THE MAD KING 1: THE FAKE BRIDE

"I think the best thing to do, my king, is to get married like they've been talking about." Elder Blake said.

"Married?" Elder Rahsan yelled out, his eyeballs almost falling from his orbs.

"But who would he get married to?" The second elder added, concern lacing his voice.

"Who wants to get married to a...

"Say it, Charles. Say the words," Elder Blake gritted out, his eyes set on the dark-haired man glancing between the man on the high chair and Elder Blake.

Elder Charles fidgeted in his seat, a huge gulp passing his mouth down his throat. "It's just that there have been rumors and concerns. So who actually wants to get married to..

"A mad king, " the king said, silencing everyone as all eyes turned to him. His lips stretched upward, mocking, sad, and bitter. His cold, black eyes swept across the room, taking in every face before him.

His eyes settled on Elder Charles as he clenched his jaw. Everyone's breath stilled as his hand drummed against the arm of his chair, slow and deliberate.

"Isn't that what people have been talking about? Who would dare marry a mad king? Or even a mad man?"

BEGINNING.

For twenty-five years now, he has been called many things. The Mad King. The monster in the high tower. The Lord with no face. Every rumor and gossip has been about him. About what he was and what he could be. He was a dangerous man, they all whispered. The man who is known to have killed his own mother when he was six pushed her off a cliff and watched her fall to her death.

He didn't shed a tear, didn't sob. It only made him grow stronger, becoming more fearful and ruthless. He was also the same man known to throw his father out with no mercy when he was accused of too many sins- neither of these sins no one has any idea about.

He has been king to the mortals [the humans} for more than 20 years now, yet no one has seen his face. Even the servants and messengers of the high tower gossiped about how secret he was. But the people were growing too greedy, too selfish.

They wanted to see this man who was named as one of the 'gods'.

A name so pure and so selfless- AHSAN.

For 25 years, he has hidden behind his tower and ruled over them. The only people who have seen him are his elders, who are too sworn in to reveal what he looks like. He didn't mistreat them or subject them to hardship. He was the best ruler they've had in a very long time, better than his ancestors. He threw yearly parties for them, fed them, and was quick to fight any war they faced.

But everything changed suddenly one day. A servant had claimed she saw the King, his beauty unparalleled. So unnatural, it had burned itself into her eyes. And when asked what she saw, she said she saw his side profile with a woman so gorgeous, the two of them making out in the light of the day.

This angered the mortals, both at home and in other kingdoms.

How dare the mad king get married, even with a wife without them knowing anything about it?

So the mortals requested one thing; they demanded the king and his wife. They wanted to see him now, his beauty, his wife, and his glory. They wanted to see if the rumors were true, on both his ruthlessness and his beauty, whether it was all sweet nothings, or his eyes were as huge as two overripe tomatoes. The entire mortal kingdom was in disarray, every Lord demanding to see the Mad King immediately.

And so, the five elders of the high tower sat together on a cold night, hot tea with the steam still brimming out in front of them.

And the mad king, AHSAN, sat in his chair, his eyes moving uninterestingly from one Elder to another, hearing them babble and ramble all around until one said something interesting, a word they were always too scared to use in front of him.

CONTINUATION OF PROLOGUE.

"Your highness," Elder Charles gulped down, his teeth clattering.

He leaned out of his chair, his long, slender fingers drumming against the table. He smiled slowly, the amusement reaching his eyes now. "Fine. I'll get married."

The room turned to look at him, their mouth slightly agape and their eyes widened. A deep crease formed on Elder Rahsan's forehead, his brain lagging and finding it hard to comprehend the words,

"M...my lord.."

"What?" he shrugged, picking an apple casually from the basket and biting into it.

"Since they want to see me badly, I would allow them to see me."

"B... b... but who would you get married to? Who would marry.." Another elder said.

The cold dark eyes gleamed, not with warmth, but with something sharper, making the air tense and heavier,

"That's up to you to decide. As long as you find me a bride, I will get married, and I will leave this tower and show my face to the people."

Elder Charles closed his eyes and took in a long, deep breath. He should have seen this coming when the King opened his mouth to talk. They should never have brought this matter to court. Who wants to marry a man that hates physical touch, is overly proud, and can't do the slightest task himself, besides ruling the kingdom?

"Ahsan, as your uncle, I would...

"Nope," The king interjected, the smile on his face twisting into something darker, as if he was enjoying this. He crunched the apple, staring straight into each elder's eyes, "Find me a bride, one that wants to get married to me. And I shall marry."

"But...

"Your highness, I believe matters like this..." another elder started, drawing his words out with panic.

"I have decided!" The king snapped, the entire room going quiet with fear.

"This entire castle has been boring throughout the years. A bride should do the fun." His eyes scanned them lazily and dangerously as he stood up, the chair scraping on the floor.

"I want to get married. Find me a bride in two days and bring her to me."