Crown of Thorns

Chapter 15: A Father's Fury

The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the dimly lit room as the former king, Ji-Hoon's father, threw his goblet across the floor. The wine, rich and red, spilled like blood across the tiles, staining the pristine marble. His face was flushed with rage, his once-proud demeanor twisted into something dark and venomous.

"That brat!" he hissed, his hands trembling with fury as he paced. "That ungrateful child dares to undermine me—ME—his father, the rightful king!"

His words, sharp and furious, bounced off the stone walls of his private quarters. The room was filled with relics of his reign—rich tapestries, golden artifacts, and paintings that depicted his victories and rule. But now, those memories seemed distant, overshadowed by the rising power of his son, the boy he had once discarded as weak and insignificant.

Ji-Hoon had been nothing. The king had made sure of it—overfed, pampered, kept away from any semblance of strength or purpose. He was supposed to be soft, too soft to rule, a puppet to be controlled when the time came. But that plan had shattered the moment Ji-Hoon returned from his trials, unrecognizable in both form and will.

The former king's fists clenched at the thought. His son had not just survived the brutal ritual meant to break him, but had emerged stronger—far stronger than he had ever anticipated. The weak-willed, lazy prince had transformed into a powerful and efficient ruler, winning over the nobles, securing alliances, and, worst of all, bending the people's loyalty in his favor.

"He's turned them all against me," the king muttered under his breath, his eyes wild with hatred. "The council, the nobles—they all bend to him now. How could this happen?"

Behind him, his most trusted advisor, a man named Lord Jin, watched with a quiet intensity. He had served the king for decades, and had seen the old monarch's grip on power steadily weaken ever since Ji-Hoon's rise. But he remained silent, waiting for the storm of his master's anger to pass.

"He's not just a threat," the king continued, his voice rising in pitch. "He's a monster! Look at him—he doesn't eat, doesn't sleep, and still he grows stronger every day. It's unnatural, Jin! He's not the boy I raised—he's something else."

"Your Majesty," Lord Jin finally spoke, his voice calm and measured, "Ji-Hoon is indeed formidable, but he is still your son. Surely, there must be a way to—"

"My son?" The king laughed bitterly, cutting Jin off. "That thing is no son of mine. He's a demon! A demon in my son's skin. I gave him everything! I gave him the life of a prince, a future, and now he wants to take everything from me."

Lord Jin remained quiet, his eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. The former king was desperate, unhinged by the unexpected rise of his son. But even Jin, ever the loyal servant, knew that Ji-Hoon's reign had brought stability and prosperity to the kingdom. The people no longer whispered of rebellion; the nobles no longer plotted in secret. There was peace—a peace that had eluded the old king in his later years.

"The people adore him," the king spat, pacing faster, his thoughts spiraling. "They don't even remember who put me on the throne in the first place. All they see is Ji-Hoon, their 'hero.' But I won't let him take what's rightfully mine. I won't!"

Lord Jin stepped forward cautiously. "Your Majesty, if I may suggest—perhaps there is a way to regain some control. If you attempt to diminish his influence directly, it may only strengthen his position further. But if we move subtly, behind the scenes, we may—"

"No!" the king barked, his eyes wild. "There is no subtlety left. He's already taken everything. The council is his, the people worship him, and soon the entire kingdom will be lost to me. No, Jin, there's only one way left to deal with this."

Lord Jin stiffened, sensing the dangerous resolve in the former king's voice. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

The king's gaze darkened, and a twisted smile crept onto his lips. "Ji-Hoon must be eliminated. If he continues to grow in power, he'll destroy everything I built. I cannot allow him to rule this kingdom."

A chill ran through the room at the king's words. Even Lord Jin, hardened by years of political maneuvering, felt a sense of dread.

"But, Your Majesty, he is your flesh and blood. To—"

"My flesh and blood?" The king's voice was low, venomous. "He is nothing to me now. He has forsaken me, betrayed me, just like his mother before him. I should have known he would turn against me."

Lord Jin said nothing. He knew the king's hatred ran deep, but he had never imagined it would come to this. The former king was no longer thinking rationally; he was driven by fear, by jealousy, by the realization that his power was slipping through his fingers.

"I want you to gather the most loyal men we have," the king commanded, his voice like ice. "We will strike him down before he can tighten his grip on the throne any further. I want him dead, Jin."

Lord Jin bowed his head, but inwardly, doubt gnawed at him. Ji-Hoon was no longer the weak, malleable boy he had once been. He was a force to be reckoned with, and Lord Jin wasn't sure that even the king's most loyal forces could stand against him. But to speak against the king now would be suicide.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Jin replied, his voice steady, though his mind raced with the implications of this decision.

The former king, still seething, turned back to the window, staring out into the dark night. His kingdom—no, Ji-Hoon's kingdom—lay spread out before him, seemingly just beyond his grasp. His heart burned with fury, with hatred, but also with something more dangerous: fear.

Ji-Hoon had become everything the king had feared, and more. And now, that power threatened to undo him completely.

To be continued...