The doors of the palace chambers creaked open, and Simone emerged from the shadows, stepping into the grand court for the first time in months. The darkness that had clung to him in the training room seemed to have taken root in his very being, the air around him thick with an oppressive energy that sent a chill through the room. His eyes, blood-red and unyielding, scanned the assembly, but his face remained emotionless, a cold mask that betrayed nothing of the turmoil inside.
The Emperor had finally relented. After months of grueling training, pushing Simone to the edge of madness, the Emperor had decided it was time for his son to take his place as the Crown Prince—whether Simone wanted it or not.
As he entered the grand hall, Simone's presence was overwhelming. The power that radiated from him was palpable, chilling the very air around him. His body, now lean and sinewy, moved with a grace and strength that was almost inhuman. The royal regalia—golden armor and flowing robes—hung from his frame, but they seemed almost insignificant in the face of the overwhelming aura that surrounded him.
The court fell silent as the Emperor's voice rang out, commanding attention. "Behold, the new Crown Prince of the Valaris Empire."
Simone didn't flinch, didn't hesitate. He didn't acknowledge the eyes upon him, nor the whispers that rippled through the room. His power was a storm contained within him, simmering just beneath the surface. The temperature in the room plummeted as he stepped forward, and those in the immediate vicinity felt the sharp bite of the cold. A suffocating pressure filled the space, the weight of Simone's presence pushing against everyone, as if the air itself were being drained from the room.
The nobles and courtiers, most of whom had never seen Simone before in such a state, began to squirm uncomfortably. The weaker among them gasped for breath, their bodies trembling in the oppressive cold. The Emperor, standing tall but now aware of the true weight of his son's power, felt a flicker of unease in his gut.
Simone walked past them all, his eyes dark and unreadable. His siblings, who had once known him as the shy, overweight boy, could barely recognize the figure before them. His appearance had changed—his physical form lean, his presence towering, his power undeniable. And yet, there was something more unsettling about him. His silence, his coldness—it was as if the boy they had once known had been consumed by the darkness he had kept hidden all this time.
Adrian, Livia, Cassian, Selene, Dorian, Helena, Felix, Astrid—all of them stood in stunned silence. Their faces reflected a mix of shock, disbelief, and fear. They had been told that Simone had been locked away for months, training under their father's command, but none of them had expected this. None of them had expected him to return in such a state.
Dorian, unable to hold back, took a step forward. "Simone," he said, his voice shaking with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "What are you doing? You didn't want this title. You didn't want to be Crown Prince. Why are you accepting it now?"
The room was so cold, the air thick with the weight of Simone's power, that even Dorian felt a chill run down his spine. He had always been brash, reckless, but now, in the presence of Simone's raw, untamed power, he felt small, insignificant.
Simone's gaze flickered over to Dorian, his blood-red eyes sharp, but there was no warmth in them. No hint of the brother he had once been. "I never wanted the title," Simone said, his voice flat and emotionless. "But I will accept it."
The Emperor's face twisted with fury, his brow furrowed in confusion and disbelief. "What is this?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the hall. "You— you're supposed to be grateful! You've been trained for this, for months, and now you're simply—accepting it without question?"
Simone didn't flinch. He simply nodded, his face still devoid of emotion. "I've accepted it because it's what you want, Father. And because it's what you've forced me into. But don't think for a second that this makes me your puppet."
The Emperor's eyes blazed with anger, but there was no denying the truth in Simone's words. He had pushed his son to this point—broken him, shaped him, forced him into the role of the Crown Prince. But now, in the cold silence that followed Simone's declaration, it was clear that Simone had become something else entirely. A creature of power, a force that could no longer be controlled.
Adrian's heart sank as he realized the weight of his younger brother's words. The power that had once seemed like a burden to Simone, the power he had hidden away, was now unleashed in its full glory. And Adrian, for all his strength, for all his years of preparation, was nothing in comparison.
Simone turned to face his siblings, each of them staring at him, their expressions a mix of shock, fear, and confusion. "I accept the title of Crown Prince," he repeated, his voice steady. "But do not mistake me for someone who will follow your rules. I will rule in my own way."
With that, Simone turned and walked out of the hall, his regal attire flowing behind him like a shadow. His power still hung in the air, suffocating those who remained in the room, but Simone was already gone, disappearing into the shadows.
The Emperor stood silent, his face a mixture of rage and helplessness. The other siblings were frozen, unable to comprehend the full scale of what had just happened.
Adrian's mind was racing. His younger brother—once a timid, shy boy—had become something else entirely. And now, with the title of Crown Prince in his hands, Simone held the power to reshape the empire in his image.
The throne was no longer Adrian's. It never had been.
And as the doors closed behind Simone, the weight of his transformation settled in the hearts of all those who had witnessed it. No one could deny it now. The 5th Prince had risen, and he was more powerful than any of them could have imagined.