Fate is Cruel

Chapter One: The King

       A strange letter arrived, no name. Just a simple red seal and bearing my name in bold red cursive lettering.

Prince Keegan Hargreaves

This was not entirely unusual. As the prince of Tashenn, it was ordinary for me to get letters. Most of the time it was about the war's updates, or I was being sent to visit military bases to boost the morale of the troops.

But this one had no address, and does not state whom it is from. Something feels off about this.

Should I open it?

I've been pondering that for a while.

I set the letter carefully on my dark mahogany desk, making sure it is perfectly symmetrical on each side before tilting my chair back. Everything on my desk is neat, from the cup of quills to the stack of books, and even to the piling stack of letters that seems to grow larger every day no matter how many I read and answer. 

Ordinarily, answering these letters would be the King Francis's duty, but he is royally lazy. He does the things expected of him as a king to the bare minimum and leaves the rest up to me, calling it practice for when I inherit the throne. His advisers excuse him for it because of his old age and the fact that he is frail, but I don't buy it. It's not exactly taxing for your body to answer these write responses to his own kingdom. 

My eyes wander back to the letter. Might as well open it, as wrong as it may feel. I let out a sigh as I sit upright and the feet of the chair click onto the cold wood floor quietly. I pick it up, and open it carefully. I pull out the fresh white paper inside and unfold it.

My stomach ties in a knot as I read the vague but panic-striking words on the paper.

We're coming for you. And you'll never see us. Sleep with one eye open.

I shoot up out of my chair, ice and fire shooting through my veins. The world seems to become a bit quicker, and I feel unbalanced. My stomach flips and squirms, and I can't help but feel a bit ashamed. Was I not one of the most powerful men on the planet? God only knows why I'm freaking out like this. This message though, it was disturbing. My fear quickly dissolves into anger.

I am right. This is ridiculous. Maybe somebody could have the audacity to threaten a prince. Maybe it was just some cocky bastard who thought they could get away with it. Or maybe it was just a drunken teenager who sent it as a prank. Neither of those felt quite right, but it doesn't matter. Because I am practically the safest person on the planet. I am constantly surrounded by guard who follow me silently in the shadows. Nobody could get past that, and even if they did- I am fully trained and able to kill someone in about 3 seconds.

 I mutter  to myself as I put the letter in the drawer and slam it shut. I growl and run a hand through my hair. "Was this from one of the other nations? The humans, perhaps?"

We've been in a war with the humans since long before I was born, for about 30 years now. But I don't think the humans have ever sent a threat. 

There is a loud knock my door and I growl in annoyance. Nobody should be knocking at my door at this hour of the evening. The sun is currently setting and I am meant to be going to sleep.

"I am not to be disturbed." I say loud and clear to the person on the other side. It's just a maid, I presume. I have much to think about, given the threat I've received. I won't be bothered by some servant asking if I've bathed today or trying to pamper me like they try to do every night. I have no time for that.

"It's the King, Your Grace. He has fallen terribly ill." The servant opens the door, face screwed and wrinkled in worry. "He is requesting your presence,"