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The war is over.The war has come to an end.No more bloodshed.No more killings.No more cryings from the innocent.Kanato walked in the middle of the battlefield, surrounded by the dead bodies of ghouls and knights who have sworn to fight until they cannot do so. Their names are unknown, and for sure, history books would not bother to cite them all one by one. Who would care when you die not giving a mark in this world anyway?He looked up at the dark, gray sky, smelling the air of ashes and blood.Today, the war has ended.However, there is still no peace.Peace never lasts. It will only be a fleeting moment, and Kanato knows. He knows well because he had sold his soul to the Darkness; since then, war nightmares would flash before his eyes. There will be another war; he’s sure of that. And no one is safe.None will live in peace and remain unscathed.Shuu placed his sword back in his scabbard, walking alongside Subaru, who observed their brother stand in the middle of nowhere. They know Kanato will always be the odd one, especially now that he has become a black wizard. He would go to strange places and chant weird incantations, but now, the middle triplet was solemn. He savored the moment before it flew away again.From a distance, Ayato cradled a wounded Yui in his chest, his green eyes never leaving Kanato’s form. She was alive, thank heavens. But he knew they’d suffer more consequences later on. After all, this is the price he had to pay so that they could be together.A few moments after, Kanato fell down to his knees, staring at his bloodied and ashen hands, lips quivering as his eyes blurred with tears. The next thing, he was sobbing to the sky, inwardly cursing everything, everyone, and primarily himself.The three brothers could only look down with bitter and forlorn faces. They knew why he cried. He had to. He had every right to do so.The war had ended, but this was only the beginning.Reiji is dead.Laito sacrificed himself.His wife’s body turned to ashes the moment his purple eyes fluttered open.They should all be happy now that they have defeated the King of Ghouls and the living triumphed over the dead. But no. All they had was the burden of the lives lost.And Kanato will forever remember this day. After all, his soul will never die. His body will turn into ashes along with his wife’s, but he will live again and carry on this sin.This is his punishment for discovering magic in the first place.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Beatrix slammed her hands on the desk, gritting her teeth in annoyance as one of her plans failed to succeed for the umpteenth time. Just the mere thought of everything she worked hard for crumbling in front of her eyes—

No... NO! Oh, heavens, NO!

She will not break. There is no such thing as defeat in her vocabulary. She will remain calm, steadying her breath. She placed a hand on her chest.

Everything will be fine.

Everything will work out just like how the world is sitting on my palm.

But Beatrix should know by now that everything is falling into its own pieces without her permission, and it was all because of her first son. The bastard she brought up to carry on the Sakamaki name, only for him to throw it all away for the sake of his brotherhood with the special military force.

"You should be the one on that damn throne. You are the first son! You are Prince Shuu of the House Sakamaki. The Swordfighter. The Breaker of Chains!" she insisted, her voice bordering that of a mad woman. It was only a hint but it was there. "You can't be out there, laying your life down with those soldiers and calling them your friends."

Shuu harbors deep respect for his mother despite the pressure she gives him as the first son of the King of Westeros. However, no matter how much she tried to prove her sons worthy of that damn throne, they will be nothing but bastards.

And just like the tradition, bastards are not supposed to sit on the throne. If they do, the kingdom will fall into ashes and the people will curse them until no one remembers their words and the house they belong to.

"Does being the first son matter that much when I am nothing but a bastard?" Shuu retorted, tired of this repetitive banter with his mother regarding his decision to stray away from the castle and serve at the Wall.

"You are the first son!" Beatrix repeated, her voice getting higher than it was. "Karlheinz... He was proud of you. He gave you everything. That's why you should..."

That's why you should inherit his throne, the unspoken words linger in the air.

Shuu only gave her a hard stare. He will never back down on his words. All his life, he succumbed to her orders and did what she pleased. Now, he wanted freedom.

Away from her incessant ramblings over the throne.

Away from Reiji's taunts about his spoiled rotten ass.

Away from the old man who favors him with every fiber of his being.

He didn't give her a reply. He just left her in her office. Shuu knows he'll regret disrespecting his mother like that, but he wanted her to understand where he's coming from.

Mostly, he wanted her to give up making him number one because as long as Cordelia lives as the Queen and the triplets are around, there is no way she could win.

Chaos is a ladder, they say.

He remembered Reiji saying those words, reminding him of his younger brother's ambitions to take control of everything and achieve his one true goal: the throne.

They were a lot different, and Shuu wished his mother would just pin that attention to Reiji since he's the one doing all her bidding. After all, Reiji kept up with the appearance of being the most obedient son—heck, even married a daughter from one of the noble families to show his competence.

Chaos is a ladder, that much is true.

The throne is a ladder towards all gruesome shit and cruelty.

Once Shuu was inside his chambers, he laid on the bed and closed his eyes, picturing himself destroying the throne and shattering everyone's hopes and dreams. Their cries of pleas were music to his ears and perhaps he would prefer them over the classical songs he hears from the servants.

It was a beautiful dream... for now.

He snorted. As if the throne will be easily destroyed. Karlheinz won't let anyone get off the hook, especially those who try to get in his way.

But... it's not like he would do anything about it.

And the next day, Shuu fled Westeros before the sun rose to return to his duties. When morning came, the servants were distraught to see the prized chair of diamonds and gold broken down into pieces.

While Cordelia was angered at the culprit, demanding the servants investigate the matter at once, Karlheinz only smirked.

As expected of the firstborn.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Prince Ayato of the House Sakamaki. The Fourth Son of the King. The Heir to the Throne. The Conqueror. The Wielder of Blades.

That was Ayato's name... before he made a grave mistake. Now, he's been stripped of everything, and people call him different names—names that would only rub salt into his wounded ego.

The Rebel.

The Exiled.

The Problem Child.

The Prince of Nothing.

Ayato drank to his heart's content, feeling the bitter taste of beer linger at the tip of his tongue. He's been traveling to different countries outside Westeros ever since his prince title was removed from him. And to make things worse, he wasn't allowed to set even a part of his foot on the soil of Westeros until Karlheinz says otherwise.

He glared, gripping the handle of his mug tightly. He thinks people who pass by him bark a laugh at his stupidity.

What a fool, trying to defy his own king.

But Ayato knew to himself he only did the right thing. His father—no. NO. He can't even call him "Father" now. The fucking old man is nothing but a cruel piece of shit, womanizing behind their mother's back and impregnating women for the sake of power and the success of his evil schemes. Heck, even touched his sister maliciously (hence, the birth of Subaru).

Not only that. He sees them, his children, as nothing but mere pawns. The only time he calls them his children is when they've done something remarkable to him, like him conquering all the untouched lands near Westeros and making sure they obey no one but the King or when Laito gains valuable information from the enemy or how Kanato would use his darkness to burn their family's enemies to the ground.

But they had to suffer in exchange for being valuable.

Sometimes, he would hear Kanato cry to his stupid bear, whining about how he was tired of using his powers just for the sake of wanted affection. Laito might not know it to himself, but every so often, Ayato would notice the youngest triplet scratch his skin like it was dirtied. On the other hand, he remembered the innocent people he killed with his blade (Hildbrand) and their cries for help. He wanted to be sorry for them, but how could he be sorry?

He killed them deliberately, and all because of his parents' bidding.

That's why I had to do it, he justifies, even if it had gone in the wrong direction. Even if I lost everything.

And for him, what he meant with everything was Yui.

Yui was the only light to his dark days, the one who comforted him with her words of wisdom and reality. The only woman who embraced him as the prince who stained his hands with sin.

Yui... she

was

my lady.

He drank away his sorrows with the last of his beer, wiping off the bitter liquid from his mouth. He had always promised her they will leave Westeros and marry somewhere they could live in peace and have many children. But after he had taken her innocence and kissed her lips with assurance, the High Priest, Seiji Komori, married her off to one of his cousins, Shin Tsukinami.

In the middle of his musings, he felt someone watching him, probably one of his father's men or from the enemy households who wanted him dead. He didn't get to chug down his other drink, slipping his hoodie back on as he went out of the pub.

He saddled on his horse and commanded it to go faster. He has to lead them away. It was already nighttime, and he didn't want to deal with pests before he goes to sleep. However, he could sense them nearing him as he went into the forest. It was getting harder for him now to make a way out.

Curse the moon for not sparing some light.

One of the men after him drew an arrow and was about to shoot him when a dragon swept in front of them and shrieked, blazing them alive with its flames. Ayato immediately pulled his horse to a stop, witnessing how the animal protected him. Well, the dragon was the size of a small dog. Nonetheless, it can blow fires that will send the whole forest down.

Once they were turned into nothing but ashes, the dragon turned to him and set him on fire. Ayato tried to protect himself, but the fire didn't burn him. Instead, it just coated his body as the dragon whimpered, sending an unknown message that he was its master.

As the fire died down, the dragon flew again and Ayato decided to follow it. He smirked in delight.

Prince Ayato, The Unburnt, the name sounds heavenly.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

All her life, Yui believed that one day she will marry the love of her life. Afterward, they'll live somewhere far away, possibly in the mountains or nearby the sea. And when the right time comes, she'll be the mother of his children, and they'll live happily ever after.

Happily ever after... those three foolish words would only come out of fictional romance books.

For someone like Yui, the daughter of the High Priest Seiji Komori, there is no such thing as being with the love of your life or being his loving wife and mother of his children. There were only pinky promises, stolen kisses, and secret smiles, and they all died down into broken vows, arranged marriages, and nightly rapes.

Every time Yui would remind herself of her father's words ("You should know. I only did it for your future."), she can't help but feel like she had been lied to. Her father had always known of her childhood affections for Ayato and how they never changed, even through adulthood—even when Ayato had become this murderer of a prince who planned on becoming the King and shouldering the seven kingdoms. But for some reason, before she heard the news of Ayato's exile, her father announced her engagement to Ayato's cousin, Shin Sakamaki.

It shattered her hopes and dreams, and when she tried to talk him out of it, he told her how much he loved her as his daughter.

"I wouldn't do anything that would harm you."

But all this marriage brought to her was harm. Because she was Eve, the new Mother of Dragons, Shin had every right to do whatever he pleased with her. He would always remind her of her place. "You're only a woman," he snarled, grabbing her chin forcefully to make her look him in the eye. "And you know what a woman's good at? Spreading her legs open like a whore and bearing her husband's children while she stays at home and knits by the fireplace."

Is that what all I am? A dump for male cum? A bearer of children? Someone who knits by the fireplace, not fighting for my right as a woman?

And then she remembers what she is. She is Eve, the Mother of Dragons. She may not have the breath of fire or a pet dragon by her side at the moment, but she is Eve. And she won't let a man tell her what her place in this hell is.

I'm sorry, Ayato, she fiddled with the half of her locket inside the pocket of her dress, I know you promised me you'd come to save me, but I have to save myself now.

Yes, that was the spirit. That's what she should've done from the beginning. Hell, even Subaru, who served the House of Tsukinami for a brief time, told her once that the world she's living in is not full of rainbows and happy endings.

"Remember to look straight at people like me, Lady Eve. I am a killer. My brother, the man you promised yourself to, is a killer. That lecherous husband of yours is a killer. His whole family is a killer. Your father is also a killer. And soon, when you bear his damn children, they will all be killers. And if you think you have a choice in this matter, I will warn you that you have none."

And so, she set her plan in motion. She specifically ordered one of the servants (her name's Bernadette) to carefully spy on Shin and make sure never to leave any trace. In exchange for her loyalty, she'll be free with her and no harm will come to her and her family.

By then, she played the good wife card, tending to Shin's needs and forcing herself to hold back her cries of pain. She even pretended not to know anything about Shin pushing Carla's pregnant wife down the grand staircase or the time when he poisoned Carla and misinformed them about the virus finally catching up to his brother, which led to his demise.

That's why on the night she planned to serve him well and warm his bed before his coronation the next day, she made sure he was intoxicated with the wine Bernadette bought from the outside city. And once he was feeling too comfortable about the situation, Yui crawled on top of him on all fours, and he thought she was going to suck his dick.

But no. She grabbed the silver dagger Subaru gave her from her pocket and stabbed it into his manhood, making sure the bastard would pay for his perverse ways.

Once done, she sought the help of Bernadette to carry him to dungeons where his starved hounds are in need of a piece of meat. They both threw him there carelessly and ran, his horrified screams of anguish echoing through the walls. Yui held Bernadette's hand tightly, not looking behind her to avoid the distractions from the guards who quickly caught them in their act of murder.

I am Eve. I am the Mother of Dragons. No one can stop me!

Once they were outside, a group of knights followed them while riding their horses, ready to cut them with their swords. Suddenly, a giant red dragon landed in front of them and spewed out a big roaring flame, saving Yui and Bernadette from harm. The dragon wasn't satisfied, so it flew above the castle and burned it into ashes.

Once done, it turned to the two women and gestured for them to hop on its back and flee the place. Yui was the first to hop on, guiding Bernadette to climb up its back. Afterward, the dragon flew, ensuring Eve and her friend will be taken to a safer place.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

If someone were to ask Reiji about his life, he would tell people it's a dark comedy—dry humor to anyone who watches him with a keen eye as they shake their heads in disbelief and utter the words:

"A bastard could only dream."

Chaos is a ladder, a wise man once said.

Many have dared to challenge Karlheinz over the throne, claiming that the House of Sakamaki, despite the bounty of riches they bring to the land of Westeros, is nothing but a family full of scum. All they do is wipe out civilians of their homes, kill the innocents, and tarnish every reputable home that goes against their ruling.

He also challenged his position on the throne.

Prince Reiji of the House Sakamaki. The Poison Maker. The Genius. The Second Son.

Reiji wanted to strangle everyone who called him "The Second Son." He dreamt of making them drink his poison and meet their demise. These fools not knowing who he truly is. As much as he is a bastard like his idiotic lazy elder brother, he was still a prince, and he can still seize that throne.

That's why he did what he had to. He created solutions. He showed progress. He presented innovative ideas that could bring the House Sakamaki to the top. However, his mother, Lady Beatrix—the fine lady he calls mother dearly—doesn't see the light in him the way he sees it. But, nonetheless, he didn't hate her like how the triplets loathed Cordelia. He wanted her to have a taste of her own medicine.

I will reject you the same way you reject me.

And so, he orchestrated her murder—even paid a highly-skilled assassin to kill her in a gruesome way. But her final hour was filled with a smile of relief, claiming how she was glad Reiji put an end to her suffering as the mother of Karlheinz's first children.

Reiji wasn't happy about it—brooding even at the fact that Beatrix assumed it was an act of love. And now she was gone, he hated the fact that he's still stuck as the second son who aids his father and the throne is still beyond reach.

One time, Cordelia approached him like the she-devil she is, sashaying her way in his laboratory as she gives out empty praises for his work. And she was getting close, a little too close than he would prefer. Well, what do you expect? Karlheinz has married a woman who indulges herself in shameless acts with other men and even coerced one of her sons to commit trysts with her.

"You know, Reiji, you'd be a great king."

"A bastard can never be a king."

She scoffed in amusement. "Is that a lie you want to tell me when you've done nothing but get your way up the ladder?"

Reiji didn't bother to explain, minding his own business as he takes note of his latest experiment and what he could do to improve it. Cordelia was having none of his behavior, so she settled for getting straight to the point.

"Ayato... he has no chance of succeeding Karlheinz," she said, her tone hinting slight bitterness at the fact that her sole heir defied her command.

"So I heard."

"Karlheinz sees Kanato as the one next in line," she continued, then added, "but that boy has always been weird. He snaps in a flash of a moment, then he cries in his doll room and screams."

Reiji wanted to scoff. Well, Kanato has been "cursed" by magic, killing people at the age of eight. What do they expect him to be? A sane person?

"How about Laito?" he suggested. "He's the smartest out of the three."

No one would deny that. Laito is a cunning individual. He may not be on par with swordfights like Ayato or a wizard like Kanato, but he chooses his battles very well.

Cordelia only smirked. "That boy would serve a different purpose."

Reiji sighed, having none of her scandalous hints. "Your grace, as you can see, I still have my experiments to tend to. May I ask your purpose of visit?"

Now, they're talking.

"You're aware of how I despise my dear husband, right?"

Reiji nodded, holding a calm facade, but deep inside, he was surprised. All this time, he thought this woman would beg on her knees for their father's undivided attention.

"Here's the deal: you help me kill my husband and I'll help you ascend from your current position," she offered, and when he seemed skeptical, she added, "If you're thinking about Richter, don't worry about him. I'll handle him well."

"And how do you help me with that? Besides, if you kill your husband, and your children cannot sit on the throne, that means you'll have to bear another offspring. As if a woman can sit on the throne."

Cordelia laughed at his silly joke. "Who told you that?"

But it got Reiji thinking. It wasn't like he wanted to kill Karlheinz. Everything he did was in favor of him. However, if he conspired with Cordelia and her evil schemes, there's a high chance of him ascending a higher position in the royal hierarchy.

He narrowed his red eyes at her. This conniving bitch.

And so the plan was set into motion. He spent hours on making the perfect poison, the one that would instantly kill Karlheinz without him suspecting anything. While he was piling books at the library, Kanato entered, hugging Teddy to his chest and picking up one book from his pile.

He read the title aloud, "Manipulating Death: A Deadly List of Bottles."

Reiji was sure his younger brother knew nothing of his deal with Cordelia, so he brushed off his gesture as mere curiosity. "Do you need that?" he asked.

Kanato shook his head, plopping onto the nearby couch as he observed Reiji, who was feeling uneasy with his stares.

"Do you need something from me, Kanato?"

Kanato nodded. "You don't believe in magic, right?"

"And?"

Kanato was only silent, but he had a calculating gaze on him, and it irked the shit out of Reiji. Although Kanato was nothing but a brat, he can be unpredictable.

"I know what you're going to do," he stated.

"What do you mean?"

"As if a woman can sit on the throne. Those were your words."

There was a moment of silence. So Kanato knew. He either heard their conversation from his mother or sent someone to eavesdrop on them. Whatever it was, he knew.

"I won't interfere," Kanato assured. "I just want to send you, and on behalf of Ayato and Laito, our regards."

"What do you mean?" Reiji raised a confused brow at him. "Are you perhaps leaving this place the same way Laito did to search for Lady Yui and Ayato."

Kanato shook his head in negation. "This will be the last time I am seeing you, Reiji. I thought a goodbye should be in order."

Reiji was still on his spot, refusing to meet Kanato in the eye. He never believed Kanato's premonitions, dismissing it to be a child's nightmare as he was always about scientific proof. But everyone knew that once Kanato speaks of someone's death, it will truly happen. It was inevitable, they always say.

He swallowed nervously. On the other hand, Kanato didn't care about what Reiji was feeling at the moment. He just thought his older brother should know the truth.

"Be grateful that I am here to see you off," Kanato claimed, then turned to Teddy. "Come now, Teddy. We'll play with the new dolls today."

And just like that, Kanato left the library with an astonished Reiji, who was slowly fearing the number of his last days.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It was nearing Subaru’s coming-of-age ceremony when Kanato told him of his fate. The youngest Sakamaki remembered it was in one of the castle’s balconies where Subaru heard a faint sound of a beautiful voice singing Scarborough Fair. And to his surprise, it was none other than Kanato dealing with his isolation.Subaru didn’t mean to intrude, despite wanting to hear more of his melody, so he apologized and took a step back when Kanato turned to him and asked, “Are you going to tell my mother about my whereabouts?”He was confused for a moment, and then he realized the meaning behind his question.“Why would I do that?” Subaru questioned back, painfully aware of how Cordelia sexualized his brother’s singing voice. “I’ll be on my way. Sorry for interrupting.”But before he could leave, Kanato grabbed the hem of his shirt, staring at him wide-eyed, his mouth slightly agape. Subaru looked at him confusingly, wondering what made his older brother this speechless.“Oi. Is something wrong—”“Red eyes that will never see the light. Hands taking lives in a fight. Mouth swearing the words of your house with all your might,” Kanato blankly disclosed, his lavender eyes never leaving Subaru’s.On the other hand, the youngest Sakamaki was getting uncomfortable with the stare showdown, trying to pry himself from Kanato when the latter doesn’t seem to share his sentiment.“We will meet again, Subaru. And that will be the last you will see of me,” he foreshadowed, finally letting his younger brother go as he bowed. “Remember your name. Always.”And thus here he was, fighting his way in Braavos as a blind war veteran. His journey was a long one, serving the Tsukinami’s and acting indifferent to all the hideous things they do to Eve. But before he left, he made sure to give her a word of warning. He didn’t have to, but he believed that she needed it at the time.
Because the world needs the Mother of Dragons, and she can’t roar her flames if she’s beaten like that.
And so he went places, met different people, and fell in love once until he reached Braavos. His mother narrated to him once that Braavos was the place where No One can be found and he was a great warrior, just like him. As a child, he believed her.But Christa was a mad woman, always relieved at the sight of his son then breaking down as if he’s the ugliest thing that came out of her womb. Subaru can’t be No One. He can’t protect her mother from her fits of despair and insanity. Worse, he can’t even save her from her kidnappers.That’s why he sailed to Braavos to become No One. He wanted the faces, so he could kill the people who took his mother away from him. But the Many-Faced God decided it was time for him to be punished, so they took his eyesight from him and ordered him not to mention his name. Subaru has to refer to himself as a boy.
“The boy has no name.”

“The boy has no home.”

“The boy is No One.”
This charade happened every single day, with Subaru fighting his way up with other faceless men who mock and beat him because they believe Subaru won’t do anything. But every time this happens, he would remember Kanato’s words.
“Remember your name. Always.”
He is Prince Subaru from the House Sakamaki. The Slayer. The Shadow of Death. The Knife Wielder.But he also remembered other names he liked to call himself. The Beast. The Ugly. The Filthy Child of an Incest Affair.These words stung, but he has to swallow them whole. Because if he doesn’t, he will die of ridiculed words and there’s no chance for him to save his mother out there. So when he finally regained his eyesight, he managed to kill the other faceless men in the dark, scoffing at the fact that they can’t fight without light.Once done, he placed their heads in the Hall of Faces. The Many-Faced God approached him and congratulated him for his remarkable work. But before he could go on with his speech, Subaru pointed a knife to his neck and said, “I have a name.”A moment of silence. The Many-Faced God smirked.“What is the boy’s name?”“The boy’s name is Prince Subaru of the House Sakamaki. The Slayer. The Shadow of Death. The Knife Wielder,” he announced. “And I am going to rescue my mother.”The Many-Faced God was delighted. And that was how Subaru vowed revenge and became No One.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It has been two months since Yui was sent off to marry Lord Shin of the House Tsukinami, one month since Ayato was exiled, and two weeks since Laito and Kanato went on their journey to take them back from their so-called prisons.Prison, huh? Funny ‘cause I’m in one now, Laito thought bitterly as he scanned his surroundings.Chains. Whips. Axe. Swords. Ropes. Poison. Rodents and pests scurry around like witnesses to every torture.Every imaginable thing he did to his enemies is now being done to him.
What a joke this life is.
Laito thought he got everything planned out. After all, he wasn’t called the Spider of the House Sakamaki if he weren’t that smart to escape the clutches of their enemies. However, a woman disguised as one of his servants decided to betray him and sell the information about his whereabouts to the Mukami’s.Hence, here he was, all tied up in a cross manner, stripped off with everything except for his lower body. His skin was fresh with slashes and cuts from whipping and every time moves or breathes, he would hiss and grimace at the pain.
Fuck being the pawn of my own game.
While he was deep in thoughts, Lord Kou of the House Mukami skipped his way to the torture chamber, whistling a happy tune as he delighted at the sight of Prince Laito of the House Sakamaki, all battered and bruised from head to toe.“I see you’re doing well,” Kou mused, a smirk playing around his lips as he took a closer look. “Maybe I should’ve overdone it. Though if I did, you won’t be able to talk.”Laito chuckled in reply, watching him with an observant gaze. He knows what the Mukami’s want. Their house has been appearing to be Sakamaki’s friends at first glance, but they’re nothing but snakes. As expected from their house symbol.“You know our house’s words, right?” Kou asked. “'None shall pass.’ And you Prince Laito did our people dirty.”Laito only snickered at the remark. It wasn’t like he didn’t put dirt in every household. He’s a Spider and pests like him only leave cobwebs and poison in their wake.“Good thing, our women are loyal allies of the family,” Kou remarked wonderfully, then his eyes turned dangerously, adding the words, “… but you touched them. Fornication with a Mukami lady without marriage is punishable under the House, you know.”And the next thing, Kou was holding out a knife in front of Laito’s eyes, smiling in evil and glee as he pointed the blade closer to his crotch. Laito masked his fear. He will not give in. There is no such thing as surrendering to the enemies and crying your eyes out while begging for their mercy. He is a Sakamaki, and Sakamaki’s never admits defeat.
Because we are fucking proud like that.
“I will spare your life, fifth Sakamaki, in exchange for valuable information. Think of this as a gift of freedom.”Laito spat on Kou’s shoe, his saliva mixed with a hint of blood. “Never.”The knife was inched closer to his crotch. “Tell me where Adam went after his exile.”“I will never.”“You should if you know what’s good for you.”Laito only chuckled, staring at Kou like he was cracking some sick joke. “I know what’s good for me. That’s why I won’t tell you where Ayato went.”“Very well, then. Here goes nothing.”And then Laito’s pants were pulled down from his legs and his manhood was cut off in one slice, blood oozing out as he pretended that it felt nothing. But deep inside his head, he wanted to scream at the pain. Kou barked a laugh at his struggle, mocking a pitiful glare in his way.“There’s more to that, Sakamaki prince.”Laito heard a feminine scream, then his eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a mad Christa dragged down by the guards and horrified at his bloodied crotch. She was thrashing around and crying for mercy, even hugging Kou’s leg to spare him.“Spare Karlheinz-sama! Please! I beg you!” Christa shrieked at him, locking her gaze with Laito’s, fresh tears streaming down her face.Laito didn’t know if he should pity or get angry at his aunt. All his life, he wanted to damn his pretty face because whenever he stares at the mirror, they would say he got Karlheinz’s youthful face. His mother even coerced him with her rotten sexual activities because of the same reason. And now, his aunt, who was filled with madness, sees him also as the same person.“AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!” Laito yelled, causing every person in the room to halt their movements. Even Christa seized her crying and finally realized the man wasn’t her beloved cousin.Kou frowned at that, gripping his knife to punish him when the Sakamaki prince only laughed, and it was borderline genuine and evil. Something that threatens them in time.“Is there something funny, Prince Laito?” Kou inquired, playing with his knife.“'Take what they owe.,’” Laito remembered their house’s words. “Remember it very well. Those are the words of my house, you filthy snakes.”Kou shrugged. “Are you sure about that? As if you can get your revenge.”“You’re mistaken. I am not the one getting my revenge.”Now, Kou was confused. “What do you mean?”“The shadow of death will come knocking one day and you have to pay him well or you’ll face the consequences,” Laito reminded him, and it doesn’t take Kou long before he realized what he meant.Kou only gave him a hard stare, and the next thing he walked out along with his guards and locked Christa and Laito in their cell. And with them gone, Laito chuckled in delight.He knew it was only a matter of time before Subaru takes what they were due.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Every time Cordelia sits in front of the mirror, she tells herself an internal mantra.
I am Queen Cordelia of the House Sakamaki. I am the First Wife. The Queen of Westeros. The one who bore Karlheinz’s heir. His one and only partner for a lifetime.
But every time she tells herself these words, she was only met with a broken, wretched mess of a woman who holds her head up high whenever she walks down the throne room and showcases her arrogance. She should be proud. After all, she has it all.Beauty. Money. Jewelry. Men. Glory.Oh, yes. That’s right, she pretends. I have everything. I have everything… except for that despicable man!Once upon a time, Menae sat her down and told her Karlheinz has come to take her hand in marriage. “He’s a wonderful man,” she said, holding both her daughter’s hands in hers for assurance. “You’ll be lucky to have him as your husband.”At that time, Cordelia was a fool, believing the empty words of a man just because he was cunning and smooth. But now, she can’t help but feel shame for herself. She remembered how she abhorred the idea of having children. But instead of being met with understanding, the pathetic king decided to take a lowly noble lady and father his two eldest sons.That’s how she had the triplets: Ayato, Kanato, and Laito. But she didn’t love them. She swore to herself that their existence is solely for her husband who doesn’t notice her. And when she thought everything was perfect, Karlheinz had the audacity to impregnate his cousin and father another bastard.
I’ll put up with this. I am the Queen, after all. This is a normal occurrence.
And so she built Ayato to be the perfect heir, forcing the poor child to undergo long hours of study and sword fighting. It didn’t matter to her if he complained or cried. Because she had to ingrain in his head that he has to be the best.
“You have to be the best, Ayato,” she reminded. “You are different from the rest, that’s why you have to do my bidding.”

The young Ayato reluctantly nodded. Similar to his brothers, he would do everything for their mother’s approval, despite how impossible the task is.

“I will be the best. I will be the King.”

Cordelia smirked. “That’s a good boy.”
The same happened with Kanato. Cordelia mused about how lovely his voice is. So he would sing to her until his vocal cords bled. It didn’t matter where or what Cordelia was doing. Who cares if she entertained men in front of him? He wanted her love, so he should prove it well.
“Are you going to Scarborough Fair?” Kanato sang, tightening his hold on Teddy as she watches his mother engage in disgusting acts with other men. He wanted to cry, wanted to call his brothers’ help.

“Kanato, don’t stop singing.”

Kanato’s lips quivered, slowly turning around so he won’t see them. “P-Parsley, sage, r-rosemary… and thyme.”
And poor Laito. Oh, she had done many things with him. By far, he became the most useful out of all of them. He wanted to be her favorite.
“Do you really want to prove yourself to me?”

Laito nodded. “I want to please you, Mother.”
And thus, Cordelia inflicted trauma on her sons. It didn’t matter if she was deemed evil. She’ll use everyone and everything for Karlheinz’s approval. She believed everything was better this way. Ha, poor woman, proudly waiting for her man like a lonesome queen.“LIES!” she yelled, throwing away every single damn thing she can put her hands on. She didn’t care if she scared the servants or accidentally hurt them. Everybody can go die and leave her be.
Why is it I am the wife, but I feel like I’m the other woman?
Richter entered the room, gesturing for the servants to leave the room so he could comfort her during her breakdown.“Did one of your plans not go well?” he asked, cradling her to his chest.Cordelia didn’t speak for a while, wiping away her tears and calming herself down.“Richter.”“Hm?”She touched his cheek gently. “You’ll do anything for me, right?”Richter nodded, kissing her hand. “Of course, my love. Anything for you.”And so that night, Karlheinz slept with Cordelia in her chamber. She abided by his rules, amusing him with her sweet fake tone. It was interesting because Cordelia was promiscuous every time they speak to each other. But now, she was as obedient as a dog.After their sweet ‘lovemaking,’ Cordelia offered him wine, and as Karlheinz drinks, Cordelia observes how he was clutching his throat and coughing.“Are you feeling unwell, my dear?” she sweetly asked with malice, showing him a bottle of poison that she got from Reiji.Karlheinz’s eyes widened, his hand reaching out to choke her. This only made Cordelia chuckle.“You bitch.”“Yes?” she hummed in response. “Are you going to kill me?”And with his last breath, Karlheinz died. It was pathetic, really. To think a poisoned wine could kill the King of Westeros. She should’ve just done this sooner instead of putting up with all his shit.The next morning came, and all the people had gathered as Richter, also known as the King’s Hand, was taken by the knights for the crime of poisoning King Karlheinz’s wine. Moreover, he was to be executed today.As he was sitting in his cell, Cordelia came to him with a sad smile, leading him to walk over her.“My love, you know I didn’t do it, right?” Richter proved himself, silently pleading she would do something about his situation. “I love you with all my heart, but I could never kill my brother even if I had the chance to.”Cordelia reached out a hand and rubbed her thumb on his cheek. “I know, my love…” she trailed off, retracting her hand and picking up something from her pocket. Then she showed him a bottle of poison and Richter was stunned. “But you told me you’d do anything for me, right?”With his silence, Cordelia kept the bottle again and started walking away, an evil glint in her eyes and a smirk on her face as Richter cried for help.“All hail, Queen Cordelia, Queen of Westeros!” the people shouted from outside.And for once, everything for Cordelia has never felt better.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kanato’s childhood memory was supposed to be filled with silly giggles, pranks, hide-and-seeks, and bedtime stories. However, all he could remember was magic and how he discovered he could create fire.It all started when Kanato and his brothers were lounging in the garden. While Ayato and Laito were busy catching bats, Kanato was preparing his mini tea party, positioning all his stuffed toys in their places. He patted his doll’s head to smoothen out the frizzy hair when suddenly, there was fire coating his fingertips, almost setting the doll on fire.Kanato quickly retracted his hand and waved it off, ensuring there was no trace of flame on his fingertips. He became afraid of what he had seen. After all, the priests have warned people about magic and how it only causes harm. At this point, Kanato believes the old gods must have cursed him to suffer.And so, every night, he would whisper to Teddy that the fire was nothing. It was just his imagination brought by the overdose of tea and sweets. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.Ayato and Laito soon discovered his secret. One time, Ayato teased him by stealing Teddy from him, with Laito trying to stop the two from fighting. Of course, Kanato, desperate to get the stuffed bear back, decided to push him to the floor and grab Teddy from him. But when he did, fire coated his fingers again and it hit Ayato on his shoulder; it wasn’t enough to burn him though.Kanato was scared for his life at that moment. Oh no. Ayato and Laito know. They’ll tell Mother and Father. Then they’ll lock me up in a tower and brand me insane, he thought.But Ayato only touched his flame-coated fingers and gaped in delight. “You’re awesome, Kanato! How did you get them on your fingers?”Laito agreed. “Is that your secret power?”The triplets played more often because of Kanato’s power. Of course, the middle triplet practiced caution. After all, he didn’t want to hurt his brothers with fire.But their happy times were short-lived. One day, High Priest Seiji Komori visited Karlheinz and told him that the church needs to cleanse Kanato’s soul because “the child is going to bring chaos to Westeros by kissing the Darkness itself.” Of course, the idea seemed preposterous to Cordelia, bringing the triplets behind her back while Kanato covers his ears to block out the noises.“My son is not a monster,” she spat, her green eyes glaring at the indignant Seiji.But the followers of the old gods kept on pressuring the House Sakamaki to surrender Kanato, urging them that the prince will be the one to bring ruin to Westeros. That’s why Kanato escaped from the castle, sadly leaving poor Teddy on his bed and running in the forest, not knowing where he would go afterward. However, someone from the Church discovered his plan, and soon, a group of people was tailing after him, leading him to run in fright.
Someone!

SOMEONE!

SOMEONE, HELP ME!
Suddenly, he felt a force grab his arm, hiding him from the church members. When Kanato turned to see who it was, it was the Darkness itself, donning an androgynous body. Its pointed nails threatened to scratch his cheek as it admired his appearance.“My child, how I long for you to appear before me,” it spoke with admiration, a cruel smile on its mouth.Kanato panted for air. “Are you the Darkness? Are you the one who protected me?” he asked, looking around to see that there was nothing but a place full of fog and gray skies.The Darkness nodded, leaning its face closer to his. “You know, little prince, the Light and I have been waiting for you. We have been expecting this day to come.”Kanato’s brows are knitted in confusion, frowning as he didn’t get what it meant. Without further ado, the Darkness flashed him various memories.They were all too much for him. The living and the undead. Adam and Eve. The dragons. The King of Ghouls. The hounds. The snakes. The rise and fall of the bats. The Spider. The Shadow of Death. The battle of the bastards. And lastly, a child turns into a shadow monster, ready to kill its enemies.And then everything stopped. The Darkness was gone, and Kanato was standing in the middle of the forest, his eyes wild and crazy with fresh tears. The church members were all prepared to capture him when they saw another figure interlacing its fingers with Kanato’s as they chanted the old Valyrian spell.“Oh sȳndror, rȳbagon bisa riña se ivestragī zirȳla glaesagon. Kostilus mazōregon zirȳla hae iā irudy syt zȳhon nēdenkī” (1)And the next thing, a huge chunk of the forest was sent into purple flames. Ayato and Laito ran to the source and found Kanato with his arms covered in purple flames with the dead bodies of the church members around him. He was laughing hysterically, purple eyes sad and crying. After a few seconds, he was screaming in anger and asking the old gods why he was being punished.Of course, Seiji Komori was adamant to make Karlheinz sacrifice his child. But because Kanato can summon flames, bring inanimate objects to life, and see visions, he decided the middle triplet must be put to good use. That’s why Kanato killed. That’s why he robbed them of their lives. That’s why the Sakamaki’s got the advantage over their enemies.However, Kanato quickly realized he didn’t want the magic he obtained to be used for his father’s schemes.I did not sell my soul to the Darkness just to be used like this, he thought.That’s why, when he saw how Karlheinz would die, he made sure to never tell him.
If I can’t kill him, then I might as well not tell him about his death.
After that, everything was a blur. Subaru left to meet the Many-Faced God. Yui was forced by the Church to marry Shin. Ayato got exiled protecting him and Laito. Laito left the palace to find their brother. Reiji was scheming with his mother. And now, he witnessed Shuu destroying the throne.“Are you done with the damage?” Kanato inquired, almost startling the eldest Sakamaki.Shuu placed back his sword in his scabbard and walked past Kanato like he did nothing. They both know they won’t tell a soul about this incident.Kanato could only sigh. “Are you going back to the Wall?”Shuu stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder to see if Kanato was scheming something. When he found that he wasn’t, he nodded. Then he realized—“Why are you asking? You know everything that happens,” Shuu pointed out.Kanato walked towards him and slipped the hood of his cape over his head. “I’m coming with you.”Shuu frowned. “You have nothing to do in the North.”“I am not going to the North.”“… Then, where are you going?”“Rotigenberg. It’s in the North East.”Shuu’s blue eyes widened in shock. If Kanato goes there, he’ll be in great danger.“That’s where the undead lives.”“… I know.”A moment of silence ensued. Shuu masked his concern with indifference. This is the path they have taken. No use backing out now.“I will drop off at the land before the snow,” Kanato stated, to which Shuu agreed. “No need for you to accompany me.”The two of them resumed walking, but before Kanato could go inside the carriage, Shuu held his arm and spoke seriously.“Valar morghūlis.” (2)Kanato hitched a breath at that, then chuckled.“Valar dohaeris.” (3)

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

When Yui and Bernadette escaped from the Tsukinami castle, the giant dragon brought them to a city in the southeastern part of the map. And upon arrival, people they pass by were giving them astonishing looks. Yui couldn’t blame them; they were riding on a giant dragon, after all.“Bernadette,” Yui whispered to the frightened girl, “hold onto me. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”Bernadette feebly nodded, her arm linking with Yui’s as she scans the people staring at them. They just managed to escape death, and now they’re barely alive thanks to Yui’s powers.Suddenly, a fabric vendor frantically stepped towards them and bowed deeply.“The Lord of the Light has answered our prayers! The Mother of Dragons has come to save us!” he proclaimed, and soon, all the people nearby followed suit, bowing to Yui’s presence and regarding her as Lady Eve.Meanwhile, the two women were bewildered, reluctantly accepting the gifts from the vendors who were grinning happily at them. They were telling stories of how the Dothraki claimed their land and terrorized the civilians. Well, if Yui clearly remembers from Ayato, the Dothraki have decided to widen their territory.
“The Dothraki Sea is a vast place,” Ayato told her one day, pointing at the country on the map with his sword. “Though there are countries there that can thrive peacefully without them ruling, some Khals prefer to conquer them as their trophies. That’s how those fucking barbarians think. They like their women like their horses.”
Bernadette whispered to Yui, “Lady Eve, there’s something strange in this town.”And later on, when the Khals received news of Yui’s arrival, they immediately sent out their best men to fetch the two women. They praised Yui for her bravery against the House Tsukinami (though they were just empty words, they will have to do). In addition, Yui kept noticing the other Khals looking her up from head to toe, muttering Dothraki words under their breath.She quickly understood what they were doing. No wonder Ayato-kun calls them barbarians.“Is there anything we can do for the Mother of Dragons?” one of them asked in a Westerosi tone.Yui nodded, gesturing at Bernadette. “Please take her to a place far away from here.”The Khals were alarmed, while Bernadette was only surprised. “L-Lady Eve! What do you mean?”“I promised you freedom,” Yui replied. “You can’t be here.”Another Kahl started speaking in Dothraki, which was translated by their representative. “The lady cannot go. It is a rule of the Khals that they now own her.”“Bernadette is mine,” she stressed. “You cannot own her.”The Khals suddenly gathered for a brief meeting, and after a few minutes, the representative spoke.“The men have all agreed to keep your lady safe. However, in exchange, the Mother of Dragons will remain in this place.”“Done.”And since then, Yui has become the center of attention of men and the envy of women. Some loved her enough to give her presents. Others loathed her presence and called her bitch when she was not looking. There are also a few men who fought for her hand, killing themselves to become Adam. The others find these events enjoyable, but Yui doesn’t laugh. She doesn’t humor them. She just watches them with a hard gaze, stone cold as if they’re being ridiculous.This only infuriated the Khals, claiming how brazen the Mother of Dragons is for ignoring all the men fawning over her. Hence why they instructed Yui to come to the Temple of the Dosh Khaleen, where she will be judged for her misdeeds.“Is it so wrong of me to reject men I don’t have affections for?” Yui questioned, staring at all of them in the eye.“The men who have fought for your hand have died,” the Khal representative said. “And now, there’s a decrease in the number of men fighting in this town.”“I didn’t ask for them to fight over me,” she mumbled, which the Khals have rejected.“You have no right!” the Khal representative replied. “Women do not have a voice in Dosh Khaleen.”“Vosma anha tat,” Yui countered with a knowing smile, observing how their mouths were agape with surprise. (1)She walked away from the center of the temple, approaching the torches, not minding if the fire burns her skin.“You do not ignore or walk away from us,” the Khal representative warned. “You will be punished by Dosh Khaleen for doing so.”She only ignored him, tracing her fingers with the fire. Yui remembered another of her precious conversations with Ayato somewhere at one of the temples in the King’s Landing. He always found her ridiculous for always praying for safety.
“You know, Laito told me something about people praying to the old gods for safety.”

“What is it?”

“The gods will do nothing when you’re in danger.”
Yui’s faith never wavered back then. But everything was different now. She had seen another side of the story, and it only made her believe Ayato’s words. After all, the gods did nothing when she was suffering back then.She closed her eyes and held the ends of the torch, not minding the leftover burns.“Do you believe that Vezhof will hear you if I burn this temple?” Yui asked, daring to burn Dosh Khaleen to the ground. There was a fire in her eyes that tells them she was going to make the wrong move.“How dare you speak the name of Vezhof in vain?!” the Khal representative screamed. “You’re the Mother of Dragons born from the Church. You should know how to respect the gods.”Yui only smiled, tightening her grip. “I do. I just don’t pray anymore.”The Khals were terrified as Yui placed her hand directly into the fire, her smile still intact. “You bitch! You would really dare talk back?! You will not be a Khaleesi. From now on, the Dothraki will not be your allies.”“Rek’s vo tawak.” Yui walked back to the center again. “Haji asshekh, yer’re ei elat tat athdrivar.” (2)And the next thing, the giant dragon who saved them jumped into the temple, breaking the ceiling and roaring flames at the Khals who started running towards the doors. They kept banging on it, screaming for help. Ayato’s words were true. The gods will really do nothing when you’re in danger.When the temple has been burned down, and all the Khals have died, Yui stepped out of the fire unscathed, holding her locket in her hands as she stood dignified before all the Dothraki who bowed their head in her presence.“Make way for the Khaleesi! All hail, Khaleesi!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

There was an old man who lived his whole life on the Wall, and now that he’s nearly dying, the guards left to watch over him to ensure he won’t do any drastic measures before his supposed death. But the old man doesn’t seem to be doing anything of the sort, so Yuma decided it would be time to leave his post for a while and grab a jar of sugar cubes.And while he’s at it, he kicked the man sleeping on the snowy ground. “Oi, lazy ass!” he barked in annoyance. “You’re the next on watch.”The said man, who was revealed to be Shuu, frowned, glaring at Yuma for disturbing his precious sleep. Nonetheless, he shook off the snow covering his form and stood up to do his duty.
Fuck this shit. I should be doing something other than sitting here all day waiting for an old man to die.
Just when he’s about to doze off again, he heard a knock on the door, making him groan as he opened it and saw the old man draped with blankets and motioned for him to enter the room. Shuu thinks the worst-case scenario would be that this dying guy will ask him to wipe the shit from his ass.“Is there something you need?” Shuu asked.The old man only touched his hand, reading his palm for a good few minutes before saying, “Do you believe in magic?”Shuu contemplated. Well, he has seen Kanato wield fire and bring things to life. And there’s this story about Yui being the Mother of Dragons, so he supposes he does.When the blonde nodded, the man showed a mini floating snowflake in his hand. “Touch it.”And when Shuu did, he saw visions of a woman carrying a child in her arms and the next thing, it turned into a shadow monster, destroying an entire section of a snowy forest as it screeches and growls in madness. The forest then morphed into darkness and crows appeared, along with a man who was riding a giant raven and commanding the undead to march forward towards the wall.Suddenly, a burst of flame blasted and Shuu was snapped from the visions. He swallowed a hard lump in his throat and then asked, “What was that?”The old man removed his hold on him. “That’s the reason I served in this place.”To clarify his confusion, the old man further added, “Do you know why people like us cannot dwell in a foolish thing they call love?”“Because love is the absence of duty.” Well, Shuu knows it’s true. Karlheinz even applied the same principle in Westeros, hence why all the members of the House Sakamaki are seriously fucked up.“As someone from the House Feinze, we put value in our house words. ‘For the people, for the realm,’” the old man told him fondly. “I’m sure your kin already knows of the future ahead. He’s probably in Rotigenberg by now as we speak.”There was a moment of silence. The future is a faraway word. But of course, Shuu wouldn’t understand the people of magic. Time for them is an infinite thing that happens fast. Because they already know everything, they have already shared their beloved’s pain in advance.“There are more wars to come, Sakamaki prince. But there’s no need for you to worry. You’ll outlive them all and fight the great war.”“And how do you know I’ll live through it all?”“The members of our house are proud children of the Light, and as one of your family’s allies, it is our duty to save you from future harm.”Those were the old man’s last words before Shuu and Yuma buried him beneath a weirwood tree. After all, he has devoted his entire life to humanity. Might as well give him a proper grave. Once done, Shuu was prepared to go back and disinfect the old man’s room when Yuma called his attention.“Ya sure took yer sweet time talking to this Feinze guy, huh,” Yuma mentioned, carrying the shovel in one hand.Shuu turned to him, nodding his head and regarding him with a gaze that says, “I bet you knew who he was and what we talked about.”Yuma chuckled at the blonde’s reaction and sighed. “That man told me I am going to die soon.”And then it hit Shuu like a ton of bricks.“That man…” Shuu trailed off. “He said I will live… and fight the great war.”“He told me the same thing.” Yuma scratched the back of his head in frustration. “Wish I was there when the great war happens.”The two of them walked back to their cabin at Castle Black, and while they were at it, Yuma narrated how the old man invaded his past memories.“I had a woman I loved once, ya know,” Yuma noted, a wistful look on his face. “But I cannot give her the peaceful life she deserves. Heck, she waited for me under the same weirwood tree where we often meet. That foolish sow.”Shuu was not a bit interested, but he wanted to kill time so he asked, “Then what happened?”Yuma sighed, his voice grim as he answered, “She ran away from home to find Castle Black, but she was killed by the undead.”Shuu’s blood ran cold at that. So it was true. The myth about the undead dominating the North and their king’s goal of endless nights is really true. When Shuu turned to Yuma, there was a slight jump scare about the future. Anyone can be killed, that’s true.
But in a few months’ time, everyone will die, and the world will cease to exist.
“What’s that look on your face, eh?” Yuma noticed, snickering. “You really know nothing, you bastard prince.”“Were you there when it happened?”Yuma shook his head. “I actually intended to go, but that same old man told me not to.”“Why?”“Because it wasn’t my time to join her with the old gods.” Then he added. “Besides, I can’t abandon my duty as part of the Night’s Watch.”
Love is the absence of duty.
Shuu huffed, watching the snow fall as breaths of the air come out of his mouth. “Let’s get going.”All the while, he remembered the words he heard from the vision.“Valar dohaeris; konir sagon drēje. Valar morghūlis, yn daor ao. Aōha jēda ēza yet naejot māzigon, Sakamaki dārilaros.” (1)

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ayato was in deep pain.Deep.Searing.
Pain.
He grimaced, his back leaning on the cold wall of his prison cell as he struggled to stop the blood flowing from his right hand, which had been cut off earlier. He tries not to make a sound as he bandaged himself, forcing himself to bite his tongue until it bleeds. After all, he won’t give these fuckers the satisfaction of knowing he’s in pain.It’s a good thing they didn’t cut my left, he thought because he knew he was one of those rare swordsmen who fought with their left hand.Once done, he quietly sighed, wiping off the sweat from his forehead as he reminisced about the events that had transpired before this whole thing.When the dragon led him out of the forest, he was brought into a town untouched by any other houses. In fact, it was a town that never knew anything about the war between kingdoms nor the upcoming battle between the living and the undead. All the people know is that there is no such thing as war, but long-lasting peace.
Ah… another bunch who believes in false positivity. They never know what’s coming for them.
Ayato decided to rest in this town for a bit, and it surprised him that no one knew him. Like they didn’t question why he had that crass yet sharp Westerosi accent or how he can speak like a prince (well, he is one). It’s like he’s just an ordinary man, not an exiled prince from the King’s Landing.If Ayato was being reckless, he might’ve probably hatched a plan to take Yui away and live with her peacefully in this town. Then, hopefully, after a few months, they will marry and have kids of their own, bundle of joys that they will spoil rotten as they grow old and wrinkly.But Ayato knew it was a fleeting dream. After all, there will come a time his enemies would attack him and he’ll just be putting Yui in danger again. Plus, Yui has changed. Word spread of her flight from the Tsukinamis as she rode on a giant dragon and conquered a vast land in the Dothraki sea.She’s a fine queen on her own, he mused with a sad smile. She can do fine without me.After a few days, Ayato decided to set out to the next town when a group of bandits cornered a poor whore and tried to fuck her during daylight. Ayato didn’t know why he defended her and decided these men should just take him as their prisoner.He thinks maybe the woman reminded him of Yui and how she was raped by her so-called dead “husband.”So when one of the men recognized him as the exiled prince, they wasted no time mocking him. Instead, they put out both of his hands, the bandit leader watching him to see if he would yield.He licked his lips in delight. “Tell me, oh great prince. Which hand will we cut off?”Ayato remained indignant, staring at the pinky on his right hand as his mind remembered the last time he saw Yui and the promise they made. Their skin was covered in nothing but the sheets as the moon illuminated her beauty. She was a sad woman, but she willed herself to be strong as she smiled.
“Promise me, Ayato-kun,” she whispered, holding out her pinky to him. Tears were slipping out of her eyes and he brushed his thumb to wipe them off from her cheek.

“There’s no need to cry, Chichinashi,” he assured, slightly guilty that his love has brought her nothing but pain. “I will always love you. I have your locket, remember?”

“But promise me!” she insisted. “Promise me, that one day, we will be together. I don’t care where. I just… want to be with you.”

Ayato sighed, holding out his right pinky and entangling it with hers. He leaned his face close, his forehead touching hers.

“I promise Lady Yui of the House Komori, that I, Prince Ayato of the House Sakamaki, will take her, wed her, and be with her until the end of our days.”
Because Ayato had been staring for a good while at his right hand, the bandit leader decided to cut it off from him as quick as possible, boasting how he has finally taken the armor of the devil’s spawn.And that’s where it led him to his prison cell—starving, cold, wounded, and smelling of piss and shit. They even took Hildbrand from him.He gritted his teeth, narrow green eyes with a murderous glint.
These fuckers will not make it alive.
He thought of a plan, then he remembered the time when he and Laito first discovered Kanato’s fire magic. Kanato stole a book from the private shelf of the castle’s library, teaching them how to summon magic. Kanato wanted to learn how to control his fire better and he didn’t want his brothers to be left out, so he thought they could try learning a spell or two.
“But you’re the only one here with magic,” Ayato argued, scrutinizing the Valyrian words on the page that teaches about familiar summoning.

“We’re triplets, you know,” Kanato pointed out as Laito set up the scarecrows the middle triplet made while their mother wasn’t looking. “I’m sure you two can do magic.”

“Are you sure about that, Kanato-kun?” Laito inquired, doubtful about his words.

Kanato nodded. “Just repeat after me. You two will be able to use this magic someday. Gūrogon skoros pōnta enkagon.”

Ayato and Laito stared at each other, completely distrusting Kanato, but decided to just get on with it.

“Gūrogon skoros pōnta enkagon,” they chanted in unison.

And the next thing, a cloud of bats came swarming in the garden, attacking the scarecrows until nothing was left. Ayato and Laito were both stunned, watching Kanato approach the bats and give them fruits as their reward.

“See!” Kanato told them with glee. “I knew you two can do magic.”
But Ayato has never used that spell afterward, so he wasn’t sure if this will work this time.
“Just repeat after me. You two will be able to use this magic someday.”
He sighed.“Gūrogon skoros pōnta enkagon.” (1)And the next thing there was a rumbling. Ayato heard the men outside his cell confused and scared, then a cloud of bats came swarming into the hideout, filling all the walls with their blood and screams. Some of the bats came to rescue him, licking his open wound so he wouldn’t suffer so much from blood loss.While they were doing so, the bandit leader entered his cell, threatening Ayato with his own sword.“You did this, you exile bastard!” he yelled, witnessing how more bats were swarming Ayato than usual.The only reply Ayato gave him was an evil smirk, similar to what he was donning when he cut off his right hand. Having none of his insults, the bandit leader charged at him, alerting the bats who were healing Ayato.And the next thing, the bats attacked him, sucking the blood out of him and eating his flesh until he was nothing but bones. As the bats were feasting on the bandit leader, Ayato stood up from the floor, picked up his sword, and returned it to his scabbard.He walked out of his cell, marveling at the view of the dead men while the bats feasted on their leftover food. There was a leftover beer from a mug, and he didn’t mind if it was touched or not. So he drank it to his heart’s content, slamming down the mug on the table once he was done.He wiped off his mouth and hummed in satisfaction.“Nothing beats being alive in this shithole, you fuckers,” he said to the dead men in the room.
Well, as if they would know. They’re fucking dead, these little pieces of cunt meat.
Afterward, Ayato cleaned himself and stole some of their clothes and their remaining gold bars. He’ll head to the next town, get a new arm, and possibly a new army of his own.After all, he has to take back what is owed to him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Reiji observed the chess pieces he made for his plan, smiling to himself as every single one of them is as it should be.
So Eve finally has her own kingdom and army at the Dothraki. The Tsukinamis are dead. Subaru and the triplets are nowhere to be found. Now all that’s left are the Mukami’s, the Queen, and that good-for-nothing.
All his life he has been serving his father, always earning his favor in hopes he would see him as his successor. But now that he’s dead, Reiji is sure the clocks of time and the game of thrones are agreeing with him.Of course, he still can’t forget what Kanato warned him. His timely death, as per the wizard’s vision.Reiji didn’t know when that time will come, but he was sure it will be far from today. For now, he’ll just focus on what he can do before seizing what he believes is rightfully his.
Let’s see… My next move is to—
There was a knock on the door. “Milord? You’ve asked for my presence?” a familiar feminine voice asked behind the door.Reiji went towards the door and opened it, revealing Estelle with a tray of his usual teapot and set of tableware. She was wary of him, almost as if she was walking on eggshells. Though to be fair, Reiji expects her to be that way.After all, Estelle was a whore, and his brother took her as his woman once. Of course, Beatrix found out and she sent Estelle away and threatened to kill her if she continues her relationship with Shuu, only for Reiji to find out she was one of his wife’s servants here in Vale.Reiji let her in, telling her to set down the tray on the table so he could discuss something with her.“What would be the topic about?” she asked, slightly hoping it wouldn’t be a dangerous one that involves seeing Shuu.“I am actually packed with my schedule, so I thought I needed a helping hand,” he told her, carefully taking her hand in his to prove his point. “I remember you know how to copy handwriting techniques, so I thought you would be best suited for the job.”Estelle stammered, unable to free her hand from him out of nervousness. It was only when Lady Tiyana Appleton, the queen of Vale, knocked on the open door, clearing her throat to announce her presence.At this moment, Estelle pulled her hand away, rubbing it on her clothes discreetly to prove her point to the lady at the door who was frowning at the scene before her.Reiji gave her a sickening smile. “Tiyana, my dear. It’s good to see you’re doing well after that fever.”And after that, Reiji was attentive to her needs, spending time with her as she makes her usual flower arrangements while complaining about Estelle.“Why do you still keep her? She’s nothing but a nuisance.”“I have to, my dear. Estelle healed you back to health, after all. She’s been helpful to us ever since we took her.”But Estelle and Reiji got much closer to Tiyana’s dismay. He often relied on her about heavy tasks like sending letters to the Houses, ensuring he got all the ingredients for his poison experiments, handling all his important documents etc.Tiyana silently seethes in anger every time she sees them, but Reiji meant no harm. Everything for Reiji was business, of course. The way he moves calculatory while keeping a careful watch on their enemies. That’s why Tiyana killed for him. They loved each other, so she had to kill all the people who dared tear them apart.But Reiji had ulterior motives at that. He knew of Tiyana’s feelings for him and took advantage of the situation. One time, while Estelle helped him picked out the rare ingredients for his new experiment, Reiji played the victim, telling the stories of a man who’s tired of constantly proving himself. And in the midst of his story, he kissed her. But Estelle felt nothing but anxiety about it.And a few days after that, Reiji witnessed his wife, trying to push Estelle towards the Moon Door, mad and hysterical about how the whore tried to bewitch Reiji.“How dare you tear us apart, you wench?!” Tiyana screamed, forcing Estelle to look down at the Moon Door. The latter would only beg for her mercy, hoping Tiyana wouldn’t push her down the Moon Door and end her life.“I did everything. EVERYTHING FOR REIJI!” she screamed, crying hysterically. “I killed everyone who got in our way—even my former husband—just so Reiji and I can be together.” Tiyana pulled her hair tighter. “And now… Everything! EVERYTHING’S FALLING APART BECAUSE YOU KEPT ON TEMPTING HIM!”“I have no intentions of Lord Reiji, Lady Tiyana,” Estelle cried. “Please, let me go.”Reiji stepped in at the moment before it got worse. “My love.”Tiyana stopped momentarily at that, his presence enough to make her weak.“My love,” Reiji was being careful. “Don’t do that.”Tiyana only cried. “Why are you defending her? She was getting in our way! She needs to die!”“My love, we need her, remember?” Reiji reminded. “Besides, I pledged my life to you. I will never find someone I will spend my lifetime with other than you.”After a few minutes, Tiyana decided to let Estelle go, crying in Reiji’s arms and whispering not to leave her behind.“I wouldn’t leave you, Tiyana,” Reiji assured. “I would do anything for you.”She sniffed. “Likewise. I would do anything for you and our love.”“Anything?”“Anything.”And the next thing, Reiji pushed her towards the Moon Door, smirking as he saw the shock and betrayal across Tiyana’s face as she fell down. Estelle’s mouth was wide open, her scream lost in agony as she watched the whole scene in front of her.That’s when she realized what Reiji had done.He sighed. “That’s one nuisance taken out. There’s one more to go.”When he turned to Estelle, he gave her a knowing smile, a smile of the devil who had accomplished his plan. Reiji has now power in Vale, and he can do anything he wanted to crush his enemies.“Thank you for your good work, Estelle,” Reiji commented. “I hope this ‘affair’ will last for a long time.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It took weeks for Laito to be able to think straight again, his severe wound from Kou healing as he tried to come up with an escape plan and put all the information he obtained to good use. After all, he can now bring back Lady Christa to King’s Landing and alert them of the House Mukami’s plan of dethroning the House Sakamaki.
But… how?
Despite his countless foolproof escape plans, Laito goes back to square one. First, his mother seized the throne and appointed Reiji as her right hand. Second, a little bird informed him about Lady Tiyana’s death. Apparently, she jumped off the Moon Door because of heartbreak. Well, Laito didn’t believe that.Estelle worked for him for a while before Beatrix cast her aside, and she told him that Lady Tiyana was a mad woman who will do anything for Reiji’s affections.
Reiji probably killed her off before she got him.
“What are you thinking, Prince Laito?” Christa asked, her voice breaking him from his thoughts.Laito turned to her, sitting beside her on the ground. Her red eyes were filled with worry and anxiety, and he thinks perhaps his concentrated face reminds her of Karlheinz when he raped her and told her how Subaru was a failed experiment.Laito smiled, wearing his usual cheery mask in hopes of ensuring Christa won’t get insane again. It’s getting harder to move in this prison cell and he can’t provide care for another person—even if they were his kin.“I just remembered something,” he lied.Christa was stunned. “Oh.”“Hm? Why, Lady Christa?”“I…” she hesitated, her forlorn gaze lingering on the door.Laito followed her line of sight and spotted a shadow of a man peeking through from the slit of the door below.As if understanding her sentiment, Laito leaned his ear closer to her.“You can whisper to me, Lady Christa. No one will hear.”Christa swallowed deeply, nervous about what she was about to do. After a few minutes, she relented and whispered in his ear.“Subaru… when was the last time you saw him?”Now, this was odd. It was said that Christa often pushed Subaru away from her, crying at the sight of him as she screams the word “filthy.” No one knows if she’s referring to herself or Subaru, but whenever he gets close or strays away, she would utter the word like a mantra.Laito’s threading on eggshells now. Maybe he should tell a fond memory or something that would make Subaru a great son. He can’t risk triggering her insanity in this situation.“The last time I saw him… well… he told me about the No-Faced God,” he answered, and it wasn’t a lie. He really talked to Subaru about the story of the No-Faced God.It was a few days before Subaru’s coming-of-age ceremony when the triplets watched him spar with a sword-dancing teacher in the castle’s garden. The youngest kept on blabbering about the No-Faced God and how he wanted to be like “No One.”
“Is it fun to be No One, though?” Laito asked. “Most people like us wanted to retain an identity for ourselves.”

Subaru contemplated for a moment, huffing when he dodged his master’s wooden sword and said, “But it’s cooler to think that you killed your enemy and they have no idea who did it. Besides, you can go sneaking around and no one will know it’s you.”
“I… I told Subaru about the No-Faced God,” Christa started, “that he was a great warrior, like the Shadow of Death.”There was a moment of silence.“Prince Laito.”“Yes, my lady?”Christa fixed her clothing and hugged Laito to her chest, stroking his hair like he was her son and she was his true mother.“Just… l-let me do this. Please. Just for once… as a mother.”Laito could only nod, feeling her fingers pet his hair gently.The two got close, reminiscing on happy times at King’s Landing… that was until Christa was escorted by the guards outside of their cell and never came back for a few days. Laito had a nagging thought that Christa was killed, but he was proven wrong when she was taken back to their cell again.Something’s off, he believed this train of thought, observing Christa’s odd movements.And when they were given their food, Laito noted how Christa was taking hesitant and small bites of her meal.
Oh, no—
The next thing, he shoved her meal away and tried to make her spit out the food but Christa just swallowed them all, tears falling down from her eyes as she forced herself to tell Laito that she had to do this.“Why?” he asked in an audible whisper, holding her as if she was being insane again.“… Lord Kou… I…” she cried more, trying her best to tell everything, “I wanted to save Subaru.”“You can’t protect him forever.”She nodded in agreement. “But I wanted to. T-T-They told me that… i-i-if I don’t tell them where S-S-Subaru is… either you die… or I do.”Laito stilled at that, swallowing a hard lump. She didn’t have to do that. He won’t allow it. Never. NEVER!“ Lady Christa,” he hissed, “you need to live—Please, do this for Subaru—Lady Christa—”But Christa’s skin was slowly turning purple, eyes turning red as she spits out vile and vomit. Laito bit his lip again, forcing himself not to cry out so he won’t give them the satisfaction of winning. He felt her hand on his cheek as she mustered the strength to tell her important words.“I-I-I’m sorry f-f-for all I’ve d-d-done… Subaru…”The guards started to gather outside their cell as Christa finally succumbed to her death. Laito was bitter and angry at that. He should’ve died; he murdered innocent people and robbed them of their treasures. But Christa didn’t have to. Sure, his mission is to bring back Ayato and ensure the standing of the House Sakamaki, but he knows Kanato will do it for him. He saw the future, after all.
The hell. The hell with them.
He stabbed his arm using his fork and used the blood to draw a magic seal. Kanato taught him in the past about a special signal that he can use only once to send an important message.“Rȳbagon nyke, uēpa raqiros, se jikagon ñuha udra.” (1)Afterward, the seal glowed and vanished into thin air. He might not make a move now, but one day, Laito will see an opening. And by that time, he will take back everything.Everything that is his.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Subaru was disguised as a commoner in Braavos when a bat familiar entered from his bedroom window that morning. And yes, it was an odd occurrence. For him, this meant one thing.Someone from his house has sent a message.When he touched the familiar, it turned into a piece of paper filled with mixed Valyrian words. Subaru frowned, wanting to curse himself for his lack of knowledge of the Valyrian language.
Damn. I should’ve listened to Reiji when he taught me how to read these words properly.
Before he was about to try his luck deciphering the words, the letters suddenly jumbled on their own and the next thing, it turned into a small black pearl that was floating midair. Subaru was cautious, thinking that it might be another ploy of the enemies to kill him unhanded. But when he touched it, he saw something different.He saw memories of someone’s point of view, mostly about his mother inside a prison cell trying to survive with this person. And when he heard Christa utter Laito’s name, it took him a few seconds to figure everything out.But as he saw the memories, they became painful to bear. After all, he saw his mother die in Laito’s arms, her red eyes filled with sadness and regret that she wasn’t able to properly bid her son goodbye. Instead, she turned Laito into her makeshift son so she could experience being a mother for a short while.A few moments after, Laito covered her body with a spare blanket, placing her in the corner so no one would try to get her and burn her remains. Subaru was silently thankful for that, though he hoped Laito would find a way to turn his mother’s body into ashes and bury them by the weirwood tree.After seeing the visions, Subaru didn’t know what exactly to feel at everything he had seen. He was sad and regretful that Christa died; sorry for Laito because he had to endure the pain in that cell; and angry at Kou Mukami and the people involved with the hostage plan on his mother for years.
Maybe that damn High Priest Komori was right. Maybe we are the curse at the King’s Landing.
But he can’t let these thoughts take over his mind. Seiji Komori has been manipulative all throughout their lives, and he knew the old fart kept running his damn mouth about the old gods and how they would punish the Sakamaki’s for not heeding his advice because he wanted the Church to control the state.
“The Church is the way of light. Our words are always right.”
So when Subaru began investigating everything about him, he discovered various things.
Seiji didn’t want Lady Yui to become the Mother of Dragons because he deemed magic as evil.
He conspired with other houses to wage war so these people would kill Kanato.
He sent out former knights and soldiers from the House Sakamaki, as well as other lower priests, to hide Christa and ensure she would never come back.
Thus, Subaru planned out his revenge. During his departure from Braavos, he heard someone mention a brothel house somewhere in Myr. It was something along the lines of: “The old geezer likes his men beautiful and fair. They might have a blemish or two, but nothing medication can’t fix.”And they kept talking about it until he heard a familiar name, someone involved with the hostage plan.Priest Daaros of the House Baerroran.When Subaru was a child, this man was always beside Christa, giving her medications and chanting prayers that would “heal” her insanity. With that in mind, Subaru purposely starved himself, until he was thin enough to be sold at the same brothel Daaros lingers in.Of course, Daaros bought him, took him to his small house, and was about to do the unspeakable when Subaru threatened him with a knife.“Do you know who I am?” he asked, glaring at the man who was about to shit himself off.Daaros nodded, frightened at Subaru’s outburst. “I-I’ll do anything-anything for you, Prince Subaru. J-Just please-”“What is Seiji planning?” And when Daaros hesitated, Subaru held the knife closer to his throat. “I am a prince, and yet you hesitate at the mention of that High Priest?”“H-H-High Priest Seiji… we believe in him!”Subaru chuckled at that. “Yeah, damn right you do, geezer.”“The priests! They want their power back in King’s Landing,” Daaros admitted in defeat, knowing that he fully betrayed his comrades.“Is that true?”Daaros nodded. “The Church wanted to be higher than the King… a-and Seiji did everything. K-King Karlheinz had also planned to make Lady Christa his second wife.”Subaru was stunned at that. If Karlheinz married his mother, then he would be a legitimate prince. Not just a so-called cousin for the triplets.“L-L-Lady Cordelia… she didn’t want anyone to o-o-overthrow her. So when war broke out and the other house wanted a peace offering, she… she told Seiji… to g-g-give Christa and make sure she will never return.”“I remember now,” Subaru responded as if being reminded by a harsh reality. “You’re the one who made my mother fall asleep and took her body to a ship that will go somewhere far from Westeros.”Daaros feared Subaru’s reaction, kneeling in front of him and hugging his leg. “Forgive me, Prince Subaru. I just did what the old gods have spoken. Please, spare my life!”“My brother told me this once.” Subaru traced the knife on Daaros face, the blade making a thin cut and blood trail. “About priests who believe in old gods.”It was Laito who told him these words. He said to him once, “You know, these priests kept worshipping these gods, but they don’t come to their mercy at the time of death.”“What did he say?”“It’s nothing important.”And as the knife trails down his mouth, Subaru whispered.“Today, you will be killed by No One, and afterward, you’ll become nothing.”Daaros’ eyes widened and his scream will never be heard by anyone throughout the night.