"Regret," Julian muttered to himself, clearly amused by the weight the word seemed to hold.
"Why do things you know you are going to regret?" He paused, his eyes narrowing as he reflected. "And why regret when you do those things willingly?"
Just then, Julian's mind flashed with a sudden question, one that seemed to echo in the depths of his thoughts: What is life without regret?
He paused as the weight of the question sank in. Is the beauty of being alive not found in being filled with regret and guilt, just as much as love and satisfaction?
The thoughts lingered in his mind, challenging his earlier mindset. Julian pondered deeply, his mind swirling with contemplation.
The problem isn't about regret, he thought. It's about the control you give to regrets.
Regret only held power over you if you allowed it to. It wasn't about avoiding it, but knowing how to live with it. Not as a chain that tied you down but as a lesson that you learn from.
Julian took a deep breathe and a smile spread on his face. His smile widened as he said to himself, I have to conquer the queen on my journey to Apollo. With her under my control, the tension between the families will easily disappear.
Although it may have seemed as if Julian had flipped too quickly and acted boldly with his father and grandfather, he had entirely different motives behind his actions.
In reality, his boldness was calculated and this move would elevate his status to unimaginable heights and solidify his control over the entire kingdom.
He thought to himself, By merging the two families, I will officially get my royal blood acknowledged. And since the kingdom has no prince, only princesses, being the son of the eldest princess, I will be next in line to the throne.
I won't even have to worry about other obstacles—after all, the king loves mother way too much to give the throne to anyone else.
It was simple, but the process would take time, and the first step was to merge the families. The feast was scheduled in one month, so he still had time before that.
******
Meanwhile In Hades Kingdom,
The atmosphere in the royal palace of the Kingdom of Hades was tense. The grand throne room was dimly lit by flickering candles and was filled with an air of uncertainty.
On the magnificent throne sat a man in his forties, his expression calm yet deeply contemplative. His eyes were dark and full of wisdom. He seemed lost in thought as he watched the scene unfold before him.
Kneeling before him were his ministers, trusted advisors, and an guards. Each of them were silent and awaited their ruler's response.
The masked man who resembled Raven—the very one who had once served the young king of the Apollo Kingdom—stood in front, his voice trembling as he spoke.
"Your Majesty, what is this?" he asked.
"All he had to do was rule Apollo from the shadows, but not only did he kill the king, he also killed his own servant Raven... that young man, the one now seated on the throne. What is his purpose? What is this madness?"
The masked man's words echoed throughout the room, as the rest of the court remained silent, their eyes shifting nervously toward their ruler.
Before he could continue, a man clad in lush and ornate duke armor stood up, his gaze piercing through the tension in the room. He stepped forward.
"Rod," he shouted, his voice echoing through the grand hall, "What gives you the right to refer to His Highness, the Prince, as just a 'young man'? Are you thinking of rebelling against him?"
Rod's eyes flickered with anger as he shot back, his tone sharp and defiant. "Duke Rowan, do not interfere in my matters," he spat. "As for addressing him, whether I call him Prince or a 'young man' is my choice."
The tension in the room thickened with an impending clash between the two men. The ministers and advisors exchanged worried glances, but neither Rod nor Duke Rowan seemed willing to back down.
Rod continued. "Why are you even defending the prince? He is simply challenging His Majesty's authority by declaring his rule over Apollo. Are you that blind to overlook that?" he demanded, his gaze piercing through Duke Rowan.
Duke Rowan's expression faltered for a brief moment and his eyes lowered He knew Rod's accusations were not without merit. The prince had, indeed, defied the king's authority.
Before either could speak again, a commanding voice broke through the tension, cold and firm.
"Shut up, both of you," the king's voice rang out, cutting through the growing conflict.
Rod and Duke Rowan immediately fell silent, both kneeling before the throne in deference to the ruler.
The atmosphere shifted once more, as the court waited for what the king would say next.
"I don't know what Castorgh is thinking," the king said, his tone low but filled with an undercurrent of simmering anger. 4
His eyes swept over the room, meeting each minister's gaze. "But since he has not openly challenged us, let us not go overboard with speculation."
Rod and Duke Rowan exchanged uneasy glances, holding their inner thought. But, they did not dare speak.
The young prince had indeed taken the Apollo Kingdom for himself, a move that was nothing short of a declaration of war.
Yet the king's words suggested a deep, unsettling calm as if it did not matter to him.
The king stood up from his throne. A cold, suffocating silence filled the chamber as his gaze pierced through the room, daring anyone to challenge his resolve.
"You are forbidden from bringing this up again," the king warned. "And should anyone attempt to act against our interests or speak out of turn regarding this matter, they will face consequences beyond their understanding."
Everyone present, shuddered at the warning placed by the king.
"Now," the king said, his voice softening, "the court ends now. Go, return to your duties."
One by one, the ministers and advisors bowed deeply, their heads lowered in submission. As the court members rushed out, the air remained thick with uncertainty. The young prince's actions were only the beginning.
In the shadows, they all wondered: What exactly was the prince planning, and how long would the king tolerate his rise before the dance of conflict washes over them?