In a far away land, surrounded by the ocean waves, a continent rests. In the center of it, lay an empire that has been standing for ages. Known for its greed, power and money. The Sovereignty Empire.
The sun hangs lazily over the capital, casting warm and bright rays of sunshine over houses and streets. But mostly, the imperial castle.
In the throne hall, where fear is mixed with forced loyalty. Sitting on the throne, one person, the one and only, Theodore De Sovereignty. The youngest emperor of mankind, the tyrant of Sovereignty, the greediest man alive, the master of puppets, and formerly known as the cursed prince.
His legs crossed, one over the other. Sitting sideways on the throne like it belonged to him and only him, which in fact, it did. His forearm resting on the arm of the throne, his cheek leaning against his knuckles. Eyes flickering around the vast room with obvious boredom.
"Ha." He finally utters a single word. Yet it has the effect of a hundred insults. "You really don't understand, do you? Count Meliard?" He spoke lazily, glancing down at the kneeling count.
The count, for his part, was on one knee, slightly shaking, head lowered, not daring to meet the eyes of the emperor. "A-As I said, your highness," he said, his voice betraying him, not hiding his fear from the presence he was facing, "All I need is a bit more time to fulfil the deal we have, if you can grant me only th-"
He was cut by a sharp voice before he could even finish, making him flinch. "Do not make me laugh, unless you think this is a joke," said the emperor, "It is not as funny as you think it is, count Meliard."
Suddenly, Theodore stood, and it made the room feel colder, made the count feel more exposed than he ever did. At only 21 years old, Theodore already had the intimidating presence of a seasoned warrior, a ruthless assassin, and a reformed war general.
His ink black hair, so soft and fluffy, already reaching his shoulder, fluttered with the wind that passed through the hall and out the window. His dark green eyes , those eyes that'd make you drown in them, stared down sharply, cruelly and annoyingly at the kneeling count.
The effect of this stare did not only affect the kneeling count, making him flinch so hard, but also the nobles standing by the edges of the hall, averting their gazes from the scene, afraid one wrong move could make it their turn.
"Count Meliard, we had an agreement, didn't we?" Said Theodore, stepping down the stairs slowly. It was a very normal action, yet it carried a deep pressure against the room. Two guards followed behind him slowly, deliberately so, "I lend you money, you pay it back. Even a five year old understands that."
The count took in a sharp inhale, he dared not look up at all. "Yo-Your Highness, I ask you to just hear m-" in a trembling voice, eyes cast downwards. He was interrupted yet again.
"Tell me count, I heard something lately, I would like you to enlighten me." Theodore finally reached him, looking down at him for a while, before finally crouching to be eye level with the count. That simple action, made many nobles and servants gasp audibly around the hall, making Theodore chuckle lightly with amusement.
Theodore turned his face over his shoulder, extending an open hand towards one of the guards, expecting. The guard hesitated only a fraction, before obediently handing the emperor a dagger. Theodore took it with a smile, already taking off the sheath, in a slow motion.
The count gulped, "Your Highness…?" He said, his voice wavering just slightly, yet still not looking up yet.
"I heard that…" Theodore continued, looking at the dagger, calculatingly. "The Meliard family really value their eyes. Said to be special and pretty. Yet count, you never looked me in the eyes since you entered. Now, will you look up and make my curiosity go away?"
The count was baffled, yet he obeyed, lifting his head to look at the breathtaking beauty of Theodore De Sovereignty. When suddenly, the dagger stabbed right through his left eye, making a wet sound.
Many nobles screamed, hell, even tried to run. But one look from Theo's made everyone freeze into their place. He stood up, looking at the sight of the count, holding his eye and screaming. In so much agony. A lazy smile formed on his lips.
He took out a pocket handkerchief, with his initials embroidered in it. Slowly, wiping the blood of the dagger. Speaking clearly, "The Meliard family is to be executed, their eyes burned before execution, publicly." Throwing the knife to the guard again, who caught it without a problem. Both of them are already bowing. "Crime: Disrespect of the Emperor, I, and negligence of duty."
He declared the order like commenting on the weather, like voicing out his opinion on a cake flavour. Already starting to walk towards the entrance of the room to leave.
"Yes, your highness!" Both guards answered back, already arresting the agonised count.
Theodore left the throne room. He looked down at his imperial clothing. Stained with blood. "Tch, this was annoyingly unnecessary." He muttered.
He reached his chambers, stepping inside, leaning heavily against the door. He stood up and walked around the bed, sitting on the right side of it, facing the wall, looking at the bedside table, no, more precisely, the picture frame of the bedside table.
The picture frames two figures, Theodore, when he was younger, at the age of 13, laughing so brightly it made his heart ache, "Your Highness…" 'Theodore' muttered softly, before his eyes shifted to the figure behind the prince. A butler, brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin, a regular commoner. Alex, the butler of the 6th prince of the empire, himself.
"Back then, I really never thought something this ridiculous could ever happen…" Theodore started speaking, taking the picture frame between his hands, his thumb stroking softly over Theodore's face, "Who would've thought that I, the mere butler of the sixth prince of the empire, Alex, would ever find himself in the body of his master, isn't it just ironic.."
Memories started flooding in, forming in his mind out of nothing. Yes, it all started that time. That one and only time. Twenty-one years ago, where all this chaos began.