Silent Ruler [DNF]

Chapter 16: Truth be told

If George was nervous as they roamed through the city, he sure did a damm good job at hiding it.

Dream on the other hand was internally panicking. His pulse racing when the royal family finally stepped out. All were dressed in black clothes, decorated with a few silver embroideries and silver jewelry. It reminded him all too much about his sister's execution. Every time these maniacs appeared they made sure to flaunt their powers. His fingers itched to crack the floor beneath them and watch them fall to their deaths.

A guy with sand colored hair stepped farther out of the platform, followed by a younger looking guy and a beautiful woman, who for some reason seemed familiar. That the first guy was the soon-to-be king was no doubt. His icy, calculated gaze flew over the citizens in a condescending way. Dream already disliked him.

"We've all been gathered here today to witness a change in leadership. My dear father passed not long ago, shortly followed by my beloved older brother." The crown prince spoke without a single emotion behind his words.

Dream heard George scoff beside him.

"It's with utmost humility that I'll step up and lead this nation in the same spirit as those before me."

His words awoke a strong sense of anxiety in Dream's mind. Something about his phrasing held a silent promise of destruction.

"Due to recent news, you all will come to witness changes. Changes that should've happened earlier." He paused his speech and gave one of the guards a quick nod.

"– Long have I suspected that an anarchistic rebellion has been forming in the shelter of that cursed forest. As your new leader I deem it fair to showcase full transparency with you – my people. Therefore, I can confirm these suspicions to be true. A spy has been found inside the castle's walls."

Dream's breathing hitched as a man was dragged up on the plateau. The man was beaten and bruised.

"Behold, the traitor. A man who me and my family for long have viewed as one of our closest. Someone that we suspect went so far as to poison my dear brother." The statement was said with such fake sincerity that Dream couldn't comprehend how people could believe a single word the prince spoke. His gaze swept over the people closest to him and landed on George. The brunette's eyes burned with rage.

The poor man was thrown to the ground and a guard rose his sword while awaiting orders. "So, to send a message to fellow sympathizers with the rebellion, this man – Darryl, also known as Bad – will hereby be publicly executed."

Dream could've sworn that the name sounded familiar. But he got interrupted as George took an aggressive step forward. His hand reached for George's arm but found nothing. Sapnap seemed equally confused to George unexpected behavior. The prince kept talking but Dream had lost focus and desperately tried to search for George through the sea of people.

"– In conclusion: This nation will be growing stronger for each passing day with I as its new ruler."

Dream saw George removing his mask and revealed the emotionless facade concealing his face. The brunette found a rock in the middle of the crowd and got on it. People around him dispersed and a general confusion appeared in the crowd.

George's posture was unnaturally straight with his hands clasped behind his back. All and all he looked like a carved statue. The prince noticed George's presence and his expression fell. Dream was desperately trying to understand what George was planning.

Suddenly did George's voice ring throughout the crowd that had fallen silent. "Objection – I, George Henry Davidson, here object to the coronation and reclaim my rightful right to the throne."

Everything fell quiet. The prince's eyes were glued on George with shock. George returned the gaze. "As the firstborn child and crown prince, I will not stand for you wrongfully claiming the throne."

As the confession left George's mouth, Dream's world collapsed. One glance at the queen was all it took to recognize their similarities. He had been right all along. From their first interaction, Dream knew something was off. Yet his bloody heart had fooled him. Out of everyone, he'd fallen for the heir to a tyrant. A monster.

Dream was hurt. His heart was broken. Once more he felt himself falling apart.

How could George live with himself? How the fuck could he have pried on the kindness of the people back in the cave? How could that fucker stand there claiming his right to the throne when hours earlier he had laid curled up in Dream's arms, pretending to care?

Anger got the best of him, and he plowed through the crowd, only capable of seeing George. Without thinking, he harshly grabbed George's arm and yanked. Their eyes met as yelling erupted from guards that were coming to George's rescue.

He didn't even fight back when someone cuffed his arms behind his back and kicked his knees. But he made sure to never let his eyes leave the brunette. George looked at him with mild disinterest and Dream even heard him say to put him in the prison cell along with the poor guy on the platform.  

Everything after that happened in a haze. Dream was being dragged across the gravel and eventually ended up chained to the wall in a dim room underneath the castle. Somewhere along the line had Sapnap interfered but suffered the same fate as Dream. Numbness blocked every emotion and impression from entering Dream's mind. The anger had faltered, leaving nothing behind.

Sapnap was chained to the opposite side of the cell. The ravenette appeared to be in shock. In the middle was the guy that the prince was planning on executing moments earlier. Vague recognition flashed through Dream's clouded brain. But his current state had left him unable to function properly. Pictures of George kept replaying in his mind.

George. The future king of a nation built on massacre, terrorism, and colonization.

A liar, a hypocrite, and the first person Dream ever loved.

How foolish of him to fall for someone that he knew from the start was bad news. And now he knew all the secrets that had kept people safe in the forest for centuries. Dream blamed Philza the most, considering that he had accepted George despite his vague backstory and how he refused to listen to Dream regarding his suspicions. No ordinary man would've been chased by an entire army without an explanation.

But George wasn't an ordinary man. He was the crown prince.

A spark ignited in Dream's heart. No matter what it took or who got hurt in the process, George Henry Davidson would die by Dream's hand and his corpse would be buried in the middle of Earth's core.