𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 ‧ ban

₪ 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 ₪

Long chapter ahead! Enjoy! Also flashback to 4000 years ago-

The library of the palace was by far the place where I spent most of my days. If I wasn't training, I was most likely drowning myself in the thousands of books that the library contained. I practically lived within the many shelves, often falling asleep on the plush couches next to the fireplace. I could spend years exploring the four floors, getting lost in the scent of old paper. There wasn't a time where I didn't know about the library. I adored every corner of the place.

I had stuck my nose deep into an adventure book, wrapped in a thin blanket as I sat next to the hearth, away from everyone. I guess I always knew I didn't 'belong'. As I grew up reading descriptions of villains, almost always treacherous and coy, I soon realized that we were the villains. Everything we did, from assassins to corruptness, it related to all the people I hated when I read the books. So, when I identified my family in them, I hated myself.

I couldn't do anything, of course. A mere little girl couldn't do anything. So I kept my head down, did everything they asked and just went with the flow. When I came up with the idea to just wait until I took the crown to change things, I hadn't expected the darkness to consume me, taking over little by little. Assassination by assassination.

Every time I looked in the mirror, I changed. My eyes, my posture. It all became viler. And I wanted to punch the girl right then and there. I hated the person I was becoming, yet I let it happen without a fight.

Was this who I was? And yes. Yes, it was. I was born into this life, Chloella and Roberto's first and only child, therefore the heir to the throne. And there was no escaping that. Not in the long term anyway. As I told Ban all those days ago, it was an escape from reality. Jumping into fantasy worlds and enveloping myself with words, this was my escape. I still hated how similar I was, we were, to the antagonists.

"I knew I'd find you here," Interrupted a cold, heartless voice. I glanced up, glaring at my mother for interrupting me. That was when I noticed she was all dressed up, her makeup done nicely and her hair pulled back to show off her exposed shoulders. I scowled the deepest scowl I could, probably permanently imprinting the foul expression on my face. The whore deserved it, though. Dad was out for a mission and had been for the past few days.

I had known about my mother's mister. Always around when my father was out for a couple of days. He always walked out of her room in the early hours of the morning. Of course, I seldom slept, so I almost always bumped into him, sending him the deadliest glare I possibly could as he walked down Royal's wing. I normally just shrugged it off, my mother cheating of my father just giving me more reasons to hate her, and trust me, the list was long.

"What do you want?" I spat, still giving her a look of disgust.

"Well," She started, "You do know about Aristotle's 11 virtues, no?"

I didn't let my scowl falter, but I admit the idea of this group of people fascinated me, "Of course. I assume I have a spot in it, no matter what?"

My mothers smile twisted into an evil grin, "Of course."