Chapter 1 - Abandoning a Rotten Apple will Save the Good Ones

"Brother the people are calling you names again" a small girl with tears in her eyes clung to her older brother that was only a head taller than she was.

Rubbing the cute little sister's head a twisted smile unbecoming of a child spread across the little boy's face. "Foolish sister, they are only peasants unworthy of licking the soles of our feet, how can they understand my grandeur?"

In less than a minute of Roland's words a crashing noise came from the ceiling and two masked figures dressed in suits of black rushed in, their blades both aimed at the children's hearts.

Panicking from the fright the little girl tucked her head beneath her elder brother's sleeve, her tiny hands shaking faintly. Unlike his sister Roland was unfazed and remained collected. Being attacked by inferior beings?? This was an insult of the highest level!!

" Ophelia you worthless thing! Allowing these dirty beings to enter my holy garden in the dead of night no less, I expected too much from you" Roland barked out a string of words, not even looking at the danger before him.

"My apologies young master Roland, I ask for your forgiveness" a woman dressed in loose blue clothing stood next to Roland , as if she had always been at his side. As she said this Ophelia's hands blurred momentarily, followed by the muffled groans of the two masked assassin who probably don't even know how they died.

It was the the 71st assassination attempt of the month. It was a well known fact in the Bladeheart family that Roland was a constant target of these assassination yet no-one questioned why nor who would want the life of a fourteen year old of the Bladeheart clan. The answer was too obvious - everyone. With Roland's contemptuous behavior and arrogant display he had made himself the enemy of everyone even within his own family at the tender age of six years. Nonetheless though disliked no-one was brave enough to openly display hatred towards the Young Reagent and Clan head's treasured son!

The Reagent of Clearwater Border, second only to the king Augusta IIX and stood on equal grounds to even the prince of Clearwater himself! Though it was not publicly acknowledged by the king it is said the Reagent and King Augusta were childhood friends that had often fought during earlier years and after he had ascended to the throne King Augusta immediately appointed the Reagent with his title and granted him absolute authority over the city.

Roland waltzed out from his inner garden with his timid sister that latched onto him relentlessly. Walking with a hindrance bounded at his arm made it hard to move and this irritated Roland. "Sophie you're being too clingy!"

Roland's sudden action caused Sophie to let out a strange scream , gripping his arm even tighter than before "N-nooo!"

"Hey get off me Sophie! I can't move around like this!"

As the two approached the door engaged in a war of preferences a man dressed in a full suit of white shoved the door open, slamming onto the twin fiercely. Since he had been a trained genius with a special physique since birth Roland was only dizzy for a short while. Though he was able to bear the force Roland knew Sophie was frail. Looking down at Sophie Roland's expression warped bizarrely. A small puddle of blood had formed at Sophie's feet, running from her nostril. "You!!" Glaring at the butler Roland was on the verge of exploding "Down!!!"

"Crack!"

The Butler knelt at a blinding speed, fracturing both his knees in the process. " F-forgive my error Young Lord Roland!"

"Forgive you? Your actions deserve death, be grateful I'll exempt your children" Roland couldn't restrain himself, the more he thought about it the angrier he became. A light bulb suddenly went off in his head and a sinister smile on Roland's face "Butler Morgan I will pardon you and your family"

The Butler dressed in white began kowtowing in a mixture of joy and confusion. He didn't expect the infamous young master to suddenly become magnanimous.

"But.... Only if you do as I say" Roland's signature smirk was akin to a death sentence, sending shivers down Butler Morgan's spine. As one of the oldest butlers of the Bladeheart's main family he was always careful as to not upset the young lord, even going to such lengths as to study the 14 year old's habits and dislikes. Even his coming here to the garden was to report an issue of

of utmost urgency.

" if you are a able to satisfy my conditions not only will I treat your injuries but pardon your family as well!" Roland showed a sinister smile and the butler shuddered at his master's words.

Morgan knew better than anyone the streak of murders that had been committed at this child's hand. Denying him was risking his family, a risk he didn't dare take. With his mind made up Morgan nodded passively "Y-yes Master Roland"

*Bang*

The door to the small garden was once again forced open with a loud noise, followed by the appearance of a youth dressed in small garbs of green. His name was Carter Siegfried, son of the infamous broker and richest merchant in the entire continent, like his father he was known for being a money hungry person who would never help another person without profit. Roland however was an exception.

"I'm here with information I thought you might want to know about, care to listen?" Carter waltzed in, being only a head taller than Roland was enough to look down on him and this made carter content.

"You should leave the capital tonight, when the torches of war burn the land you should have already left this place" Carter was only 11 years old but had witnessed countless bloodshed and knew what was fated for the Blood Clan.

"Are you saying there is someone out there who wants to harm my clan!?" Roland smirked and a look of disbelief and arrogance covered his face. As he uttered his last words a terrifying pressure erupted from Roland, causing the entire garden to shake violently.

Roland didn't waste a second, he immediately reported what he had heard to his father as quickly as possible. Who would dare to kill him if his father stepped forward? Even the emperor had to think twice about offending him!

"Father!" Roland slammed open the door to the Reagent's office with a confident look on his face. It was a predetermined fact that any oppressor would tremble before his father!

"Roland" a stern-faced reagent greeted Roland. Rapping his finger against the desk Reagent Bladeheart glanced at Roland then back at the papers on his desk "I heard you assaulted Tanithil for the third time this month, is this true?"

Roland felt his skin crawl at his father's unusually indifferent gaze. "F-father she was playing hard to get, all I did was touch her a little!"

"Tanithil has filed a complaint against you to the imperial order, after this you might not be eligible to enter the Crosswind Institute" Reagent Bladeheart didn't even spare Roland another glance and continued with his paperwork.

"Father there were assassins today again, i think they came from princess Tanithil" Sophie spoke up while still attached to Roland. Her nose was still red from the accident earlier.

"I heard" Reagent Bladeheart nodded and continued with his work.

"Aren't you going to stop them?" Roland asked.

"You'll be fine" Reagent Bladeheart tapped his desk in rapport, signalling to Roland he was busy.

Immediately Roland's eyes widened as his worst fears were realized. These were his father's infamous words known to guarantee death.