Ashish walked into the mansion like he owned it.
Confident. Relaxed. Loyal soldier mask perfectly in place.
He had no idea he was already dead.
The guards didn't greet him.
That was the first sign.
The second?
No staff.
No movement.
Just silence.
Heavy silence.
He stepped into the main hall.
S4RKU stood at the far end.
Dressed in black.
Hands behind his back.
Sage stood slightly behind him.
Watching.
Waiting.
Ashish smiled casually.
"You called, boss?"
No answer.
S4RKU walked forward slowly.
Each step deliberate.
Measured.
Controlled.
"You were there that night," he said calmly.
Ashish's smile didn't drop.
"Which night?"
The air shifted.
S4RKU stopped inches away from him.
"My mother."
A pause.
Just a fraction too long.
That was all he needed.
Ashish chuckled lightly.
"That was years ago. We avenged-"
S4RKU pulled out his phone.
Played the video.
Ashish's face appeared on screen.
Opening the side door.
Letting death walk in.
The smile vanished.
For the first time-
Fear.
Real fear.
S4RKU leaned closer.
"You watched her bleed."
Ashish swallowed.
"It wasn't supposed to go like that-"
A punch.
Fast.
Brutal.
Ashish hit the floor.
Before he could react-
A gun pressed to his head.
"You built my empire," S4RKU said quietly.
"And I built your grave."
Ashish's voice shook.
"They promised power... we were nothing back then-"
S4RKU crouched down.
"Nothing?"
His voice dropped lower.
"She was everything."
Silence.
Then-
He stood.
And stepped back.
Sage frowned slightly.
Why wasn't he shooting?
S4RKU looked at the guards.
"Chain him."
Ashish screamed as they dragged him toward the basement.
"You can't do this! I made you!"
S4RKU's expression didn't change.
"No," he said coldly.
"You made a mistake."
Basement.
Dark.
Concrete.
Cold.
Ashish hung from chains.
Blood dripping from his lip.
S4RKU entered alone.
No guards.
No witnesses.
He pulled up a chair.
Sat in front of him.
"You know what hurts most?" he asked quietly.
Ashish trembled.
"You didn't betray my empire."
He leaned forward.
"You betrayed the only person who ever loved me."
Ashish broke.
"I was jealous!" he shouted.
"She only cared about you! Everything was about you!"
S4RKU went still.
Jealousy.
That was it.
Years of blood.
For jealousy.
He stood.
Pulled out a blade.
Slowly traced it across Ashish's cheek.
Not deep.
Just enough to bleed.
"I'm not killing you tonight."
Ashish's eyes widened.
S4RKU's lips curved slightly.
"You're going to stay alive."
"Every day."
"Until you beg me to end it."
He stepped back.
Wiped the blade clean.
"And I don't grant mercy."
He turned to leave.
Ashish screamed after him.
"You'll regret this!"
S4RKU stopped at the door.
Without looking back:
"I already did."
Door slammed shut.
Upstairs.
Sage waited.
When he walked toward her, she searched his face.
"Is it over?"
He shook his head slowly.
"It's just beginning."
And for the first time...
Sage realized something terrifying.
S4RKU wasn't just a king.
He was becoming something worse.
A ruler who enjoyed destruction.
And she wasn't sure anymore...
If she was saving him.
Or falling with him.