Meanwhile…
Julius’s POV
There were only 20 people left on the island, signaling that the King’s Game was nearing its conclusion. I’d heard of numerous deaths occurring, but it didn’t concern me.
Throughout the duration of the game, I’d stayed hidden, not even bothering to participate. My strategy was simple: let the others thin their own numbers through conflict, then strike when the field was ripe for the taking.
However, as the number dwindled to just 20, I sensed eyes on me. Gradually, I felt two presences approaching, moving stealthily from above.
“It’s quite unusual to see someone of your status mingling with the common folk, Your Highness. I must say, I’m rather surprised,” remarked a woman, who was being carried by a dark-skinned woman as they descended towards me.
I was perched atop the largest tree on the island, my chosen base. Not only did it provide an abundance of food, but it also offered safety from elimination. Not that I was concerned about being eliminated if I stayed below, but conserving energy was key.
The dark-skinned woman settled onto a large branch of the tree, gently lowering the woman she carried. I recognized the woman immediately—she was the commander of the magic knights.
“Well, well, Commander Lilia,” I greeted with a cheerful smile. “What a pleasant surprise. Last time we crossed paths was last year, on my 18th birthday, if I remember correctly.”
“That’s correct. It’s your coming of age, so naturally, I had to be there,” she replied with a smile. “Now then, Prince Julius, care to enlighten me on your motives? This isn’t my directive; it comes straight from your father. He’s been on edge lately due to your recent actions. He’s practically sweating buckets.”
“Father? I’ve already discussed my plans with him, haven’t I?” I retorted. “Why would I need to repeat myself?”
“Well, it seems he’s rather anxious. He needs constant reassurance, multiple times over, to put his mind at ease,” she explained with a shrug.
I chuckled mockingly, “Is he that terrified of me snatching his precious throne?”
“That’s correct,” Commander Lilia replied matter-of-factly. As the head of the magic military, she was keenly aware of my father’s state of mind. “That’s why he tasked me with preventing you from winning.”
“Will you stop me?” I inquired.
The commander simply smiled. “Why would I? I couldn’t care less about the royal family drama or who ends up ruling the kingdom, or even the world, for that matter. All I care about is myself, my position, and all the wealth and privileges that come with it. That’s all I want.”
“Oh?” I exclaimed. “So you’re suggesting that if I succeed, you’d like to retain your position?”
“Exactly,” she confirmed.
As she spoke, I sensed a subtle energy emanating from her mouth. So she was attempting to influence me with her power, huh? Unfortunately for her, my clothes were equipped with a power dampener, rendering her control ineffective. Nevertheless, I didn’t mind the idea of her remaining as the commander. She was cunning and manipulative—qualities I could appreciate in an ally.
“If you wish to retain your position as commander once I become king, I have no objections,” I declared, extending my hand to her.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she replied gratefully.
After we released each other’s hands, I inquired, “Is that all you desire?”
“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “There are some pests attempting to undermine both you and me, Your Highness. I could simply command them with my power, but brainwashed subordinates aren’t exactly reliable for important tasks.”
I could feel her power at work again, attempting to exert its influence over me. However, this woman seemed unaware that there were individuals resistant to her manipulation. The Queen, Myrcella’s mother, for instance, was immune to her control. Fortunately, my power-dampening attire provided me with a similar safeguard.
“So, you’re asking me to deal with these pests?” I confirmed. For the time being, I had to agree. I truly desired this woman as an ally.
“Yes, indeed,” she affirmed. “It will be much easier for you to seize the throne under those circumstances.”
“Alright, I’ll go along with your plan,” I agreed.
With that settled, we clasped hands once more.
***
Robyn’s POV
The island was sweltering hot, making me feel like I might keel over from the heat at any moment. I was certain I could get heatstroke from this relentless sun. Unfortunately, our captain, Angelica, was adamant about not allowing us to rest. According to her, the commander might strike at any moment. Honestly, dying from heatstroke or getting killed by the commander felt like two sides of the same coin…
“Stay vigilant, Robyn,” she warned me with a growl. “There’s no telling when that woman will turn against us.”
I sighed, feeling exasperated. It seemed like I had sighed countless times today. “Are you really certain she’s out to get us, Captain? I mean, I know the commander is intense and a real sadist, but I doubt she’d go so far as to eliminate her own subordinates.”
“You don’t know her at all, Robyn,” the Captain retorted. “That woman is far more sinister than you realize.”
There was clearly tension between Captain Angelica and Commander Lilia. It didn’t seem like the Captain’s bitterness stemmed solely from losing her command position to Commander Lilia. I suspected there was more to their conflict than met the eye.
Maybe their history was much more deeper than I thought.
As I pondered this, I glanced back at the forest. The surge of powerful auras I had sensed within its depths intrigued me, especially one that seemed particularly menacing. I wondered whose auras they belonged to and what their intentions might be. Unfortunately, I couldn’t investigate further as I was stationed here.
Three hours later, and I felt like I’d been roasted by the sun. The heat was so intense that I thought I might just melt into a puddle. All I wanted was to dunk my face into some cold water, or better yet, take a refreshing shower. If I weren’t on duty right now, I’d definitely be taking a dip in the ocean…
As I pondered, a sudden wave of terror washed over me. Something was approaching, and fast.
“Something’s coming!” I exclaimed.
The squad immediately snapped to attention as the source of the ominous aura drew nearer. It was a young man, exuding an air of royalty, with a smirk playing on his lips.
“Hey there,” he greeted cheerfully. “Looks like I’ve got everyone gathered. Excellent.” With a flourish, he gathered mana and conjured a fireball in his palm—a massive one, even larger than the Great Fireball spell. This was deadly.
“I figure it’s best to have you all in one place for an easy slaughter,” he remarked casually.
“Everyone, scatter!” commanded the Captain urgently. “That’s Prince Julius. That fireball of his can incinerate an entire city! Run as fast as you can!”
But it was too late. Prince Julius had already completed the formation of the fireball. With a casual remark of “It’s a shame, but oh well,” he hurled it towards us.
In an instant, we were engulfed by the searing heat, both from the scorching sun and the fiery projectile launched by the Prince.
***
Myrcella’s POV
As we prepared to retreat to our base, a sudden surge of scorching heat swept over me, its fiery tendrils licking at my skin and sending shivers down my spine. With a sense of foreboding, I turned my gaze towards the source, where ominous clouds of smoke billowed into the sky, painted crimson by the raging flames that devoured everything in their path.
“Julius…” I breathed.
Without hesitation, I began sprinting towards the inferno, with Johanne at my side.
“Princess, don’t rush into things,” he cautioned.
“I know,” I replied, determination etched on my face.
We dashed through the dense foliage, the cacophony of our footfalls drowned out by the crackling inferno ahead. As we burst from the oppressive shadows of the forest, a scene of devastation greeted us. Amidst the roaring flames stood my brother, a dark silhouette against the backdrop of chaos and destruction. His laughter, tinged with madness, echoed through the island. His arms were outstretched, a twisted mockery of triumph as he reveled in the destruction he had wrought. The charred remains of his victims lay scattered around him, their flesh reduced to ash, leaving only skeletal remains behind.
It was a gruesome sight, one that sent a shiver down my spine. The flames danced in his eyes, reflecting the madness that consumed him. In that moment, he seemed more monster than man, a terrifying force of nature unleashed upon the world.
“Julius!!!” I screamed, my voice cutting through the crackling flames.
My brother turned to face me, his grin widening into something sinister. It was a chilling expression, entirely unlike the uneasy smile I was accustomed to seeing on his face. This grin held a darkness that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Well, well, well, look who’s here,” he sneered. “Do you want to join them too, dear sister?”
