Inside a dark hallway of the royal palace of the Ashford Empire, a black-haired boy moved slowly, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls.

There were hundreds of cells lining both sides of the corridor, each holding prisoners—traitors the Empire had captured.

They growled at Arthur as he walked between the countless cells, but he didn’t pay any of them any mind.

He made his way toward a certain cell holding a certain prisoner.

He stopped in front of it.

Inside was a man with purple hair—the First Prince of the Ashford Empire.

The moment the prince looked toward Arthur, pure hatred and rage twisted across his face.

He yelled.

"You! You son of a bitch! How dare you show your face here?! You’re the reason I’m in this condition! If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been the king by now!"

Arthur looked at him calmly.

The prince was in a beggar-like condition—disheveled hair, dark circles under his eyes, clothes torn and filthy.

Arthur tilted his head.

"Oh my. Do I know you from somewhere, sir?" he said innocently.

Joan, the First Prince, growled at him like a wild animal.

"I’ll murder you! Just open this damn cell!"

Arthur snapped his fingers as if remembering something.

"Now I remember. Just yesterday, a mad dog was barking at me to bow to him. He had the same hair as you." He paused. "Don’t tell me... you’re Prince Joan? What happened to you, Your Majesty?"

Arthur’s act fueled even more rage inside Joan. He clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood.

Arthur smiled.

"You want me to open the cell, right?" he said. "You’re in luck. The queen has given me access."

He placed his hand on the glowing screen beside the cell door.

The lock disengaged with a soft hiss, and the door slid open.

The moment Arthur stepped inside, Joan lunged at him.

Arthur immediately caught the attack with one hand and delivered a sharp kick straight to Joan’s midsection.

Joan flew backward and slammed into the wall.

He gasped for air, struggling to breathe.

Before he could stand, another kick slammed into him, sending him crashing into the wall again.

He coughed up blood.

"How... how is that possible...?" Joan wheezed. "I’m at the peak of B-rank..."

Arthur looked down at him.

"That’s why you’re a loser compared to those sisters of yours," he said coldly.

A black dagger materialized in Arthur’s hand—made from Void Morph Carapace, a living black symbiote that shifted and gleamed in the dim light.

He grabbed Joan by the hair and yanked his head up.

Then he pressed the edge of the dagger against Joan’s neck.

"Now bow down to me," Arthur said quietly.

A chill ran down Joan’s spine.

But his pride held firm.

"I will never—"

Arthur slammed the dagger down.

It pierced through Joan’s finger, pinning it to the ground.

Blood splattered across the floor.

Joan screamed—an inhuman, raw scream that echoed through the hallway.

Arthur leaned in close.

"I’ll cut off your legs next," he said. "You’re just a criminal now. Whatever I do to you, no one is coming to save you."

Joan’s breath hitched.

He immediately understood the situation he was in.

Trembling, he dropped to the floor and bowed, pressing his forehead against Arthur’s feet.

Arthur immediately smacked him hard on the head.

Joan’s face slammed into the floor.

Arthur smirked.

"Now we’re even," he said.

He pulled the dagger free and walked over to a corner of the cell, taking a seat on a small stone ledge.

"Now that that’s over," Arthur said casually, "tell me something. How did you contact the organization named TCO?"

Joan’s breath hitched again.

"How... how do you know about them?" he stammered.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

"Less asking. More talking."

Joan trembled.

"It was them who contacted me," he said quickly. "The deal was... I would support them financially and give them Aiden in return for assassinating the queen."

Arthur leaned forward slightly.

"Did they give you anything to contact them after the work was done?"

Joan nodded frantically.

"They told me to go to the Lawless City and contact the city’s boss—his name is Juggernaut. I was supposed to give him the money."

Arthur leaned back, thinking.

’This guy is an idiot. If he’d even become king, those guys would’ve made him a puppet and taken control of the Ashford Empire. They would’ve done whatever they wanted with it. Money and Aiden were just bait for this fool, and he took it exactly as they expected.’

Still, Arthur smiled faintly.

"I got some valuable information, though," he muttered. "Maybe it’s one of their hideouts."

Joan’s voice trembled.

"Please... let me out from here. I’ll do whatever you ask," he said desperately.

Arthur walked toward him slowly.

The black dagger flickered in his hand, shifting like a living shadow.

"Why don’t I just kill you?" Arthur said quietly. "Living like this won’t suit you anyway. And I promise you, it will be painless. I know pressure points that will numb your body entirely."

Joan’s heart almost stopped.

"No... no!" he gasped.

Arthur was about to take another step forward.

Suddenly, a voice came from the hallway.

"So this is where you were, huh?"

Arthur immediately stopped and looked behind.

Evangeline was standing there, one hand on her hip, her expression unreadable.

"Come," she said. "Mother is calling for you."

Arthur immediately hid the dagger. It dissolved into his hand like smoke.

"Oh, let’s go. I was just done here," he said casually.

Arthur stepped out of the cell and started walking forward.

The door of the cell closed behind him with a heavy clang.

Joan looked toward Evangeline hopefully.

"Eve... please," he said, his voice shaking. "Talk to Mother. Try to get me out. Please. I know I’ve treated you badly... please forgive me."

Evangeline smiled.

"And why would I do that?" she said. "You tried to kill me, remember? And besides, with you out of the picture, there’s less competition. I’ve even been approached by some people who used to support you."

Joan’s face twisted in fury.

"You bitch!" he yelled.

Evangeline turned away and started walking.

"Enjoy your time here," she said over her shoulder. "It will not be pleasant. I’m sure of it."

She walked away.

Joan cursed both of them out loud, yelling and crying, his voice echoing through the dark hallway.

---

Arthur and Evangeline now walked inside the palace together.

Evangeline glanced at him.

"You seriously weren’t trying to kill him, right?" she said. "Even if he’s a criminal, he’s of royal blood. Only the queen can execute him."

Arthur sighed.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I was just trying to scare him off so he won’t do anything bad in the future and becomes a good boy."

Evangeline raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I just can’t believe those words."

Arthur threw his hands up.

"I just saved the whole royal family’s life, and you still can’t believe me? You ungrateful bastards—both your sister and you. I get why your mother likes Jasmine more."

Evangeline’s mouth twitched. She was about to retort.

But they reached the throne room.

Both Evangeline and Arthur bowed toward Queen Eliana.

Eliana smiled toward Arthur warmly.

All the noble houses were also present, standing along the sides of the grand hall.

Yuna was standing beside the queen’s throne. She smiled at Arthur.

Arthur thought, ’Looks like Master already got her reward for defeating the Demon Lord.’

Jasmine was also there.

She glared daggers at Arthur, her body trembling slightly the moment she saw him.

Arthur thought, ’Does she remember anything?’

Eliana rose from her throne.

"Arthur," she said, her voice carrying across the hall. "You saved my life. You saved this kingdom from the threat of a Demon Lord. For that, the Ashford Empire is eternally grateful."

She gestured to a servant, who brought forward a small crystal vial filled with glowing golden liquid.

"Your first reward," Eliana said. "The Elixir of Life."

Arthur’s eyes widened.

’Isn’t that an S-rank item? It’s extremely rare!’

Eliana continued.

"It can heal any injury, regenerate lost limbs, and even break curses. It can bring a person back from the verge of death. Use it wisely."

Arthur bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty," he said.

Eliana smiled.

"Next item."

She gestured again, and another servant brought forward a beautifully crafted crest bearing the royal seal.

"For the next five years," Eliana said, "every expense you have within the Ashford Empire will be paid for by the royal family."

Arthur thought, ’So it’s basically all free, huh?’

Everyone in the hall clapped for Arthur.

Eliana raised her hand for silence.

"And for the last reward..."

Arthur’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

’Whatever it is, it’ll be good.’

Eliana’s smile widened.

"You may choose one of the two princesses—Evangeline or Jasmine—to marry."

Arthur thought, ’Hell yeah, I get to—’

He paused.

His mind caught up to what she’d just said.

’Wait. What? Did she just say... marry?’

The smile on his face vanished.

Eliana’s smile toward him widened even further.