___ Lechtane Continent ___
____ Natsumi Empire ____
___ Yakano Kingdom ___
_____ Imperial Palace ____
In the Kingdom of Yakano, specifically in the royal palace, there she sits in the palace hall: the Crown Princess of the kingdom, known for being a social butterfly who attracts tourists from the world of nobility and foreigners from all corners of the world. A legend in the world of fashion—so much so that the wealthiest nobles worldwide place advance orders three months ahead just to obtain what her delicate white hands have sculpted upon that simple fabric, turning it into a fully realized artistic masterpiece applied to garments and fashion.
As for her appearance, aside from high-ranking nobles and her closest servants since childhood, no one else knows what she looks like. Some say she is a senile old woman, while others say she is a young angel whose beauty and enchanting radiance blind anyone who lays eyes upon her. But until now… no one knows the truth.
In that royal hall, an arrogant girl sits, her head held high, scorning anyone of a lower rank than hers with contemptuous gazes. Anger was evident on her face as she interrogated her servants, who were kneeling before her, pleading for forgiveness and mercy, hoping for another chance to atone for their unforgivable mistakes. They had disappointed their mistress; they had made the young Crown Princess angry.
The Crown Princess rose from that luxurious sofa and headed toward one of her servants. She grabbed him by his tie and pulled him toward her, bringing his face close to hers, staring directly into his eyes with those demonic eyes that made him tremble as he apologized again and again.
_____ Butler _____
(Fearful and anxious about the lady's reaction, avoiding looking into her eyes) La… La… Lady… I… I'm sorry… I'm truly sorry… I apologize, it was my fault!… Just before the mission was completed… someone else got there first… and I don't think we'll be able to deal with him…
The lady grew angry and threw the servant aside, causing him to fall to the ground trembling.
____ ?????? _____
Didn't I tell you to find "that thing"?! I gave you a deadline! And it was more than sufficient!… So why? (She turns toward them, glaring in fury.)
_____ Butler _____
My lady… I apologize… I swear, this time… just one chance! One more chance, please!! (Kneeling before his mistress, begging for mercy and a second chance.)
The lady didn't even look at him. In that moment of silence, the personal attendant of the young lady finally spoke—the one who had been sitting in another corner of the office, on a chair near the window, looking outside.
_____ ????? _____
Hmm?… Don't you think everyone deserves a second chance, Lady Princess Himeko?… Don't you find their desperate attempts to fix their mistakes amusing~ Haha.
Lady Himeko turned to look at her personal attendant, who had been sitting there, only to find the chair empty. Suddenly, she felt a light touch on her right shoulder. Himeko looked back without surprise; there was her attendant, smiling at her with a mysterious grin. Although she came from a lower-ranking family, she was still a noble, and her magic and technique were stronger than any noble in the kingdom—even Himeko herself couldn't compete with her.
____ Himeko ____
You! (Angrily) Sakura! Know your place!
Sakura laughed and bowed to Himeko.
_____ Sakura _____
(Serious face) All my respects to you, my lady. I apologize for the disturbance… All I wanted to say is that perhaps you should grant them a second chance… Of course, this is just my personal opinion… You know best what's in your interest, my lady!
Himeko looked at her with displeasure, then grabbed her by the collar and stared into her eyes just as she had done with the servant.
_____ Himeko _____
(Speaking angrily while staring into Sakura's eyes) …What did you say?… Stay within your limits… Who gave you permission to speak?!
Then the young lady released Sakura's collar. Immediately after, Sakura bowed and apologized. Himeko turned her back on the servants and Sakura, heading for the door to leave.
_____ POV Himeko _____
Damn those who think too highly of themselves! How dare they speak to me like that!… Especially that damn Sakura… Damn you, Sakura… If you weren't my father's pawn… If only you hadn't defeated me that day… (Anger) …If I had been stronger that day, you'd be a lowly servant now with no right to speak!
The servants opened the door for Himeko to leave the room. Before exiting, she turned and looked at them with her usual contempt.
____ Himeko ____
(Sighs) …You… don't disappoint me this time!… Because it's your last chance!
Himeko turned her back on them and continued on her way out, everyone bowing deeply.
_____ Sakura & Butlers _____
Thank you for your mercy, my lady!
/Door shuts/
______ 3 hours later ______
/Door knocks/
Himeko woke from her nap to the sound of knocking at the door.
_____ Himeko _____
Hmmmm… (Turning in bed unwilling to get up)… Hmmm… What?!
____ Maid ____
Sorry for the disturbance, my lady!… But it's urgent!… His Majesty the King requests your presence!
Himeko opened her eyes wide and immediately sat up in surprise, wondering about the reason. It was rare for her to be summoned by her father, the eighty-seventh king of the Kingdom of Yakano, Nicolos de Yakano of Natsumi Lechtane.
____ Maid ____
…Um… my lady!… (Knocks again.)
Himeko got out of bed completely with a sigh, tense and hurried, thinking of all the possible reasons her father might have summoned her.
___ Himeko ___
…(Sigh)… Alright… I'm coming!
She prepared herself quickly and opened the door to leave the room, startling the maid with how suddenly it opened. Ignoring her, Himeko headed straight for the royal hall where her father awaited. She walked through the wide corridor, deeply thinking about what she might have done.
Finally, she reached the massive, ornate doors of the hall. She took a deep breath, displayed strength, and ordered the guards to open the doors.
The doors opened to reveal the grand hall, with a red carpet stretching down the center, forming a path leading to the throne atop the stairs. The king sat upon the throne; anyone could feel the weight and power of his aura. A king with blue eyes, white skin, blond hair and beard, appearing in his fifties or sixties. There was another person in the hall: the king's concubine, the woman who had earned all his love among forty concubines. Her beauty was so captivating that even women admired her—light brown eyes, dark purple hair, snow-white skin, cherry-red lips, a charming smile, and a slender body. A woman in her mid-thirties, standing beside His Majesty.
Himeko lifted her head and walked forward confidently. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, she bowed to greet the king and his concubine, Lélan.
____ Himeko ____
(Bowing) …Greetings to you, Your Majesty my father, and Lady Lélan. It is a pleasure to see you both; it has been a long time.
____ Nicolos ____
(Happy, smiling) Oh! Rise, my dear daughter, precious princess. What a polite child you are, hahaha! Isn't that right, Lélan?!
Lélan smiled and let out a light laugh that only enhanced her beauty, looking at Himeko with her golden eyes full of love and tenderness.
____ Lélan ____
(Smiling) That is correct, Your Majesty.
As she said this, Lélan descended the stairs toward Himeko. When she reached her, she realized how much taller Himeko was. She laughed softly and raised her hand to reach Himeko's head, gently patting it. Himeko's face turned red; she didn't know whether it was because she was being treated like a child or because of Lélan's beauty. She realized the situation wasn't good and remained silent, avoiding lifting her head.
____ Lélan ____
…You've really grown up. (Smile)
Lélan returned to stand beside the king. Himeko raised her head, revealing a face as red as a tomato. For the first time, she had allowed someone to treat her this way. She felt like crying, as if it were an insult, but she endured it since Lélan was her father's concubine.
After a period of dull conversation, Himeko realized she had to ask her father the reason for summoning her, as it was rare for him to do so.
____ Himeko ____
…Ah, Father! I mean, Your Majesty! I'm happy to see you after such a long time… It's truly rare for us to meet! So… I wanted to ask directly about the real reason… Sorry for the rudeness.
The king was surprised..... after a moment of silece , he adjusted his posture, his expression turning serious.
____ Nicolos ____
(Ehem) my daughter… Himeko… In fact (sigh)… there is something—there is a mission… a mission I cannot entrust to anyone… except you. You are the only one capable of it… That's why I decided to ask you.
Himeko felt anxious and weighed down by responsibility, thinking about whether to accept or not.
____ Nicolos ____
…Ah, of course, you can refuse… It's your choice after all! I cannot force you.
Himeko remained silent, lost in thought—how she would leave her work, what kind of mission it was, what would happen if she failed and disappointed her father. But after some time, she realized she would never grow unless she tried and took risks. Finally, she made her decision.
____ Himeko ____
(Raising her head, looking at her father with determination) …Alright, Father… What is the mission?!
The king rejoiced, respecting his daughter's resolve and courage.
____ Nicolos ____
(Happy and enthusiastic) Hahaha! That's the spirit and determination, my daughter! Truly a cub of this lion—you resemble your father the king after all.
_____ Meanwhile _____
____ Somewhere ____
_____ Riko _____
(Hysterical screaming and crying) …Aaaaah… (Gasp)… …Why… Aaaaah!
_____ Previously _____
/Door opens/
Riko heard the sound of the man in black returning. He was overjoyed, thinking he would finally see his mother after her absence. The man approached—and to his shock, he was alone. Riko's joy turned into horror. Where was his mother?! They had promised to bring her! The man in black approached Riko… but wait! He was carrying a black bag. Riko felt anger rise and began screaming.
____ Riko ____
(Speaking with hatred and anger in his eyes) …You! You lied to me… Where is my mother?! You said you'd bring her!… I don't see her! Where is she?!
The man didn't answer. All he did was slowly approach Riko and squat in front of him, placing the bag between them while staring into Riko's eyes. Riko was confused. He looked at the bag on the floor… then back at the man… but wait… even then, he smelled something strange coming from the bag. He looked at it again… his face went pale… he began sweating… he didn't know what to say… he looked at the masked man in shock.
_____ Riko _____
(Trembling, barely able to speak) …Y… you… d… no… no… don't say… don't say that… my mother… (Crying)
The man opened the bag. Riko looked inside with terror. Yes… it was his mother… her head was inside the bag… she had been slaughtered brutally. Riko was shocked, showing no immediate reaction—he simply continued staring at his mother's severed head. Minutes passed like this. Suddenly, tears poured out as Riko began screaming.
____ Riko ____
(Hysterical screaming and crying) …Aaaaah… (Gasp)… …Why… Aaaaah!
Overcome by shock and the sight of the bag, Riko vomited and felt ill. But this scene filled him with hatred and a desire for revenge against whoever had done this. He raised his head toward the man in black who seemed to be enjoying Riko suffering, and glared at him with hatred.
____ Riko ____
(Screaming in rage) You! Damn all of you! Why?! Why did you do this?! My mother is innocent!… We did nothing!… Why, you fu—
Riko didn't finish his words before the man in black struck him, knocking him to the ground. Riko cried and tried to speak and resist, but to no avail. The man continued beating him until the boss entered and ordered him to stop.
___ Boss ___
That's enough! (Mocking laugh) Isn't this what you wanted?! Why complain now?! We fulfilled your wish! You must be happy to see your mother at last, huh?! Hahaha! You miserable little brat!… (Sigh)
Riko was unable to do anything, lying on the ground exhausted from the beating, staring at the boss and the masked man with hatred. The boss looked at him with anger and disdain.
____ Boss ____
Well, it seems someone wants to die. (Anger)
The boss gestured to the masked man, issuing his command.
____ Boss ____
No matter how I look at him, he's just a weak, ordinary kid—useless. The source of information was wrong after all!… Hmm… Get rid of him!
The boss said this while looking at Riko with contempt, then turned and headed toward the door, leaving Riko in the hands of the man in black. Riko didn't know his exact fate, but there was nothing he could do—he was weak, and now… his mother was gone. He lost all desire for anything. His eyes stared blankly into nothingness, waiting for his end.
In the midst of Riko's despair, the masked man began beating him repeatedly, using every method of torture possible, not letting him die easily. Riko had been right—this madman took pleasure in others' pain. With every blow to Riko's frail body, a wide grin spread behind the black mask. This continued for perhaps more than three days… or maybe less… or more… Riko didn't know—he had lost all sensation. All he wished for now was death, for the suffering to end.
The man in black opened the door to begin torturing him again… or at least that's what Riko thought. He closed his eyes, waiting for the blows… but… there was nothing. He opened his eyes to see what was happening—and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Looking down, he saw that the man had stabbed him with a dagger. Riko immediately vomited blood. The man laughed, delighted by Riko's state, wanting even more. He didn't stop, stabbing him again..... and again, until Riko closed his eyes and finally.....stopped breathing.
The masked man laughed hysterically at the sight—he truly was insane. Taking the first steps to dispose of him, he dismembered the body and placed everything into a large black suitcase. He closed it and left the place, heading to the courtyard of the building where Riko had been kidnapped—a deserted factory the police would never search.
There was an old black car. He placed the suitcase inside, started the engine, and drove to the next location. He climbed to a high cliff overlooking the ocean.
Night had fallen, rain pouring, the sea raging with violent waves. The man laughed hysterically before placing the suitcase on the ground, then kicked it forward, sending it off the edge into the water, where it sank and was carried away by the waves to an unknown place.
____ Man in Black ____
(Hysterical laughter, smoking a cigarette nearly extinguished by the rain, watching the suitcase sink with disdain) Hahaha!… (Sigh) What a miserable kid!… What a pity… luck wasn't on your side!… Anyway… the trash has been disposed of. I should inform the boss.
The man in black left the place, leaving Riko's body inside the suitcase, drowned in the ocean.
...
This was Riko's tragic fate—a young man in his twenties whose only dream was to become stronger.
___THE END___....
Or wait—
____ ???? ____
Hmm?!… The end?!… Really?!… That's it?!… What a boring story. (Bored sigh)… Hmm… Alright then!… All I have to do is make it more interesting! Hahaha!
Somewhere, a man sitting in the dark watching everything, as if it was a movie enjoying every second of it . But.... now that it arrived to an end , he didn't get satisfied; he gotta do something to keep the fun ongoing!