In a galaxy ruled by tradition, decadence, and intrigue, Alexander Von Harenstein the Third unexpectedly ascends to the throne of the Milky Way after his great-great-great-great-great grandfather chokes on a chicken bone. Alex, an unremarkable man with no aspirations for power, is thrust into a world of opulence, politics, and imminent danger. The royal cabinet’s shadowy schemes and the absurdly short lifespan of recent monarchs suggest Alex’s reign will be brief. But his troubles take an otherworldly turn when a mysterious voice invades his mind, claiming to watch him everywhere and always. What starts as cryptic warnings soon becomes a harrowing encounter with entities capable of bending reality itself—void creatures that twist space and shatter Alex's understanding of his universe. As he fights to survive, Alex uncovers disturbing truths about the galaxy’s hidden rulers and his role in their plans. Time runs thin as the fractures in reality deepen, and Alex must decide whether to flee, fight, or embrace the incomprehensible forces that have targeted him. When the line between power and manipulation blurs, one question remains: Is Alex the rightful king or merely a pawn in an ancient, cosmic game? [Participant in the Royal Road Writathon]