Crown Prince Max Blackwell - Pt. 1

SLAP!

The sound of a hand hitting flesh rang through the hall. Outside of his room attendants stood in a line to peek over the sight of King Blackwell's stature over his son on the floor.

"Richmond!" Queen Isabella yells at her husband, trying to dispel his anger.

"Do you know how important this is for our Kingdom, boy? Your uncle had done whatever it took to get the throne! We must do whatever we can to maintain it."

Another SLAP.

Max looked up to reveal his face, red swollen cheek with his jaw clenched not saying a word.

"Stop this. He's our son."

"He's a disgrace to his people. Do you think it's fun for me to watch my SON get beaten by that Helianthus bastard's child? A girl nonetheless." he seethed through his gritted teeth, the veins in his neck bulging from his rage.

The King took out his right arm to slap him a third time, but the Queen steps in front of Max to protect him, taking his son's place.

"What, did your father grow up teaching you to hit your wife and child?"

Richmond holds back. Angered by his wife's words, and immediately left the room fuming.

"I'm okay, Mother," Max reassured her in a straight tone. "I can heal it easily."

"You've used your powers enough today," she says, placing her palm on her son's cheek.

Max turned his head away from his Mother's hand. "I mean it, this is nothing."

Queen Isabella's eyes softened, but the pain still lingered in them as she searched his face. After a moment of silence, she took her son's hint and quietly sighed as she left her son to be alone.

She walked out of his room and passed by a hallway filled with portraits of previous members of the Imperial family.

Isabella stops in her tracks to face the portrait of her late brother, the former King of Isla Rivelis; Ostreaux Blackwell. "Oh my dear brother," she sighs "Perhaps it was a mistake for you to win the throne."

As the night went on, Max sat on the floor numb to the hours that passed him by. Upon seeing the moonlight that filtered through his window, he decided to go out and get some fresh air.

Dawning a cloak to mask his identity, he snuck out of the palace to make his way to the capital of Isla Rivelis.

Soon Max's eyes fell upon the capital's finest establishment, a haven for him and his friends at the heart of the city. Letting out a low sigh of relief, he made his way inside to meet his friends as well as to let off some steam.