The teacher entered the Classroom and immediately sensed the odd tension. "What happened here?" Mia-sensei asked, surveying the unusual scene of flushed faces and whispered conversations.
As Class ended, Itsuka walked to his usual spot in the park of Laviosa. Itori followed him closely.
"Big brother, what is our first mission as the Pie—" Itori began, but Itsuka quickly covered her mouth, looking around cautiously.
"Don't talk about that unless it's important," he warned, sighing in relief when he saw no one else around.
"Sorry..." Itori mumbled.
"Anyway, I want you to head to Izayu. She'll tell you why I want you to go to her."
"Okay!" Itori replied and left quickly.
Itsuka gazed up at the sky, lost in thought. Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him, but before he could react, he was knocked out and fell unconscious. The assailant, Hikaru Mine, the first prince, took Itsuka and teleported away. Lea and Kaname, who had been secretly following Itsuka, witnessed the entire incident.
"What!?" Kaname exclaimed.
"Who was that!?" Lea asked, alarmed.
"That was the first prince, Hikaru Mine. Also my older brother," Kaname revealed.
Itsuka slowly woke up, finding himself chained in an interrogation room. He recognized the regal clothes of his captor.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Itsuka demanded.
"Meaning? I doubt I need to explain myself, but here we are. I am Hikaru Mine, the first prince of the royal family, and I suspect you to be a part of the Death Pieces," Hikaru stated.
"What!? I'm not! I promise, please," Itsuka pleaded.
A muscular man entered the room, carrying a whip. He began lashing Itsuka's body, causing him to scream in pain. Meanwhile, Kaname and Lea were struggling to get past the guards outside the interrogation room.
"Let me in!!!" Kaname demanded.
"Sorry, Princess Kaname, but the order was from none other than your older brother, the first prince," the guard replied.
"Why is he being interrogated!?" Lea shouted.
"He's a suspect to be one of the Death Pieces."
"He's innocent!!" Lea insisted.
"How do you know that!?" the guard asked skeptically.
"Well, umm..." Lea stammered.
"I can confirm he's innocent!!" Kaname declared.
"How exactly!?" the guard retorted.
"And how exactly is he a suspect?" Kaname countered.
"I can't tell you yet," the guard responded.
Night fell, and the interrogator grew tired from whipping Itsuka, who was now severely wounded and on the brink of death.
"Y-you're gonna regret killing me," Itsuka gasped.
"Really!? Then ARE YOU PART OF THE DEATH PIECES?" Hikaru demanded.
"Kill me already, since my honest answer this entire time is no," Itsuka replied before losing consciousness. His eyes turned dark, and his heart stopped.
Kaname and Lea finally managed to break into the room. They rushed to Itsuka, crying and trying desperately to heal him. Hikaru watched, confused by his sister's reaction.
"Who is this guy to you, Kaname?" Hikaru asked.
Kaname stayed silent as her aura grew darker. Dark mana swirled around her, and horns sprouted from her head.
"Big brother, I'll never forgive you for this!" Kaname growled, her voice filled with fury and pain.
Kaname's skin turned red and her nails grew into claws as she transformed into the Demon King. In the distance, the Death Pieces sensed this surge of power coming from where Itsuka was being interrogated. Patricia was giving a speech when a massive explosion rocked the castle of Mine. Kaname flew up, laughing maniacally, and headed towards the memorial stage. The Death Pieces appeared as Kaname's eyes shifted back to normal, and she held Itsuka's lifeless body.
"Bring me to your boss!" Kaname demanded.
The Queen Piece eyed her warily. "why?"
"I need him to bring my friend back to life. He was suspected to be one of you and was killed during interrogation," Kaname explained.
The crowd below watched in stunned silence as Kaname, the new Demon King, held the dead body of Itsuka. Hikaru flew up, spotting one of the Death Pieces. He smiled and launched an attack on the Queen Piece, who easily dodged. Before Hikaru realized it, the Queen Piece was behind him, delivering a punch that sent him crashing into the ground.
"And what will we get in return?" the Queen Piece asked.
Mizail watched from below, recognizing the Death Piece member as the one who had killed his sister.
"What will we get in return?" the Queen Piece repeated.
"Me. You guys will get me, the new Demon King and the second princess," Kaname offered.
Mizail watched as a green portal appeared in the sky. A beam of life energy shot out, striking Itsuka in the heart. Itsuka immediately woke up, and Kaname was teleported along with the Death Pieces. Itsuka began to fall, but Shosuke caught him. Hikaru, standing up, teleported to Itsuka and grabbed him by the neck.
Patricia spoke through the microphone, her voice dripping with amusement. "Fufu, what might this be, big brother?"
Hikaru realized he was being watched by everyone. "Shut up, you loli! Now, Itsuka, look at what you've just done."
Itsuka struggled in Hikaru's grasp, his mind racing. "I-I didn't do anything!"
Hikaru's grip tightened. "You've caused chaos, and now look at the mess you've made. You're coming with me until we figure out what to do with you."
The crowd murmured, watching the drama unfold. The Death Pieces had retreated, taking Kaname with them. The scene was chaotic, and tension hung thick in the air. Itsuka was caught between two worlds, and his next steps would determine his fate and the fate of those around him.
Itsuka's voice echoed through the hall, charged with fury. "Me!? I am the victim here! You interrogated me despite my innocence, and because of your actions, you destroyed your own sister's memorial and made her out to be a villain. All because you suspected me. You wretch! You're the eldest prince and the king's son, but you're the dumbest human being! Look at the mess you've caused!"
Hikaru's face twisted with anger. "I am royalty! You can't blame me, you little bitch!"
"I refuse to accept blame for circumstances that are not of my making," Itsuka shot back. "Pointing fingers at me for your missteps doesn't absolve you of responsibility. We each carry our own burdens. Blaming me for your mistakes doesn't make them my fault, nor does it lessen your accountability. I won't be your scapegoat for your failures. Face the consequences of your actions like an adult instead of deflecting onto others. I've had enough of this charade, Your Highness! Your royal title does not absolve you of accountability. Own up to your responsibilities and stop making me the fall guy!"
As the crowd's murmurs grew louder, Hikaru's grip on Itsuka's neck tightened, but then he dropped him, staring into Itsuka's raging eyes. The crowd began to turn against the prince.
In Itsuka's mind, the scene played out with a clarity he had longed for. "In the midst of the grand assembly, with all eyes fixed upon us, I spoke with uncompromising honesty and righteous indignation. My words cut through the veil of the prince's entitlement and arrogance. With each sentence, I unraveled his facade of confidence, replacing it with visible uncertainty and doubt. The onlookers witnessed the transformation, as my unwavering resolve stripped away the layers of privilege that shielded him. In that moment, the power of blunt truth resonated louder than any royal decree. The prince, accustomed to deference and flattery, found himself exposed and vulnerable before the collective gaze. Such is the potency of unyielding conviction and direct confrontation. Sometimes, it takes a few piercing words to pierce through the armor of entitlement and reveal the raw humanity beneath. As the murmurs of the crowd swirled around us, I stood firm, knowing that in challenging the prince's ego, I had disrupted the status quo. It was not merely a verbal joust; it was a deliberate act of dismantling pretense and demanding accountability. The lesson echoed beyond that moment, serving as a reminder that integrity and courage can prevail over pomp and circumstance, even in the most regal of settings."
Hikaru sneered. "Tsk, whatever." He walked away, his departure followed by the cheers of the crowd.
The people celebrated Itsuka's triumph, marveling at how he had managed to outwit the prince who was always believed to be infallible.
Patricia chuckled softly. "What great confidence you have, managing to talk your way through big brother. Anyway, let's continue the memorial."
As Lea ran to Itsuka, she hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face. She thought to herself that without Kaname's help, Itsuka would have been dead.
"Ara ara, don't cry now, Lea," Itsuka soothed, patting her back gently.
Shosuke approached with a grin. "Wow, what a performance you just gave there, bud."
Mazuri nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that was just like something out of an anime, bro."
"You think so?" Itsuka responded, a hint of humility in his voice. "To be honest, I was only speaking the truth."
Back at the palace, Hikaru went berserk, breaking everything in sight. Anme watched him from a distance, calmly sipping her tea as the maids and the commander frantically tried to calm him down.
"Princess Anme, please help us calm him down," the commander pleaded.
Anme smiled slyly. "No thanks."
Hikaru's rage showed no signs of abating. "The only reason I suspected him is because—because..." He trailed off, frustration boiling over. "Shit, it doesn't matter anymore."
Anme watched Hikaru's tantrum with a serene expression. "True wisdom stems from the realization that one cannot always be right, yet the refusal to admit this truth reflects a deeper ignorance. Growth and understanding require the humility to recognize our own fallibility and the courage to embrace different perspectives. When we remain steadfast in our beliefs without openness to alternative viewpoints, we deny ourselves the opportunity for growth and deeper insight. Let us strive not only to seek truth but also to be willing to adjust our understanding when confronted with new knowledge or differing opinions. This openness is the pathway to wisdom and genuine intellectual progress." She finished with a soft chuckle. "Fufu."
Hikaru glared at her, his anger unabated. "I'm not here to learn about wisdom!"
Anme's smile didn't waver. "Well, it doesn't matter. You've already heard it." Another chuckle escaped her lips. "Fufu."