CHAPTER 27: THE THRONE AGAIN
The carriage rattled through the dark streets.
Sukuna sat in silence, counting the turns. Left. Right. Straight. Left again.
"Same route," he thought. "Same destination."
After an hour, the carriage stopped.
The door opened.
He was in the same courtyard. Same tall walls. Same iron gate.
A soldier in a white uniform stood waiting.
"Follow me."
Sukuna followed.
They walked through the same dark hallways. Stone floors. Dim candles. The smell of old blood still lingered.
"The king is waiting," the soldier said.
"Kings always wait. That's all they do."
The soldier said nothing.
They stopped in front of the large door.
"Go in."
Sukuna pushed the door open.
The throne room was the same.
Cold. Grand. Empty.
And on the throne...
King Fritz.
The boy king. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. A crown that seemed too heavy for his head.
But something was different.
He looked tired. Dark circles under his eyes. His hands trembled slightly.
"Eren Yeager," the king said. "You came."
"You summoned me."
"I did."
The king stood up.
"Do you know why?"
"To threaten me again?"
"No."
The king walked down the steps.
"To apologize."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow.
"Apologize?"
"I lied to you. The last time you were here. About the walls. About the Titans. About the king who cursed them."
"I know."
"How?"
"Because I found the truth. In my father's basement."
The king's face went pale.
"You... you found his books?"
"Yes."
"Then you know everything."
"Almost."
Sukuna stepped closer.
"Why did you lie?"
The king sat on the bottom step of the throne.
"Because the truth is a weapon. And I didn't know if you could handle it."
"And now?"
"Now I know you can."
He looked up at Sukuna.
"The first king of the walls didn't build this place to save humanity. He built it to hide. He was a coward. A liar. A murderer."
"He cursed his own people. Turned them into Titans. Trapped them inside the walls."
"And he commanded every king after him to do the same. Including me."
"But you broke the command," Sukuna said.
"No. I just stopped following it."
The king stood up.
"I've been pretending my whole life. Pretending to be the ruler of this paradise. Pretending to have power. Pretending to believe the lies."
"But I don't believe them anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because of you."
Sukuna stared at him.
"Me?"
"You're different, Eren. You see things others don't. You do things others can't. You're not afraid of the truth."
"And you're not afraid of me."
The king walked to the window.
"The fleet is coming. Marley is sending everything they have. If we do nothing, everyone dies."
"So what do you want from me?"
"I want you to save us."
Sukuna laughed.
A quiet, cold laugh.
"Save you? I'm not a hero. I'm not a savior. I'm the King of Curses."
"I don't care what you call yourself. I've seen your eyes. You've destroyed worlds before. Now I want you to save one."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you have nothing left to destroy."
Silence.
Sukuna walked to the window and stood beside the king.
"What do you know about destruction?"
"More than you think."
The king pulled up his sleeve.
His arm was covered in scars. Self-inflicted.
"Every night, I cut myself to remind myself that I'm still human. That I still feel something."
"I've wanted to destroy myself for years. But I don't have the courage."
"You do. You have the courage to destroy everything. Maybe that's what we need."
Sukuna looked at the scars.
"You're broken."
"Aren't we all?"
For the first time, Sukuna felt something.
Not respect. Not pity.
Understanding.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
"Take the throne."
"What?"
"Take my place. Become the king. Lead the walls. Fight Marley. Save our people."
"I'm not a king. I'm a curse."
"Then be a curse. But be our curse."
Sukuna was quiet for a long time.
Then he said, "No."
The king's face fell.
"No?"
"I won't take your throne. But I'll help you. On one condition."
"What condition?"
"When this is over, you tell the people the truth. All of it. No more lies. No more walls."
The king stared at him.
"The walls are all that protect us."
"The walls are all that trap us."
The king looked at the floor.
Then he nodded.
"Agreed."
Sukuna turned to leave.
"One more thing," the king said.
"What?"
"Zeke Yeager. Your brother. He's not coming to save you. He's coming to use you."
"I know."
"And you're okay with that?"
Sukuna smiled.
"No one uses me. I use them."
He walked out of the throne room.
Outside, the night was cold.
The carriage waited.
But Sukuna didn't get in.
He walked through the dark streets of the capital. Alone.
"The king is broken. Zeke is insane. Marley is coming."
"And I'm the only one who can stop it."
He laughed.
"This world really is doomed."
END OF CHAPTER 27