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There was a time, not very long ago when we lived in an enchanted world of pristine palaces and glorious parties underneath the surface. The year counting, XI. Hades was celebrating his coronation as new emperor of the City of Tears. For the past ten years, The Pale King had isolated himself in his palace, not a word at all circulating about his presence... Hades stepped from the shadows, and clean the stains the pale figure left on them. He was determined to restore the kingdom. He would begin by rebuilding the City of Tears, the capital of Hallownest to which he treasured the most! Home to refuges who try to live through the plague.
On that evening, no one shone as much in the ballroom than that of my precious granddaughter, Violet. As tonight would also be a new chapter for her, her debut training as a royal guard would begin.
I placed a red ribbon from my braid in the palm of her hand, a parting gift to make things easier...
“When you’re anxious, hold the string of my red ribbon close to your heart. Picture it to be my hand. And if ever you need assistance, you can always rely on Hades to help you wield the pure nail.”
“Thanks Acantha…”
...But Hades would never be the next heir, for a figure roamed into the palace of Hades- Librarian. In the eyes of those blind he was a noble man, a wise figure who knew what was best for the kingdom but he was unhinged and thirstful for vengeance. In order to fulfil his needs, he had to rid of yet another pure soul out of many. None understood much of his past, or whom he was livid towards. It was obvious that nothing else mattered to him, that our innocent family was somehow an obstacle.
“How dare you step foot again in our land!”
“I am but your reliant, am I not?”
“You threw that title when you made Rurin wither! GUARDS! ….”
…
None of his men listened to the general, instead their spears were pointed to him. Another noble with a smirk stepped into the grim light of the chandelier beside Librarian, Zion. He would' be next in line beside Hades. People saw him as a god, even if he was just as twisted as the rest.
A shadow was forever casted on our family. And with the Librarian’s curse, the string of hope was cut and the palace fell into shambles. The chants of the blinded civilians deafened us as we tried to grasp escape. They had rid of Hades’ bloodline for good, Zion was now in control. It was far too late for my granddaughter to step down, they had already planned to use her as a weapon. Violet was pureblood, it was in her core that her destiny would be to protect- but protect what? A kingdom falling apart by corrupt ideological codes? What was the point?
I cried out to her as the crowd pushed me out of the palace,
nothing but white, empty eyes staring back at me...
I could only hope she saw it that way.