Early the next morning, Alex expected the dull rays of light slipping through the small opening between the curtains and George bringing his breakfast and selecting his attire for the morning.

  But what he didn't expect was Max standing by the bed with a grin, watching him as he slowly woke up.

  "Good morning, Your Majesty~"

  Alex blinked once, then twice before squinting his eyes, "Are you possessed by a ghost or something to watch me like a creep?"

  "What do you mean? I always watched you sleep back home."

  "You were a dog, Max. So doing this as a human is a bit creepy.... for me at least."

  "Alright, Your Royal Majesty. Your wish is my command," he rolled his eyes and placed the breakfast tray next to him, a mix of sweet, bitter and fruity aromas filled the air around them, "Now eat, we have very important business this morning."

  "What kind of business?"

  Max lifted the satchel he placed by the bed and took out some simple clothing and cloaks, "We're taking a walk around the kingdom."

  ("Hmm.... I'm beginning to understand the reason.")

  'You do? Please explain because I'm lost..... And it's too early.'

  ("He'll explain for you.")

  "Max, why?"

  "Well, you're apparently going to play king for a year, so looking around isn't a bad thing, bro. Plus, how are you going to solve an issue without seeing it first-hand?"

  Alex thought for a moment then nodded, "Fair point."

  Cain grimaced at the scones and tea, already aware of how sweet they were, ("Reduce on the sugar. It's too sweet.")

  'Let me be. Besides, have you already forgotten want I had to drink to look like this?'

  ("Tsk.")

  'Hmph!'

  As he began to eat, Max took out the map of Austinia, spreading it out on the bed.

  The kingdom's layout appeared to be recently drawn with care on the parchment, with the palace in the center, surrounded by walls. Then Gnobilis district, the city out the gates, was surrounded by a second gate while the rest of the land was outlines by the border with a mountain in the East labeled as "Blood Witches" and a shadowed mountainous patch labeled as "Northern Grand Duchy" with the remaining area, Pagus district, was labeled "Slums".

  "The entire kingdom was filled with greenery in the past, during His Majesty's grandfather's reign and the Slums was a beauty place before it became a wasteland. And after His father's reign began, a Dam was built at the main river, preventing water to be supplied to the there and the villagers outside the gates only relied on the drying well and the water in the city. And with the rains reducing until the drought that began five years ago, they've be scavenging for more than just food," Max explained, eyes occasionally drifting or closing before returning to Alex.

  "Cool.... So let's break the Dam."

  "You naive child.... The river starts from the ocean, with some of its branches connected to the North, and the Dam has a lot of water. So breaking it might cause a flood that'll affect the villagers as well as breaking the walls of the city."

  Alex squinted his eyes at Max, "How do you know all of this?"

  "I'm just naturally intelligent."

  He raised a brow, giving him a one-over.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  ".... The servants and Lady Eleanor have been teaching me some things. Grandpa George made the map and Lady Eleanor wrote this for me," Max took out a folded piece of parchment from his pocket, filled with a detailed explanation of the situation, "I memorized some of it last night."

  "Of course you did."

  "Can't a dog be smarter than a human, Your Majesty? My species are more superior than yours, Y'know?"

  "But you're currently a human being, Max."

  "Appearance won't change my instincts."

  Alex rolled his eyes and took the plain white shirt, dark brown trousers and leather boots and went behind the dressing screen.

  "Is that really necessary, bro? I'm a guy like you," Max glared at the screen.

  "Cain's body, not mine."

  While Alex was getting dressed, Max began tidying up the room according to George's instructions from weeks ago.

  White mattress cover under a grey bedsheet and a navy blue blanket with the pillows arranged in a straight line and the discarded clothes neatly folded on the bed. Black curtains drawn open with the center the same length as the curtains and the windows opened at that area. And his shoes placed next to the bed, facing the opening.

  When he asked, the older man simply said, "His Majesty prefers it this way."

  He took the tray, placing it outside the chamber and a maid immediately took it to the kitchen.

  Alex finally stepped out from behind the screen, ruffling the usually neat black hair with Cain grumbling in his head.

  "Alright.... Do I look less regal, Max?"

  Max paused as he took off the jacket of his uniform, tilting his head to the side and did a one-over, "Even though you haven't bathed yet, your hair looks too shiny, your skin looks poreless save for the scars and the crimson eyes are a bit of an eye-catcher. Not to mention, the looks."

  "Max?"

  "Yes?"

  "Your skin looks soft, your hair is blonde and unfairly fluffy, your eyelashes are long and your hazel eyes are eye-catching. Not to mention, you look princely and angelic."

  "Firstly, not my fault. Secondly, at least I'm a servant and not a noble or royal."

  "Whatever. Let's just go," he draped the cloak over his shoulders, covering half of his face with the hood.

  Max did the same and led Alex through a different corridor, walking passed George as he and the older bulter exchanged a silent nod and George watched them turn a corner leading to a secret passage outside the walls before he returned to his duties.

  As they walked through the dimly lit passage, Alex turned to him and raised a brow.

  "I told him that we're taking a walk around the kingdom.... except the mountains and the North, and he said that he'll handle the work on your behalf while we're away."

  He nodded in understanding at Max's explanation then furrowed his brows as a thought crossed his mind.

  'Yo! Why is the Head butler handling the paperwork? Don't kings and nobles have a right-hand or page or something?'

  ("I don't have a right-hand and the reason is quite clear. As for why he's handling the work, because he worked closely with my grandfather and father.")

  'Aren't you worried that he might betray you? I mean— there's a lot of incidences where the butler is either a spy or traitor.'

  ("He won't betray me.... at least not now. But in the past, he was slowly aiming to betray me because of the kingdom's state as he was from the slums.")

  Soon, they were in the city out the walls, greeted by the clean and well maintained infrastructures.

  The houses were steady and clean with the middle-class being built in perfect rows while the nobles lived in gated estates.

  The markets were filled with fresh plants and good as merchants advertised there products to the people who walked on the paved streets.

  The scent of freshly baked pastries— warm and mouthwatering, filled the market from the bakeries.

  Greenery decorated the area and a beautiful water fountain stood in the middle of the road with the statue of Cain's father, King Timothy Saul Augustus IV, at the top as clean water flowed under his feet.

  The laughter of children, the chattering of the people, the neighing of horses and creaking wheels of carriages filled the atmosphere— painting a picture of perfection and serenity despite the gloomy sky.

  Alex wordlessly looked around the district. From the vibrant market to the massive estates.

  While he stood next to Max, who brought some food and clothing with the silver coins he had, a pair of icy blue eyes watched them with a calculating gaze from inside a carriage heading to the palace gates.

  Soon after, as the duo went through the crowded market, heading towards the gates to Pagus, the passed by a radiant young woman in her early twenties with long, straight blonde hair, bright green eyes and a warm smile, who was buying gardening tools in a shop with a man in his fifties.

  The woman glanced at their cloaked forms before her eyes widened in excited recognition upon seeing Alex.

  She took a step in a their direction, hand reaching out, "Cai—"

  "Ruth?" the man, Lewis, gazed at his daughter then at the path Max and Alex used as they disappeared in the crowd, "What's wrong, my dear?"

  "Father, I...." she glanced at the path, then back to her father and shook her head, "I thought I saw something I knew. I was probably mistaken."

  As Max and Alex neared the exit of the market near the gate leading to Pagus, several guards— at least twenty guards, stood by the entrance with ten on each side.

  Max led him further away from the gate, heading to a thick bush covering a hole big enough for children and slender women to pass through easily.

  Alex's eyes drifted between the hole and Max, clearly reluctant to go through it. Then when his gaze landed on him for the five time, Max gave him a look and bowed exaggerated flair.

  Defended, he went through, feeling the concrete graze his skin and the earthy scent of soil filling his nose.

  Once on the other side, his hair was filled with dust and his clothes and face were covered in dirt as he stood behind a collasped building, waiting for Max to get through.

  They walked around the ruin and was welcomed with the sight on dead trees, ruined homes and the scent of decayed flesh.

  In the center, stood a dried up well near an abandoned marketplace. And in the distance stood a mine, where most of the people— men, women and children worked while some stood by the entrance to Gnobilis in a line in front of a stall where three guards gave small portions of food and water to each individual in exchange for money and minerals.

  The people were pale and thin, their clothes rugged as the moved around barefoot with cracks on their feet.

  Some mothers gave food to their wailing children while they ate smaller portion.

  Some of the people in the far corner stood by the fire, gathered around a cauldron, preparing a stew with human flesh of those who voluntarily dead to escape suffering. Distributing the stew with those willing to take it.

  Alex's stomach churned at the sight as nausea creeped in.

  Cain gnawed at the devastation, feeling shared guilt and Alex's sympathy for the people.

  Max glanced his reaction with satisfaction, then took the goods and coins he brought, leaving them scattered around the area before grabbing Alex and went back to the hole, hiding the bushes.

  Before Alex could utter a word, Max covered his mouth and the sound of hurried steps and people screaming echoed from the other side of the wall— clearing for the food, coins, water and clothing Max scattered around.

  "Giving them directly would've been dangerous," his voice low as he whispered.

  Alex clenched his fist, still feeling sick to his stomach.

  [Holder Candidate Quest One: Change the plot

  ?Duration: 321 days

  ?Reward: 10,000 points

  ?Failure: Bad luck at love]