He immediately hated his compliance the moment he learnt what 'a lot to learn' meant. For starters, it meant he wouldn't get any sleep that night being tutored by countless historians and scholars including the oracle - who was quite pleased he had decided against fleeing. It was from her that he learnt the annoying facts that nobody had bothered to share with him.

A. He had to meet up with all the nobles and chat them up. That meant he had to charm them and win them over. If he failed, which apparently might happen if he didn't give great impressions - then the alliance Atlantis had with that kingdom would be at stake.

B. He had to hold council. A clear joke as a great number of the lords on the King's *ahem* his council were on team Miraz. It was not hard to see that they'd obviously make a mockery of his claim to the throne and challenge it even.

These people were obviously delusional if they believed for a second that he'd go through all this like a good boy.

"Your Grace?" Someone said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

It was one of the tutors. He frowned, realising what he had called him. But he decided not to bring it up. Besides, the poor man had probably asked him something.

"I'm sorry, what?" He asked in confusion.

The scholar sighed in exasperation.

"Your Grace, it's important that you memorize these names for tomorrow." The commander said to him. For about the hundredth time.

He motioned to the young scholar to continue. The scholar, dressed in the elegant brown robes of the scholar's Union placed another scroll in front of young Arthur.

"These are the noble houses of Assar. Lord Salazar, Matador and head of his noble house has two children. His son and heir, Valerio is chief council to the Venetian Queen. There are also rumors of a marriage pact between the two to bring together the two elven kingdoms..."

So that Valerio guy that she was with is the Matador's heir, Arthur thought to himself. And what's that about a marriage pact? That fact made his heart clench. Of course it had all been too good to be true. He forced himself to listen to the rest of the lecture.

"His daughter, Chaekar, is a mage is training. She spends most of her time at the great temple of the druids training but she does accompany her father on special occasions.

The Grand Master Falone is another important head in the Assyrian kingdom. He oversees the Great Temple of the Druids. In other words, he is the strongest of the druids so naturally it is in the Matador's best interest to listen to him."

Great, Arthur thought, another person I need to impress. But he kept all his thoughts to himself. He focused all his attention on listening to the scholar go on. He'd only just gone through the list about his liege Lords. Now he had to repeat that process. With six other kingdoms. He was trying very hard not to zone out.

"Do you have any questions, your Grace?" The scholar asked.

He realised he'd zoned out unintentionally after all. He shook his head. Nah, it couldn't be helped.

"No. Thank you." He said. "I think I've had it for tonight."

"Your Grace," the commander began to protest but he put up his hand to stop him.

Seriously, it was probably about three hours from sunrise.

"There is no way I'm going to learn all this in the short space of time we have left." He says to then. "Please. I need to rest."

In truth, he was more than tired. He was exhausted both physically and emotionally. He had gone through a lot today. More than anyone should have to deal with. It was for this reason that the commander decided to comply.

"Alright. You should get some sleep." The commander said.

He motioned for everyone else to leave and they did. When they were all gone, he turned to the young boy.

"How are you doing?" He asked.

Arthur resisted the urge to laugh. What a rhetorical question. Surely that was not the sort of thing you asked to the person whose life you just ruined. He also was not in the mood to answer so he simply looked away.

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now but I want you to know that I am always here for you." He said.

Arthur can't stop the sarcastic snicker that escapes his lips. He just couldn't help himself.

"I'd like to go to sleep now, commander. If you don't mind." He says.

The older man nods and bows in acknowledgement before he leaves. Leaving Arthur all by himself.

He had trouble sleeping. As tired as he was, he just couldn't bring himself to sleep. In all honesty, sleeping in this strange new place was terrifying. Well, mostly because he was afraid that Miraz - or his uncle as fate would have it - would murder him in his sleep. Eventually he did sleep, albeit unintentionally. He just dozed off.

He awoke to a loud knock outside his door and someone was calling him. At first he just sat up in his bed in absolute confusion. Where am I? Was the first thought that came to his mind. Then everything that happened the previous day came back to his mind. He sank back to the mattress willing himself to go back to sleep if not wake up from this nightmare.

"Your Grace!" Came that voice again.

"Will you stop calling me that already?!" He grumbled but because his head was still in the pillow it was unlikely that whoever was calling him had heard.

The knocking went on until finally he couldn't take it. He decided he might as well as get it over with. With a deep breath, he walked over to the door and opened it, interrupting a maid who was about to knock again.

"Uhm - your Grace, forgive me but the seamstress has - has arrived." She stuttered.

The seamstress? Oh right, the fitting. He nodded at her and watched as a stoic looking, mid aged woman walked into his room with a dozen servants at your whim. She curtseyed at him and he tried very hard not to cringe at all this formality.

"Your Grace. I am Madam Genevieve Brutollë. At your service." She said formally. "I will be providing you my services today..."

She went on about why she was there. He already knew so he zoned her out. He was more interested in where he'd heard the name Brutollë before. He pondered on it deeply. Then it came to him. Lord Cedric Brutollë, his Master of coin. He was also sure that Lord Brutollë was a strong supporter of Miraz. This made him a little anxious with having this woman here.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when he saw that she was holding up to separate color pallets for him to see. One grey and the other maroon.

"Which one do you prefer, your Grace?" She asked him.

"Er - I kind of like them both, actually." He replied with a shrug.

"Hm. We can work with that." She said before turning to her younger apprentice. "Don't just stand there, bring the racks!"

"Y - yes Ma'am!" The young girl squealed as she brought to him a whole rack of clothes.

Arthur simply narrowed his eyes at the older woman. He didn't care how superior you were. That was no way to treat another person. Of course he got interrupted when Madam Brutollë shoved a whole bunch of clothes on his face.

"These will surely catch your eye, your Grace." The woman said as she showed them to him.

He figured she'd just bother him some more if he didn't pick anything so he chose a grey jack with a white short and black trousers. She grumbled for a few moments about how plain the clothes he chose were but shut up after she saw how unmoving he was. Immediately after, everyone made a fuss about him getting ready. When it was all done, he stood in his room fully dressed and waited for commander Boulivir to arrive and escort him to where he was needed.

That happened twenty minutes later.

It was the commander and his lieutenants.

"Your Grace," the commander said with a bow. "It's time. The foreign dignitaries are waiting."

Arthur simply nodded. Taking a deep breath, he followed them as they led him to where the council would be held. The council hall.
He could feel the panic consume him as they reached the two golden double doors but he forced himself to remain calm. He told himself that he would not let the fear paralyze him. Taking a deep breath, he watched as they threw open the doors.  All the Lords of Atlantis were waiting. All except one.

"Lord Miraz still has not arrived?" Commander Boulivir inquired on everyone's behalf.

"No, commander." Another of the Lords said.

They all started chatting away and a few began to snicker in amusement. They were making fun of him. But he wouldn't let them make a fool of him.

"Progress waits for no man. We'll have to proceed without him." He said.

Everyone looked at him in shock. Obviously they hadn't expected him to take charge so they immediately sat up and looked attentive. Even commander Boulivir nodded at young Arthur in approval. Turning back to the Lords on the council, he took his place at the head of the table.

"Shall we begin?" He said, staring at them all head on.

"I think we should wait for Lord Miraz. He knows the issues this council has been discussing. Surely he can contribute to each matter's outcome." A plump, sandy haired Lord dressed in a silk attire spoke up.

His coat had a scorpion crest so he figured that this was the Lord Brutollë. The man gave him a secret grin. He was challenging the young boy but he wouldn't bite.

"His opinion won't matter seeing as he chose not to come to this council meeting, Lord Brutollë." Arthur said with a straight face. "Does anyone else have an objection?"

After that, no one objected. The meeting went on accordingly and he learnt a lot of interesting matters. It took a while but eventually the meeting was adjourned. They all stood as Arthur left the room.

"The Matador would like a moment of your time, your Grace." The commander told him as they made their way down the hallway.

"I see." Arthur simply said.

"You were great today." The commander said with a warm smile.

"Nothing you say to me will change anything." Arthur said sadly. "You do realize that, don't you?"

The commander wished he could deny this but the young boy was right. So he kept his thoughts to himself and led him to the garden where the Matador was waiting.