Reincarnated as the Most Hated Sovereign

Chapter 19: The Shadow's Awakening

Chapter 19: The Shadow's Awakening

Third POV

Adrian, or rather, Prince Angelo as he now knew himself, stood before the mirror, a strange mix of confusion and determination swirling within him. The face staring back was young, the features still soft, but the eyes held a depth that belied his age. They were Adrian's eyes, eyes that had seen too much, eyes that held the weight of a life lived in darkness.

Ethan's words echoed in his mind: "A knight's power comes not just from his sword, but from his heart." Could he truly embody that ideal, with the darkness of his past lingering within? Could he be a knight, a protector, when his very essence was steeped in violence and manipulation? It was a question that gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the battle raging within.

As he walked through the palace corridors, the weight of Angelo's memories pressed down on him. The pain, the loneliness, the despair – they were like a heavy cloak draped over him, a constant reminder of the injustice he suffered. And beneath that cloak, he felt his own presence, his assassin instincts simmering beneath the surface, a dormant volcano waiting to erupt.

"Don't worry, Angelo," he whispered, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "I'll make them feel what you felt. And I'll show them they made a mistake by hurting you."

The words were a promise, a vow whispered to the shadows. He couldn't erase the past, but he could make sure it didn't repeat itself.

'As a Mafia boss before, I know how to make them pay for everything they did to you, or to me, because this is my body now. But for now, I need to train, to get used to this body, to hone my assassin instincts, and to be ready to use all my skills when I need them,' he thought to himself.

His hands clenched into fists.  He needed to be patient, to observe, to learn.  This was a game of chess, not a brawl.  He needed to understand his opponents before he made his move.

Suddenly, Richard, his ever-present butler, entered the room.  He'd been a constant presence since Adrian's fall, a gentle soul who had cared for him with unwavering kindness.

"What do you need?" Adrian asked, his voice still rough from disuse.

"The King requests your presence at the dinner table tomorrow night, Your Highness.  You are to dine with your siblings as there will be guests arriving," Richard said.  His voice was soft, his eyes filled with concern.

Adrian was surprised and a smirk spread across his face. This was his chance to observe them, to understand why they treated Angelo so poorly. If he wanted to punish them for what they did to him, he needed to know their motivations. He needed to investigate before he took any action.

As the sun set, casting the palace in shadows, Adrian felt his true nature stirring. The darkness within him grew, whispering cruel reminders of his past.  He could feel the sharp edges of his assassin instincts, the cold, calculating mind that once ruled his life.

He was Adrian, the assassin and mafia.  But he was also Angelo, the prince who had been wronged.

And he would not be silenced.  The shadows within him were rising, and they would not be contained.  He was a storm gathering, a force to be reckoned with.  The palace, with its gilded cages and its cold indifference, was about to discover the true meaning of power.