My previously somewhat normal paced breathing have already changed, I can hardly breath anymore. My breathing have become hard, my lungs want even more oxygen.

It seems my body is on fire, my eyes became bloodshot and I was clenching my teeth really hard. My fists were clenched tightly as well while I was hearing her story.

'My father was the mayor of the village Ba, I was her sole daughter and my parents hold me very dear' while saying this her eyes were staring at something far away.

She continued with a little pause and a small smile formed on her face while saying this 'One day a very handsome man came into my village, I was thirteen and he was twenty, he was a roaming warrior and knew my father quite well'.

This time without a pause she continued in a hurry as though she would forget it all if she waits another moment ' My father welcomed him into our house, with him his two new born daughters came too'.

'We got along quite well, he was very similar to the prince charming I imagined after listening to grandpa's old tales' she chuckled shyly while saying this.

'Then his cousin who was a rising noble came to Ba village to meet him' her voice became loud and hard, containing extreme hatred, I stopped breathing and focused on her.

' The noble saw me, in the start he behaved nicely but..' as she said that tears were formed in her beady eyes, seeing her like this, I wanted to kill whoever made her cry.

'One day there was no one home, father acted as a guide to show Jacob and his two daughters around the village while I was preparing for the dinner when that DETESTABLE noble barged in, he..he tried to force himself on me, *sob* *sniff*..I hit him and ran' hearing this the story was already forming in my mind.

'I tried to find father *sob* when I saw *sob* he was dead, laying on the street, his stomach pierced and covered in blood. Near him Jacob was fighting various men while his new born daughters were laying near the blood'.

'I ran towards them, his daughters were alive so I grabbed both of them, in the meanwhile Jacob finished of those men as soon as he did...' this time she burst into tears.

My chest was feeling heavy, I wasn't able to breath but I didn't utter a single word, quietly waiting her to finish.

'That DETESTABLE noble appeared from behind him and pierced his his back, his sword came out from his stomach, he threw mouthful of blood and died after the noble stabbed him in the neck with his dagger'.

'To save those two kids I had to do horrible things for that noble, even now they are held as hostage, its nothing special its almost the same, the rule is of the strongest' as she said that she laughed, her laugh was full of bitterness as though she was remembering her horrible past.

'I am ugly, I did *snob* horrible things' she cried.

Seeing her like this something inside of me snapped.

What was this noble's name, I will struck him doing with my own hands, I grabbed my wooden sword and asked her that.

'Young master I beg of you, please don't, if anything happens to those children...' she begged while crying, she tried to touch my feet but I quickly backed away.

'Who do you think I am? I am the sole prince, no matter what puny noble, I can crush him like an insect' I said with confidence.

'He is the right hand man of your father, he may have been an ordinary noble at that time but now, he has the third highest power in this whole world' she quickly said to stop me from doing anything rash and I understood her concern.

One at dusk, a wolf wandering around a quite place saw his elongated shadow by the sun.

Looking at his enlarged shadow the wolf proudly exclaimed.

'Look how big I am! why have I been afraid of a lion when I am such a huge beast...?'.

So, the wolf went to go after the lion and the lion struck it down.

Being devoured by the lion, the wolf said.

'my conceit and delusion drew ruin upon myself'

I am not a lion so I can't afford to be the wolf from the story, I taught myself that.

Although I want to kill him with my own hands I can't afford to mess up, I can send assassins or kidnap him and bring him to me so I can personally end him but doing this the major suspect will be Shilfa, since who else would dare to go against this powerful man?

And until I extract her children out of danger I can't kill him. His political power is far greater than mine so I can't have him dismissed either. He has far more funds than I personally have so monetary wars won't do either.

'I will have to do something about this Igarnes' I thought but then again I quickly came back to reality, it isn't the time for that. I was somewhat hesitant at first but then I bravely patted her head, her hair were silky and smooth, that soft sensation, I still remember it.

A 7 year old patting an 18 years old, it seems abnormal things were my true kin to begin with.

She was surprised at first but then that surprise changed into sorrow and she cried. She cried to her hearts content, I think its the first time she have shared her past with someone.

While she was crying I returned the favor and said to her 'It was not your fault'.

She stared me right in the eyes, she stopped crying and said 'off course it was not, how would I know that young master is so shy that forget about liking any girl, he hardly talks to them' as she said that her eyes had a hint of playfulness, her mentality is really strong, how fast she recovered amazed me but then again if you compare that to my mentality who is only 7 years old nothing can be said.

I laughed, I laughed a lot enough for my stomach to forcefully stop me from laughing any further. I knew what she meant, she returned the favor, she is quite smart I have to say this.

Since I am a regular peeker, I know her summons are on Thursdays and Sundays. Today is Monday, so I have two days to scheme, no matter what I won't let this girl be further harmed. With this is mind, I practiced even harder to the extent where my hands were bleeding because of holding sword too tightly.

I was truly ashamed of myself, I looked down on her before because she did those things but I never asked why?

Shilfa always tried to stop me at times like these but today she allowed me to have my way, I think she realized I need to calm my emotions to think properly. It was already getting dark so I quickly packed my bag and headed back to castle, Shilfa obviously followed. As soon as I got back I investigated Igarnes personally and made sure to do it with absolute secrecy.

I meditated in my room with my legs crossed I sat on my white fluffy bed, beads of sweat formed on my forehead, clearly I was thinking very hardly, I wasn't able to get an ounce of sleep, then at morning I hatched a scheme, yes! I won't let darkness swallow me whole, I will swallow darkness itself, if it is the rule of the strongest, I will let them know just who is the strongest.

Igarnes is the leader to 5 sta's and each sta is equal to two countries. He has accumulated his wealth by corruption, he came so far through using his evil cunning mind. He is married to my father's sister, though my father killed his siblings, she was the only one left alive but imprisoned by marrying her to his puppet.

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