."
Rapunzel never looked back at him. "Rapunzel, I know. You don't have to talk to me. But I want you to know that I do believe he is a changed man. I just need to prove it to the kingdom first."
"To the kingdom? Or yourself?" Rapunzel asked, angry.
"Rapunzel, I-" King Frederic didn't finish.
"I thought so," Rapunzel said. She stood up, without looking at her father, and walked away. "I hope this doesn't go too terribly. She would never forgive me if he got killed."