The king of Noctis leaned back on his throne, his crimson eyes gleaming with interest as he studied me. His silver hair caught the light of the grand hall, giving him an almost ethereal presence.
"I trust they've all been flattering," I said with a smirk, trying to play it cool while my mind raced. Where in the world had Seraphina gone? She was supposed to be with me.
The king's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Flattering, yes... but also quite curious. You seem to be a man of many talents, Artorian Goldenheart. However, not all talents are... appreciated by those in power."
I kept my expression neutral, though every fiber of my being was on edge. I couldn't let him see any weakness. "Your Majesty, I assure you, my talents are at the service of peace and prosperity."
The king raised an eyebrow. "Peace and prosperity, hmm? Tell me, what kind of peace do you seek when war lingers so close to our borders?"
I didn't miss the subtle challenge in his words. "The kind of peace that requires strength, Your Majesty," I answered. "Strength to ensure our enemies never dare to cross those borders."
The king's gaze sharpened. "A fair answer." He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing. "Though, I must say, I'm disappointed. Where is your daughter, Seraphina? I was hoping to meet her. You didn't lose track of her, did you?"
His words hit like a punch to the gut. Damn it. He noticed. "She's around," I lied smoothly. "Probably just taking a moment to explore the kingdom. You know how curious young minds can be."
"Indeed," the king murmured. His tone was light, but there was something dangerous beneath it. "Curiosity, when unchecked, can lead to very... unfortunate consequences."
The warning in his voice was clear.
"Your Majesty, what's with that look in your eyes?" I asked, noticing the king's gaze—cold and dead, his eyes betraying a deep hatred for reasons unknown.
He sighed, dropping his façade of friendliness. "You know," he said, "if I'm correct, this Seraphina of yours... she's not of your blood."
"Your Majesty, what do you mean? She's my child—" I started, but he cut me off.
"Lies," he spat. "I know the truth, and you've made a grave mistake bringing her here."
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His tone grew colder. "That brat should have never been born," he said bitterly.
---
Two lovers were bound by a vow so true,
From the cradle, they grew, hearts entwined as two.
They promised their love, when time would allow,
To marry one day, as they'd always avow.
But a king, cruel and cold, with eyes sharp as knives,
Saw her beauty and sought to take her as his bride.
He tore her away, with no care for her cries,
As her heart broke in silence beneath castle skies.
She wept through the days, in the shadows of stone,
For the lover she'd lost, she now stood alone.
But her love, ever bold, with courage so bright,
Sneaked into the castle under cover of night.
Each night they embraced, in secret and fire,
Their hearts still bound in forbidden desire.
Yet her body grew weak, with a sickness inside,
And soon she knew she carried their child.
The king had not touched her, she knew it was clear,
The child was born of love, and that brought her fear.
She hatched a dark plan, one night in disguise,
She seduced the king with false warmth in her eyes.
But the king was no fool, though colder he'd grown,
He knew in his heart the child wasn't his own.
His words were sharp, like a blade to her heart,
She trembled in fear, as her world fell apart.
She pleaded and wept, begged for her life,
Claiming the child was the king's, though it cut like a knife.
But he knew the truth—no fleeting night
Could bear him a child from whispers and air.
In the dead of the night, with her lover at hand,
She fled from the castle, escaping the land.
But the child, left behind in her fright,
Became a shadow she carried through endless night.
---
"Seraphina was the child of an affair?" I whispered, the weight of the king's words sinking in.
"When she was six, she ran away. I'm quite surprised she survived," the king remarked, his voice void of sympathy. Before I could respond, the doors behind me burst open. I turned to see Seraphina, hogtied with cloth stuffed in her mouth.
"Seraphina!" I shouted, panic rising in my chest I saw who holds her, Aric, the hero.
Tears streamed down her face. What was this bastard planning?
"Goodbye," the king said coldly. Before I could react, I felt a sharp pain in my head, and darkness consumed me.
Was I dying?
I don't want to die.
Dammit, I... shit.
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
"Boss?"
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
"Yo boss!?"
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
It hurts....
"My lord!" I felt something slap me at the back of my head. As I turned I saw I was back to were I began, before I step foot at the kingdom of Noctis. I looked at the cloud that coved the kingdom.
"What?" What, that's all I could say.
"You know something?" I hear Solomons tone.
Wait where's Seraphina?! Fuck if I remember correctly she's disappeared by now. Was that the "future?".
"Artorian, what did you see" even if I said it I'm sure he wouldn't believe- "what was in the future?" Did he just?
"Futrue?" I said.
He nodded "yes, Artorian I didn't want to reveal this to you until you experienced it but as of right now, in this day, your death is a mistake. And when your death happens today time will reset. So what did you see" what?
I just experienced death itself?! Millions of thoughts ran in my mind, but before I could thiml.of a solution I quickly explained what I saw.
Solomon sighed "I wish we could have gotten the artifact easily. But now the goal has changed, we are to rescue Seraphina and retrieve the artifact with permission"
That bastard... i honesty could care less about the king. I wanted him dead, I wanted the kingdom dead.
I looked at my comanders "the 6 of you, I want ever single member of the royal family dead, and don't forget the hero."