Rain poured outside the window. Beyond the eldoria castle walls, chaos erupted as soldiers fought desperately against the enemy. The pounding of their footsteps echoed through the stone halls as they rushed to stop the advancing threat.
"Protect the King! And the Queen!" the captain shouted.
The soldiers behind him began to tremble.
"S-Stop it… We can't win this. It's impossible," one muttered in terror.
"What do you mean?" another soldier asked, confused.
"We have many soldiers... but our enemy is Ian Heatharine. We're fighting just one man—and we're still losing!"
Ian Heatharine was unstoppable. He showed no mercy, cutting down every soldier who dared to stand in his path. The hatred burning inside him was unbearable. All he wanted was peace, but that man—Ariel—took everything from him. Everyone he cared about was gone.
Ian didn't want to kill. But this... this was the only way to reach him.
No matter what happened, Ian would not back down. Today, he had made his decision.
He would kill that man.
Ian stormed into the castle, heading straight for the throne room. There, seated on the throne with long black hair and a calm expression, was the man he hated most.
"Ariel Heatharine!!!" Ian's voice cracked with rage. His hatred toward Ariel and everything he had done burned inside him.
"Hmm? Is that how you speak to your king?" Ariel replied, clearly amused.
"cut the act ,Ariel!! Hyunwoo was innocent! Why did you kill him? I thought you'd stop after Theo—but no…"
Ian's voice shook as he glared at Ariel.
"Why would I care?" Ariel said coldly. "I'll keep taking everything from you."
With a scream, Ian lunged forward, slashing at Ariel with his sword. He struck again and again, desperate to end it—but Ariel was faster. He blocked each attack with ease, countering with deadly precision.
They fought fiercely, blades clashing in the thunderstorm's roar. But Ariel slowly began to overpower Ian, finally stabbing him. Ian collapsed to the ground, blood soaking into the marble floor.
Ariel stepped closer, pressing his sword to Ian's neck.
"I should never have accepted you as my brother," he sneered. "You're just the son of a concubine—the one Father loved too much."
"Kill me…" Ian whispered, tears falling down his face. "I don't want to live anymore. It's the only way I can see Hyunwoo and Theo again..."
Ariel smirked, lifting his sword high to deliver the final blow—
—but suddenly, a blade pierced through Ariel's chest from behind.
His sword clattered to the ground.
Stunned, Ariel turned to see who had betrayed him.
It was his wife—Queen Elena.
"Ian, get up!!" she cried.
"E-Elena… why…?" Ian looked at her, guilt and shock in his eyes.
"Now, Ian! Finish it!!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Ian forced himself to stand. Gripping his sword, he drove it into Ariel's chest.
Ariel stumbled, pierced from both sides. His legs gave out. His vision blurred. He could barely hear the storm anymore.
Is he… smiling? Ariel wondered, looking at Ian through the haze. Or crying...?
Then he saw Elena.
Elena… my wife? Why? I never had a problem with her…
His vision faded to black. His thoughts silenced.
Ariel Heatharine, the King of Eldoria, was dead.