A short time later, Alexander stepped into the seventh meeting room. It was, in short, a tea room. There were some windows with cream sheer curtains diffusing the light at the far end, and in the center was an ornate wooden coffee table and white sofa. Across from the sofa was a pair of matching chairs. Standing next to the sofa, facing the windows, with his arms crossed, was the young knight Alexander had requested to meet.

Seeing this young man so close to him now, Alexander had to take pause. The knight hadn't bothered to clean up in the least – he was still covered in the dust and dirt, his hair tousled and messy. There was a large dirt stain running down his hip across his butt and down his thigh that stood out on his khaki pants.

Alexander cleared his throat, stepping closer to the young man. “Uhm, I was wondering if you'd be interested in traveling with me?”

“What the fuck for?” came the rude reply. The young man turned around, immediately glaring at the blond. It startled Alexander – both the sharp tone of voice, and that his eyes weren't the same color. His left eye was a rich blue color, but his right was as green as a meadow of grass. “You rich bastards seem to think we're all ready to drop what we're doing just to go anywhere with you cunts.” He propped his hand on his hip, sliding his weight over to show his irritation.

Alexander blinked his eyes a few times. Although his tone's rude, he's really handsome and looks dependable… “I suppose that is rude of us to have that kind of assumption.” Alexander cast his eyes down nervously, trying to think over his words carefully and quickly to negotiate. He's volatile. I don't want him to storm out the room past me! “It's not a far trip. You'd be accompanying me north, first on a boat to the Vrans kingdom, and then farther north to the Jdah Waste.”

“Two fucking boats and a hotter than hell deadland of desert, dunes and rock? Count me the fuck out. Find some other sucker.” He flapped his left arm up past his head, closing his eyes while he shook his head. “You're crazy to think I'd do it.”

“I'll pay anything!” Alexander frowned, cutting in as quickly as he could. With his hands clasped together by his fingers at the base of his ribs, he took a step forward. “Just – accompany me as far as Iln. That's at the southern part of the Waste – I can do the rest!”

“You aren't fucking listening.” He opened his eyes, keeping his firm glare on Alexander. “I don't wanna go fuckin' across the ocean twice.”

“We – we could get a boat that'll take us directly there then! Please?”

“I said no, dammit!” He straightened up and started to push around Alexander to the door. As soon as he got close enough Alexander clamped both of his hands on the young man's right forearm and held tight. “The fuck?” He yelled, trying to lift his arm up to yank the lord off.

“I'll pay you three million!”

At that, the young man froze. Alexander opened his eyes cautiously to look up into the shocked face of the knight.

“Please. I just… I need a knight.”

“The fuck?” He asked in a quieter tone. “Why are you so desperate for me? I'm a rude jerk who might just up and abandon your sorry ass.”

“Cause…” Alexander relaxed his grip, but didn't look away from the two-toned eyes focused on him. “I think you're really handsome.” He scanned his blue eyes down, looking at the dirt-covered shirt before him, jumping from clumps of dirt to stains, and then finally back up to the dust-covered face. “If, if possible… I'd like it if you could pretend to be my lover, too? J–Just during the trip!”

The young knight chuckled. He turned toward Alexander and using his free hand, he lifted up Alexander's chin so they were eye-to-eye. It wasn't too much of a stretch since the knight was only a few inches taller. “Want to play in the realm of pleasure and lust while outside the kingdom, eh, little lord?”

“M–My name's Alexander.” Alexander spoke firmly, but his voice remained soft-spoken. He tried to carry in it a tone of friendliness and not desperation. Did I catch him?

“Fine. Alexander.” He smirked. “I'm Julian.” He leaned in to Alexander's face, close enough so their noses brushed against each other's. “Beg sweetly all you want, but I'm still not goin'.”

“F–five million.”

Julian chuckled, straightening his back. He dropped his hand from Alexander's chin and let the young man take a step back to a comfortable distance.

“The boat leaves tomorrow morning at eight. Will you… Will you be there?”

“Who knows?” Julian shrugged. He turned his heel and started for the door. “Oh.” Then he stopped and looked over his shoulder at the blond. “If I do become your pretend lover, don't assume I'll fuck you. But would I be able to kiss you?”

Alexander blinked, surprised. His face flushed a shade of pale pink as he answered, “D–don't you dare!”

The response was so funny that it got a genuine laugh out of Julian. For that brief bit of laughter, Alexander could tell he had reached the real Julian – not the arrogant, bored, rude knight that he'd been talking to, but someone who enjoyed teasing and being taken off-guard.

Maybe he really is a kind dependable man. Alexander thought, staring at Julian. The knight waved his hand, turned and left the room, still laughing happily.