“He’s the Pope?” “What? He’s part of the temple?” “No way! I thought His Grace was just cursed by being in a child’s body–” “Watch what you say about His Holiness!” “Right, do you want your tongue to get cut off before you could see your daughter being born? Tsk, We were fooled, do not let this be something to break our foundation!” “If he’s part of the temple, then all our business— hjsdjfi” Another elder filled the man’s mouth with bread before he could spill more dirt about themselves. Dia could only laugh at them while he got himself entertained by the chaos that the revelation brought. “You do not seem too surprised, brother,” Adhler asked in a whisper. Dia smiled at him and shrugged his shoulders. “I might have overheard Elder Yulo pray before though his personality clearly makes us believe that he’s no man of the Goddess. Now, I understand, and all the pieces are in place. I have been really curious before. “Silence!” The young priest beside His Holiness shouted as t
Adhler’s Point of View A month before the prophecy that Yulo claimed to be false. “What do you mean we’ll oppress the elders? Are you out of your mind? You just sat on the throne! You recently earned the crown! Do you think they’d just let you take their power from them? —” “I am not saying I’m doing it now!” Dia shouted back. I looked at him with even more confusion. Then why is he telling it to me now when he’s not planning to do it any time soon? And what does he mean by doing it by himself? Seriously, something had changed with my brother ever since our father died. And I could not understand what it was! I left the room in a fury. I should walk away before I say more things that I’d regret. He is my King now. And though I hate to do things that he’d command me, there is no way I will oppose him. After all, I am a prince before I am his brother. I was about to leave the castle when I saw his wife walking by the garden. I joined her, and Laura was a little startled to see me
Adhler’s Point of View Back to the month before the execution of the Lycan King’s judgment… “I was his wife before I was a Queen, Prince Adhler,” Laura told me. I stared at her for a little while. “And I hope you think the same way. You are born royalty, and I would never understand the pressure from early childhood,” “You do not even know what I do,” “But I know you. You are not an irresponsible man. You love your family and this nation. You admire your brother at some point. I know you value others more than you value yourself… that is who you are, Prince,” Laura firmly talked like she could see the dark soul I had hidden inside myself. I looked away and smiled, the one I usually put on. I stood up and offered her a hand. “It appears I have wasted your time, Queen,” “Not at all, Prince Adhler,” she smiled at me and accepted my hand to help herself up. “Not at all,” I was about to walk away when she called me again, “Adhler…” I glanced. It’s not every day that I hear her say my
“We cannot let him like this! No. This is unacceptable! This is not what— this is n-not how it should end for us! No. No!” An elder shouted. All the other elders agreed with him. “What do you think is going to happen now? What should we do if things get even more out of hand? Should we seek for their help?” Another elder asked. The people in the room went quiet. “Come on! What is with the sudden quiet? I know they are not the best when it comes to this, but should we just let that arrogant king have his way? Salvacion is out. You saw how he slit the poor old man’s throat as if he was slicing meat!” “He’s right. We should do something about this. I heard the King is leaving tomorrow for a delegation to the east. We should do it tomorrow before everything get out of hand,” “Are you all out of your mind? Do you really think no one would suspect us if he suddenly passed?” an elder pointed out. He stood up and went in front. “And who are you? This is the first time we have seen you he
Adhler’s Point of View I cannot sleep. I tossed and turned, but my eyes were still wide open. My senses were sharper than ever, and I could even hear the whistling branches from the tree outside my room. I sat up and reached for the letter that my brother told me about. I hate how he’s always doing something these days that I cannot understand. He left for the delegation earlier this day, and I did not even bid him goodbye. All we ever do when we see each other after the incident in the hall is argue about how stupid his decisions were. I will never agree with his tyranny. That is not the brother that I admired. I do not mind killing people with my hands… that is my job. But him? He only kills when we are on the battlefield. He’s one of the most merciful people I have ever known, so I could not understand why he did that. That was not part of our plans. Of his plans. He wanted to oppress the elders, and I do agree with him, but this is too early. He is still securing his positio
Yulo threw the table to the wall when he heard the news. The priests inside the room all looked down as they watched their holiness show their anger toward the elders. “Those fools! Idiots!” He kicked the bed, and it wrecked in an instant. He could not control his strength. “What the hell were they thinking!?” “Who the hell do they think they are!?” He shouted again as he covered his face with his left hand. ‘Damn it. I had given that false prophecy to buy His Highness, the King, more time… but it looked like they used it against the royals even more,’ he thought to himself, recalling the prophecy he just blurted out to help the King have more time. ‘That kid did not even listen to me when I told him it’s not time yet… but I can’t blame him… I gave him evidence that proves that the elders were involved in the death of their father… and their mother, who passed a long time ago,’ “Where is Prince Adhler?” Yulo asked his people after letting some steam off his head. “Make sure he’s no
Hours before, Adhler went back to the castle after following his brother… “What accident?” Adhler asked Daimon because he could not understand nor comprehend anything that came from the man’s mouth. Daimon carefully reported everything that he knew to the Prince, but the Royal Prince looked lost. Prince Adhler slumped to the floor, shaking in his knees as he stared at his hands. He held them together as he rested his forehead on them, trying to calm himself down. “I’m leaving,” “No. I am afraid you have to go through me before you leave the premises, Prince. The late king, your father, specifically told me to put your safety above anything else. So screw this and that. You are not leaving without killing me, Your Highness,” Daimon told him. Prince Adhler laughed. “My father must have confidence that you can overpower me. This is ridiculous, Daimon. I would not want to lose my right hand for this stupidity.” the prince told his servant. “Prince Adhler,” Daimon transformed. Adhler
Present time… Adhler stepped back from Laura. He squeezed his eyes as he tried to calm himself while he processed everything that had happened. “Where were you?” Adhler asked her. “I thought you came with your husband? Why are you here? Why are you here and alive?” he asked with contempt. Laura looked away as she tried to calm herself and her son. Laura asked a maid to put her son to bed before she dragged the prince to the drawing room and slapped him! “How dare a mere wife of my brother lay a hand on me?” Adhler’s eyes were red as he glared at the woman. “You have no right attacking me like that. Laura. You are nothing without my brother. Hah,” he scoffed. “And look at you now, still wearing the crown of a queen because my stupid brother asked me to protect you and his children. How dare you. You should have been dead with my brother. You should have been exposed to that fucking incident that your family brought—” Laura slapped her again. “I love your brother, Prince Adhler.”