Part 1: Fate
An oppressive heat radiated from the courtyard as hundreds of torches cut through the night air.
The entire crowd surged forward in violent protest, shouting furiously against Princess Ariel.
The citizens were consumed by rage after Leo slain an honorable knight of the Fate Kingdom in cold blood.
Furious screams echoed off the stone walls as the crowd collectively demanded Leo's immediate public execution.
Yet, Princess Ariel stood firmly before them, shielding Leo from the mob.
She attempted to calm the raging crowd, explaining that the entire event was a trap engineered by the Sloth Commander to assassinate her.
However, the enraged citizens refused to listen to her explanations.
Despite the growing pressure, she steadfastly denied their demands to execute Leo.
Seeing her resistance, the crowd shifted their anger directly toward Princess Ariel.
Subtle whispers turned into loud accusations as the people accused her of shielding a murderer.
Princess Ariel denied the claims, stepping forward to speak with quiet resolve.
She stated that through her Fate Vision, she saw these individuals saving the kingdom during the upcoming Fate Festival.
Yet, not a single person believed her words.
The protest only grew louder, the mob's hostility intensifying by the second.
Several influential figures in the crowd raised their voices, demanding that Princess Ariel abdicate her position as ruler.
Her heart sank as the cruel chants echoed across the plaza, her expression turning deeply sorrowful.
With Ken's strategic intervention and the deployment of royal guards, they managed to disperse the crowd and temporarily quell the chaos.
Inside the dimly lit corridors of the castle, the scent of damp stone and old parchment filled the silent air.
Ken stood beside Haruto, watching the distant flicker of torchlight through the tall arched windows.
Haruto spoke up, his voice completely flat and devoid of emotion.
"I noticed something."
"The people of the Fate Kingdom harbor a deep hatred for Princess Ariel."
Ken let out a quiet sigh, leaning against the cold stone wall.
"You are correct."
"However, it is not merely directed at Princess Ariel."
"Their hatred extends to the entire Roxyn family."
Haruto looked at Ken, his eyes steady and unblinking.
"What is this Roxyn family?"
Ken answered plainly, his gaze fixed on the quiet courtyard below.
"Roxyn is the hereditary surname of the Fate royal house."
"Princess Ariel belongs to this lineage. Her full name is Ariel Roxyn."
Haruto maintained his blank expression, continuing his inquiry.
"What is the historical reason behind this deep resentment?"
Ken adjusted his coat, gathering his thoughts before speaking.
"It is a long and dark history."
"It traces back to the First Great War of Tenzu."
"Currently, we reside in the Fifth Era, and Tenzu has endured a total of five Great Wars."
"However, our historical knowledge regarding those conflicts remains severely limited."
"Someone deliberately erased the precise records of those ancient wars."
"We only retain the formal names of the five historical conflicts."
"The First Great War was named The Great Continental Sundering."
"The Second was The Infernal Rising War."
"The Third was The Wild Revolution War."
"The Fourth was The Battle of the Extinction Throne War."
"And the Fifth was The Continental Division War."
"We only possess detailed historical reports regarding the First Great War."
"The detailed events spanning from the Second to the Fifth War vanished completely from all archives."
"We know their names, but the true events of those eras remain lost."
"During the First Great War, the Leon Empire emerged victorious."
"Following their victory, the six major kingdoms were officially established."
"The Roxyn family was among the initial rulers appointed to govern the Fate Kingdom."
"However, they proved to be cruel and tyrannical rulers."
"They were deeply corrupted, abusing their authority without restraint."
"They viewed the citizens of the Fate Kingdom as mere servants."
"Whenever crisis or danger threatened the realm, the Roxyn family abandoned the people to save themselves."
"Because of those betrayal-filled centuries, the populace holds an ingrained hatred for the Roxyn name."
"To be truthful, Ariel's father acted no differently during his reign."
"However, Princess Ariel is fundamentally different from her ancestors."
"She genuinely desires to rebuild and improve the kingdom."
"Yet, her royal surname curses every action she takes, earning her endless hatred despite her noble efforts."
Haruto listened quietly, his posture unyielding and emotionless.
"Now I understand."
"I comprehend the situation clearly."
"She has endured considerable hardship."
Ken nodded slowly, his eyes showing a trace of sympathy.
"She desperately wants to prove herself."
"She wishes to demonstrate that she is worthy of leading her people."
"That is why she is determined to protect the kingdom during the impending enemy assault."
Haruto remained still, his tone unchanging.
"I see."
"By the way, where is Leo currently located?"
Ken shook his head softly.
"I do not know."
Outside the castle walls, the narrow stone streets were cold and desolate.
Leo walked aimlessly through the city, his head hanging low as he ignored the lingering danger.
He did not care that the entire populace sought his death.
However, as soon as the citizens spotted his figure, terror broke out across the alleyways.
People scrambled away in fear, screaming that a ruthless murderer was walking among them.
A few armed men gathered their courage, charging at Leo with drawn weapons to claim his life.
Leo easily repelled their frantic attacks, knocking them to the ground without applying lethal force.
"I did not kill him intentionally!"
Despite his shouts, more citizens gathered at a distance, surrounding him with furious glares.
They continuously shouted the word "Murderer!" until the sound echoed thunderously in his ears.
Leo looked around frantically at the hostile faces enclosing upon him.
Suddenly, a sharp, blinding pain struck his mind.
A vivid flashback surged from the deepest depths of his memory.
He saw the horrific image of his father's tragic death.
Instantly, all the strength drained from Leo's body.
The color faded from his face, and his spirit shattered in a single instant.
Terror seized his heart as his father's dying voice overlapped with the crowd's screaming chants.
His father was calling him a murderer, exactly as the crowd was doing right now.
Traumatic memories flooded his mind uncontrollably.
He remembered the dreadful deaths of his mother and sister.
He remembered his father's final words accusing him.
He remembered the agonizing days spent in deep depression, tormented by thoughts of ending his own life.
Panic consumed his entire consciousness.
Leo burst forward, shoving violently through the surrounding crowd.
The citizens tried to grab him, but he moved with the frantic desperation of a dying beast.
Breaking free from the encirclement, Leo ran wildly toward the castle.
By the time he breached the castle gates, his mental state had completely collapsed.
Driven insane by lingering trauma, he began smashing porcelain plates against the stone floor.
He lashed out blindly, threatening the castle servants in a state of absolute madness.
Ryuk rushed into the hallway, wrapping his arms tightly around Leo to restrain his thrashing body.
"Stop, Leo! Stop!"
Leo screamed hysterically, tears streaming uncontrollably down his pale face.
"I am not a murderer!"
"I did not do anything wrong!"
"Stop blaming me!"
"I did not kill my father and mother!"
His mind fractured between the dark memories of his past and the terrifying reality of his present.
The chanting mob's voices echoed continuously inside his skull.
Yumi rushed forward, her face filled with alarm.
She rapidly drew a ritual array in the air, releasing a soothing wave of light that forced Leo into a deep sleep.
Together, Ryuk and Yumi carried the unconscious Leo to a reinforced library deep within the castle.
They locked the heavy wooden doors to prevent him from harming himself or others.
When Leo eventually awoke, his sanity remained completely shattered.
Acted upon by pure instinct and psychosis, he clawed violently at the solid stone walls.
His fingernails snapped off one by one, leaving bloody streaks across the cold surface.
He tore apart thick leather-bound books with his teeth, crushing furniture and scattering pages across the floor.
Ryuk watched through the small observation window, his heart heavy with immense stress and anxiety.
Unable to bear watching his friend self-destruct, Ryuk used a calming aura to induce another brief period of slumber.
Meanwhile, deep within the inner palace chambers, the atmosphere was heavy and sorrowful.
Princess Ariel sat at a large mahogany desk, her head buried in her folded arms as she rested in exhaustion.
Flora stepped quietly into the room, her eyes filled with deep sorrow as she looked at her elder sister.
She walked forward softly, placing her hand gently on Ariel's trembling shoulder.
"Sister... are you okay?" Flora asked, her voice cracking slightly.
Ariel slowly raised her head, seeing Flora's tear-stained, pained expression.
Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Ariel burst into tears, wrapping her arms tightly around Flora.
Flora shed silent tears as well, resting her hand gently over Ariel's head.
"I know how painful it is to carry the cursed name of Roxyn."
"I see how exhausted you are... you have pushed yourself beyond your limits."
"You are tired of trying to earn their approval over and over again."
"That is the precise reason why I abandoned the royal surname."
Flora's Perspective:
When I was merely five years old, our father had already passed away.
I never experienced the warmth or love of a mother and father.
Our mother abandoned us shortly after giving birth to Yumi.
However, my elder sister Ariel was completely different.
She took upon herself the burden of leading the Fate Kingdom at a remarkably young age.
Because of the Roxyn bloodline, no one ever showed her kindness or affection.
The citizens hated her regardless of what good deeds she accomplished.
From the outside, she always maintained a strong, dignified appearance.
However, I knew the hidden truth within her heart.
She was completely broken on the inside.
I saw her weep alone in her room every single night.
The suffering, hatred, and constant criticism she endured from her own people were unbearable to witness.
She did everything humanly possible as a child, working tirelessly for their sake.
I was the only person who ever praised her hard work.
No one else cared about her sacrifices.
When the kingdom suffered from severe food shortages, she personally devised solutions and resolved the crisis.
Yet, no one acknowledged her achievements.
She cried in secret, fully aware that whatever she did, she would only receive endless malice.
Still, she continued to work for the kingdom without rest.
She did so because of her genuine love for the people, driven by a desire to cleanse the stained reputation of the Roxyn name.
If I had been placed in Ariel's position, I would have burned this entire kingdom to ash.
I despise the citizens of the Fate Kingdom.
They never acknowledged my sister's unwavering devotion.
All of this suffering existed solely because of that cursed surname, Roxyn.
I stripped that name away from my identity entirely.
Yet, my sister continues to carry that heavy burden forward.
I stay here for one reason only—to protect my sister.
I want to leave this kingdom behind forever, but I cannot abandon her side.
I want to cry alongside her, but if I break down, who will support her when she falls?
I must remain strong.
Seeing how cruelly the people treated her today ignited a dark rage within me.
If Ariel gave me the command, I would gladly eliminate every single person in the Fate Kingdom without hesitation.
The chamber door opened softly, and Yumi entered the room with gentle steps.
She walked toward her two sisters, wrapping her arms around them both in a warm embrace.
"Even if I am only your half-sister..."
"I am still your sister."
"I want both of you to stay strong."
"I am alive today because of the love you two gave me."
Flora leaned into Yumi's embrace, finding a rare moment of comfort in her sister's presence.
Ariel looked up at her two sisters, her eyes red and filled with uncertainty.
"Do you truly believe... I can prove my worth to this kingdom?"
Yumi and Flora looked directly into her eyes, answering with absolute pride and certainty.
"We believe in you."
Meanwhile, Ryuk fell into a deep, unconscious sleep due to extreme exhaustion.
In his dream, he stood in an unfamiliar, mysterious landscape.
It resembled an ancient, ruined city from Earth, buried beneath an eerie crimson sky.
A blood-red moon hung quietly above the horizon, casting a sinister light over the shattered buildings.
Directly ahead, a house was engulfed in violent, roaring flames.
Ryuk stepped forward cautiously, his heart pounding against his ribs.
In front of the burning structure, two figures came into view.
Haruto was kneeling on the hard ground, his head bowed down in complete despair.
In his arms, he cradled the charred, burning body of a female elf.
Ryuk approached them, completely frozen in shock by the horrific scene.
Confusion raced through his mind as he wondered whether this was a simple nightmare or a terrifying vision of the future.
Suddenly, a pitch-black crow fluttered downward, landing softly upon Ryuk's shoulder.
The crow turned its beadlike eye toward him, uttering a chilling message in a raspy voice.
"Do not let Leo meet Haruto this time."
Gasp!
Ryuk awoke with a violent start, cold sweat drenching his clothes as his eyes snapped open.
Driven by sudden panic, he scrambled to his feet and ran at full speed toward the castle library.
As he turned the final corner, his breath caught in his throat.
Haruto was standing directly outside the heavy wooden door, his hand reaching out to open the entrance to Leo's room.
The atmosphere turned instantly suffocating and tense.
Ryuk stood at the end of the hallway, forced to make a life-altering choice in a fraction of a second.