His Plea

Part 5

"Happy birthday, your majesty," the man, maybe in his fifties, politely stood before Elphius and wished his well being.

"Thank you, Baron." Elphius with his usual Emperor halo, greeted him.

"That was the last noble, your highness," Gill, his royal subordinate informed him. 'Oh great, I can finally stand up from this cursed throne and get up.' For the past four hours, sitting in an emperor like manner made Elphius's waist about to snap. Elphius was about to get off his seat. "Your highness," when he heard that familiar annoying voice again, he sat back down.

Terror came closer to Elphius, "Happy birthday, brother," He greeted happily. Only Elphius could feel the deep hatred in that voice. It's ironic thinking that today was Terror's birthday too, and even when people wished him a happy birthday, the one he so dearly wanted to hear a wish from, was not here.

"Yes, thank you," he replied in his usual poker face. Looking at his little brother, he beamed, "Happy birthday to you too, Terror."

A momentarily perplexation appeared on Terror's face as if he didn't expect it at all. Being a little awkward, he replied,"Th..ank you." Elphius gave a slight hum. After a few minutes, Terror asked, "These nobles that gathered here, are your loyal followers, aren't they, brother?"

Elphius was a little dumbfounded at that question. How is this related to the gift he was promised? Nonetheless he answered with a question, "How is that any of your business?"

"Oh it is," As Terror finished speaking, a loud voice echoed thorough the large banquet room. A feminine voice, but of course all the people here were alphas. "After all, that's my first and last gift for my lovely big brother." After their 7th birthday, they had never exchanged gifts between themselves. In the next second, another scream was heard. It went on and on through the hall till only Elphius remained as the one still alive. It didn't took long to understand what the situation was. "What are you doing?" Elphius shot another pair of daggers through his eyes to Terror who was standing directly above him.

"I thought you said you knew me," Terror answered in a cold voice. Elphius looked at the bloody scene that just took place right before his eyes. He looked at the security knights, helplessly being murdered without a sound.

"Are you looking for your dear Abolition knights?" Terror asked him, a ruthless smile and cold dark eyes, mixed with those scars, made Terror look like a monster. Those scars, that holds his past, was after all, given by his dear brother. Elphius's eyes falls on it. They were teenaged, young reckless kids, him and Terror. On that day, Elphius nearly killed his little brother. But it was a duel. Isn't it only fair for one party to die? Had their teachers of the academy not interfered, Terror wouldn't be here right now, staging a coup d'etat.

"They are already dead." Terror continued his ruthless voice. "I made sure to kill that lowborn omega Deina Rorrers as well as his entire family," not only his voice, Terror's very existence emitted coldness at that point. He unsheathed his sword with a schik sound, his eyes, still resting at the usual calm Emperor Elphius.

Elphius was prepared, sure, but not for something like this. He thought, being the kind and soft hearted Terror, he would at best, expose all the dirty things of the empire and take his crown. Never in a million years had Elphius thought his actions might make a monster. If he is the reason for the birth of a monster, then what does it make him?

At some point, the huge room, once lit with light and laughter, now turned to dark and silent execution room. Except Terror and Elphius, not a single soul was breathing. "Haha," Elphius laughed genuinely. What was he laughing at? His actions? His fate? 'Fate', after everything he had done and believed, blaming everything on something like 'fate' was just straight up pathetic. He had been a pathetic looser till the end. But he doesn't regret a single thing he did. Everything he did, even if he goes back in the past, he would do it all over again, only this time, a bit more meticulously. "You turned out perfect," he said letting go of his Emperor stance. Terror's sword rested on his neck by then. Leaning on the cursed throne that he chased after all his life, he said as he smiled, "I wish you and I never meet again in, if there is such a thing, called next life." Elphius's eyes were devoid of emotions, rested upon Terror, no, the monster he made, although his smile had a hint of loneliness. "You won't even remember by then," the last thing that Elphius remembered seeing, was the cold face of his dear younger brother.