Page 6 of Throne Off Course

The confrontation that changed everything came after history class, one of the few subjects Alexander actually enjoyed.

The assignment was straightforward: Write an essay on a past leader and assess their impact on the world today.

Alexander sat in the library, pen in hand, thinking it through carefully. His mind ran through the possibilities. There were so many past kings, reformers, politicians, figures who had reshaped the world. He wanted to choose wisely.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Sebastian muttered, watching him from across the room. “Only you could overthink this so much.”

Alexander ignored him.

“Want my advice, Your Highness?” Sebastian continued, tilting his chair back lazily. “Why not write about your father? Might remind you what a real king looks like instead of just waiting for more orders from Mummy.”

Alexander froze.

Sebastian looked on, clearly pleased with himself.

“Everyone knows it,” he went on, voice low and sharp, just for Alexander. “Your father was a legend. You? You’re just the quiet placeholder they’re forced to tolerate. Even this backwards little country deserves better than mummy’s little puppet.”

The pen in Alexander’s hand snapped.

A second later, his fist connected with Sebastian’s jaw.

Alexander didn’t remember moving one moment at his desk, the next watching Sebastian sprawl across the floor, blinking up at him with a dazed expression.

The entire library went dead silent.

A student dropped a book somewhere. Someone gasped.

Sebastian, sprawled out, wiped a trickle of blood from his lip and grinned like this was the best possible outcome. He lookedsatisfied?

That evening, Alexander found Sebastian sitting alone on the academy grounds, nursing a bruised jaw as the sunset cast long shadows across the manicured lawns.

“You hit harder than I expected,” Sebastian said withoutlooking up.

Alexander stood stiffly. “Is that meant to be a compliment?”

“It was meant to be a result,” Sebastian replied cryptically.

Alexander frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Sebastian finally met his gaze, his usual sarcasm giving way to something quieter, rawer.

“I’ve been trying to get expelled since I arrived.”

Alexander stared at him. “You’re joking.”

Sebastian shrugged. “Figured getting into a fight with the crown prince would do it. Get me sent back to Paris to live with my uncle.”

Alexander let that sink in. “Your plan was to provoke me until I hit you?”

“More or less,” Sebastian admitted, stretching his arms behind his head.

“That,” Alexander said slowly, in complete disbelief, “might be the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.”

Sebastian tilted his head in mock consideration. “Says the prince who just punched me in front of twenty witnesses.”

Alexander exhaled sharply, almost laughing.

“They won’t expel you for this,” he said. “They’ll blame it on me, say it’s due to royal pressure, diplomatic tensions, whatever story keeps the palace happy.”