“Dear sister,” young Julius spoke softly as he entered my room, clutching a stuffed bear tightly in his trembling hand. The ominous roar of thunder echoed through the castle walls as rain hammered against the windows, casting eerie shadows across the room.
I was immersed in the pages of a book, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows upon the pages. Despite the comfort of the warm fire crackling in the hearth, an unease lingered in the air. As members of the royal family, we each had our own chambers within the castle’s vast halls. While the protective presence of our royal knights offered a sense of security, the ever-present threat of assassination lurked in the shadows.
Julius’s unexpected arrival in my room was prompted by his fear of the raging storm outside. His youthful innocence and vulnerability were evident in the way his wide eyes darted nervously around the room. It was moments like these that reminded me of his tender age, his place in the line of succession to the throne often overshadowed by his timid nature.
“What’s wrong, Julius?” I spoke softly. We were practically the same age. Just three months apart, yet I often found myself looking at him as if he were much younger. It wasn’t entirely unfounded, though. My mother, the Queen of Milham, often remarked that I possessed a maturity beyond my years. Perhaps that’s why Julius tended to treat me as older than him. “Trouble sleeping?”
“…Yes,” young Julius replied, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
He always seemed particularly frightened during storms, and I couldn’t blame him. After all, he was still just a child. Though I was a child myself, I wasn’t afraid, likely due to being viewed as exceptional.
“Come here, then. Sit with me on the bed, and I’ll read you a story,” I offered, hoping to ease his anxiety.
Young Julius joined me on the bed, and I began recounting a fable from the book I had been reading. As the tale unfolded, his wide eyes followed the words with rapt attention.
After finishing the story, he suddenly spoke up. “You know, dear sister, you seem like you’ll be a capable ruler someday. Much more capable than our older brother.”
“Really?” I replied, surprised by his assessment. “But Brother Lucius is also quite capable, you know? He’s only ten, yet he commands his own military. That surely speaks to his leadership abilities, doesn’t it?”
Julius shook his head gently. “But having a military to command and the strength to enforce submission doesn’t necessarily mean one is fit to rule, does it? Those are not the only characteristics of a true king. They’re not the only things that make a true king.”
“Oh, really?” I responded, genuinely surprised by his insight. It was rare to hear such wisdom from someone so young, especially considering that even our father, the current king, lacked many of these qualities. I couldn’t help but wonder how Julius had come to understand the characteristics of a true king, given our limited exposure to such a role.
“Could you enlighten me on what you believe defines a true king, then? What qualities do you think a true king possesses?” I inquired, genuinely curious to hear his thoughts.
“Hmm…” Julius pondered for a moment before replying. “Personally, I believe a true king should be able to empathize with the common folk, rather than relying solely on their own abilities. They should also be wise, capable of understanding the perspectives of those they govern, and possess empathy. And of course, they should be competent. After all, if a ruler is incompetent, it reflects poorly on those they govern.”
“A profound insight,” I remarked, gently patting him on the head. His understanding of what makes a true king was truly remarkable, and it made me consider that perhaps Julius was more suited to rule than I had previously thought. “Perhaps one day, Julius, you could ascend to the throne yourself,” I suggested, genuinely believing in his potential.
That had been my honest belief at the time. However, as I observed Julius now, consumed by rage and unchecked emotion, it was difficult to reconcile this with the timid boy he had once been.
“Please, Julius, you must stop this,” I pleaded with him. “What you’re doing is wrong. You’re taking the lives of countless people without remorse!”
“Oh, spare me, dear sister,” he retorted, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Why would I heed your orders? Do you still think I’m the same brother you can boss around like I’m your lackey? I won’t blindly follow you like a little duckling anymore.”
“You don’t mean that, Julius,” I insisted, my voice trembling with concern. “You’re just confused right now.”
“Enough!” he snapped, cutting me off. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Clearly, Julius was acting out of heartbreak. A shattered heart could drive a man to irrational actions, clouding his judgment and blurring the lines between right and wrong.
“Is this what you believe defines a true king, Julius?” I questioned, my voice laced with disappointment. “Do you honestly think that murdering your own subjects and plunging your kingdom into chaos aligns with the qualities of a true king? Was everything you told me before just a lie? Is this truly what you meant?”
Julius responded with a mocking smile. “Oh, come now, dear sister,” he scoffed. “Do you truly believe in the existence of a true king? Such a notion is nothing but a fantasy! Our father falls short of that ideal, and so do the rulers of other realms! But I still cling to the hope that a true king can exist. Instead of waiting for someone else to embody that ideal, I will strive to become that true king myself. That way, a true king will truly exist!”
“Is that why you want to seize our father’s throne?” I pressed, my voice tinged with disbelief.
“That’s right!” he declared, his eyes burning with fervor. “And when the time comes, when I rise as a true king of greatness, I will unite this world under my rule. They will all kneel before me, praising me as the rightful ruler. Even you, dear sister, will bow before me. Even our brother, who has always looked down on me, will submit to my authority. All of you will bend the knee to me. Then… and then… I…!”
He abruptly halted mid-sentence, as if the words he was about to utter were too much to bear. It was evident that whatever he wanted to say next was weighing heavily on him, rendering him unable to speak it aloud. I knew all too well what lay behind those unspoken words. My brother was chasing an ideal, lost in a fantasy world detached from reality. It was this vulnerability that made him susceptible to manipulation. Those with fragile hearts were easily swayed by the promises of others.
In order to snap him out of his delusions, I realized I needed to push him further, to force him to confront the truth he was avoiding. I had to speak the words he couldn’t bring himself to say, even if it meant causing him more pain. I had to say the words he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge. That’s the only way to make him look back to reality. “Charlotte won’t love you, Julius! You need to accept that!”
My words seemed to ignite a raging inferno within him. His eyes blazed with fury, the flames dancing fiercely like an inferno unleashed. The intensity of his anger was palpable, searing heat radiating from his very being. Yet, I refused to back down. I knew that in order to break through his delusions, I had to force him to face the harsh reality. Even if it meant enduring the scorching heat of his wrath, I pressed on, determined to make him understand that his pursuit was futile, for the woman he loved would never reciprocate his feelings.
“Even if you conquer this world, it won’t make her love you, Julius!” I asserted firmly.
His fury intensified, flames raging behind him. “Shut the fuck up!” he snapped, conjuring a massive fireball in his hand. The searing heat washed over me, but I refused to back down. “Do you think I don’t already know that?!” he retorted.
“Then why continue?!” I managed to choke out amidst the scorching heat of his fireball.
“I can’t help it!” he exclaimed. “I love her!”
In the end, Julius couldn’t let go of his feelings for Charlotte. She was his first love, and he couldn’t see anyone else because his heart belonged solely to her. Unfortunately, Charlotte didn’t see him as a potential romantic partner. At best, she viewed him as a little brother. To make matters worse, Charlotte had already fallen for another man. Julius was still clinging to a fantasy, unable to face the reality where he wasn’t chosen by her.
The fireball forming in his palm suddenly shifted to a purple hue before he hurled it at us.
“Princess Myrcella!” Johanne exclaimed.
Reacting swiftly, I activated my skill to erect a barrier and block his attack. The collision between his fireball and my barrier created a powerful impact.
