*Copyright *
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, living or dead, are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, incidents, and /or places are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or people is entirely coincidental.
Chapter one :
"I'm terribly sorry, imperial brother." a man whispered as he pressed his sword into the other's heart, in one swift motion. Exhausted, he lied next to the man, on the cold, blood-covered floor" I never hoped for a day like this to come."
"Do you... Do you remember how magnificent this hall...This kingdom had once been?" his voice broke, as tears rolled freely down his face. "How father ruled so majestically?"
"And how we used to run around causing him problems left and right." The other chuckled.
They both laughed. They laughed remaniceing the olden times, as if they had been laying on the fresh grass, enjoying the summer breeze, under the shade of the big cherry blossom tree, their father's favorite kind.
Not ignoring, but rather refusing to acknowledge the mess around them, the troubles they had created and gotten themselves into.
The once magnificent hall, decorated with bright red and golden patterns, is now filled with bloodied corpses.
The huge Throne embedded with exquisite jewles, smashed. The people who once lived in peace and harmony, mascarred and scattered. The powerful kingdom, who once stood strong in all its glory, despite its lack of resources,... Gone. Destroyed. Burned to ashes. Just like the wise late emperor's will.
The last two who remained standing, or rather breathing, were these two, laughing self-deprecatingly and mockingly at their own foolishness.
The elder one, with a sword on his chest, gently closed the eyelids of the other, with trembling fingers.
"How ironic, you tried killing me, but still died first. You, the weakest out of all of us, who despised violence the most" He laughed again, the sound of his laughter echoed through the empty halls, reminded him of his loneliness.
"Ha Ha, I'm still alone, even in death. HaHaHa," hot tears slid down his cheeks, mixing with the blood on his face, and dropped to the ground. When was the last time he cried?
"Someone should clean this up."
He took one last long sweep of the bloodied hall, trying to blink the tears away, his high pride, never allowed him to shed tears, or show any vulnerability, even on his last moments, when no one is around.
He always thought he would die hearing the clincking of swords in a battle field, or in a bed, surrounded by his friends and family, as far-fetched as that sounds,he still didn't wish to be alone at this moment.
His long-awaited death has finally come, how should he feel?
He didn't know. He thought he would be upset, relieved, angered, and... Not lonely.
He had waited for far too long, but when it finally came, he still wanted to live. Just for a few more minutes. Just enough to mutter a word he had longed to hear come out of his mouth, a word his pride, and the blood oozing between his lips didn't allow him to pronounce.
Sorry...
To his mother... For failing to be by her side when she needed it most.
To his father...for failing to meet his expectations.
To his brothers, sisters, and every citizen of their kingdom... For failing them and disappointing them.
And to his daughter and sons... For failing to be a good father, failing to protect them, educate them, and simply being with them, and watching them grow.
And most of all, to those who sacrificed their innocent lives, out of loyalty, no matter how cruel he had been to them.
He is sorry, but ...that's just who he is.
A failure.
A failure, who can't even apologize for the consequences of his foolish actions. The actions that have destroyed him, his kingdom, and everyone and everything he has ever cared about.
~*****************************~
"What!" a girl yelled staring at her phone screen. "No way!"
"Okay, okay, I'll put it back." the other flinched, then put the sketch book back where she found it.
"I can't believe it! "
" I was just asking, I wouldn't have even looked at the cover if you didn't like it."
"huh?"
"what?"
"I... what are you talking about?"The first girl, Liliy looked at her friend puzzled.
"Your sketch book, I asked if I could see the dress you designed," The other girl, Vivian explained," but then, you were all like 'No way' and—"
"oh, I didn't hear what you said, I was too immersed in the novel, I can't believe it has such a bad ending! Can you believe —"
"are you talking about the one with the wars and old people and stuff?"
"... Yeah? Anyway, all the charact—"
"bo-ring~ can I just go to sleep in peace? I don't want to get nightmares about uncivilized people with horrible fashion sense."
"it's not... Just do whatever you want"
"g'night" vivian yawned. "and don't wake me up before eight in the morning, or else! "
"good night"
"I don't know how Alex can sleep through all your shouting," Vivian mumbled under her breath" poor girl must be exhausted."
Lily just rolled her eyes and opened the other novel on her phone, in hopes of it cheering her up, and making up for this novel's crappy ending.