Chapter One: Stuck in the Past

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The king glared down at the tall blond who was forcibly kneeled before him on the cobbled streets of Corona. Hugo's modern T-shirt, pants, and sneakers were out for everyone to see, and he couldn't help but shake his head slightly at himself. Why the hell hadn't he worn a better disguise?

Things were not looking so good for him aside from the fact that the king's son saw something in Hugo for some reason and oh, also happened to be hot. The lavishly dressed prince kneeled in front of him, staring into his face intently.

"You know of a cure?" Prince Varian asked, and Hugo was pretty certain the ailment this prince suffered from was a UTI based on the symptoms he'd listed.

"Yes, but like I said, you don't have access to it."

"And you do?"

"Prince Varian, if you would," the king snapped, and the beautiful prince left Hugo's line of sight.

As the king babbled on, Hugo couldn't help but steal a glance up at Varian through his mess of long, blond bangs. The clever blue eyes and small chin shaded under a men's soft bonnet with a fluffy feather sticking out of it was something out of a history buff's wet dream. It wasn't until he heard the king say, "Something needs to be done, and I'll be taking this one's life, no matter how beautiful you say he may be, Prince Varian," that Hugo began panicking.

He was too young to die. They could at least give him the dignity of killing him in his own time period. Unfortunately, they were about five hundred years too early for that. He looked around for a solution but saw none.

"...This is trickery of the highest degree," the king's voice cut through his thoughts, "and I will not stand for it."

The guard next to him raised his sword while two others held him down by the arms. That's when he became aware of the taser in his right pocket. I could use it.

No. No. What if he missed and only got killed faster? He sucked in his breath, waiting for a miracle when Prince Varian stepped in front of him again.

"Father, I must object," he said calmly, and the guards hesitated. "What if he is an angel sent to help us and not a devil? How can we blame him for the town's infected water simply because he is a bit odd? We must not rush to conclusions when we are in such turmoil at this time. Besides, he can cure my ailment, so perhaps he can cure the others' as well. Is that of no worth?"

"So he says," the king grumbled, looking the blond over. Hugo kept his head down, afraid to talk or even breath for fear he might condemn himself. "There is plenty of evidence to suggest he practices witchcraft. We have no reason to believe what he says is true or that his intentions are good."

"And therefore, we have no reason to believe they are wicked either," Varian snapped back. "Please Father, let me bring him back to the castle and make him my manservant. I will judge his character from there and if I find him in any way sinister or offensive then I will leave him to you to decide his fate."

The disgruntled king rubbed the back of his neck as he looked to the side in thought. Hugo waited agonizing seconds. "Very well," he relented, and Hugo exhaled, "But," he added quickly as Varian's face spread into a smile, "I want to hear about any suspicious behavior of his. You will report to me regularly of his progress."

"Yes, Father. I will, Father."

He sighed. "At ease men." The guards lifted a stunned Hugo to his feet.

"What have you to say for yourself, Welp?"

Hugo's arms were released now that he was standing, and he gave a deep bow. "Thank you for sparing me, King Quirin."

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