Cursed Empire: Rising against the gods

(Within the castle of the Kingdom of Earnest)

Far to the north lies a kingdom of great riches and worth. The city was known as a land of royalty. No commoner could ever spend a night in this kingdom.

Even a slice of bread was unaffordable for the common man. Only the wealthy could survive in this type of environment.

One of the knights of this city stood by the balcony of the Queen's chamber, staring toward the world he was lucky enough to be born in.

He watched as people got ready for work or enjoyed leisure activities, children preparing for school, and even the guards who drank themselves silly.

His name was Xavier Edwards, a young knight dedicated to protecting the queen and her throne. He gained great fame for his acts of bravery and was rewarded with something special.

Lady Jasmine appeared beside him and gently kissed his cheek, "Are you enjoying the view, my champion?" She wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin on his head.

"Milady, I apologize for not waking up beside you. I was just contemplating whether this was the right decision. Your husband is a powerful man, and I'm risking my-" Before Xavier could finish, Jasmine placed her hand on his lips and whispered, "Shhh, my husband won't be able to touch you, I will ensure that. Now come back to bed, let me enjoy your company while he is gone." Jasmine dragged her fingers on his chest as she licked his neck.

"Certainly my milady." The two made their way to bed and once Jasmine was comfortable. She asked, "Do you know why I became the queen of this kingdom?"

Xavier shook his head and responded, "No, I assume you were from a noble family that King Lorenzo decided to merge with."

Jasmine chuckled softly and said, "The real reason was surprisingly simple to him. He didn't want to marry a noblewoman because he had had a bad experience with a royal who called him fat and ugly. With his father on the brink of death, he knew he had to find a suitable wife, or he would lose the crown to his uncle. So, he ventured into the common lands and played a game to determine who was the fairest of them all. I was chosen because I knew nothing about the world and seemed like a simple sheep in his eyes. Those four years I spent with him shaped how I view everyone in this kingdom. Nobody ever dared to challenge him because he was, quote on quote, the savior of the kingdom and had the wealth to keep them silent."

"Sorry, but I need to ask...why tell me this?" He asked.

She pulled his head against her chest and whispered, "It's because I've found my new king. That's you. Together, we can build a nation without any class hierarchy and create a safe haven for those fighting against the heavenly army." Xavier was shocked by the news, but quickly his expression turned to sadness.

He turned his head and looked outside while saying, "Sorry, but I can't do that."

"Is it because of Patrica?" She asked.

Xavier got up from bed and continued to look down towards the ground, "The king helped me find her and even offered to send her to a doctor to help her recover. I can't see myself taking the throne. I don't see myself deserving enough to be your king." He said.

Jasmine leaned closer to him and rested her head against his shoulder, "What if I told you that Axel could attack us for being part of his father's kingdom crumbling to the ground? My husband knows this and is planning to form a deal with him." The news caused Xavier to grip Jasmine's shoulder in confusion. "What?" he exclaimed, feeling both angry and disbelieving.

"He envies Axel. Ever since he learned that Axel has been traveling the world. He longed to be everything Axel represented. That's why he wants Axel to join him as his royal advisor." Xavier's eyes glowed with bright rainbow colors as his frustration grew.

Jasmine placed her hands on his face and smiled intently into his eyes, "We can stop them together. Our hearts reflect our true desires. I want to end the corruption in this kingdom and open the doors for commoners. And you want revenge for what he did to your sister. We can make it happen... together."