The Former Prince Who Lost Everything Becomes a Masked Strategist, Dominates from the Shadows, and Vows Revenge - Chapter 6.2

For some reason, my feet moved on their own, drawing me forward.

What… is this?

It felt like something was luring me in…

I swallowed hard and continued forward, climbing the staircase from the second to the third floor.

Eventually, I found myself standing in front of the king’s chambers.

At that moment—

A strange sensation swept over me, as if something had been pulled from my body.

The thirst vanished. The headache faded. The whispers disappeared.

I blinked, suddenly aware of where I was.

“Huh? What was I just…”

“Ghhkk…!”

A muffled groan came from inside the room.

My father’s voice.

“Father?!”

I threw the door open and rushed in.

Inside the chamber—

A sorcerer, wearing a goat skull mask, was gripping my father’s throat, lifting him off the ground.

At the entrance, the king’s sword—passed down through generations—lay on the floor.

I grabbed the sword and pointed it at the sorcerer, my voice shaking but firm.

“L-let go of my father, sorcerer!”

The masked figure turned to me and chuckled darkly.

“Kuhuhu. So you are Prince Grace, son of the Knight King. I see you fell right into my trap… You have no resistance to enchantment magic, I take it?”

“Enchantment magic? No, more importantly—who are you?! How did you get into the castle?! And why are you attacking my father?!”

“My name is Hades. The one who will destroy the Knight King’s lineage. And, young prince… you are about to experience hell.”

With those words, the sorcerer released my father, letting him collapse onto the floor.

Then, he took a step toward me.

My father, lying on the ground, coughed violently and reached out toward me, shouting with all his remaining strength.

“Grace! Run!”

Hades sneered.

“So, what will you do, little prince? Will you flee and abandon your father? Or will you raise that sword and challenge me?”

“There’s no way I would abandon my father! I am the prince of this kingdom!”

“Kuhuhu… Exactly the answer I expected.”

I kicked off the ground, gripping the sword tightly, and charged straight at the sorcerer.

The sorcerer stood motionless, his arms outstretched, simply watching me.

Seeing him completely defenseless, I took my stance and prepared to strike.

“Taaaaahhhhhh!!”

“Grace!”

―――――Slash. Bl00d sprayed into the air.

“Huh…?”

But the bl00d was not the sorcerer’s.

It was my father’s.

He had stepped in front of me—taking my blade instead.

“F-Father!!”

I caught his collapsing body in my arms, my voice trembling with panic.

“Father!? W-why did you step in front of me?!”

My father coughed, struggling to speak.

“That sorcerer… he activated a spell that reflects physical attacks. If you had struck him… the force would have rebounded… and you would have died.”

“!? You… shielded me…?”

I could barely process what had happened when the sorcerer approached from behind, his eerie laughter echoing in the chamber.

“Kuhuhu… Either outcome would have been acceptable, but as expected, the Knight King chose to protect his son. Predictable… and yet, what a pitiful end.”

Struggling to breathe, my father glared at the sorcerer.

“Hades… judging from your attire… you’re from the Empire, aren’t you?! Do you intend to turn my kingdom into imperial territory?!”

“Heh. It matters not to a dying man.”

Hades raised his palm, a swirling black sphere forming above it—an ominous dark magic spell.

“Die—【Death】.”

He hurled the cursed magic at my father.

The impact made him convulse violently. Bl00d dripped from his mouth, his face losing all color.

“F-Father?! FATHER!!”

“Kuhuhu… The Knight King is dead. Now, everything is in place.”

“Y-you… Hades! YOU BASTARD!!”

“Ah, but I have no interest in playing with you, little prince. Your fate is already decided. You will lose everything… and die a disgraceful death. 【Teleport】.”

With that, Hades’ form blurred and vanished.

At the same moment, the door burst open.

Gaston entered, followed by several knights.

Gaston dramatically pointed at me and bellowed.

“Look! Prince Grace has slain the king! Knights, seize him at once! He is a regicidal traitor!!”

“…Huh?”

I froze, trying to comprehend what was happening.

I looked down.

In my hands was a bl00d-soaked sword.

Its tip was buried in my father’s abdomen.

No… this isn’t right!

I looked up at Gaston and the knights, desperate to explain.

“W-wait! I didn’t kill my father! There was a sorcerer—he attacked him! I was trying to stop him—!”

“Enough excuses, Grace! Look at the scene before you! It is clear to all that you have committed patricide!”

“W-what…?”

The knights behind Gaston looked at me in horror.

They weren’t just shocked—they were doubting me.

Gone were the familiar, trusting gazes they once had.

Instead, I saw suspicion.

“W-why… are you looking at me like that…?”

“Grace! You may act like a noble prince on the surface, but deep down, you are corrupt! You murdered your own father to steal the throne! You wanted absolute power! But I, Gaston, have always seen through your charade!”

What…?

What is he saying?

That I killed my father… to take the throne?

No, this makes no sense!

“Don’t be ridiculous, Gaston! We need to pursue Hades! The sorcerer who murdered my father—he must still be nearby—!”

“Silence, demon child! Knights! Arrest him and throw him in the dungeon! I, Gaston, shall inherit the will of our fallen king!”

“Yes, sir!”

The knights seized my arms, yanking me to my feet.

They bound my wrists tightly and dragged me toward the exit.

“W-wait! This is wrong! Why am I—”

As I was pulled past Gaston, he turned toward me—

And for a brief moment, he smiled.

A chilling realization struck me.

Gaston’s arrival had been too well-timed.

Hades had repeatedly said “as expected.”

No…

No, it couldn’t be…

“Gaston… what did you do?!”

I twisted in the knights’ grasp, desperately trying to face him.

He said nothing.

He merely watched as I was dragged away.

“ANSWER ME, GASTON!! WAS THIS ALL YOUR DOING?!”

My cries went unanswered.

The knights restrained me and escorted me through the halls.

I fought against them, shouting until my voice went hoarse.

But the more I screamed—

The tighter their grip became.

And just like that… I was taken to the dungeon, accused of murdering my own father.