As the blood of his mother seeped into the cracks of the grand hall's marble floor, something inside the 7th Prince shattered beyond repair.
His breathing was slow, steady—but his soul twisted into something unrecognizable. The warm boy who once dreamed of proving himself to his family was now nothing more than a hollow shell, filled with nothing but hatred and cold calculation.
The Emperor turned, dismissing the scene as though it were insignificant. The nobles whispered among themselves, some entertained, others disturbed.
The 2nd Prince, still gripping his bloodstained sword, approached his younger brother and leaned in.
"Still standing, little brother?" he whispered mockingly. "I expected you to break like a child, but you're stronger than I thought."
The 7th Prince didn't react. His face was completely void of emotion.
The 2nd Prince smirked. "Mother's screams were quite something, weren't they? If only you had knelt and begged, maybe I would've let her live."
Silence.
But the 7th Prince's gaze slowly lifted—and for the first time, the 2nd Prince felt a chill creep down his spine.
There was no sorrow. No rage. No grief.
Just emptiness.
And then, a whisper.
"One day, you will kneel."
The 2nd Prince's smirk faltered for the briefest moment.
The hall's heavy doors creaked open, and Grandmaster Leo Chang entered, his brows furrowed as he took in the bloody scene. His piercing gaze flickered to his disciple.
But the boy he once knew was gone.
The 7th Prince turned away from his mother's corpse, his robes brushing against her lifeless hand. He didn't even spare her a final glance.
He simply walked away, his steps eerily calm, controlled.
From that day forward, the 7th Prince ceased to exist.
What remained…
Was a monster with no heart, no weakness, and no mercy.