The Lone Prince

Chapter 3 - Usurper

After the panic stopped the search for the assassin begin. He was somewhere in the castle. There was not enough time for him to leave.

Takahiro was terrified. His father was dead, and that meant he was going to become a king. He was not ready. He couldn't be a king yet.

His mother ran towards him. She was glad he was alive, the chances that the assassin would kill him too were pretty high. But fortunately, he was alive. But his father should be alive too. Or he should've died instead. Maybe this would be a better option.

He wanted to scream and cry. But he couldn't do that. Not when so many people were looking at him. He had to stay strong. He had finally noticed that his father's crown was stolen. The assassin must've taken it. They needed to get it back. It belonged to his father and it was going to be buried with him. He was not going to let someone else keep it.

He had to think about what to do. But people were talking around him, discussing who could've planned to kill the king, there was no time to mourn now, the assassin was still out there. He took his chance and left the throne room when no one was looking at him. He went to the garden. He ignored the threat of an assassin on the loose.

As soon as he stepped outside he felt a little bit calmer. He took a deep breath and walked around. He sat down under the tree that was in the middle. He finally let his emotions go. He started crying, hiding his face in his hands. His father should still be alive. He should still live for many years. If he only could he would rip the assassin's throat open and make sure he was suffering before he would be dead. He had to find out who did this. And murder him.

"Takahiro!" He heard Issei's voice. He quickly whipped out his tears. He didn't want to show how he was feeling. Matsukawa ran towards him. "Everyone is looking for you"

"Nobody tried to kill me if that's what's important" He said, not paying much attention to the person in front of him. He knew that he couldn't hide forever, he had to come back and officially become the king. But he didn't want that. He wasn't ready.

Without saying anything he got up and started walking back to the throne room. He didn't have a choice. The throne was now his. And he had to take responsibility and become a king. And then make sure that the assassin will pay for his actions.

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A man was sitting on the throne, a bloody body on the floor beside him. Golden crown present on his head.

"What about the kid?" He asked.

"He's alive, I didn't have time to kill him too"

"You fool! My position on the throne won't be safe as long as this brat is alive!" he got up and walked towards the other man, sword in his hand.

"Forgive me, master! I promise I'll bring you his head if you let me live!" He pleaded, kneeling on the ground. The usurper king put away his sword.

"Fine, you have two days" He didn't want to risk his position on the throne. But he couldn't just wait for Takahiro to come and take his throne back. He was the biggest threat to the throne now. And he had to die.

The king walked back to his throne and watched how his assassin ran out of the throne room. He should have paid someone more efficient at doing his job. But he wasn't going to be afraid of Takahiro. After all, he was just a stupid kid.

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Takahiro kept walking in circles. He wanted to do something. But it was so hard to think of anything that wouldn't end with him dying. He was extremely frustrated. He didn't want to eat or sleep, and it was starting to show. He was tired, but sleeping would only make him vulnerable and unable to defend himself in case the assassin came back to take his life.

"Takahiro, you need to rest" his mother tried again, it was the third time she tried to convince him to rest.

"I can't, what if the assassin comes back?"

"The knights are here to protect you"

"They were supposed to protect father too and they failed" his mother sighed. She hugged him.

"I know it's hard for you, but you need to stay strong. No matter what happens, you can count on me. You are my son and I'll always protect you" he was thankful that his mother wanted to help him. And he promised himself that he will never let anyone hurt her. "Now go rest"

He finally agreed. He hoped that if anything happens knights will be able to save him.

He felt someone shaking him in an attempt to wake him up. He opened his eyes and looked at the person. It was Issei. "What's going on?"

"You're needed in the throne room"

"Why?" He knew it had to be something related to him taking the throne.

"I don't know, but it seemed pretty urgent" Takahiro sighed quietly and got up from the bed. He wondered what exactly he needed for. And why was it so urgent that they had to wake him up?

He entered the throne room. There were a lot of people there.

"What's going on?" He was slightly confused.

"Takahiro, you need to take your place as the king," his mother said, in her hands, was the black crown, meant to be his. He would've never expected that it would happen so quickly. But he had no choice, but to accept his fate.

He was crowned in front of the people of this kingdom. The king himself put the crown on his head. Those should've been the people of his kingdom. But there was no time for him to care about this part. He had to get to his kingdom and figure out who wanted his father dead. And who took his crown and his throne.

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Takahiro was walking around the garden. This place was helping him think. Apparently the usurper king convinced everyone that he is dead too. The borders were closed and no one from the outside could legally enter the kingdom without the kings' approval. It was complete madness. This guy wanted to control everything that was happening in the kingdom. He had to stop it.

This was supposed to be just a simple expedition to the neighborhood kingdom and it ended up turning his whole life upside down. The crown was heavy on his head. He shouldn't be the one carrying it. He shouldn't be king. It should be someone else. Someone better, someone who was ready to take this position. But here he was. A kid, unable to get the idea of how to get to his own kingdom.

He sighed and sat down on the grass. It was all too complicated. And it shouldn't be happening in the first place. He needed to figure out a way how to get into the kingdom unnoticed and kill the usurper. He was sure that if the usurper knows that he was alive the knights will be ordered to kill him on sight. Or assassins sitting on every corner to kill him as soon as he steps through the border.

He wondered why was he even alive. Why the assassin didn't kill him? And why no one has tried to kill him? It was weird. If the king wanted the throne si much why hasn't he gotten rid of his biggest threat?

Something was wrong. And he couldn't get rid of the feeling that someone was watching him.

And there was. A tall figure. Hiding in the shadows. Watching his every move. And holding a knife.