(Aurelias Von Fergusa VI Pov)
Serendill.
That is the name of the kingdom that I live in.
Serendill prides itself on its military power, the biggest and strongest kingdom, feared by all, founded by Elliott Von Fergusa I.
I am Aurelias Von Fergusa VI, son of Clark Von Fergusa V and Maria Ashley, their eldest son and rightful heir to the throne, engaged to my fiance, Rachel Greywood, from one of the 9 great Ducal houses of the kingdom, daughter of Eston Greywood and Cinthea Greywood.
Since I am the eldest son, I am supposed to inherit the throne at my coming-of-age ceremony which would happen - 'was' supposed to happen in the upcoming few months.
But the truth is, I am not really smart, I am not strong like my brother who is a year younger than me.
I don't excel at anything.
Many would be happy if my younger brother- Harry Von Fergusa- were to take the throne instead of me.
And ...I knew Rachel would rather be with someone accomplished like him, someone who can match her excel than someone like me.
That's why maybe, it was okay...
I should live here quietly for the rest of my life.
I thought as I looked at myself in the mirror and all I saw was a weak incompetent coward, far far away from my home, in an abandoned castle cursed by a Dark magician.
Dark magicians are people who twist the souls of others, their acts are demonic, and their powers are dangerous.
This abandoned castle used to be a dazzling castle, prouding itself on the sheer land of 200 acres it is built upon, only to be cursed by a dark mage, making it unhabitable for others to live in. They can't leave this place upon entering.
On the day when that dark mage cursed this castle, hundreds of people died, it was the day of crowning, the crowning of Simon Von Fergusa IV.
The only reason our bloodline didn't die on that day was because of the soon-to-be king's nature, he ditched his own crowning to go visit a brothel.
But that was also the day he changed the most.
From a debaucherous to a competent king that now everyone looks up to, and remembers him, and dark magicians fear him.
He restored the bloodline and commanded the kingdom when even the most prominent figures of the kingdom had died.
And then the king made the decree in retaliation to the dark magicians.
Dark magicians are to be killed when found, of course, there was an exception, if a dark mage is a child, they will be given a time period to have their last wish fulfilled, as long as it's reasonable but all dark magicians will be killed.
None spared.
But you know, what is the most ridiculous part of this story?
The man, the dark mage who cursed the castle, why did he do it?
The answer was simple, Simon Von Fergusa in his debauchery once violated his daughter and used his royal status to shut them up.
That dark mage wanted to kill him on the very day of his crowning.
But this knowledge has been hidden, removed from the texts.
I have only found about it in the royal library in a book by chance when I was young and when I told my father about it, he asked me about the book and burned it in front of me as he looked into my eyes and spoke
'We, of the royal family, have an image that people revere us for, serve us for and anything that could put fingers on it shall not be allowed to exist'
I still remember his stern words clearly.
You may ask then if it is a cursed palace why is it that I am still alive? Well, I am a dark magician, I have kept it a secret from everyone.
My brother who trapped me here must think that I am dead by now.
They did hold my funeral on a grand scale, I who have been here for months am now considered dead in the world outside this castle.
I hid myself, to not reveal that I was alive when I went out of this place, if I revealed myself, my brother would definitely kill me this time, so I hid and watched my own funeral taking place.
Seeing my mother, who had a large belly, her face on the verge of crying, I wanted to tell her I was fine, I wanted to see my brother who was about to be born.
I wanted to talk to my father.
But I couldn't call out to them, words stuck in my throat that I failed to choke out.
And then, I saw the indifferent look on the face of Rachel.
That.. reminded me, how little I meant to her.
I won't lie.
I was hurt.
Extremely hurt.
And maybe that was exactly when I had felt, maybe it was better to stay here.
I have loved Rachel, dearly, since a very young age, I was extremely happy when I was engaged to her but that was just me.
'Someone's here!'
'What audacity!'
'My lord, you need to face this young man and show him his place'
Countless voices invaded my mind, they are the voices of the souls of the people once killed in this very castle.
Many managed to go to the afterlife but some still stayed here.
With these many urging me, I made my way towards the throne room of this once luxurious castle now an abandoned, ruined castle.
And upon entering it, my eyes fell upon 'him'.
A boy, who leisurely sat on the throne, his black hair reminiscent of the night sky, his black empty eyes that looked at me, his skin pale, his eyes were red and he was sweating a lot, he had few injuries around his body and yet his handsome features and his indifferent expression made him look charming.
Despite how leisurely he sat on the throne with his chin resting on his hand and his arm on the throne, he looked like an absolute ruler with a crown on his head, the crown that once was used to be passed down the generations but couldn't anymore, for obvious reasons, the crown that now has dust settled on it in this abandoned, ruined castle.
Silently he brought a bottle, that contained some strange liquid and drank it down.
His injuries started to heal, instantly.
Startled, I took a step back.
I have heard of healing potions but none that could heal injuries in just a blink of an eye!
Who is he!? I thought but I realized, he should have died upon entering the castle but he is still fine that must mean...
He is a Dark magician.
That would explain why he was injured, he must have been chased.
"So, help me out a little, I am kinda confused, should I treat you as dead since you had your funeral be done or should I treat you as I would any who is alive, O Dear Prince?" He asked locking his black empty eyes on me, his tone 'absolutely' devoid of any emotion stirred fear inside of me.
'No human should be devoid of emotion in their voice on such a level that wouldn't even sound humane' I thought to myself.
Shaking my head, I looked at him.
His words surprised me.
"You aren't surprised to see me alive?" I asked taking off my mask that I wore to hide my face, still wary of him and afraid, now that he knows that I am alive he would also know that I am a dark mage since I can live inside this castle.
"Nah, I came here to see you after all"
His answer shocked me, springing forth a bundle of questions.
How did he learn about me being here?
...Or maybe, my brother sent a dark mage to confirm my death?
Curse it all!
"Who are you?" I asked, preparing to launch an attack on him.
"This time I am apparently a criminal"
'This time?'
A weird way to phrase it.
But I understood dark mages are all criminal, wretched existences meant to be killed, it confirmed my earlier assumption about him
"You are no criminal as long as you haven't committed any sins, existing cannot be considered a sin," I answered.
Those were my thoughts about the matter.
Dark magicians are treated as criminals for simply existing, I didn't like it, it might be because I, myself, am a dark mage.
"...Actually, I broke through the prison and escaped, that lady who they called captain was a pain to deal with. I ain't dealing with her again."
I take back what I said.
He is a criminal.
By the lady...
"Do you mean, Sofia?" I asked
"How should I know her name dude? Welp, she has green eyes and red hair that I remember, matches the person?"
I am sure now and astonished as well.
Sofia Amsbrug, the first female knight who reached the Master Stage. Her control of aura is incredible and she is the person Rachel admires the most.
Every time she talked about Sofia, her eyes would sparkle like that of a child.
...He survived facing her, Sofia Amsburg?
Just what kind of monster is he?
"...You said you came here to see me, what do you want from me?" I asked warrily.
'We are ready'
'On your command, king'
The voices of souls entered my ears, ready for the attack.
"I am here for you, to make you take you back to the place you belong. To the throne, you belong to. I will make you the king and I shall not hear any of your excuses." He declared.
My eyes opened wide, my mouth hung open.
Unable to comprehend his words, my mind went blank for a second.
"W-what do you mean?" I stammered with my words but managed to ask him somehow.
"...The fuck? Dude, I said I will make you the king. What's so hard to understand? We have got like 5 months for your coming of age ceremony and for my time limit, forget the later part but you get the thing."
"No! I don't get a thing! Why would you want to make me the king!? Why me!? Why are you involving yourself with me!? Besides, I don't want to become the king! I am sure everyone would be happy if my brother becomes the king, he is more competent than I could ever be!" I shouted.
"Look your brother can go eat shit for all I care, let me ask you, do you not want to become a king? Do you not want to return to your mother and father? To your lover Rachel? To your newborn brother?"
His words shook me.
My mind went blank.
I couldn't answer him, I 'didn't' want to answer him and so, I decided to ask another question.
"My brother ...he is born?" I asked.
"Yup, he is fine and healthy, ugly little shit like any other newborn and your mother's fine too. I ran through the whole castle to escape, so I know"
I felt relief wash over me and felt happy, it's been a while since I heard any good news.
"But your fiance is in pretty bad condition"
The happiness that I had felt vanished and unease broke throughout me.
"What happened to her!?" I asked
"Well, your brother had his eyes for her, you know that, right?" He asked and I reluctantly nodded. Harry has a crush on her.
He has told me once 'She is stuck with an incompetent person like you, it hurts me to see excellence being wasted on you. You know very well I would suit her the best
"So, the thing is, she refused to marry your brother, if not you she wouldn't marry anyone else. The marriage talks ended with that but your brother, dead set on being a 3rd rate villain kidnapped her and put her in prison, she is in such a bad condition she isn't even recognizable, of course, her hair colors are different too, he died her hairs. I met her in the prison, well more like, went to meet her and talk to her a little" He shrugged.
His words shocked me.
I felt disgusted how I felt relief wash over me to learn that Rachel had refused the marry anyone else.
I also felt anger surging within me.
...
"Harry, wouldn't do that. He wouldn't. Making an enemy out of the Ducal household is ridiculous... and Rachel doesn't love me, she wouldn't deny a marriage with my brother."
...I also felt dubious of the words he said, unable to do anything but doubt him.
" 'I like how he read books to me, especially the one named 'The Puppet King', I like how kind he is and talks about the unreasonable punishment for all the dark magicians, I like how sometimes he acts silly, I like how he strokes my hair, I like how he is so shy whenever he brings me flowers and gifts. He may not be perfect like his brother but I like him for who he is, I love 'him' I love Aurelias' ... That's what she told me, don't know what you think about her but she loves you and a whole lot, she has been managing to go on with the news of your death but she might just off herself. She loves you, and a whole lot. Just because she doesn't show it doesn't mean she can't feel, you spent time with her, you should know it, even if she lacks expression you should know how she feels if you love her and you love her, don't you?" He straightened himself and looked me in the eyes.
My memories of her replayed themselves, her small smile that I managed to see when I gifted her favorite flowers, her relaxed posture when she fell asleep on my lap, trusting me.
"Don't deny her feelings just because you aren't confident in yourself." He said throwing a ring towards me, it was a paper ring that I had given to Rachel when we were kids, and we had played acted the role of bride and bridegroom.
His words cut through me.
My heart ached, I tried to remain calm but couldn't.
Tears threatened to spill forth.
I felt angry at myself, why have I not noticed, why have I refused to notice?
"It isn't. You should be grateful your dumbass brother still hasn't simply forced himself onto her but he might soon and your fiance might just kill herself. So hurry up and tell me, what's the deal?"
I gritted my teeth.
Anger surged forth which I managed to hold down.
"Be my kingmaker"
I made my decision.
Just wait for me a little long Rachel, I will come and get you, and this time, I will never let go of you.