Chapter 16

Max wasn't the king, not in the way the people saw Alex, his husband, sitting on the throne. But in every other way, he might as well have been. People called him "Your Majesty" out of respect for his marriage to the true monarch, a formality that didn't change the fact that he had no official claim to the crown. Max didn't care for titles or power. He'd always been more interested in connecting with the people, getting his hands dirty, so to speak, learning about their lives, their challenges. It wasn't his duty. It wasn't expected. But he liked it.

His mornings usually began with a visit to the market, where the buzz of the kingdom's daily life hummed in the air. Dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit that didn't scream "royalty" but still exuded authority, Max walked through the streets, a shadow of his husband, but always his own man. He stopped at stalls, talked to traders, asked about their children, their businesses, how things were going.

At one of the flower stalls, Mrs. Clara, a woman he had known since he came,greeted him with a wide smile. "Your Majesty," she said, curtsying. "You're out early today."

Max returned the smile. "Just taking in the sights. How's the business?"

She sighed, clearly worn out. "It's alright, but with the new tariffs on imported flowers, business is slower. People aren't buying as much, and the prices are rising. You know how it goes."

Max nodded, genuinely concerned. "And how's your daughter? Still studying in the city?"

"She's well," Mrs. Clara said, her expression brightening. "She's working hard at the library. You know how it is-every mother hopes for her children to do better than she did."

Max couldn't help but smile at the mention of the young girl, who had always been a bright spark in the village. "That's wonderful. You must be proud."

"I am," Mrs. Clara replied, the pride clear in her voice. "But the taxes... they've been harder for the younger families. Some can barely keep the roof over their heads."

Max's face darkened for a moment, his mind already working. "I'll see what I can do," he said softly, before moving on, continuing his rounds.

As he passed through the town, he checked in with the blacksmith, the baker, and even the local innkeeper. Each conversation had a different flavor, but all boiled down to the same themes: how things were changing, what was getting harder, and what was still working. He'd learned the names of everyone's children, the small details about their lives, and he always asked-always-how their families were. It wasn't just a formality for him. He cared about them.

At one point, he found himself at the butcher's shop, chatting with Mr. Colton, a burly man with a hearty laugh. "Your Majesty, you've got the look of a man who's had a rough night," Mr. Colton said, raising an eyebrow as Max stepped into his shop.

Max chuckled softly, leaning against the counter. "It was a long one," he admitted. "But I'm alright. Just need a good walk and some air."

"Good for the soul, I say. Now, what can I get you today?"

Max waved a hand. "Just here to check in. How are things at home? The wife and kids doing alright?"

"Oh, you know," Colton said, waving him off. "The kids are in trouble as usual. And Sarah's complaining about the new taxes. We're scraping by, but it's harder than before."

Max nodded thoughtfully. "If it's any help, I'll speak with Alex. We might be able to ease up on some of those rates for the local businesses. I'll see what I can do."

Colton raised an eyebrow. "That'd be mighty kind of you, Majesty. And your husband's the king-don't forget that."

Max smirked, a small, teasing smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, my husband." He was used to the reminder. He didn't take offense to it. After all, it was true. Alex held the power. But that didn't mean Max couldn't have a say in things, even if it wasn't his place officially.

As the day wore on, he found himself wandering down a less populated path, near the palace's edges. It was quiet here, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the wind. Max liked coming here sometimes, after talking with so many people. It helped him center himself before returning to his more official duties. He often sat with a guard or two, chatting about how the kingdom was faring and occasionally sneaking in the odd remark about his own personal thoughts on certain matters. They didn't mind. It was almost as if they too had gotten used to him being involved in things that didn't concern him, and sometimes, they even sought his opinion.

Later, as the sun started to dip, Max made his way back to the palace, where a small meeting was planned. As the husband of the king, Max was allowed a seat at the council table, though his voice was often a soft one in the midst of his husband's reign. Still, he liked to be there, listening, offering thoughts when he had them. It wasn't that he was trying to claim any power for himself. It was just the way he'd always been-a person who liked to know what was happening, liked to be part of the conversation, even if he had no real say in the decisions.

When he entered the royal hall, he was greeted by a few familiar faces-lords, advisors, and aides who all stood when he walked in. He gave them a polite nod and took his seat next to Alex, who was already in the midst of a conversation about trade agreements.

As the meeting went on, Max found himself chiming in now and then, offering a suggestion or two about foreign alliances, or commenting on the state of local businesses. He'd seen a few issues crop up over the course of the day, and if he could provide any insight, he would.

At one point, Lord Ellis, an old advisor, turned to him with a bemused expression. "Your Majesty, what's your take on the proposal for the new tax relief for farmers? Is it something we should push harder?"

Max glanced at Alex, who gave him a subtle nod, as though inviting him to speak. "I think it's a good idea," Max said casually, looking around at the others. "But I think we should extend it to more than just farmers. If we don't help the local businesses, too, the whole system might fall apart."

The room went silent for a moment, everyone looking at Max. His presence, though unofficial, always had a weight to it. His input, though unorthodox, often made people pause and think. Alex smiled, proud of his husband's insight, even though he didn't always voice his thoughts openly.

"An excellent point," Alex said, glancing at the council. "We'll take that into consideration."

As the meeting wound down and the evening stretched on, Max felt the familiar mix of satisfaction and peace settle into his chest. He wasn't the king. He wasn't supposed to be making decisions. But sometimes, it was nice to know that his thoughts mattered to Alex, to the people, to the kingdom he was a part of. He wasn't just the king's spouse. He was Max-his own person, with his own ideas and desires. And that, to him, was more than enough.

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Another one coming 😉