Chapter Text
189 A.S. - Two years prior to the assassination of King Unsha Negih
Anakt. A land others feared. A country that bled war and domination. Its monarchs had served their country until they moved into the next life. Or until their minds broke.
Kings. Queens. Regents.
Every last one had fought to keep their grips on the power they possessed until the fates cut their threads of life.
The young prince was someone who was rumored to have a black heart. Evil seeping from his wounds in place of blood. More often than not he was summoned to his father’s throne, to shadow him, to learn how to lead their great empire. However, this morning, the air had a shift in the atmosphere. A change. He felt it as he stepped into the great hall where his father—the King awaited him. “Good morrow Father-“
He was cut off with a sharp slap that rang loud in the detailed room, the tension so thick it would choke you if you should even dare to swallow it.
The Prince Ivan could only stare at the floor in shock, already knowing what this was about, and what was to come.
“You must cease this childish behavior,” King Unsha spat, “you are to be the king once I leave this world. And yet you continue to disrespect and disappoint our bloodline with your companion.” He continued, disgust laced in his words as Ivan, only looked up to stare at his father’s throne, as if it was beckoning him to take his rightful place right then.
The room felt crowded, Ivan’s heartbeat so rapid he could feel the blood pumping in his head. Panick his chest. Fear in his heart.
“I do not know of what you speak,” Ivan spoke, as calmly as he could, before Unsha opened his mouth to retort.
“Do not play daft with me boy. The practically the entire court knows of your companionship with the young Lord Urak. You are to be the next ruler of this country, do you hold no regard for your own image?”
Ivan’s face fell at the mention of his lover, his jaw tightened and anger arose in him. “Practically the entire court is loyal to me. All they do is wait for you to finally breathe your last breath so they may grace me with the crown that is mine.” He proclaimed viciously before composing himself once again. “You simply underestimate me. I am to be king as you said. You will be dead. And then I may do as I please.” Ivan spat, the malice evident in his voice.
“You should use more respect when you speak to the crown. Next time you even think to utter another sentence of that nature, your precious Till will have the last thing he sees be the gallows" Unsha said, raising a brow at his son before turning to climb the steps to his throne.
Ivan turned swiftly to leave the room, but not before uttering a final phrase.
“I will end this with you.”
A violet eyed princess, no older than 16, stood around the corner. Her brows furrowed in concentration and her mind deep in thought as she walked away before her elder brother stormed out.
Though Sua was only fast enough to seem as though she was not ease dropping, not enough to avoid her brother entirely.
“Sister, where are you going?” Ivan raised a brow at his sister, her seemingly harmless stance deceiving him into thinking she had just arrived.
The two had always been close, despite being 4 years apart, they could have been mistaken for twins. Always joint at the hip, always knowing what the other was up to.
“Ivan” Sua smiled so sweetly it was almost sickening, one her brother knew all too well, though for different reasons. “Why did he call you at this hour?” She asked as they both started walking together, leaving the hallway which led into the throne room. Though her question seemed innocent enough, her brother knew the true nature of her question.
Does he know about your lover?
The silence that followed was a sharp one. Both siblings knew the answer to the question, but both had different solutions.
“He doesn’t understand, but that doesn’t matter, I will be king soon. I will be the evening and morning star, and he will die.” Ivan spat with distaste, before his younger sister took hold of his hands and looked him in the eyes.
Sua’s eyes could only widen. Though she knew of the nature of her father and Ivan’s relationship, and although Ivan was the legal heir, a son, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Unsha would rather place his crown upon his daughter’s head.
She stopped in her path, Ivan following suit, before Sua grabbed his hands gently
”He is your heart, I know…but you mustn’t say such things, you know as well as I that he will not hesitate to hang anyone who threatens him” Sua spoke softly, nearly undetectable undertones of control in her voice. Nearly.
Ivan yanked his hands away, knowing his sister always had a way of manipulating any situation into getting what she wanted. Whether it be with her innocent looking eyes, or her sharpened tongue. “You truly think of me as simple as your other victims? You doubt me so?” Ivan stepped away from her, mistrust over taking his features.
”I do not wish for you to sink your teeth further into a poisonous mess.” She said, truth ringing behind her words.
“You just expect me to stand here while he threatens to kill my love? You must be mad.” Ivan practically yelled, so much so the nearby staff almost turned to check on the Negih siblings, but they knew better than to involve themselves with the pair.
“He will feel the anguish I will inflict upon him. And he will know it was me.”