Leia was the jewel of the Empire—a beauty admired and pursued by countless men, each yearning for her favor. But if they caught a glimpse of Charles in his present condition, they might reconsider their infatuation.
Charles lay on his bed, his back crisscrossed with fresh, bleeding welts, overlapping scars of the past. His face, once delicate, was now bruised, his right eye swollen shut. Each movement sent waves of pain through him, and he gasped, struggling to let the cool air soothe his wounds.
Leia was no stranger; she was Charles' younger sister, the cherished daughter of their family’s first wife. But beneath her grace lay a disturbing cruelty, and she seemed to relish the twisted relationship she forced upon him. Charles had thought her enrollment at Violet College might spare him. Yet, every holiday, her visits only brought fresh torment.
Being powerless in such a family was its own curse. Charles had long understood the dark secrets hidden behind noble doors, their web of siblings entangled in forbidden liaisons. In their world, family scandal meant survival, and Charles knew he would be the one sacrificed should their secret ever surface.
The knock on his door broke his thoughts. He straightened, slipped into a clean shirt to hide the bruises, and moved cautiously toward the door.
"Who’s there?"
"It's me, Charles."
The deep voice of his uncle, Jack West, rang through. The door swung open, revealing a man clad in the West family’s tight, military leather, his chest bearing the emblem of a golden eagle. Jack’s gaze was as sharp as the bird’s, his presence commanding.
"Uncle Jack?" Charles forced a smile, lowering his head slightly, his hair falling over his bruised eyes. Jack was a decorated general, and their paths rarely crossed. Why would he leave the front lines to visit?
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Jack studied Charles, then reached into his jacket and produced a dagger—a small, cracked blade, etched with cryptic symbols that glinted ominously in the light.
"Charles," Jack’s voice softened as he offered the dagger, "I need you to carry this at your initiation ceremony."
Charles froze, studying the weapon. He could sense the trouble it might bring, yet knew refusing Jack could be even riskier. An uneasy silence settled, and Jack’s pleasant demeanor slipped, replaced by something colder. Without warning, he seized Charles by the collar, lifting him with ease.
"I'm not asking, boy. You will bring this dagger. Understood?"
The pain intensified as Jack’s grip pressed against his raw back, but Charles met his uncle's gaze defiantly. “You know how important this ceremony is to me, Uncle Jack. It’s my only chance to gain my father’s favor—my only hope to survive the ambitions of my siblings.”
Jack laughed coldly, giving Charles a hard shake. “Think I care about your chances? Do what I say, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Charles took a steadying breath. "Let’s strike a deal," he said quietly, brushing himself off as he stood. “You want me to take that dagger. I’ll need something in return—a guarantee I make it to my ceremony in one piece.”
Jack smirked. “Fine. I'll see to it that you survive until then.”
But Charles wasn’t finished. “One hundred thousand gold coins, three holy crystals, and a vial of third-tier war beast’s blood.”
Jack raised an eyebrow but nodded, barely hesitating. “You drive a hard bargain, Charles. Done. And as proof, here’s a devil’s contract.” He withdrew a piece of parchment, a cursed scarlet eye staring out from its center.
“Now, write it out. The terms are simple: carry the dagger at your initiation, and you’ll have the gold, the crystals, and my protection.”
After a grueling session transcribing the contract’s binding words in ancient script, Jack left. But as Charles collapsed onto his bed, his door creaked open once more, a slender figure slipping inside.
"Charles..." Her voice was soft, almost seductive.
He turned, and in the darkness, Leia’s crimson lips curved into a twisted smile. His heart sank. This time, her return would be even more ruthless.
"Leia..." he whispered as she moved forward, her intentions unmistakable.
With a fear that ran bone-deep, Charles braced himself for what was to come.