[𝐄𝐧𝐠] Deserved Happiness

Deserved happiness

Ever since the civil war ended, fortunately without too much problems with the -forced- abdication of the 23rd and last King of Balbadd and the creation of the new Republic, the life of a certain blond haired prince had become quite hectic: thanks to the Seven Seas Alliance, Alibaba managed to get Kou to agree a few conditions to keep Balbadd's independence - albeit only momentarily.

It was more like a bet than an agreement: Balbadd had a year-and-half time limit to go and pay back the Empire all the debts that Ahbmad had contracted in the four years he had been king; if he couldn't do it in those twelve months, then the sea province would become immediately a mere colony under Kou's control.

Alibaba knew that he was walking on a thin thread (and that Kou was most likely playing mouse-and-cat with them, giving out false hopes), but that same thread was the only and last option for Balbadd to be safe. And he would have been an idiot for not accept it, since otherwise his homeland would have been instantaneously done for.

So he worked hard day after day with the help of citizens, while the Seven Seas diplomats helped the royal family and nobility to set up the bases for a republic. Alibaba's help was, of course, required too.

The third prince had to work basically day and night for his country, but he was undoubtedly fine with doing so: if he could prevent the fire of despair and sadness to spread among his countrymen then he'd rather launch himself into those flames and turn into dust than let anything that could be done aside.

.

.

.

Reconstruction had gone on smoothly with the help of citizens and soldiers alike: much of the damage done during the fights with the beasts from Kou and the Oracle had already been fixed in the first two weeks. It was almost like nothing ever happened.

Alibaba greeted many citizens - a few of them were former members of the Fog Troupe too - as he walked down the main street to the port: Morgiana had basically thrown him out of the castle after he almost collapsed (again) from tiredness, saying that that day he was free to relax. He of course refused - there were more important matters to take care of! - but after seeing her slightly pissed (namely, after she stomped her feet on the ground and giving him a glare) he decided to accept and rest a bit.

So, he thought that he could go to see--and only see ! ...okay, maybe talk to the sea merchants a bit too--how things were going.

«If she finds out, you're gonna fly straight out of the window this time.» A voice commented out of nowhere, making the blonde jump and pale visibly, then continued. «Or maybe she'd keep you grounded for the entire week.»

The prince was already pouting, his heart still racing from the scare, when he turned to face his old friend. «Kassim! Did you just have to do that?!»

The other male only laughed before taking a drag from the cigar between his lips. He breathed out shortly after. «What? You're my King, I'll have to stick with you and be sure you don't get in trouble.»

Oh, Alibaba could definitely sense the irony in his words. Not that he thought that having Kassim as his Household vessel would change the way he acted around him.

Kassim still teased him a lot about how he couldn't get a girlfriend (and Alibaba always used the excuse that "he had to clear Balbadd's position before that" to cover the fact that he was, undoubtedly, still inexperienced with that kind of stuff). He still had a cold aura around himself most of time, but the blonde could see the changes in his usual behaviour; plus, he knew that the "real" Kassim cared for his friend and Balbadd's people.