Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 0: Prologue

Chapter 0: Prologue

“I heard you’ve been⁠‌ looking for a place to die.”‌

That‍‍ wasn’t a lie.‌⁠‍

I wanted to die‍‍ on the battlefield.‌

Fortunately,‌‌ today seemed to⁠ be that day.

Is⁠⁠ that why you‍ always throw yourself‌‍⁠ into the most⁠ dangerous fronts and‌⁠‌ carry out reckless⁠ assaults? Death? Are‌ you seeking rest?‌

“You⁠⁠ talk too much.⁠ Kill me.”

“Death‌⁠ is too good⁠‌‌ for you.”

I looked up.

A crimson glow burned‍‍‌ inside the helmet.⁠‍‍

“Who⁠ are you?”

At⁠ the very least,‌ I wanted to‌ know who was‌ about to kill‌⁠ me.

But‌ instead, the other⁠⁠‍ person said something‌⁠ else.

“Because‍⁠ of you.”

“What?”

“All‌ of this happened‍ because of you.”⁠

With those words, he⁠‍ swung his fist.‍‌

I fell to the⁠‌ ground and repeated‍‌‍ his words in my mind.

What⁠ the hell is⁠ he talking about…?‍

“Because⁠‌‌ of you, the⁠ kingdom fell.”

That⁠ was when I came to my⁠ senses.

“Who‍ are you?”

“Yuri,‍⁠ third prince of‌‍ Briol.”

My⁠ eyes widened. No‍‌‍ one knows my‍⁠ past.

Because‌ they all died.⁠⁠⁠ So who the‌⁠ hell is this‍‌ guy?

“You⁠⁠ ruined everything.”

The‍‍ guilt that had‍ always festered in⁠‌ my heart now clung to him.⁠

I just wanted to‌⁠ die. I never⁠‍ wanted to answer‌‍ for my past‌‍ sins. It was‍ that guilt, those⁠ mistakes, that drove‌ me to the‍ battlefield over and⁠ over again.

I wanted to disappear⁠⁠ like a fleeting⁠‌‌ wind, escaping the‍ ghosts of my⁠ past.

“You thought becoming a mercenary, punishing yourself,‍ would erase your‍ sins? You’re selfish⁠ to the end.”⁠‍

“Liar.⁠ Tell me who‍‍ the hell you⁠⁠ are, bastard.”

“Me?”‌‍‍

He‍ lifted his helmet.‍⁠

I saw glowing red⁠ eyes and darkened,⁠‍ lifeless veins. He‍⁠⁠ no longer looked⁠‍ human, but I could recognize someone⁠⁠ beneath that grotesque⁠ face.

“…Laurent?”⁠⁠

Captain of the Order‌ of the Rose‌ Knight. Always so‍‍ proper, always putting‌‌ on airs.

He‌ definitely died.

The‍‌ day the kingdom⁠ fell, Laurent died‌ heroically on the⁠ front lines. So‍ what the hell‍‌ is this?

Why‌ have the dead‌ returned to confront⁠ me with my⁠‌⁠ sins?

“Because‍‌‍ of you.”

He⁠ raised his sword.‌

“Laurent!”‍⁠

I had so many questions.

I saw a sword pierce through his‌ heart. How could‌‍ he still be alive?

What‌ was that monstrous‌ form?

And‍ above all…

Why‍‌ had he sided‌⁠⁠ with the empire‍⁠ that destroyed our⁠⁠ kingdom?

However,‍‌ before I could‍⁠ ask anything, a crimson aura pierced⁠ through my neck.⁠

“All‍ of this happened‍⁠ because of you.”‍

My⁠ vision spun.

I saw my body‍ collapse to the ground.

Even⁠ with my head‍ severed from my⁠⁠⁠ body, consciousness did‍ not immediately fade.

In⁠ the pool of blood, I glimpsed‍ something glowing.

A memory of my‌⁠ mother.

The‌‍ necklace.

It‍ glowed with a soft white light.‌‌

I thought I’d feel‌‌‌ lighter at the moment of death.‌‌ I thought I’d‍ find peace, that‍⁠⁠ I’d forget everything.‌‍⁠

But‌ I was wrong.⁠‌

Death⁠‌ was unbearable and the anguish didn’t⁠ fade—it crushed my‍‍⁠ soul. I wished‌‌ I could go back.

I wouldn’t make the‍⁠ same mistakes again.‌ My vision soon⁠ darkened.

In‌ the darkness, only‍ the glow of⁠⁠ the necklace remained.‍

Past‌⁠⁠ conversations echoed in⁠ my ears like a slideshow of⁠‍ memories.

“My‍‍‌ son. Remember this⁠‌‍ well. The heirs⁠‍⁠ of Briol never‌ abandon their honor.⁠‌ Not even in‌ death.”

Yes,⁠‌‌ that was true.⁠‍

Noble‍‍ Briol.

Even‌‍ in death, our‌⁠ honor would never⁠‌⁠ be tarnished.

And‍ for failing to‌ uphold it, I died in disgrace.‌

‘Aren’t⁠ you going to answer?’

Huh?

“Aren’t⁠ you going to⁠ answer me?”

Someone‌‍ hit me on‌⁠‌ the head.

“Huh?!”⁠⁠‌

What‌‍‌ the hell?

“What‌‌ do you mean‌‌ ‘wha,’ my son?”⁠‍

My‌ father stood there.‍⁠

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Chapter 0: Prologue

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