The Volmier empire, currently having power over the thirty six kingdoms in the continent, was being ruled by the fifth prince, Tristan Rodolph, who ascended the throne not more than a week ago.
"There you are." Tristan said, seeing Beric approach his tea table.
Tristan was a golden haired guy with bright blue eyes and a shining complexion. He always kept a bright smile on, neatly hiding his psychotic side.
Compared to Beric who looked like a devil's incarnate, Tristan was perceived as a God and the light of the empire.
Many thought that the reason Beric spared Tristan and let him take the throne was because they had been on good terms since they were little. But in actuality, Tristan has been the mastermind behind all the killings and bloodshed.
Tristan used to be number thirty in the line of succession. How did he become king then? You would wonder.
The former king, Marderise Rodolph, had several wives and concubines, and thus he had many descendants. Forty two children to be exact. Thirty princes and twelve princesses.
The competition for the throne was fierce and each child had at least one aristocratic faction supporting them. Well, all except one. Beric.
Beric's mother, unlike the other concubines and queens, was of common birth. She used to be a dancer from a foreign country down in a far southern kingdom called Tang. She had beautiful tanned skin, long curly locks and enchanting purple eyes.
This, the king did not miss and by force, he took Beric's mother as his concubine and had her bear his child. She bore the child of the king and was immediately neglected to a cruel fate after being cast aside and unfavored by the king.
She was scorned, mocked and embarrassed on countless occasions but she tried her best to take care of her son, showering him with nothing but love.
"I will try my best to give you all that I have." She used to promise him and truly, she gave him all that she had till her last breath.
As her life slipped away in the cold winter after ingesting a poisoned meal, she summoned a demon and in exchange for her son owning unbeatable power, she offered her soul.
After her death, Beric shut his heart, soul and mind. He hated everyone and everything. And with the little demon always whispering into his consciousness, he grew to despise everything more.
Beric was alone in the palace, thus, he was seen as the weakest opponent. And so, everyone tried to eliminate this weak opponent to save them the trouble of future struggles.
But unfortunately, any and everyone who went against this young and defenseless boy, ended up finding their own demise.
Tristan noticed this and instead of fighting Beric, sorted him out as an ally.
"Be my sword and butcher and I will keep you safe." He offered but Beric spat at his offer and said,
"I don't need someone as weak as you to keep me safe. I can keep myself safe." He said and walked away.
As arrogant as Beric sounded, he was actually right about keeping himself safe so Tristan changed his approach.
"Do you plan to become king?" He asked and to which Beric glared at him and said,
"Why would I want to rule over weak and greedy creatures?"
"Then assist me to become king. I want to become king."
"And what do I get in return?" Beric asked.
"You get to destroy anyone and anything. I will give you that right." It was a bold proposition coming from a child who was barely 10 years old towards a child who was 12 years old, but strangely enough, Tristan was confident that Beric would accept the offer.
"Alright."
This was how Beric became Tristan's sword and butcher, clearing out all who were in Tristan's path to becoming the next king. But Beric did not stop at just the ones in the front line of succession. He killed every other descendant of Marderise Rodolph, and then went for his wives and concubines. All those who scorned and mocked his late mother.
Little by little, Beric earned the title of tyrant, demon, monster, devil. But Beric and his inner demon were not satisfied with the little killings he went about in the palace so he proposed that they go to war with another nation.
Tristan, confident in Beric's abilities, accepted this request and took it to King Marderise. The greedy and fairly foolish king fell for Tristan's plot and waged war with the surrounding nations.
And so, Beric, at the age of 18, led an entire army to war and as expected, conquered them all flawlessly, earning additional names such as a bloodthirsty demon and monster of the battlefield, while showing an unforeseen power that no one had ever seen before.
Thus, he ended up swallowing up countless nations.
After returning from the battlefield four years later, Beric immediately went for the king. No one knew that Beric was truly responsible for the king's death because he had actually attacked Marderise soul and allowed his demon to devour it.
Thus, it spread that the king died in his sleep. Yet, many could not deny that the tyrant prince who possessed demonic powers was responsible for it. But with no evidence, they sealed their lips, fearing that they would be the next to die.
Till this day, the name of the demon tyrant sent chills down the spines of anyone who heard it.
"I heard you stained your palace again." Tristan said, retaining his bright yet deceitful smile.
"Your ears have grown longer, I see." Beric responded and didn't wait for permission before taking a seat across from him.
He picked up a macaroon and threw it in his mouth, shewing roughly.
Though he might be a bloodthirsty tyrant, he was a bloodthirsty tyrant with a sweet tooth.
"Just heard a tweet from a flying bird." Tristan said and sipped his tea. "I also heard from that bird that you picked up something funny."
Beric suddenly stabbed the table with a dagger and glared at him.
"It looks like your bird is going to die soon." He said with a threatening tone. "It should know how to shut its mouth if it wants to live past today."
"I'll make sure to inform it not to fly to where it might get killed." Tristan said and Beric went on eating the macaroons.
While Beric ate the macaroons, Tristan couldn't help but wonder. He waited for just the right moment and then he asked,
"What puts you in a foul mood?"
"An annoying spy." Beric answered before he even knew it and then he paused, glanced at Tristan with angry eyes and cursed under his breath. "Damn it."
Tristan smiled. He always knew when to get Beric to talk. And that was when he was defenselessly eating sweets.
"A spy, eh?"