The sounds of fighting came closer and closer before finally coming to a halt once Mathew passed the castle doors into the courtyard. His face was ashen, but his eyes filled with a cold murderous intent as he focused on the doors to the throne room. He didn’t think things would turn out this badly.

Not only did he have to fight with Uriel’s men, but his soldiers seemed to have revolted against him. It took him some time to figure out that they were not his men but townsfolk and enemies dressed like soldiers. It was hard to discern who were foes, making it harder for him to proceed towards the castle. 

Fed up with the tricks and traps within the castle, Mathew hysterically lifted his foot and kicked the door open. Bursting in with what little soldiers he had left.

"URIEL!"

Mathew’s deep voice reverberated in the throne room with thunderous anger, giving away his intent. He was going to kill whoever he saw next. Though, he paused in his tracks. He didn’t expect to see what was in front of him. No, he didn’t believe what he saw.

Uriel was tied and gagged as Elliot lazily sat on the throne above him. His chin rested on his hand with one leg crossed over the other.

The young prince's face was cold and detached. As if what he was seeing wasn't his reality.

It took a moment for Mathew to react. "... Gabriel?"

As he said his name, things slowly started to connect. But Mathew still couldn't believe it. How can this thing manage to set such a trap?

Elliot finally looked at Mathew. With the doors broken down, he could see the massacre outside. It had started to rain, making the smell of blood and wet cement permeate Elliot's nose. His heart raced, but he tried his best to keep his composure.

Mathew had lost a lot on his side due to the chaos, but he still managed to maintain a large group of his troops. Elliot had to admit it. Mathew was a strong leader.

Earlier, Flynn had gone to gather any surviving soldiers and sent out a signal for backup. Thanks to the help of the townsfolk revolting, Flynn was able to have some people on standby. They planned to create a second wave while Mathew was weak. But it will take time for them to arrive. So Elliot can only distract Mathew until then.

Mathew’s expression quickly changed from cold to warm as he cautiously approached. Elliot knew he was only testing the waters as he spoke. "Gabriel! What's going on? Are you alright?! When I heard about the earl’s estate, I tried desperately to find you!" Mathew’s voice was gentle, but beneath those meek eyes, Elliot could feel the murderous chill that wanted to peel him off of this very throne.

Elliot didn’t say a word. His pool of blue eyes made Mathew feel a tinge of discomfort. He opened his mouth to comfort this young prince before his expression changed to vehement anger. 

Elliot lifted the king’s emblem. 

He let the velvet string sway from his finger, causing an eruption of voices and murmurs.

"T-that's!"

"The king is dead?"

"Is that blood? But there's no way he did it! Someone like him!"

The gold of the emblem reflected into Mathew’s pupils like a fire igniting in the night. His voice growled in his chest as if holding onto the last ounce of sanity. "Gabriel…what have you done?"

Elliot lifted a brow, "what you wanted."

Mathew wasn't stupid; for Gabriel to achieve this and take down Uriel, he needed support. Realizing that it was only Gabriel on the throne, Mathew immediately grew agitated.

Elliot noticed this and lifted a brow, "Why are you so guarded against me, brother? I did all this for you. Don't I get a thank you?"

Mathew nearly scoffed at his words, "You say this, yet you're sitting there so comfortably. Forgive me for having doubts."

Elliot twirled the emblem in his hand. Letting the gold glisten in envious eyes, "You can't blame me, I've learned the truth, so I cannot help but be envious of all my half brothers."

Matthew frowned, but his voice soothed, "Come now, Gabriel, others may see you as such, but I still see you as my dear brother." His eyes never left Elliot, but his hand rested lightly on the sword by his side. "Gabriel," Mathew continued, “If you truly did this for me, then hand over father’s emblem. I will reward you greatly. What you have achieved here today is quite the feat. Not only is Uriel kneeling, but I have also suffered some. But since this was all for me, surely you have your reasons.”

Elliot’s line of sight never left the emblem. He noticed Mathew’s intent. But he didn’t show signs of moving. Instead, Elliot continued, “If I had told you this plan, you would have refused me,” his eyes then suddenly shot toward Mathew, making him halt in his steps. “I am, after all, just a sickly prince.”

Mathew opened his mouth before nodding in understanding, “Yes, that’s true…I would be worried. After all, such a task is quite arduous. It makes me wonder, how did you get the power to do all this?” Mathew was trying to pry information. He couldn’t understand how this boy could achieve this much. But Uriel wasn’t amused with this back-and-forth play. He stomped his feet in a huff, signaling Mathew to get on with killing Elliot.

Elliot ignored the extra and smirked, “What can I achieve but with the help of your soldiers?”

These words to instill doubt affected Mathew more than Elliot thought. The uprising of the common folk and the infighting of his people left a shadow on Mathew's pride and heart.

Mathew was silent as his thoughts ran. His mind was too chaotic to understand what had happened on the battlefield, but now, he forced himself to calm down. He looked down at this thing of a brother as something clicked. His eyes filled with detestable mirth. "You colluded with outside power? What was his name? Flynn?"

Elliot’s eyes narrowed. There was no hiding it now. Mathew guffawed at his conclusion. It took him some time to calm down again, “Yes, yes, it all makes sense now. What did you promise that broken general? A piece of land? You poor thing, a man like him is only using you. What king? If someone like you is the only one left. Then you might as well hand over the throne to the enemy! What idiocracy!”

Elliot didn’t bother to fight the man. He leaned back into the throne with bleak eyes, “It’s better than letting either of you have to the throne.” He muttered. But these words did worse than what he thought. Mathew immediately unsheathed his sword, pointing the tip of the silver blade at him. His eyes shadowed with anger, “You unlawful child! You have no say in these political affairs. You learned the truth, yet, you still decided to meddle with what is not yours.”

Elliot felt his sweat soak his back at the sight of the blade, making the small wound on his waist itch. He had his rapier at his side but knew he wouldn’t be Mathew’s match. This man was a veteran with years of training. If Mathew wanted to, he could effortlessly kill him at any moment. Elliot unconsciously fixed his posture on the throne, his eyes glued to the shine of the sword.

“You know Gabriel. I liked you. I really did.” Mathew slowly inched toward the throne as he spoke with reproach, stopping until his blade nearly touched Elliot’s nose. “But seeing how you even colluded with the enemy. You’ve brought shame to our family. Therefore, you must pay for your crimes!”

At the end of his words, Mathew immediately swung down his sword. But his little speech gave Elliot enough time to move, barely blocking the attack with his feeble rapier. The rapier is a weapon to thrust and not to defend such a weapon as a longsword. So, Elliot’s rapier immediately bent with Mathew’s might and stuck into the fabric of the throne.

With this block, Elliot didn’t wait to see what Mathew would do next as he quickly slipped away from the throne and tried his best to create a distance between them. But Mathew adjusted quickly and swung another strike at Elliot, creating a deep gash on his back.

Elliot couldn’t help but yelp as he felt the pain and warm blood seep from his body. 

Shit.

Was he going to die here?

He could hear the laughter of his brother as he approached from behind. Elliot steadied himself to a limp. He saw Mathew’s candle-lit shadow before him as he readied his sword. Elliot’s body trembled with a solid thought.

I don’t want to die!

The cold blade was merciless and swift; it left no room for Elliot to escape before a sword intercepted it. Mathew knit his brows at the young man that stood between them. "You!"

George's eyes shook with worry as he tried to push away Mathew's brute strength. Still, he was an amateur, so his moves were rigged and slow. He may have averted Mathew’s attention. But he was nimbly pushed aside.

"Your Highness!" George spoke anxiously and steadied himself to guard Elliot.

Elliot stared on in bewilderment. He assumed he saw George and Jasmine back in town, but to think he managed to follow Mathew and his men during the siege.

He must be a skilled fighter.

Mathew's eyes darkened, "you're Edward's new apprentice. It seems he has quite the skill on choosing who to train." He shifted his murderous eyes towards Sir Edward behind him, making the knight lower his head, "This was my mistake, your highness. I'll be sure to discipline him well."

With those words, he quickly unsheathed his sword and darted to George. As if gliding across the floor, his blade met with his creating a sharp clank!

Edward effortlessly pushed back George as they fought in messy steps, giving Mathew time to look over at Elliot with a sinister gaze. "it's such a shame. Things didn’t have to turn out this way."

Elliot shivered at the cold gaze and gave a condescending smile, "You say this, but you never thought of keeping me alive in the first place, did you, Mathew?"

Mathew didn't respond to his words, his face void of emotions, completely different from when Elliot first came to this world. Mathew pointed his blade toward the ground, ready to strike, this time for a final blow. “Do not worry, Gabriel…I’ll be sure to bury you with dear mother.”

Elliot couldn’t move. He felt the blood on his back drip down his legs. He was losing too much blood. 

Was he going to die here? After reaching this far? He gritted his teeth. Flynn was taking way too long!

Just as he thought this, he heard the clopping of horse hooves. War cries suddenly filled the throne room as multiple soldiers filled the throne room, like water bursting from a broken dam.

Elliot turned to see a troop of people enter the castle and quickly met eyes with the one leading them. His dark eyes made Elliot’s tense body finally feel released.

Elliot let out a sigh, "Finally."

Noticing this, Mathew didn't hesitate to swing his sword at Elliot. Hoping to kill him once and for all, but his sword was yet again interrupted, making the veins on his forehead pop up with anger. Mathew cursed as he pressed heavily onto the blade, "Flynn, you bastard!"

Flynn responded with a heavy swing pushing Mathew back. It was unknown if his seething anger was due to finally fighting against his capturer or because Elliot was nearly bleeding to death. But Flynn’s attacks were fierce as he promptly aimed for Mathew’s chest, making the prince almost fall to his knees.

Elliot swiftly moved away from the fighting to only stagger over a body. But he was caught by gentle hands. "Apologies, your highness." It was a female voice. He quickly recognized it.

"Ginny," he sighed in relief. Ginny’s face was dreary as she steadied Elliot towards the throne, helping him settle onto it. She swiftly tended to his wound. 

“I’m glad you were able to make it…I’ve heard things have been tough for you.” Elliot said softly. Ginny’s bleak expression didn’t change. Her appearance was rather worn, possibly due to the fight to reach here. She even contained multiple wounds, but she didn’t show any desire to treat them.

Elliot understood why and didn't hesitate to point at Uriel, "As promised, you can take his head."

Ginny's eyes darkened at Uriel, making the man pale, "many thanks, your highness." after taking care of his wounds, Ginny then unsheathed the sword on her back and made her way toward the one who took away the only thing she loved.

The throne room was in complete chaos. Elliot couldn’t keep an eye on everything. But with Flynn holding his own against Mathew and with reinforcements to help George fight off Sir Edward, Elliot felt more at ease.

He leisurely supported his head on his hand as each soldier fell, one by one. A sense of dissociation filled him. It was as if he was watching a show and not an actual war in front of him. It was a strange sensation. Like he was dreaming, his body felt light. Though, this was probably due to the blood loss. Elliot knew he wouldn’t stay alive for much longer.

His eyes wandered towards the red timer in his peripherals. Its countdown was already low, but with Mathew’s strike to his back, he noticed the numbers dip. He watched the numbers slowly yet quickly go down before he glanced at Flynn and Mathew fiercely fighting. In that instant, the surge of emotions pushed through his body like a tidal wave.

Was he going to make it in time? Or will his body drop dead before he can even see his victory? What even happens when he wins? What does it even take for him to win? What if this so-called system doesn’t accept Mathew and Uriel’s death? What if he actually had to be coronated as king? If that was the case, then he’s bound to fail.

These questions filled his dreary head as he felt the heaviness of his eyelids crown over his eyes. His blue irises stared at Flynn’s figure, and at the last moment, he saw blood splash from his blade after piercing Mathew’s chest.

He told himself over and over again this was not his world, but he couldn’t help but wonder. What if it was? He felt a slight attachment to the world that he was thrown into. No, not necessarily to the world, but to the people. The handful of people that he let into his heart. Jasmine, George…and Flyn. He couldn’t help but wonder what they would think when he died.

What will Flynn think?

This was the last moment he’d see him…

The last time.