A gold decorated carriage was passing through the roads of the inner city
A royal guard accompanied it, stern and fierce
So well guarded was the carriage you could easily confuse it to be a notorious criminal escort
But this was the result of the disdain, prince Nopheal faced from the crowd, and the severity of the threat to his life
"hmph! your jeers are worthless to me"
The defiant prince said, as he looked through the carriage to find not a single citizen waving at him in cheer or excitement
His gaze met predominantly with hatred, bitterness and ire.
Women held tightly to their children, restraining their ignorance and innocence from compelling them to commit acts they won't be forgiven for
While the men whisphered in hushed tones to each other as the carriage passes by.
Words you could only interpret had been spoken in spite from the outside.
"hmph! Big brother had better got a darn good reason for summoning me here!"
"I'll hate nothing more than to have my time wasted, by condoning to the pitiful resentment of these sheep any longer than I have to"
Sat across the prince was his personal guard, an old veteran knight forced to deal with the whims of his recalcitrant charge
"Not much long now my prince, and we shall make it to lord Parades's Castle" the guard said.
The prince grits his teeth and frowns, barely able to contain his frustrations
A majestic looking castle was finally coming into view, their destination.
Bearing the golden lions banner and emblems of the most feared kingdom in the world, this was Castle Fautright
Castle Fautright - Throne room
"Introducing, his royal highness, Prince Nopheal Moreas!" the prince was announced
Then,
The golden doors of the throne room swung open.
In marched Nopheal proudly; carrying with him the dignified air of a noble.
His personal guard trailed like a shadow, as they walked up to the throne, where seated was Parades Moreas, his big brother, and the King.
His personal guard bends the knee, but Nopheal did no such thing
From the moment he step foot onto the red carpet, he's been anything but humble
Parades's personal guard face twitched, Nopheal's rudeness struck a nerve as he stepped forward to address the situation
"You are in the presence of the King! prince Nopheal"
The King's guard said and stepped forward
"You may be his brother but you will show due respect, or I will have you bend the knee myself even if I have to break a bone or two-"
Parades's raised arm stayed the knight's protest, a silent reminder he had spoken out of turn
What was to follow however, was anything but silent
"ha-ha-ha, What did I tell you brother? If you don't tighten the leash on these pets they'll take your generosity for granted and think themselves king"
"Grr" the personal guard's anger levels raised
"Spare me your scowl and retreat to your stable fool. Know your place next time too. Was this my domain you would be facing the guillotine as we speak for stepping out of line!"
Nopheal threatened with disregard to the knight's current station
"That's enough Nopheal, he'll get his punishment" the King said.
"Punishment you say, hah, don't make me laugh. As if you have the guts to actually punish anyone"
Nopheal's tone was far from respectful to the King, as his personal guard couldn't help but keep his head down due to the sheer embarassment he's forced to go through.
"Be that as it may, that is not why you were summoned here" said Parades
"Ah of course, my summons. I sincerely hope for both our sakes you have a very good reason for calling me here"
"So, I'm listening, brother" Nopheal said, folding his arms
The King sighed for a brief moment, then grabbed a stack of papers besides his throne and gestured to a servant to come for it.
"It's just been brought to my attention that your domain is engaging in certain...acts of immorality, discrimination and depravation"
Parades spoke as the servant took the papers off his hands and handed them over to Nopheal
"Give me that!" he rudely swiped the papers off the servants hands and examined the evidence
"Child trafficking, slavery, drug abuse. The list goes on" said Parades
"The underbelly of your domain is beyond corrupt Nopheal; and there's word you're involved in these affairs. Directly or indirect you also benefit from the spoils. What do you have to say to this?" Parades asked
"tsk" Nopheals squeezed the papers extremely tightly and grits his teeth as he looked up to Parades
"Are you seriously my questioning integrity right now brother?" he asked
"Do you really think me so uncouth, so...akin to this-these undignified commoners!?" he reiterated, this time more loudly
"I will like to think otherwise Nopheal, but you're going to have to convince me with more than just words-"
"To hells with that!" Nopheal tossed aside the papers as they fluttered about like autumn leaves; then turns his back to leave
"I will not play this game with you brother! What happens in my domain, stays in my domain and I will have you interfere in our affairs no longer"
Nopheal starts leaving
"Nopheal! we're not done here!!!" Parades said getting off his throne
"I don't care!! you've wasted more than enough of my time with this nonsense. You! Come, we're leaving!"
Nopheal said to his personal guard and carried on his way out of the throne room
The personal guard gets up and bowed to the king before rejoining his charge as they left
Parades lets out a deep sigh and retreated to this seat, hand on his head in frustration
"Nopheal...what happened to you...you used to be such a sweet boy..." Parades muttered softly
"That may be your highness, but the prince is not who he used to be anymore. For the sake of the people we can't allow his atrocities to continue!" the king's knight said
"I...I know"
"So-"
The king nodded
"I give the order, for operation failed prince to commence" Parades said
"Yes Sire!"
The king's knight bowed and started his march to the barracks
"Goodbye...Nopheal" said the King
On the road back to the Nopheal's domain
"CURSES!" Nopheal struck on the carriage's walls in anger
"How! How did they find those pieces of evidence!!?" he clawed on his hair, barely remaining sane
"Wait! It's her! It's that stupid whore isn't it!? She must've betrayed me! That's it! It must have been her!!"
Nopheal said chewing on his fingers with a diabolic look on his face
"I swear when I get back, I'm going to tear her limb from limb and feed her to the wolves! I'll have her know you don't mess with me, YOU-"
He pushed down some of the glasses that was set in the carraige for tea in anger
"NEVER MESS WITH ME!" completing his statement
After releasing so much pent up emotion, he started breathing heavily.
All the guard could do was watch in silence, deciding not to risk angering him any further
Then he sat down and pushed his hair back in an attempt to settle himself
"No matter, I won't let some silly setback distract me from the plan"
"Once we move on to phase 3, Castle Fautright will finally be mine, and with it, the power of the strongest kingdom in the world! Hahahahahaha"
He ended his monologue with a trademark evil laughter
Then suddenly, they heard the horses crying ahead, followed by clashes of steel and soldiers yelling in pain
"aahhargh" Nopheals guards cried out
"Kill every last one of them!" another commander's voice could be heard
His guards were being slaughtered as he started to panic
"Wha-What the hell is going on out there!"
"My Prince!!!"
The personal guard grabbed and pushed the prince head down as a steel sword pierced through the carriage doors in, and just skimmed through his hair
"AAAHHH!!" Nopheal screamed in fear
"Tsk! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!!" said the guard
Then he smashed the carriage door open and grabbed the prince by the arm, exiting the carriage
Outside, they saw knights donning deep black armor, slaying Nopheal's guards
"wha! the da-dark knights?? aren't those?" Nopheal asked perplexed
"The King's secret guard, we stand no chance here my prince we have to escape before the see us, come on!!" said the guard
Then he grabbed Nopheal by the hand and they made haste towards the nearby woods, abandoning the rest of the platoon to the slaughter
"auh, hahaha, hahahaha" Nopheal going insane as they rushed through the woods.
Some of the leaves leaving scratches and marks on his body as they weren't stopping for anybody
"I can't believe this...that bastard pulled a fast one on me...hahahaha, I didn't think you had it in you brother hahahaha"
Nopheal laughed in disbelief, he had underestimated the King, and his ruthlessness in sending an assassination team against his own brother
Then suddenly the knight stopped, as ahead of them laid some of the dark knights in waiting
"huh! why are you stopping?"
Nopheal asked as they turned around, just to find another squad of the knights.
They were surrounded
"Oh...it seems we're surrounded...haha" Nopheal said and pulled his hand off his guard
"How useless! Even at running away you still can't do your job right. What do I even pay you for you stupid guard" he insulted the guard and stepped forward to address his pursuers
The personal guard looks down in disguised annoyance.
"I get it! you dark knights must be working in secret for that foolish brother of mine. Why, do I have a better deal for you!"
Nopheal spread his arms wide with a cheeky smile that twitched, with sweat evident in his palms. He was putting on a brave front, and it was taking his all
"Magnificent Villas, beautiful women, a slave repertoire, gold, all at your feet, if you bend your will to mine own. I shall give you everything you ever desire!"
Then he smiled
"For after all, what are we, if not slaves to our own vices eh. So cast aside that foolish king and join me!! let us wine and dine in the vanities of this world together, my dark knights! WHAT SAY YOU?"
he concluded, confident he had won the hearts of his pursuers with the promise of coin and pleasures.
But then,
His words fell on deaf ears, as up stepped, the king's knight he rudely insulted back in the throne room
"Your words mean nothing to us, Nopheal. Or should I say, failed prince" the king's knight said, much to Nopheal's surprise and anger
"Y-you!"
"The time of judgment has come, and you've been found guilty failed prince. Your atrocities will end today; any last words before you die?" said the knight
"hm-hm-hm, HAHAHAHAAHAhAHA Are you kidding me right now? Do you really plan to play righteous here by killing me, do you know the price to pay for a prince's head?"
"What a poor choice of last words. So will you do it? or are you too cowardly that even when spoonfed you still can't exact justice so overdue?" the king's knight said
"Huh, what are you talking abo-"
Before Nopheal could finish his question, a sword was plunged through his heart from behind
"!? ur--urk!" he coughs out blood and struggles to look behind him, only to find the wide smile of the personal guard beaming with satisfaction
"y...you...it was...you..." Nopheal struggled to speak
"DIE! YOU MONSTER!"
The personal guard savagely removed his sword as Nopheal fell to the ground
It was fatal, as his vision immediately blurred and all he could see was the red of the blood he was now drowning in,
His own blood.
"So...this...this is how I die...a 2nd time...heh...can't say...I...didn't...deserve...i..i..."
And thus, the life of the insane prince, came to an end
However, this was not the end of this particular soul
As he found himself washed up on the shores to the gates to the otherworldly
The Realm of Reincarnation
"Huh...Had a feeling this was coming. But at least, now I've learned all that I can in that ridiculous way of living. In my next life, I'll do better, I'll make it my best yet!"
The soul said, and with an expectant smile, looked upward as a divine presence descended upon him.
It was the beautiful goddess of reincarnation, and the satisfied look on his face says he was expecting her, and this was not their first meeting.
"My dear goddess! Thank you for coming back to me once again, How overjoyed I am to see you"
"...filth" the goddess said in a low tone
"huh? I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that-"
"How filthy!" the goddess spared no expense this time with her comment
"HUH!? I-I don't understand, do you mean me?"
The soul said looking around and then back at the goddess
He recalled the first time the goddess approached him.
She had a cute and sweet smile on her face.
Then transition to this one, her face was anything but.
It was total scorn, disgust and the same as the looks he got from the citizens when he was approaching Castle Fautright as Nopheal.
"um...okayyy...you're clearly in a good mood; so...I'm just going to ask for my second reincarnation and be on my way if you don't mind please?" the soul said casually
Then he noticed a small smile forming on the goddesses face
"Second reincarnation you say? I'm afraid that won't be happening" she said
"Thank you- wait! what??" the soul stuttered
"What do you mean that won't be happening?" then he asked confused
"Not everyone gets reincarnated buffoon, they're binding rules to the process"
"Rules? I never heard about any rules?"
"You never paid attention. Met an unfortunate end, was empathetic, lived an unjust life. Those were the conditions you met after your maiden life ended. Ringing any bells?"
"...no...no way...(that was my life, as a human, as Lionel...)" he recalled
"Conversely, for those who willingly commit atrocities and vices, act not for others but for themselves, and causes pain and suffering to the innocent; they don't get beyond these gates to reincarnation. Again, does this ring any bells"
"(My...my reincarnated life as prince Nopheal...but...but)" he recalled his life just ended.
"You were given a reincarnated life, and instead of living it the best you can, you used it as some sort of retribution to the pain you suffered the first time, how silly. And to think I had such high hopes for you-"
"Wait! What the hell!! Thi-this is so unfair! I've read the books you know? They're people who get up to 7 chances. They're people who even get a playbook to guide and correct the wrongs of their previous lives"
The soul desperately protesting to convince the goddess of his case
"I-I mean- Cats! even those...dastardly cats have 9 lives to play with, how come I only get 1!!?" the soul said
"Correction, you got 2, and from what the council has decided - a decision I am in much support of - you don't deserve a 3rd. Good-bye Nopheal, may oblivion be a kinder end, than that of a knight's blade"
"No- no no WAIT!"
The goddess ignored his further pleas and vanished.
"This can't be...!?"
Suddenly, his body was started peeling off, he wasn't feeling pain, but the fear still made him scream
"AAH What's happening to me! am I...am I going to fade away just like this!!"
His toes goes first, his left arm followed, as his soul was deconstructing to ashes
Then it struck him; all those he had tortured in his life as Nopheal, suffered this same fate by his hands.
Was this his just desserts?
"No...NOOO!!! NO!!!"
He cried out loud in desperation, but it wasn't slowing down the process any.
Suddenly, the area around him changed from the divinity of light, to the seclusion of darkness
In said darkness, for some reason, his expiration was halted temporarily
"Huh? ...wha...what's going on?"
The soul looked around him, seeing nothing but black.
Then a voice from the shadows caught his attention, followed by footsteps as someone, who was in complete contrast to the angelic figure he met before, revealed himself.
"Well well, it seems you've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" the voice spoke
"!? Who-who are you?" the soul asked
"hmph. Lucille Anis Canalli, but you may call me - the Devil"
It was at this moment, that the soul, met the devil and their fate together.