The days bled together, a blur of sweat, blood, and the raw energy of combat. Simone's body had become a temple of strength and endurance, his powers a torrent that seemed to grow stronger by the hour. His intelligence, too, sharpened. He began to see the world through a different lens, his mind processing information faster than ever before. He was no longer just a prince locked away in a training room; he was something else, something far more dangerous. The darkness within him, that primal force, seemed to feed on his growing intellect and power, enhancing every sense.
And with that new clarity came whispers.
The palace, once familiar, had become an endless labyrinth of secrets. Simone could feel everything—every movement, every conversation. The voices, faint at first, became louder, more distinct. Whispers from the shadows, from the walls, from corners where no one else could reach. He didn't know if it was his power or his growing sensitivity to his surroundings, but he could hear it all. He could hear his father's footsteps when he wasn't even near him, the murmur of the guards when they thought no one was listening. Even the servants who passed by his locked training room—he could hear their hearts racing, their whispers filled with pity for him.
It was as though he was connected to the very fabric of the palace, every thread of it vibrating with the energy of secrets. And it hurt. It hurt because he could feel the distance between him and his family—the weight of betrayal that came from his father's decision to lock him away, to force him to become something he had never wanted.
It was on one of those long, exhausting days of sparring that Simone could no longer hold it in. His father, the Emperor, had pushed him to his limits once again, the two of them locked in an intense battle of wills. Simone's reflexes were sharp, his body moving with a precision that shocked even the Emperor. The darkness inside him, growing stronger by the day, swirled around him like a shield, and he could feel the tension in the air as his father threw a series of powerful attacks at him.
But today, Simone didn't want to fight.
He stopped, mid-movement, and let the darkness settle. The Emperor paused too, noticing the sudden stillness in his son's movements.
"Something wrong, Simone?" the Emperor's voice was cold, taunting even.
Simone's gaze was unwavering, his bloodshot eyes meeting his father's with an intensity that sent a chill down Alden's spine.
"Why did you make me Crown Prince?" Simone asked, his voice low, controlled, but laced with a pain that was impossible to ignore. "I told you, I wanted nothing to do with the throne."
The Emperor's face twisted in anger. "What nonsense is this? You're the one who awakened with the most power. You've earned the title. You will not question my decisions."
Simone's jaw clenched as he took a step forward, his presence now like a storm brewing. "I never asked for this, Father. You chose me, but I never wanted to be your weapon. I told you—I never wanted the throne."
There was a moment of silence. The Emperor's eyes darkened, and his lips curled into a tight sneer. He had expected Simone to fight back in the usual way, with power, with fire. But this—this was different. This was something more. Simone's words were not those of a prince questioning his birthright—they were the words of someone who had been broken, abandoned, and had nothing left to lose.
"How did you know?" Alden finally growled, his voice dripping with disbelief. "How could you possibly know?"
Simone's gaze never wavered. "You think I don't hear everything in this palace? You think I don't feel it? You locked me away, isolated me, but you can't silence me. I hear the whispers in the walls, Father. I hear everything."
The Emperor took a step back, visibly shaken. "Impossible."
"It's not impossible," Simone replied, his voice growing colder. "It's just the power you refuse to acknowledge. I'm stronger than you ever realized."
The Emperor's anger flared. "You ungrateful wretch! I gave you everything! You will be Crown Prince, whether you like it or not. You will take your place as heir, and you will serve your purpose!"
Simone's fists clenched at his sides. He had always known, deep down, that his father's love had always been conditional. He had been a pawn in his father's game—a game that was now pushing him to the brink.
"You never listened to me, Father," Simone said, his voice laced with quiet fury. "I never asked for power. I never wanted this. You made me your puppet, and now, you've made me a monster."
The Emperor stepped forward, fury flashing in his eyes. "You are not a monster. You are the future of this empire."
Simone's eyes glowed with an eerie, dark light as he stepped back. "You've made a terrible mistake. I'll never serve your vision."
Days passed, and Simone's training continued, but now, it was different. He was no longer just fighting to get stronger. He was fighting for his freedom.
His father, ever persistent, pushed him harder than before. But now, something was shifting. Simone's body was stronger, his mind sharper, and his powers… his powers were becoming something that even the Emperor could no longer control.
He had broken through the limits that his father had set, and every passing moment brought Simone closer to something far greater than just a prince. The darkness within him was a reflection of his deepest desires, his anger, his loneliness, and his thirst for freedom. It was a force unlike any other, a primal energy that had no equal.
But even as Simone's powers grew, the pain inside him did too. He could feel his father's anger, his disappointment, his desire to control him. It was a weight that pressed against his chest, suffocating him with every step.
Simone's body had become a weapon. His mind, a fortress. But his soul… his soul was still that of a boy who had wanted nothing more than to be free.
And now, it was too late. The crown was on his head, whether he wanted it or not.
In the palace, the Emperor watched from his throne, unable to understand the force he had created. Simone's strength, his power, his intelligence—it was all growing too quickly, too uncontrollably.
But there was one thing the Emperor could not understand: Simone was no longer just his son.
Simone was becoming something more. Something beyond the throne. And the Emperor had no idea how to stop it.