The Shadows Between Us

A bunch of i***t: Thieves

Breakfast was being served by the maids. The table was piled high with delectable royal foods. But it's nothing more than as an appetiser for them; they've already lost their thirst while placing and smelling the uncooked food on the table.

The alert guard on the gate quickly opened the door for the king and queen. Everyone in the room lowered their heads and bowed respectfully.

The door opened slowly and an immaculately dressed person stepped in. It was a man with white hair, but it was a but difficult to discern his age. Even though he had white hair, which obviously came from old age, there were no wrinkles on his face. If one only looked at his face, one might believe that he was rather young. However appearance didn't always accurately reflect the truth.

If someone heard of this person's age, they wouldn't be able to believe whoever told them. The sound of Queen Victoria and King Donovan's footsteps entered the dining room.

"Good day, Your Majesty." Mary smiled and bowed once again. In response, the king nodded. The king's servants drew his chair, and he sat gracefully. Even at this age, he was quite attractive, and his grace and elegance were unshakable. He smiled and picked up his fork, signalling the start of breakfast. Queen Victoria sat in her chair next to her king and began eating.

"Mary, where have my sons gone? Máville's Princes?" He chewed his breakfast and looked at the senior maid, not at the other servants who dare not to looked up and made eye contact with their Majesty.

"Older prince is awake and coming." She notifies lightly.

"Doesn't he grasp that the prince must be reached before the king?" Victoria put her hand on his hand that was laying on the table as he yelled violently. With a sweet grin and a fresh face, she bares her fangs while maintaining an exquisite appearance thanks to the crown on her head.

"Don't be angry, he'll be here." She tries to calm him down because she can't stand the king disgracing her beloved son.

"Why should I be angry, Victoria? Rules are rules, and it's the same for everyone. I hate his demeanour," he sighed, expressing his displeasure with the elder prince's treatment. Victoria smiled and gone on with her breakfast. The meal consisted of raw meat and a glass of fresh blood.

"Why do you make every rule for my son and never question the younger prince? This is not equality." She asked with a smirk. The King turned to Mary for an explanation.

"Prince didn't return last night."

"Must be sleeping with his concubine," Victoria spoke slowly but clearly enough to reach the king's ear because he glared at her.

"Don't think of him as your son, Victoria; he had other interests than pleasing himself with women." He leaned in and whispered to her. While the flame began to burn the queen's heart, Victoria's smirk shrank and the king leaned back to continue his breakfast.

If the royals had to abide by these rules at all times, ninety-nine per cent of their obligations outside the palace would be impossible. Rules get bent in public so as not to be rude. So servants try to not have ears to hear anything which in the end made problems for them.

The royal doors reopened, and a tall, handsome man entered. His hair was medium champagne and perfectly coiffed. With eyes as bright and spellbinding as lode stars, they bewitched all those who fell under his steady gaze on the table as he walk.

The servants bulge to him too. He was wearing blue pants with his almost matching like prince white coat, that had silver needlework on his collar and cuffs. He looked so handsome and perfect that every maid and servant in the room can't take their eyes off him. He bowed with a smile to the king and queen.

"Good morning, Your Majesty and our lovely Queen," Alvis said with a smile that made both the king and queen smile. The Queen looks at him as he sits on the chair, taking a napkin and placing it on his lap while holding his utensils, the expensive rings that Victoria noticed after observing him keenly.

"Good Morning Alvis looking fresh."

"Thank you milady." He glow as he chewed his meat food.

"He is late today, did you look for him?" She inquired, he looked up and answered.

"He is coming, you don't have to worry, milady." He looked back at his plate while Victoria sly smile back in response.

"Don't entangle Alvis in all these matters, Vic, He is not his servant." Donovan said firmly and no one dare to reply to the king. They ate in silence.

Standing in the distance, Charlotte looked up again after the royals had eaten in silence; curious, she can't help but questioned about this handsome man who had just entered the dining room. Her mind was wondering, "Who is he?" Is he a second prince? She looked over at Mary, who is standing next to her.

"Who is this handsome man?" She whispered in Mary's ear and asked very slowly.

"Alvis was the sole child of the late Chief Commander of the Máville kingdom and a distant cousin of King Donovan. He is our Chief Commander, Alvis Darius, and followed after his father."

"Is Chief Commander, the next-highest rank in the kingdom after the King and Queen, too young for the post?" Charlotte was stunned to learn that this young man, who appears to be around 30, is the General Commander of the Knights because she had never heard of such a position being held by a young man.

"Although he is young, he is a brilliant and extraordinary individual. He has the ability to quickly resolve many major issues. All other commanders are under his control. He is the emperor's trusted adviser." She told her slowly and Charlotte stares at Alvis. She is impressed by knowing about him.

"Their conversation was cut short when the guards opened the large doors and let in the older prince. The maids and male servants immediately bowed to him. He was strong, kind, and firm; his face was blank, and his eyes had a bit of rudeness due to his position in the kingdom.

He was used to to the servants' treatment. He was dressed in black pants, a lovely white shirt, and a magnificent black prince coat. His skin was white, and the appearance of this suit made him even more appealing. He appeared intimidating, but he was also graceful and charming.

~

It's a small club where all the men were sitting and having a good time. The main lights were turned off, and the orchestra begins to play. There was some rousing music playing, and he was very sleepy as he seized the opportunity to slide down in his seat, but his eyes and ears were still alert and the curtains were dragged open. The drum roll came to an end, the lid of the laundry basket on stage is tossed aside, and one, two, and three pop up.

They all were wearing synonymous with each other vibrant turquoise crop tops and harem pants while polished necklace, ponytail wig, fake gold teardrop earrings, headband and the little veil which was cover their fifty per cent face.

Sitting in a private room was none other than the thieves, who were plotting their next victims for tonight because last night due to strong security they couldn't commit their crimes. The lord of thieves was drinking as two girls was around him circling him while he was telling the new plans to his fellows criminals. One of them was not drinking but just listening to them.

His gaze appears to be fixed on the entrance as he awaits for someone. He was dressed in what appears to be a typical, inexpensive long cloak with a hood drawn over the head. But it was enough to hide his identify and eyes.

"They found Finley this eve, just outside the Blood Forest, dead."

The man with the cloak looked up from his cards and across the crimson-painted surface to the three men sitting at the table. He would be chosen this spot for a reason. He'd…felt nothing from them as he drifted between the crowded tables earlier.

No pain, physical or emotional.

Normally, he didn't prod to see if someone was in pain. Doing so without reason felt incredibly invasive, but in crowds, it was difficult to control just how much he allowed himself to feel. There was always someone whose pain cut so deeply, was so raw, that their anguish became a palpable entity he didn't even have to open his senses to feel—that was what he couldn't ignore and walk away from.

They projected their agony onto the world around them. Stealing each house in the kingdom while Royals tried to find them but had no clue. It's not only Máville but also Álencia kingdom. They were spread in each kingdom looting everyone, they got opportunities.

"So, is everyone here or is someone missing? I'm scared that someone has been captured." After taking a long breath, he said. The lord gazed at him.

"Everyone is here, and the Máville guards and soldiers have no idea where we are. Don't be anxious." While pushing the girl who touched his face, the lord said. With his dragger glances, he scowled at her.

"I heard the younger prince is among them." He asserted in a somewhat low voice, his eyes tired. At which Lord made an unbelievable face.

"Tch! The younger prince must be sleeping in his royal bed and the Royal don't participate in these tougher things that were just a piece of fake news." He educated them on the bunch of idiots and take another shot.

"But what if the prince comes in front of you?" He said creepily with a smirk.

"I will kill that young prince with my one s***h of a sword. He can't defeat me." The confidence in his voice was visible as he smirk back withholding his blade cover in his hand which rested on his waist.

"Why are you so curious and worried?"

Another thief replied, "He is new in the team, master. Our one member can't able to come, so he has sent him instead his place. He is his son." The master was not satisfied with the new news of a new member of their team. He asked.

"What is your name? You seem young." The man slides the hoodie back from his head. His bangs are still on his eyes as he smiles and stares at those thieves.

"I am Rowan." His deep voice goes deep down i. The ears of the listeners. His face is dusty and tainted, his lips cornered and his cheek has a bruise that seems like he fought with someone m the master's eyes widen.

"Rowan? It's a younger prince of Máville's name. Rowan Donovan.", He said in shock.

"Oh shut! There is not only one Rowan in the Máville kingdom." He punched that thief back harder who was standing beside him while the girls whose face was hidden from the veil they were wearing stood up and walk out of the private room.

"I heard that the younger prince is very handsome. Like once he was in the street of Máville and every female is drooling over him. The dirty clothed and dusty face thief is nowhere near that baby prince who lives in the castle."

Rowan chuckled loudly with the master as they both laughed. The thieves stare at them, then start talking about different things as one or two new girls enter, bringing more beer and blood drinks for these inebriated criminals. However, the Lord thief George quickly pulled the scroll from his bag and began to open it.

"What it is master?" Asked Rowan in confusion.

"I stole it from one of the famous painters' house, it's an expensive painting." He sneers while feeling proud of himself. He is thinking to sell it in another kingdom. He will get many coins after selling it.