Xavier stared at his reflection, his eyes fixed on the mirror.
He twisted the gold dagger in his hand, his gaze never wavering.
With a sudden movement, he plunged the blade into his cheek, the blade slicing through his face with a soft hiss.
Blood trickled down his face but his expression remained frozen, his eyes cold.
He slashed his face again and again, each cut precise and swift. Blood dripped from his wounds, pooling on the floor.
The only sound was the soft scrape of metal on skin, and the gentle patter of blood dripping on the floor.
His face was a mess, but his eyes remained empty, hollow even, devoid of even the slightest pain.
Finally, he flung the dagger across the room, where it skidded across the stone tiles with a faint clang.
"Damn it!" His chest heaved, his eyes fixed on his ravaged face.
After so many years of doing this, he seemed to have grown immune to the pain.
How the heck was he supposed to get rid of the urges now?
He sprang up and rushed to retrieve the dagger, grasping it with a fierce intensity.
With a growl, he drove the blade into his hand, twisting it with a mad gleam in his eye.
"Aaargh!" he bellowed, yet still he didn't cease, his hand working the dagger deeper.
At last, he withdrew it, a fist-sized hole gaping in his palm. But instead of wincing, he grinned with a satisfied smile, his eyes gleaming with a manic light.
Just then, the door burst open, and Xavier's gaze snapped to the newcomer, his eyes bloodshot.
He pounced, seizing him in a chokehold.
"Y...Your Highness, I... it's me, Liam," Liam stuttered, his voice trembling as his eyes bulged with fear.
It wasn't the first time he had seen the prince in such a state, but the terror remained, especially when faced with those crazed demon-like eyes.
Liam had tried to ask about it once, but Xavier had only said, "The less you know, the safer you'll be."
That damn Lucien seemed to know more, but his stone face never gave anything away.
He only ever spoke to him when commanded by His Highness. It was almost as if he felt talking to him was a waste of breath.
Hearing him, the mad light in Xavier's eyes faded, and he released his grip on his throat.
"Aaaah," he groaned, sweeping his fingers through his hair and clutching his bloodied face.
Seeing his miserable appearance, and messed up face Liam couldn't help gasping.
"Your Highness, do you…"
"Why are you here? And has no one taught you to knock?" Xavier cut in, turning his back to him and walking to the window, where the fresh breeze hit his bloodied face.
If anyone were to look up at the prince's chamber, they would be shocked by the nightmarish face.
Liam gulped, his eyes darting around the room. "Actually, Your Highness, that thief you stopped me from catching the other day, he has arrived at the palace."
"What thief?" Xavier asked, turning to him.
"The one I was chasing before we went to the tavern," Liam explained.
"Oh!" Xavier gasped, finally recalling the incident.
He hadn't paid much attention to the shortie at that time because they had to go to the tavern, and for some reason, he had felt that the boy looked somewhat familiar.
But why would a thief come to the palace and to his, no less? It seemed the boy didn't know the meaning of the word "demon".
"Kill him," Xavier ordered indifferently.
That was how he preferred to handle his things, cutting the root of the problem.
"Yes, Your Highness," Liam bowed, smiling broadly.
Everyone around the prince had adopted his fierce enjoyment of blood, and ruthless means, Liam was no exception.
He would ensure that boy had a very cruel death, he had almost made him anger the prince twice now.
He turned around heading for the door.
"Wait," Xavier called out, his voice stopping Liam in his tracks.
Liam turned back to face the him, his eyes questioning. "Yes, Your Highness?"
Xavier's gaze narrowed, his mind working overtime. "Not yet, since he's here in the palace, he must be applying to be a guard, right?"
Liam nodded, his eyes locked on the prince. "Yes, Your Highness."
A sly grin spread across Xavier's face. "Good, then might as well watch a good show. I'm getting bored having to stay cooped up in this room."
Liam's expression turned regretful, but he nodded nonetheless. "Ok, as you wish, Your Highness."
Xavier's grin grew wider. "Don't worry, we're going to have some 'guests' soon. You'll have a lot of chance to prove yourself and without having to do any work since they'll be delivering themselves to our doorstep."
Liam's eyes widened, he couldn't help but shudder , of course he knew who the guests Xavier was referring to.
It was the Avalorian people, who seemed to be planning an attack.
He couldn't help shaking his head, causing trouble for the prince was akin to asking for death. He almost pitied them.
But thinking of all the fresh blood, the feeling of his heart pounding heavily in his chest, and the miserable screams of his victims, he couldn't help grinning widely.
Xavier's gaze also seemed to gleam with excitement, his eyes sparkling with a mad light. "Now get out. Wait for me outside, I need to change. I can't possibly meet our guest like this."
Liam bowed and stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him. As he waited, his thoughts wandered back to the prince.
What exactly made the prince like this? What had happened to him? Was it related to his sudden appearance five years ago?
He couldn't understand it, what would make a person injure himself, and such heavy injuries at that? The prince was shrouded in mystery, and Liam couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
The door opened, and Xavier stepped out. Liam gasped.
Xavier's face had miraculously healed. The wounds, the cuts, even the gaping hole in his hand—vanished, leaving no trace. Had he not seen the injuries moments ago, he would not have believed they ever existed.
In the past, Xavier would seclude himself for days to heal, but now... How had he managed this feat? Who truly was the prince? Or what was he?
"Close your mouth, lest people think you've seen some kind of monster" Xavier lifted Liam's dropped jaw with a finger.
What Liam did not know was that Xavier's previous seclusions were mere charades to avoid suspicion and because he hadn't trusted him fully.
"Let's go," Xavier commanded, striding past Liam down the hallway.
Liam snapped back to reality and quickly hurried after him.