Elliot felt a cold chill as he watched the Earl keep his position. The king under the dagger seemed breathless, but Elliot knew he was alive, just too afraid to move.

Elliot solemnly nodded, "Uncle…"

The Earl's expression was imperceptible, though Elliot felt his eyes darken at his words.

"You must understand, Gabriel, all this…needs to end."

Elliot watched quietly, "And what? Are you going to ascend the throne?"

Winston chuckled with a hint of self-deprecation. "I haven't thought that far, but if the people want it, then so be it."

Elliot slowly stepped forward, noticing that the Earl didn't react negatively, so he moved closer. "You’re my father's consultant. You two were the closest, so why?"

The Earl watched the petrified king below him with a murderous gaze.

“No, Gabriel, you shouldn't easily believe what people show on the outside. I know your mother wanted things to be different, but...” his eyes hazed over as he glanced at Elliot.  "But now that she's gone, there's no point in all this."

Elliot stood there bewildered, “Uncle…what are you saying? Mother, she-”

“She cared a lot about you. It was this king that kept you away from her. Yes, he kept you away from me. It’s his fault.” the earl mumbled.

Elliot couldn’t understand as he watched the earl’s eyes turn red. If looks could kill, the terrified king beneath him would have fallen. But be it pride or guilt, the king raised his voice, “Enough, Winston!”

Elliot finally grasped his words. “Away from you?”

Winston chuckled maniacally, keeping his focus on the king, “Enough? You don’t want him to know the truth? Why is that? Are you too ashamed?" At this point, the king, that appeared too weak to move, struggled vigorously. Not caring about the dagger pressed against his throat that nearly sliced a deep wound. Winston scoffed at his pathetic attempt. "If you're that ashamed, you should have killed me and her as soon as you found out she was pregnant."

He then tilted his head and leaned closer to the king's ear, speaking in hushed anger. “Was it fun? Watching us struggle?"

The king grew enraged, “Enough! Stop spouting lies! You delusional fool! Do you think you’ll get away with this? Killing me will only-”

"You're the delusional one," Winston cut him off, "Have you forgotten? None of your sons want you alive.” as he spoke, he sinisterly slid the side of the dagger against the king's throat, making him grow paler by the second.

Elliot quickly pieced everything together. His uncertainty made it feel like time passed by so slowly, but it all connected with the help of Gabriel's memories.

He was the earl's son.

So this was the reason, the reason he was neglected and resented by those around him.

The king's hatred must have run deep, creating a cycle of hatred amongst his siblings. After all, he was a stain in the king’s eyes and a reminder of the queen's infidelity.

But he couldn’t figure out why he was kept alive. Recalling the earl's words, maybe his mother really did care for him. Just what did she do? No, what did she give away?

Elliot’s voice shook, “The poison…”

The king’s disdainful eyes stared at the boy, confirming his second theory. The king ordered it. That was why it was happening for so long.

The earl's movements paused before he sneered, "Poison? Not only did you break your promise, you-you even-"

The king finally gave up as he roared, "How dare you speak to me as such!? I may have let you live because of your power, but that bitch and ungrateful son deserves nothing but death!"

"You bastard!" The earl finally couldn't take it anymore as he lifted the dagger. His anger aimed toward the King's chest, but before he could make the blow. The silver blade of a sword quickly blocked it.

The earl's red eyes stared crazedly at Flynn. He didn't even notice when he got closer, but he didn't appear to care. "Do you mean to stop me?!" He roared.

Elliot blinked, also taken aback. Why did Flynn stop him? Flynn then flicked his sword, making the earl take a few steps back, but before the King could feel relieved, he heard the young man coldly say, "Sorry, but only the future king can kill him."

With those words, Elliot came back to reality. Right. Why let these emotions get to him? It wasn't as if this was his world.

Elliot cleared his mind and let out a deep sigh. Catching the earl's attention. "... Gabriel?"

Elliot lifted his chin as he stepped forward, "I do have to thank you, Earl Winston, for shedding light onto this matter." His darkened eyes before lighting up to a dull gray. He slowly lifted his rapier over the king's chest, creating an oppressive aura. The king struggled on the bed as he squirmed, trying to avoid the young prince’s sharp blade. Cold sweat soaked his robes as he muttered in a frantic panic, “Wait! What do you think you’re doing?! You damned spawn! You dare raise your blade at your father!? After all these years of raising you, this is how you thank me?!” 

The young boy’s chilling voice left his lips, making the king tremble in an unspeakable fear.  “Yes, thank you father, for raising me all these years. Now it’s time for you to rest, don’t worry about the kingdom. I’ll take good care of it.”

The king's scream roared into Elliot's ears as he heavily pushed the sword through his chest. His sight was covered with splatters of blood and the scrunched-up face of agony before the eyes of hatred and pain slowly faded into a blank stare.

Elliot didn't know that the eyes stay open when one dies. Or the pressure needed to pierce one’s body.

His body trembled. It was too easy to take a life.

"Gabriel?"

Flynn's voice called him back, making Elliot blink a few times before finally pulling the blade out. The body slacked onto the bed as the blood stained its sheets.

The earl looked on in disbelief. Words stuck in his throat. He decided to kill the king when the queen’s death reached his ears. All those years of separation and marrying someone he didn’t truly love welled up. Until he finally snapped when he found out about the queen’s assassination. Winston knew it was the king’s doing. Yet the third prince, his son, took his chance for revenge. Somehow, Winston didn't feel joy but a sense of dread. 

Elliot cooled himself before he snatched the king's emblem from his person. The king’s emblem was a golden tablet the size of a man’s palm and as thin as paper. It hung on a red velvet string and contained the carving of the family crest, the griffin, surrounded by what seemed to be angels. Elliot examined its beautiful shine before he tucked it into his clothes, turning towards the exit before the earl's feeble voice called out to him. "Gabriel-you…"

Elliot paused and glanced over his shoulder at the withered earl. He seemed tired, but there was no hatred in his eyes, just confusion.

Elliot turned away before he spoke softly, "I'm sorry…"

Leaving the room, one of Flynn's guards came from the shadows as if waiting for them to arrive, "Mathew is nearing the castle. Uriel is weak."

Flynn and Elliot looked at each other; this was their time to capture Uriel and hopefully ambush Mathew.

"Let's go," Elliot said.

Uriel was in the throne room. His face was pale as he sat on the throne. Ever since the uprising and the revolt of his soldiers, Uriel couldn't get the upper hand. But despite Mathew suffering the same, he somehow managed to pull through and make his way toward the castle.

Uriel's right leg shook as impatience and anxiety filled his pale face. "What the hell is going on?!"

"Your majesty!"

His attention was interrupted by a guard rushing into the room, but before the guard could finish, a sword pierced through his chest.

"Who the hell?!" Uriel shouted as Flynn walked into the room. Uriel was really struggling, with only four other guards beside him. Perhaps he sent most of his men to fend off Mathew. But thanks to this, Flynn and his two men were enough to fend off Uriel’s guards.

Uriel wanted to curse, but before he could, his face fumed when he saw Elliot step into the room.

Elliot's eyes were dim as he glanced around the throne room, hands behind his back, "It's been a while since I've been here…it hasn't changed."

"You!" Uriel seethed, "You piece of shit! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Elliot tilted his head, "I'm here to claim something." He then dangled the king's emblem from his fingers like a bell. Its sway made the gold glistening in the candlelight.

Uriel's eyes widened as Elliot continued, "Tell me, dear brother, was it fun all these years?"

Uriel shouted, "Where did you get that?!"

Elliot shrugged, languidly putting the emblem around his neck. "From your father’s corpse, where else?"

Uriel's face instantly paled before he quickly unsheathed his sword, "How dare you! How dare you think you can take this from me!"

As soon as Uriel made his move, his guards reacted quickly. They were blocking anyone from trying to stop him. Uriel swiftly made his way toward Elliot like a bullet.

His sword clashed against his rapier, making Elliot tremble from the impact.

"Still so weak!" Uriel mocked.

"Who's fault is that?!" Elliot shouted as he pushed against Uriel's sword; he instantly jabbed forward but was easily evaded.

"Oh? So you know? Then you should know that you're not fit to be king!" Near the end of his sentence, Uriel swiftly struck his sword down. Elliot barely had enough time to guard, but his body bent against the strength.

Gritting his teeth, he tried to match Uriel's strength.

"Something like you should have died long ago! Useless spawn!" Uriel spat, then quickly bent down to swipe at Elliot's torso.

Elliot nearly dodged as he felt his side sting in pain.

Clenching his teeth, he aimed for Uriel's chest, making Uriel evade, but Elliot anticipated this as Uriel backed into Flynn's attack from behind.

Getting attacked on two fronts, Uriel quickly kneeled in unwilling surrender.

"You bastard! I'll fucking kill you!" Uriel kicked, trying to resist Flynn from tying him up. Elliot simply scoffed, "Try it. Maybe you'll actually succeed this time."

Uriel's face steamed as he slammed his legs against the stone floors. "You think you can get away with this?! You may have gotten me, but Mathew is nearing. If I cannot have the throne, then neither can you! you-"

Flynn swiftly stuffed Uriel's mouth with a piece of cloth, making it impossible for him to continue. "Damn annoying."

Elliot glanced around the throne room. Uriel’s guards were on the ground, lifeless. One of Flynn’s men was finishing off the last guard as the other came beside Flynn. “It’s all clear, and the surrounding rooms are empty. His other men are likely guarding the outer castle. With Mathew’s might, they won't survive.”

Flynn shifted his cold gaze at Uriel, making the man shutter, but his eyes still burned with murderous intent. “Continue to search the castle and set up the traps. We cannot be too sure.”

Elliot left the orders to Flynn. His eyes shifted to the gold and red throne. It was like a scene taken from a medieval fantasy book. 

The throne sat on a raised marble platform framed with silks and an exquisite mural of all the past rulers in their memorable conquests. The nearby candlelights made every shadow seem domineering and every gold piece glistening.

Elliot, despite himself, slowly made his way toward the throne. Tracing his hand along the golden armrest, he slowly sat on the throne. He could feel the power surging from the red cushions as he leaned into it. It gave him a slight euphoria as if it were destiny to sit on this throne.

“Comfortable?” Flynn crossed his arms as he stood beside Elliot. Elliot cast his gaze down as his hands ran against the armrest. “No,” he spoke softly.

With his words, Uriel started to kick up a fuss again as he slammed his foot on the ground in protest. Flynn rolled his eyes. “We should just kill him.”

Elliot shook his head, “he’s for Ginny to kill…you said you sent for her…will she be okay?”

“I’ve had someone look after her. She should be fine. If anything, I can avenge her.”

Elliot opened his mouth, but the sounds of fighting outside the castle got closer. Making Elliot’s eyes darken. Flynn signaled for one of his men to continue as planned before he gently touched Elliot’s shoulder. “Will you be okay?”

Elliot let out a low laugh, “Worried now? Hurry up and go. They need your guidance.”

Flynn hesitated before he squeezed Elliot’s shoulder and disappeared into the shadows.

Elliot felt his heart racing in his throat. He closed his eyes to compose himself, crossing one leg over the other, before he spoke coldly, "Now, Let the show begin."