Exhaling deeply, the prince stepped inside and further. He stared at the long empty chair in the middle of the room, feeling his head spin with the many possibilities. But he didn't let them linger.

Back to the present. To where he was and who he was with.

"And here we are..."

The prince straightened his posture once he regained himself. He looked up and glared at the man in front of him, demanding for him to explain himself or at least speak to him as he intended to.

His strength was nothing compared to Antinous' when he tried to push the bigger man off him.

They were quite a distance away from the banquet hall, no one would hear him grunting as he hit the other man's shoulder with all he had.

"Get off me."

What foolish mistake it was to take him through an empty hall.

Before he realized it, his breath hitched when those hands took firm grip of his waist. It took him even longer to realize where the other hand was.

Then, he was red with embarrassment and anger.

"Now, then," he finally lifted his head to look at Antinous and walked past him, leading him to the empty throne room.

He paused at the entrance for a moment. It felt bigger and colder than he last remembered. His footsteps echoed through the hall as he dared himself to take another step.

"Speak."

Judging from the change of his expression, could this be important? For once, he considered giving it a chance.

"It's alright," he muttered to Argos, petting the old dog's head. "Wait in front of my room."

Almost immediately, his companion calmed down and walked away from the training grounds. —

Telemachus headed here for some air, but his presence felt overwhelming. Suffocating.

"My counsel?" he asked, his eyes looking around the area for anything to grab should things go wrong. "Why?"

The praise meant nothing to him. It wasn't something that he wanted, especially out of that man's mouth.

Telemachus backed away two steps for every step further that Antinous took. He needed to put a great distance between himself and that man. —

He stopped and looked back.

"What do you want?"

Telemachus heard the heavy footsteps behind him. Without looking back, he quickened his pace and led Argos to the training ground.

Suddenly, he thought of his mother. A greater part of him was worried that the man would stop following him and went somewhere he didn't want him to. —

Years passed and things didn't look any easier. Telemachus detested those suitors in their hall. Those men were relentless and too confident.

Especially Antinous. Telemachus could feel him staring as he passed by. He chose to ignore it, glancing down and petting Argos as he walked by.