Lord of Deception

The Aftermath of a Fallen Hero

Lucian lay motionless on the battlefield, his once-gleaming silver armor now darkened with blood and dirt. The radiance that had once made him a symbol of hope was gone—replaced by the cold silence of death.

Kael stood over him, looking down at the broken hero with mild amusement. The mighty champion of the kingdom had been reduced to nothing.

Selene, still gripping the bloodstained dagger, did not speak.

The weight of her actions settled over her like a suffocating fog.

Lucian had begged her to come back. Even in his final moments, he had still believed in her.

And she had answered with a blade.

Kael watched her carefully. He could see the conflict behind her eyes, but he remained silent. She had made her choice. That was enough—for now.

Turning away from Lucian's corpse, Kael raised his hand. "Burn the bodies. Let the kingdom know that their hero has fallen."

His soldiers cheered, their loyalty unwavering. They had seen their master tear down a legend. Kael was no longer an upstart. He was a conqueror.

But Selene remained frozen.

The fire started to spread across the battlefield, the stench of burning flesh filling the air.

She should have felt triumphant.

Then why did her heart feel so empty?

The Kingdom in Chaos

News of Lucian's death spread like wildfire. The kingdom shattered in mere days.

The nobles, who once relied on the hero to protect them, fell into infighting. Some saw this as a chance to seize power, while others despaired, believing the kingdom was now doomed.

With no hero to lead them, the kingdom had lost its symbol of resistance.

Kael did not need to lay siege to the capital.

The people surrendered willingly.

The White Throne—once ruled by kings for generations—now belonged to him.

And yet, as Kael sat upon the throne, he felt no rush of victory.

He had won. He had everything he had sought since the moment he was reborn in this world.

Then why did it feel… incomplete?

His gaze shifted to Selene, who stood by his side yet had not spoken a word since the battle.

She had given him Lucian's life. She had ensured his victory.

Then why did she look as if she were the one who had lost?

Selene's Doubt

The nights in the conquered capital were quiet. The people feared Kael, and even his most loyal soldiers walked carefully in the halls of their new palace.

Selene sat alone in her chambers, staring at her hands.

Even after scrubbing them clean, she still saw Lucian's blood.

Her heart twisted painfully. Had she really done the right thing?

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

Kael entered, his usual smirk absent. He studied her carefully before speaking.

"Do you regret it?"

Selene's fingers curled into her dress. "I don't know."

Kael sighed, stepping closer. "You made a choice. There's no turning back now."

She looked up at him. "Then why do I feel so empty?"

Kael exhaled through his nose. He had expected this.

Lucian had been more than a lover to her—he had been a belief. A belief that the world could be just and righteous.

Kael had shattered that belief.

But Selene was still adjusting to the new reality.

"You don't feel empty," Kael corrected. "You feel free. You just don't know what to do with that freedom yet."

Selene's lips pressed into a thin line.

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Lucian is gone. The kingdom is ours. The future belongs to us now."

Selene did not pull away.

But she did not lean into his touch either.

Kael knew it would take time.

He had broken Lucian.

Now he would rebuild Selene into something new.

Something that belonged only to him.

And soon…

She would realize it herself.

The Shadow of a New Threat

As Kael secured his rule over the kingdom, whispers of a new force began to spread.

A rebellion?

No. Something worse.

Rumors spoke of a man wearing silver armor, leading a band of warriors in the east. A man who bore Lucian's insignia.

Impossible.

Lucian was dead.

Kael had seen his body burn.

And yet… something was stirring.

Something that threatened everything Kael had built.

His war was not over yet.

And for the first time since his victory—

Kael felt uneasy.

To be continued.....