Chapter 2: The Horizon

In the cell hindered with metal bars, the chains reign over the prison. The stone walls with no paint, all grey and moist.

I, who at least wanted to write a tally for the I've stayed here, was restraint by these chains. And the worst thing is, these chains is imbued with sealing spells as the rune glowing, lively.

*CREEEEAK— THUD!

The metal door opened as I was drowning in my thoughts. An unexpected visitor entered and looked at me with a smug smile on his face. It was the same man that princess met, the man that comforted the princess before the princess decided to seek for my touch and hot grasp.

The man close his distance to me as I looked at him with a neutral gaze.

"Yo..." The man lowered himself so that our heads were the same level. How thoughtful of him. Base on his personality and nature, he's supposed to be someone who looks down on anyone, especially to the former Lucian Hero like me. Well hypocrites will always be hypocrites, like the fake stone on a scum vendors' display.

His pleasantries were like venomous snake, especially when he placed his hand on my left shoulder.

"It's really nice to see you this way, foolish "former" Lucian Hero."

The man's tongue played the role of the serpent on the three, tempting the lambs with apple of poisonous "comfort."

"You know? If you just didn't appeared, the princess would be probably become my wife."

"The rights of succeeding the throne would belongs to me."

"However, you went out, shine like a star and defeated the daemon lord.

The man held and lift my chin up. His smug smile portraits relief and aspect of satisfaction.

"Furthermore, the princess' child, the prince, came from my seed."

'I already knew that...' I was aware that on the night of our wedding, we were given an order from the queen herself to produce an heir. The princess was afraid, but such a naive and idiot bitch actually fell on this man's palm.

'Poor princess for from now on you will be having this man as your husband. Well, it's not that I care.

"Hey! what are you laughing at?"

I laughed because I already knew, I have always know and aware of everything. No secrets can lurks away from me.

I laughed because this bastard here was actually the one who's dancing on my palm.

It seems, despite being a high ranking mage, his arrogance and pride knows no bond. Does he always this fond of always crossing the threshold. It's really unnoticeable because of his dignified and calm looks he always show.

But it seems, the people were all wrong about him the entire time. Well, I don't care anymore.

I bet, if he became the king, he would probably sentence me to death.

And what's more, the queen is currently watching us. 'Your illusions is surely done now.'

'Thanks for taking out your mask, fucker. I've been waiting for this.'

"Hahahahahahahaha~!"

My plans had been finally fulfilled, and it made me laughed maniacally.

"What's up with you."

The man felt uncomfortable as he held himself and took a few step-backs.

"I always knew that."

"Did you really think I was "that" easy to deceive?"

The man twitched and frowned. It seems he get what I mean. Well, he didn't need to become so smart to understand my words.

"Fuck you!" I shouted with a satisfied smile on my face.

"You bastard! How dare you expressed such manner in front of the future king." The man growled.

"You? A king? Are you being a clown this time?"

"Would you please stop. Your giving me goosebumps."

I was imagining him wearing a clown's clothes and make-up, and it honestly felt awful.

How come that the princess, the dream girl of any man, fell on man's palm? Does she actually hate me that much? Heck I care!

I'm really glad for evading such bullet.

"You know, Mr. self-proclaim future king, I really don't give a fuck about succeeding the throne. If you really wanted it that much, then go on, prove your worth and value on this esteem kingdom. Your skills and leadership. Your genuine opinion about this kingdom and its citizens. Go on."

"I mean, it's like I'm objecting you."

"And about the princess? She's all fucking yours to fuck. It's not that I wanted to be her in the first place."

"Honestly, I didn't even wanted to be wed with such easy-to-swayed woman."

"In my eyes, she's just an idiot and naive girl."

"Is she really that smart? Wow! What a fucking ironic. It felt like I was asking my shadow."

The man was overwhelmed by my words and tone. It seems, he didn't expect me to react this way.

"Besides, I always knew."

I sighed like a shards in my throat had been been thawed.

For someone who once experienced betrayal, this is not new to me.

My mother abandoned me. My sister wanted me dead. My abusive father left us because of me, just for trying to save my mother and sister against his violently arms. Really...fuck them all! All of them!

And now, this. My wife's flower got cut off by this fucker on the first night of the order of producing an heir.

I guess, the queen's point of view is just the same as the princess and everyone. They all look at me only as the Lucian Hero... Nothing more, nothing less. I'm still a human-being who could, anytime, commit flaws?

When the man turned around with a bitter look on his face, he got startled by the presence of an extremely beautiful, tall, and elegant woman, standing at the doorway.

"It seems your desires for the throne was heard by the great sunshine of this kingdom." I chuckled.

The queen twitched and looked at me for a few seconds, then, her facial expression became neutral when she looked at the man. However, the way she was looking at the man was like looking at the pest.

"Y-your majesty—!"

I could tell the man's trembling voice that he felt small and overwhelmed. He was like a small mosquito trapped on the spider's web.

"Albert, I didn't know you have such desires."

"You even lay your filthy hands on my daughter."

"Yo—!"

A wavering pressure began to leak out from the queen's body, then suddenly, before the man could ever talk, the queen vanished at the speed of light then appeared in front of the man.

The man didn't have the time to react as the queen fiercely and tightly held his neck and lifting him up.

"Tell me, Giljen. Since when did you learnt such vulgar and disappointing truth and planned this all?" The queen asked and a trace of disgust could be heard in her tone as she was looking at the man who was hopelessly trying to escape from her grip.

'Wow! If you are this powerful then why asked me on saving the kingdom and daughter?'

Witnessing her strength, I just learnt another truth. She was just using me as her wall for her illusion!

"But by freeing yourself on such responsibility did impressed me." She complimented.

"I never thought that the Lucian Hero is shameless."

"Former, your majesty." I corrected.

"Huh?"

The queen frowned as she looked at me. Her emerald eyes was as beautiful as ever. If I'm going to compare her beauty with princess, then I don't a choice, but say: the genes are indeed unfair; utterly cannot be inherited. Still the princess possesses great beauty just like her mother.

The queen crushed the man's neck; just like that, the man died.

*CRUSH!

This queen is really ruthless, she just crushed the man's head with her foot, nonchalantly. Then, she approached me and pulled my chin.

"Do have any idea of what you just did, ha?!"

"You tricked us all with only this kind of reason?"

'Wow! You're one to talk.' I inwardly said.

"Your majesty, with all due respect. Your daughter had committed an unforgivable sin with that man over there on our supposedly first night."

"I even courted and pleased her, but she kept isolating and distancing herself."

"To tell you the truth, I haven't slept with her once. I'm also aware of your nature and my role as the Lucian Hero... And now you're telling me, I tricked you all?"

"I am just a mascot, right?"

"..." The queen was silent and appeared to be shock. She sighed and let go of my chin. "Why did I even declared that publicly."

'Are you even listening to me?' I inwardly growled.

"With that, you just prove yourself to be worthy." The queen added.

'Oi! Oi! I worked hard for this! Please don't wrap the circumstances here.' I was really nervous and cornered. The perception of the queen is terrifying as always. Then why not learning about "this" about your daughter and that man much earlier?

Oho! Don't tell me you were just waiting for me to take action.

That's right! Since the day the child of the princess turned one year-old, the queen began to sprout her suspicion about the child with her watchful eyes. The only reason she didn't take an action because it was all about her daughter.

Wow! what a fucking doting mother. But I wondered if what will she gonna do with her grandchild.

Knowing her ruthless nature, I couldn't help but voice out: "Your majesty, please spare the child."

"Are you ordering me?"

"..."

Hearing her, I couldn't help, but sigh. 'This is the reason why 'pride' is considered as one of the seven deadly sin.'

"No, your majesty, rather, I'm asking you as her grandmother." I responded to her prideful question.

"I see." The queen held her chin and seemingly began to wondered about the child's future.

But when I about to worry if what she was wondering, a vision splashed in my head and I saw a black haired man serving the kingdom with an absolute loyalty. 'I see.'

But I was confused because, beside him his mother was brightly standing with regret as she was looking at the tall and gorgeous silver haired man with a supernatural beauty. Beside the man was the queen and a faint image of a red haired woman possessively clinging on the man's arm. It was the first time I saw something 'faint' like, and I couldn't see her face clearly. It was as if I'm confronting a ghost or some powerful being that hinders even my vision.

The queen went back from her thoughts then freed me from these cursed chains.

"Here."

She toes a spatial ring on me. "Have a safe trip, may the Lucian goddesses guide you, Lucian Hero."

'That's it?' I honestly expected more like something chaotic to happened, but it seems the queen was wise and composed.

As I got out, I saw the three royal officials, who were present on the throne room, on my way. They seems to intend to visit my cell to where the queen currently left alone by me. Their eyes shows neither malice nor disappointment.

"You will always be our Lucian Hero. Take care."

The woman, one of the royal officials, said to which her fellows seemingly agreed as we passed each other.

My feet just continue to moved forward without me looking back and leaving a single word.

'It's seems I'll be seeing the horizon once again.'