KAEL
The blood of my enemies had dried on my armor by the time the gates of the capital came into view. The rebel leader's head swung from the sack at my side—a grim token of my success. My wound throbbed faintly beneath my cloak, though it was no more than a dull reminder of the battle. Pain was a foreign concept to me, just as it had been since the day I was born.
My horse's hooves struck the cobblestones as I entered the palace grounds. The guards stepped aside, their gazes lowered. They whispered, no doubt spinning their own stories about the cursed prince. I didn't care.
I had returned victorious. That was all that mattered.
---
The throne room was as cold as ever, its towering ceilings and gilded walls unable to mask the rot beneath the surface. My father, the king, sat atop his golden throne, his face a mask of indifference. Alric stood at his side, his smirk barely concealed as he eyed the sack in my hand.
I dropped it unceremoniously at their feet, letting the rebel leader's head roll free. Gasps rippled through the gathered court as blood smeared across the pristine marble floor.
"The rebellion is over," I said, my voice steady and devoid of emotion.
My father glanced at the head, then back at me. "You've done your duty."
The dismissal in his tone was as sharp as any blade.
I stepped forward, my gaze locked on Alric. "Your favored son sent men to kill me."
The room fell silent. Alric raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
"Is that so?" he said, his tone light. "Brother, you must be mistaken. Why would I ever do such a thing?"
My jaw tightened. "Because you don't want me alive."
The king raised a hand, silencing me. "Kael, you've returned alive. That's all that matters. Leave this petty quarrel aside."
Petty. That was all he thought of my life. Just another expendable piece on his chessboard.
---
That night, I sat in my chambers, staring at the blade resting on the table before me. The power I'd tapped into during the battle against the rebels still lingered, a dark pulse beneath my skin. The old woman's words echoed in my mind: You are more than flesh and bone. You are destined for greatness, but only if you embrace the darkness within.
My thoughts turned to Alric. He had orchestrated this rebellion, of that I was certain. But he hadn't accounted for my survival—or the strength I had gained. The throne he coveted would soon belong to me, and I would not rest until he paid for his treachery.
---
The next day, a soldier loyal to me came with news. "Your Highness, the rebel we captured has spoken."
In the dungeons, the captured man sat chained, his face bruised and bloodied. Yet his eyes burned with defiance.
"Your brother's ambition knows no bounds," he spat. "He promised us freedom, wealth, and power if we turned against you."
I regarded him coldly. "And now you'll die for trusting him."
He laughed bitterly. "You're no better than him. All of you princes are the same—monsters in silk."
I signaled to the guards. "Dispose of him."
As they dragged him away, his words lingered. He was wrong about one thing—I wasn't like Alric. I was worse.
---
When I returned to the palace, Alric intercepted me in the corridor.
"Brother," he said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "It's good to see you alive."
I didn't respond, brushing past him.
"Careful, Kael," he called after me. "You might not be so lucky next time."
I stopped, turning to face him. "Luck has nothing to do with it."
For the first time, his smile faltered.
---
Three weeks passed since my return, and whispers of rebellion continued to circulate. The king remained indifferent, dismissing my concerns about Alric.
But I was not idle.
Under the cover of darkness, I sought out the old woman who had saved me. Her secluded hut in the forest was untouched by time, the air around it thick with the scent of herbs and magic.
"You return," she said, her eyes glinting with knowing. "Have you come to embrace your destiny?"
"I've come for answers," I replied.
She studied me, her gaze piercing. "You are the reincarnation of a great king—a ruler feared and revered for his power. The curse you bear is no curse at all but a mark of that legacy. Embrace it, and no one will stand in your way."
For the next several nights, she taught me to channel the power within me. It was a force unlike any other, dark and consuming, yet it felt as natural as breathing.
When I returned to the capital, I was no longer just the cursed prince. I was something far greater.
---
My father summoned me to the throne room. "You've done well, Kael. But the kingdom requires more from you."
I stepped forward, unsheathing my sword. "The kingdom requires a true king—one who will not tolerate betrayal."
The court gasped as I turned my blade on Alric.
His eyes widened in shock, but he recovered quickly, drawing his own weapon.
"You've lost your mind, brother," he hissed.
"No," I replied coldly. "I've found my purpose."
The clash of steel echoed through the hall as we fought. Alric was skilled, but he was no match for the strength and power I now wielded.
With a final, devastating blow, I disarmed him, my sword pressed against his throat.
"You will not take what is mine," I said.
The king rose from his throne, his face pale. "Kael, stop this madness!"
I turned to him, my gaze unyielding. "Madness would be allowing this fool to rule. The throne belongs to me now."
The room fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in.
I sheathed my sword, stepping away from Alric. "Consider this a warning. Cross me again, and there will be no mercy."
As I left the throne room, the whispers began anew. But this time, they were not of fear or pity.
They were of power.