𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 ( 𝖀𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖍𝖆 𝕾𝖆𝖘𝖚𝖐𝖊)

Chapter 94: Raikage's dilemma

It was them again. The insanely beautiful woman and the cold, mysterious man- They were arguing. They were heavily arguing with hatred, anger, tears and sorrow bubbling at the corner of their eyes as the prominent raise of the man's voice was crystal clear.

"Listen, you need to listen to me!" He yelled, rubbing his temples as he stood up. His disheveled clothes revealed the toned muscles straining beneath the fabric, glistening in the dim light.

"What? I've been listening to you since the beginning. This is not what you promised me. This is not what you promised me! You promised me love, happiness and joyful future. You promised me a family," She cried, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions, her hands trembling.

"And you promised me an heir, Reina," he replied coldly, the words piercing the air like a blade, the depth of his eyes dark and unyielding.

Her breath hitched as she took a step back, hurt and disbelief flooding her expression, "You... How long do you intend on hurting me?"

"Reina...," He began, his voice softer now, almost pleasing, "Father is against me. You don't understand. He is planning to give the leadership to Ashura instead of me, the older brother. Do you understand how embarrassing that sounds?"

"But this is not the way to gain your rightful throne. This is not the way. Can't you see that you are planning on killing them?" Reina whispered fiercely, "Even if you kill them and rise to be king, you will be looked down by the others. They will not respect you because you just killed your family."

The man's eyes flickered, something almost like regret flashing briefly in their depths but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the same cold, unreadable mask.

"I will be feared. The man who killed his own family, his own blood will be feared and with time, they will respect me. I am destined to be a king, a leader- not a subordinate. I am not meant to follow orders but to rule!" His expression with his ambition already embedded deep in his mind.

Reina shook her head slowly, fear twisting on her face as she came to the realization that the man she had married and loved was changing from best to worst. He was different as if someone was changing his life and pulling certain strings behind his back, "Feared? My love, do you want a kingdom built on corpses and terror? People don't want that..."

He straightened, shoulders squaring, as if her words had merely bounced off an invisible armor, "What I desire is a future where no one questions me. No one stands in my way. I will not fall prey to my father's rules. I will be the leader."

Her fingers curled into trembling fists, "But at what cost? Your brother, the brother you always doted on, the father you always looked up to- Why? Is it really worth losing all these familial bonds and mostly, yourself?"

The man's gaze hardened. He took a step closer, his presence imposing, the intensity in his eyes almost unbearable as he leaned down, his face inches from hers, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous murmur, "You speak of losing myself but this who I've always been, Reina. The destiny I was born for. It's you who cannot accept it. You think I'm changing but I'm not. This is my choice. My path."

Reina shook her head slowly, fear twisting her features as she came to the realization that the man she had married and loved was transforming—changing from the best parts of himself to the worst. He was different, as if someone was manipulating his life and pulling certain strings behind his back. She took a deep breath, fighting the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

Yet, even in the midst of this turmoil, she couldn't bring herself to abandon him. She thought of everything they had endured together—the struggles, the sacrifices, the dreams of a future they had shared. She had seen his strength, his potential, long before anyone else did. And now... now he was on the precipice, teetering between greatness and ruin.