The kingdom of Hav'al stood as one of the few great human settlements in a vast and often hostile world. It housed nearly seventy percent of all humanity, thriving in unmatched glory. Rolling hills of fertile soil stretched endlessly under skies that blessed the land with abundant rainfall and gentle, splendid weather. Golden fields swayed in the breeze, orchards heavy with fruit, and rivers sparkling clear — it was no exaggeration to say Hav'al rested on the most bountiful patch of earth anywhere.
Humans were known as the ones loved by the goddess herself, or as the other races mockingly called them, "the favs." Mostly peaceful, with only a few troublesome exceptions, they had forged lasting peace with the other races under the guidance of their king.
Arthur the Sixteenth ruled with a kind but steady hand. A benevolent leader who cherished peace above all, he earned the title "Dealmaker" for his rare gift of turning impossible negotiations into profitable alliances for the kingdom. In his lifetime, he had already secured peace with four of the six great races — a feat no previous king had managed. His people adored him, and even leaders of other races respected him. He treated everyone equally, yet delivered harsh punishment when duty demanded it. That was the weight of a true king.
Arthur sat lazily in his grand chair, staring at the mountain of paperwork that had completely buried his once-magnificent oak desk. He groaned long and hard, rubbing his temples.
"Do I really have to do all this today?" he asked his knight and personal assistant.
Flynn, a tall blond man in his late twenties with striking blue eyes, stood nearby. His gaze was cool but never menacing — something about him put people at ease despite the powerful build of an experienced fighter. His silver armor gleamed in the bright room, covering only his chest, gauntlets like fine gloves, and heavy silver boots. He carried another thick stack of documents.
"The work piled up while you were cutting corners for about a month," Flynn said, his voice even and melodious. Arthur always thought he sounded like an angel who had accidentally been born human.
"Come on!" Arthur protested, trying to push some papers away before they toppled onto him. "I didn't skip that much. I was only gone for like a month."
"A month… a month, you say?" Flynn's tone sharpened slightly. "Do you know how many people live in this kingdom? How many approvals are needed every single day? And what about the other races we made alliances with? They need resources from us — and they pay fairly. You skipped work for a whole month and call it 'only'? I was drowning in it while you were gone, and I'm not even king."
"Oh my," Arthur feigned surprise with a grin. "I've never seen you get this worked up about paperwork before. What changed? Are you finally getting homesick?"
"That's not the point, Your Majesty," Flynn replied, growing more serious. "I want you to reflect on how your negligence affects the entire kingdom. Don't go skipping off for a month-long rendezvous with your wife and son. If you miss them that much, just bring them to the capital."
"I was already thinking about that," Arthur said, his expression softening as thoughts of Lizzy filled his mind. "But you know how Lizzy is. She doesn't want the lad growing up in this stuffy atmosphere. Still… I bet she'll give in eventually. She always does."
"Whatever, that's a matter for another day," Flynn said, already sorting the files by urgency. "Start on these important ones today. Once you bring your wife and kid to the capital, you can finish the rest. And another thing — I think you ought to increase my salary. Lately I've been doing work way outside my job."
He picked up one set of documents. "These are from the Giants of the North. They're requesting a road connecting our kingdoms. The northern terrains are brutal, even for them."
"The Giants, huh?" Arthur murmured thoughtfully. "How's Graf doing? It's been so long since I heard from him."
"He's married now," Flynn interrupted, setting down the Giant files and grabbing another stack. "He has a family and more responsibilities than ever. Bringing civilization to the Giants is no small task." He picked up the next pile, his face twisting in clear irritation. "These are from the dragons of Guava. He's been demanding Lizzy's presence non-stop for the past year. Blasted doting father."
"I think Lizzy knows her father wants to see her — their mind link is strong," Arthur said, scratching his head. "But she doesn't want to go, and she definitely doesn't want the lad anywhere near the dragon kingdom. She's terrified they'll flay him. I think her worries are for nothing, though."
"Well, I'll be damned," Arthur sighed after a while. "I've been back a week and the pile hasn't shrunk at all." He straightened up. "Pass me the first batch. I need to finish on time. I promised Lizzy I'd be home by nightfall, and knowing her, she won't sleep until I'm there."
"Only the Giants' request and a few merchant approvals from the elves need immediate attention," Flynn shrugged. "The rest can wait a day or two. Do these and I'll pretend I didn't see you escaping again… but only if you promise to be back tomorrow. If not, I'll come drag you myself."
"Yeah yeah, you're such a stick in the mud," Arthur groaned, picking up the files and scanning them seriously.
"I'm only doing this for Lizzy's sake," Flynn added, gazing out the window where the sky had turned a deep orange from the setting sun. "I know how her anger burns — she's not quick to it, but she hates broken promises, especially from her lover. I don't even know why dragons take promises so seriously." He paused, then smiled faintly. "I pity you, Arthur. You've already broken your fair share with her, and the only reason she hasn't exploded is because of the lad. She's a good mum, I'll give her that… aside from her cooking skills, of course. Break one more and she might actually challenge you to a duel." Flynn laughed at the thought. "She's quite simple like that."
He continued, "Are you still restricting the lad's contact with the outside world?"
"Yeah," Arthur replied, suddenly serious. "He's unusual, after all. Not many would approve of his existence. It's for his safety. He hasn't even seen another child his age — he only knows they exist from books. Honestly, I don't know how to handle him. Who would've thought he'd be both dragon and human at the same time? I asked Lizzy not to teach him magic yet… no one knows what kind of power he might have. It's best he stays away from people for now. At least tomorrow, when we come to the capital, he'll finally see some."
Arthur finished signing the Giants' documents, tossed the dragon ones into the trash, quickly approved the merchants' papers, then stood and stretched. The room was growing dark. "Well, I'll be off. Wish me luck, Flynn."
Flynn smiled for the first time that day, warm and sincere. "Have a good time, Your Highness."