Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Twenty One - Alexander

Alexander

Age 24

People rise to power in many different ways, often resorting to using cunning, fear mongering tactics and truckloads of money to back their agenda. Take a look at any politician's manifesto and you'll find that coming into power is easy.

Fear is only a powerful weapon when it's used correctly. Use too little and it leaves room for doubt. But use too much, it runs into a tyranny of madness beyond control. People should fear and respect you.

It's a delicate equilibrium that many can't seem to grasp. Fortunately for me and unluckily for others, I don't have to try that hard to get the message across. I've been told multiple times that my mere existence should be the definition of fear in official dictionaries.

I suppose it's fair, one look at me and people skitter away like they've seen the grim reaper. For a lot of them, it actually is.

As the future king of the most brutal kingdom to ever exist, fear is synonymous with my surname and there's no escaping it—my forefathers made sure of that fact.

"Your royal highness, his majesty has requested that you leave these men alone and not implicate yourself any further." Ryder's monotonous voice bounces in the dimly lit warehouse.

The pitiful men writhe in agony, like fish out of water, begging to be released from the net cast over them after they were found snooping around in said warehouse. I haven't done anything except tie them up and their fear is palpable, like a buzzing hum of electricity.

It's remarkable how quickly the tide turns when it's least expected. What started as a normal day for both parties turned into a field trip for me and a tour to hell for them. Their pleading intensifies after hearing the words of my royal guard, perhaps hope for release blooming in their hearts. I'll be sure to squash that hope.

"Tell his majesty to stay out of my business."

My father had a tumultuous relationship with his old man and they often clashed in their ideologies when he was growing up. That and his reluctance in accepting Ma as his daughter-in-law nearly tore apart whatever truce the two had settled on long ago.

Grandpa Stone was a ruthless man with an ego the size of Jupiter. He did things in a particular way, mostly due to the fact that he was from a generation with outdated beliefs and really believed in keeping up with the traditions passed down to him.

There's a reason why we were called savages for the longest time. We still are. That's not to say his approach didn't work, quite the opposite, it was brilliant for that time period. And my father, though quite the delinquent in his early years, decided that subtleness was the answer to maintaining higher ground in the new world.

Grandpa argued it was because of Ma that his son had become weak, but father didn't seem to agree. If anything, he became even more persistent. He used his resources well and made allies when it was necessary, but it all came at a price.

Those who were true believers of Grandpa's brutal approach doubted the young king's ambitions. It wasn't that we weren't thriving as a kingdom, father just wanted to approach things differently. Stay in the shadows and such.

Unsurprisingly, the rebellion didn't last very long and now here we are in the present day. Filthy rich, well respected and feared all around the world. Not because of our ruthless reputation as the savages we once were, but the power and influence we hold over others.

Knowledge is key. Knowledge is leverage. Father wasn't exactly a saint in his methods but it was far more subtle than Grandpa's 'kill first, ask questions later' approach—it's a miracle he wasn't indicted like many world leaders of his generation.