"It's been 16 years already, since the day I came to this unfamiliar world," he said, lying down on the school rooftop.
Before his reincarnation in the annex of the Imperial Palace:
"How many times did I tell you not to approach the princes and princesses? You lowlife-born prince should stay quiet and live like a dead man here!" the queen angrily shouted, whipping him.
"Ackkk!" He trembled and cried as he endured the pain.
"Your Majesty, please spare the Prince," the maid pleaded, lowering her head to protect the prince.
"You lowly maid dare to interrupt me while I'm disciplining this bastard?" the queen snapped. "Your Majesty, the second prince is already here."
"Ughh... You're lucky for now, but the next time I see you talking to them, you'll regret it."
"Wahhh, I'm sorryyy!" the prince cried, feeling guilty for failing again.
"Your Highness, I'm really sorry for not protecting you. I couldn't do anything while you were getting beaten by Her Majesty. I remember the day Queen Laila gave birth to you and lost her life. I promised her I would take care of you, but I can't do anything…" the maid said, her voice trembling and her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry, Ann. It's my fault," the prince whispered.
He kept apologizing until he fell asleep.
"My Lady, I'm really sorry for not being able to protect His Highness, Theodore," the maid whispered in silence, crying as she treated the prince's wounds.
---
Theodore began to live as if he were already dead, losing his will to live. After his maid Ann went missing when he woke up, time passed. Ten years later, Theodore was 17 years old.
"You're the new maid, right? Here, take this food to the front door of the annex and leave quietly afterward," he said, his voice dull.
For the past year, Theodore had only eaten leftover, spoiled food. That was until Mia, the new maid, was hired to bring him food.
"What's wrong inside the annex? Why does everyone seem to avoid it?" Mia murmured as she walked toward the annex. She knocked on the door. "Hello, is anyone here? Hellooo? Ackkk, what's that?" she exclaimed, bumping into a person.
"Hey, wake up. Ugh, it stinks in here," Mia said, covering her nose as she tried to wake him.
She placed the man on the bed and started cleaning. Afterward, she went to the kitchen, secretly grabbed warm, fresh food, and waited for him to wake up.
"You're awake. Here, take this," Mia said. "I don't know you, but it looks like you've been abandoned here."
Theodore hesitated to eat the food Mia brought. He glanced at it while holding his crumbling stomach. Mia waited for him to eat but grew annoyed by the silence, so she left. After she left, Theodore finally began eating.
From that day on, Mia always brought him fresh, warm food. The two started talking and became friends. Mia treated Theodore like her own son. Two years passed, and Theodore regained his strength. As his coming-of-age ceremony approached, his life had become quiet and joyful with Mia—until the King arrived at the annex.
"So you're telling me that my son has been alive all this time? And you dared abuse and treat my son like that? The only son of the late Empress and my wife? After she died, you told me my son was dead when he was born?" the Emperor shouted angrily, slapping the Queen strongly.
"Put that woman in the annex where my son was detained. And you, let's go to where my son is," the Emperor commanded.
When the Emperor entered the annex, he found his lifeless son in the arms of the maid, crying.
"You… what happened to my son? Why isn't he breathing?" the Emperor gasped, his hand trembling as he looked at his son's lifeless body.
The prince had died from a rare illness. The reason Ann had gone missing was that she had gone in search of a cure for Theodore, but she ran into trouble with thieves while returning from the black market and lost her life while protecting the potions meant to save the prince.
"God, please, let His Highness live a little longer," Ann had whispered, her vision growing dim as tears fell from her eyes.
The will of the maid was the reason Theodore lived longer.
---
"Ryu, Ryuu, Hasegawa Ryusei, wake up!" Kenji pinched his nose.
"Ackk, what's that for?" Ryusei groaned irritably.
"Stupid, haven't you heard the announcement? The teacher said all schools in Aomari and the rest of Japan will have a CT," Kenji said happily.
"CT, huh?" Ryusei wondered, deep in thought.
---
CT, short for Clash Trigger, is a new sport invented 10 years after a warning from other dimensions, which predicted the arrival of cataclysmic events or invasions by otherworldly monsters that would begin to appear in 10 years.
CT Information: The sport is a team-based game, with teams ranging from 7 to 15 players. It was first launched on July 12, 2036, in major cities around the world. There are 7 different positions in the game:
Attacker or Slayer: Responsible for attacking and eliminating opposing players, alongside the Objector.
Objector or Capturer: In charge of capturing the enemy's flag.
Support or Shooter: Assists the team by providing support during battles.
Tanker or Flag Guard: Protects the team's base flag.
Operator: Commands and guides the team.
Mechanics: Activates traps and changes the layout of the fields.
All-rounder: Can fill any role as needed.
There are two modes in CT:
1. Team vs. Team: Teams compete against each other.
2. Battle Royale: One team fights against 10 other teams. This mode doesn't involve flag capturing; the goal is to eliminate other teams and remain the last team standing. A team must have at least five members, including the Operator.
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Clash Trigger: Rebirth of the Prince
Volume 1 begins now.