Dusted Gold and Dulled Emeralds (Royal SBI AU)

Chapter 3

A week before Theseus' 25th birthday the kingdom prepared a week-long celebration to commemorate his accomplishments. 

He in his 7 years as a king, accomplished more than his father in 20.
He had appointed a new role for each of his family members:
Tubbo was given control of the Kingdoms technology, his father would occasionally help though keeping his role as the main adviser, together they created things that helped the kingdom thrive. 

Ranboo co-shared the role of foreign affairs, something that had long been neglected, with a woman named Niki. 

Dream had fulfilled the prediction from years ago and now headed the military after Puffy had retired.

Every year a tradition of unique outfits for each member was celebrated. Though they looked special individually, when put together, a theme flowed through them that perfectly bound them as a family of wealth and power. 

This year the theme was flowers. He had spent hours with Karl and Quackity, Sapnap's finances as well as the royal librarian and tailor respectfully, trying to figure out the correct flower language for each of his family members.

"BIG Q, HELLOOOO I'M HERE," a voice yelled as the door slammed open. 

"EY TOMMY, YOU'RE HERE," A voice yelled back with equal excitement. Out emerged the source of the voice, a man carrying four huge bags, just barely able to see past them. 

"These are some of the best ones ever, you'll love them," he exclaimed pushing the bags into the arms of two grumbling guards.

"Thank you, hey Karl," Tommy said back while laughing at Purpled and Connor's struggle. 

"Please try not to see them until the day this time, they are a surprise for a reason," said Quackity's assistant, Charlie. Tommy simply smiled as he left the shop, slipping some money where he knew they would find it. For some reason, they refused to let him pay for the birthday outfits. The only way to get them to take the money was to hide where they would find it.

As Tommy entered the Castle, there seemed to be more noise than usual. He assumed it was just everyone rushing to prepare for the week ahead, he was not ready to see the one person who had disappeared 14 years ago.

When Phil returned from a two-week journey there were a lot of things he expected to find. What seemed like an entirely new kingdom was not one of them. Shocked he went straight to the castle to find different maids and knights. The same family crest yet new decorations, it was like his family had moved out and a new one had moved in. His second thought was his children, if a new family now ruled, what did they do with the old one?

The final thing he saw, which he will never admit scared him, was a young man with a crown upon his head and a stature held only by a king. They looked so similar to Theseus yet the way they stared at him with such distaste told him otherwise.

There were so many questions going through his head, like where were his children, who could possibly turn his entire kingdom against him, and who was this young man that seemingly replaced him?

To say Theseus wasn't thrilled when he saw his past father was an understatement. He was upset and angry, yet confused and, dare he admit it, a little happy? He was upset that after all this time and work, after all the lonely nights and cold days his father thought it appropriate to come back. Yet something on his father's face told him that he was just as confused about the situation.

"Who are you!" He yelled. Theseus simply tipped his head and said: 

"You can't recognize your own son?" 

"Technoblade?" 

"Try again." 

"William?" "Nope." 

"No, you can't be Theseus, he's only 11. Technoblade stop these games, where are your brothers? And what did you do to your hair?"

Theseus stepped forward, "It is Theseus and my brothers are on their way," he said, gesturing to the grand entrance.

Just as Phil turned his head to the doors, they opened to reveal 4 people. He only recognized 1 of them, his adviser, Sam, the one he had left in charge and trusted with his life. This young man must be extremely deceitful to turn Sam's loyalty. Then he noticed, all of them wore crowns, crowns that were only worn by those of the royal family. This man definitely wasn't Theseus.

The men looked intimidating, Sam taking long strides that radiated strength. Tubbo being Tubbo was sending glares that could send a lesser man running for their life. Ranboo usually being the most social and famously the nicest had, unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, looked like he was halfway through fully entering his enderwalk phase, something that terrified anyone who ever saw it. Finally, Dream entered with his royal armour as well as a sword that Phil knew only royalty was allowed to touch.

These men were not his children, yet they couldn't be Sam's either. Was it possible Sam was only faking the friendship, planning to give the throne to his brother? No, he looked at the King like Phil looked at his children. They were definitely father and son.

"Enough with this nonsense, if you truly are Theseus then you know family is everything. You will identify yourselves and give me back the throne," he demanded with the voice of a thousand kings. 

"You claim to be the King yet you have no knowledge of the most sacred rule, you have been gone for 14 years, the throne was passed on to your son, Theseus," snarled Sam, voice full of poison. 

Hearing this out loud made Theseus turn his attention back to Phil.  Despite being in his fifties he look as if he was still 38. Truly as if he had only beeen gone two weeks

Phil shook his head, that couldn't be right, he was only gone for two weeks, he kept track. Enough was enough he decided, about to open his mouth to threaten them once more before promptly being interrupted by Theseus saying 

"Take him to the guest room in the West wing, station two guards outside his door, he may leave his room while being escorted by them but not the castle. I will deal with this promptly." 

With that, he was dragged away by two men who had appeared at Theseus's side.

Sighing, Theseus slumped down into the chair in his office. He was excited for the noticeable reduction in paperwork but with Phil returning, he would need to organise a lot of things, including a way to get rid of him.

Suddenly the door slammed open, revealing his brothers and father with snacks. Smiling he went to greet them. At least he would have help from Sam and Ranboo: Tubbo and Dream were useless when it came to legal documents, last time he assigned to him he walked into half of them burnt and the other half made into origami.

And as a family happily worked away together, the spiderwebs are dusted off a letter.