Between light and darkness, there is a void we have never realized, because it is invisible.
Living beings are born from this void, and once born, they choose their path.
But the matter never depends solely on free will.
The cause: is what leads to the effect.
The effect: is what happens as a result of the cause.
A being is born to face causes, so that effects are realized.
No good arises by itself, just as no evil occurs without a reason.
—
The lights reflected quietly on the walls, and the soft sounds of music filled the hall.
The music stopped the moment the Emperor entered, followed by the Empress and Prince Kiran.
The Emperor sat on his throne and spoke coldly:
"I now declare the heir to the throne of the Atheris Empire…"
But before he could finish, the doors of the hall opened, drawing everyone's attention.
Whispers rose through the crowd:
"Wait, look over there!"
"Impossible, how…?"
"Is that a ghost?"
"It's… it's really Prince Adrian!!!"
The Empress froze in place, stunned by what she saw. She muttered to herself:
"Impossible… how?!"
Adrian stepped forward with measured, steady steps until he stopped before the Emperor.
The Emperor stared at him in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing.
A cold silence fell before Adrian bowed and offered a salute:
"Glory to the Empire… Your Majesty, I have returned."
The Emperor spoke with a cold tone that hid his shock:
"So you were alive, then."
Adrian replied with the same coldness:
"Yes… thanks to someone, I managed to survive death."
The Emperor asked sharply:
"So who tried to kill you?"
The Empress held her breath, waiting for the answer.
She muttered in fear:
"Damn… if he tells him now in front of everyone, my plan is over… even if he dodges, rumors will spread."
While everyone waited for Adrian's answer, he said calmly:
"In truth… I did not see him."
The Empress drew in a breath, wondering why he was lying.
Adrian continued:
"That day, I was asleep because of the magic Your Majesty cast, and when I woke, I found myself in that place… but someone came and helped me."
The Emperor asked:
"And who is this person that would be there? And what about the blood the general told me about?"
Adrian gave a faint, cold smile:
"As for the blood… it was from the monsters that were about to kill me.
And that person… is here with us now."
Everyone wondered who he meant.
Adrian said deliberately:
"It is… the Empress."
Voices rose throughout the hall.
The Empress froze in place, trying to comprehend what Adrian was doing.
The Emperor's eyes widened in shock:
"The Empress?! Are you certain of what you saw?"
Adrian replied calmly:
"Of course."
Then he turned toward the Empress with a smile:
"Thank you for saving me… Mother."
The hall buzzed with whispers:
"Did he just say 'Mother'?!"
"Does this mean the Prince considers the Empress his mother?!"
"How sweet!"
"Wait… why is the Empress silent?!"
"She's just staring without replying!"
The Empress could not deny his words, so she muttered to herself:
"This brat… what nonsense is he spouting?!
Mother?! What a talented actor!
But… I can do nothing but go along with him… it's better than revealing the truth."
She smiled with a false happiness and said:
"Oh my son… if only you knew how happy I am that you called me Mother.
And there's no need to thank me; I was happy to save you at the right moment."
The Emperor spoke sharply:
"Empress… what made you go to a forbidden place?!"
The Empress froze.
She looked at Adrian, who was smiling mischievously.
The Emperor asked with suppressed anger:
"I ask you… what were you doing in such a forbidden place?!"
Adrian intervened and said:
"In fact… I wasn't going to say this, but the Empress was not alone."
The Emperor spoke anxiously:
"What?!"
Adrian continued coldly:
"She was disguised in a black cloak, accompanied by a strange man.
Unfortunately, I didn't see his face; he wore a mask.
He killed the monsters himself…"
The Empress shouted angrily:
"Nonsense! What are you saying, you insolent boy?!
Your Majesty, you must not believe what this devil says!
He has twisted the entire story!"
The Emperor spoke with great anger:
"You admitted it yourself a moment ago… and now you call it nonsense?!"
The Empress screamed in hysterical denial:
"No!! I couldn't deny what Adrian said, because if I did, no one would believe me!"
The Emperor spoke sharply:
"If what you say is true, there must be something preventing you from denying him. What are you hiding, for heaven's sake?"
The Empress continued angrily:
"I am hiding nothing!! That bastard was wandering somewhere, and there's no doubt that the story of his death is just an illusion with no basis!"
She laughed madly as she continued:
"You all decided he was dead without any evidence! How do you know he didn't escape on his own?!"
The Emperor interrupted her sharply:
"Kiran! … You told me about the man who spoke to the Empress that day. You were so worried about your brother that you failed to hide the truth."
The Empress froze, her eyes blazing with anger as she stared at Kiran.
The Emperor continued:
"Kiran, can you be a man of principle and tell us the truth here and now?
Remember… your brother has returned this time, but there might not be a second chance."
Kiran stammered, tears slowly streaming down his face:
"I… I… I heard clearly… the man in black was telling my mother that he saw my brother Adrian… and the monsters were dragging him…"
The Empress's eyes reddened, veins bulging as she screamed in fury:
"You bastard! Are you speaking nonsense about your own mother now? Who is closer to you? Me? Or that despicable devil?"
Kiran shouted back, crying:
"She was laughing when he told her that the monsters dragged my brother! I saw her!"
Adrian felt uneasy inside as the course of events began to deviate from the plan…
---
[ A week earlier ]
Adrian crossed the barrier and looked up at the sky for a moment before continuing on his way.
He walked through the forests heading toward his goal.
He was determined to kill everyone involved.
When he reached the streets of one of the cities, he began searching for a path that would lead him to the palace.
"Adrian?"
A calm voice reached his ears.
He turned to see Albert staring at him in shock and confusion.
"You… you're really Adrian! I knew you were fine! Just tell me, what happened?"
He said it with a smile mixed with astonishment.
Adrian replied quietly:
"Ah… it's kind of a long story."
Albert noticed his condition, grabbed his hand, and pulled him along as he said:
"Come. Let's talk at my house."
"Wait, where are—"
Adrian muttered, but Albert didn't stop.
After they entered the Count's family mansion, he took him to his room and closed the door behind them.
Albert sat down and asked eagerly:
"So… the news of your death was actually announced. What in the world happened?"
Adrian sat across from him and said:
"It's a long story."
Albert shouted in annoyance:
"You've said that twice, you idiot! What is this long story?!"
Adrian sighed with a faint scowl and said:
"The Empress tried to kill me…"
Albert's eyes widened in shock:
"The Empress?! And why would she do something like that?"
Adrian answered:
"I think she's doing it for her son, Kiran… she is probably… aiming for the throne."
Albert laughed lightly in astonishment.
"Doing all that for the throne… she really is something."
Then he continued in a serious tone:
"So… what will you do?"
Adrian answered quickly and sharply:
"I'll kill them all."
Albert raised a brow in bewilderment.
"Haah? And how exactly are you planning to do that, genius?"
Adrian turned his gaze away, his cold expression unchanged…
Albert placed his palm on his forehead and sighed helplessly.
"Just as I thought… you plan to march in and kill them without having even a shred of a plan."
Then he adjusted his posture and continued:
"If you want revenge, you need to act smart."
Adrian furrowed his brows in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
A sly smile curved on Albert's face.
"Bring them down with words. If you don't have the strength, then use words to crush them… put on a perfectly crafted play."
Adrian grumbled in slight irritation:
"I don't really understand that… but the real problem is that I can't tell them what actually happened."
Albert stood and walked toward the window, speaking calmly:
"There's no need to tell them the truth… plays are made of lies and fantasies that never existed."
---
[Back to the present]
The Emperor asked firmly:
"So… Empress, what is your excuse now?"
The Empress screamed angrily while pointing toward Kiran:
"Everything Kiran says is untrue!! If it were true, then how is Adrian still alive?!"
She thought to herself with a wicked smile:
"No one will believe such nonsense… how could a weakling survive the monsters? And besides, he was…"
Adrian cut through the silence with his calm voice:
"That's right… someone who's bound hand and foot could never survive the monsters."
Then he smiled coldly, his eyes glinting with a dangerous spark:
"Isn't that… what you're thinking?"