A new life

part 3

Hello and welcome back to my story, thank you for reading i hope you all enjoy.

I awoke to the same feeling of emptiness in the same dreary room that I had lived in for years since becoming king. In the same palace that the public would die to see inside which had become a scathing reminder of who I actually was. The same country which I had led into numerous wars and had won every one of them. People assume my life is parties and gold and rich and luxurious food, but what would they know? how would they be able to see that there are two sides to everything. How would they be able to see past the expensive jewellery and fake laughter and false respect that bounced off the walls of this damned place. If only they could see past that and the secrets of the corrupt officials that rule this court with greed and lust would be revealed for the world to see. Perhaps though that is not what I want. I have grown too accustomed to this life, and everytime that these intrusive thoughts spark in my head I am grounded by the cheerful smiles of the hopeful innocents that roam the streets. Their cheerful smiles burned with the hope that I would continue to act as their king. The king that brings them endless pride whenever I defeat another country's ruler so they can gloat to the outside masses of my victories, but alas when you have to put up a falsified appearance, you never get your way. Perhaps one day I'll receive the words that break past the mask I have worked so long to perfect, but today is not that day.

"G-Good morning, King Grey" I walked past them as they bowed in fake reverence towards me before making my way to a certain person's room.

"K-King Grey '' I ignored the old man's voice and gazed upon the artwork lining the walls. The council, the ones who actually governed the country, managing its politics and economy. In a world riddled with problems like decreasing birth rates and limited resources, wars were replaced by duels and armies by kings. I was one of them. One of the fools that believed in the new world order and spoke with false passion to keep my position in hope that i don't die the next day, but if that day ever came i would welcome Death with open arms.

"Admiring your artwork, I see" the old man got off of his chair. "While being part of the council is rewarding, I won't lie and say I'm not envious of the fame and glory you kings receive upon victories. anyway, to what do I owe the unexpected visit?"

"I'm retiring, Marlorn, ''taking the symbol of leadership off of my chest. The very symbol that burns painfully into my chest, whispering words into my heart and soul. The words in which I will never be free of this position in which I dread waking up every day. The words that haunt me from the second I wake to the second my head hits the cold pillow and shut my eyes.

"Grey? hold on!"

I spent my whole life for the sake of being the strongest.

and for what?

fame? glory?

I was still an orphan, with everyone I cherished gone.

I'd give up everything I had in that life for the chance to go back to Ashber and see them all again.

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"Where am i?" I opened my eyes and felt the stinging pain of sunlight on them, I couldn't see much though.

"How? Am I still alive? Damn"

I turned and saw the deformed body of the bandit with broken limbs that bent in different directions, blood was everywhere and a knife was through his leg. I hadn't had much time to think as I turned away immediately as my stomach churned and my throat burned. I threw up whatever remained in my body. Exhaustion passed over like a wave of peace and my vision blurred, being replaced by the ever so welcoming darkness that bred those dark thoughts in my head from countless years of mental, emotional and physical torment.