The Third Prince Of Darkness

But, of course, I am quite happy that I died. I can\'t say I was fond of my old world, where morally corrupt and degenerate ideologies like humanism or equality—which go against human nature—held significant sway, resulting in uncontrollable mass migrations.

In fact, I fell in love with this world, where there are no stupid, pink-haired people who called me a racist or fascist every time I expressed my realistic and fair ideas. However, this world is not perfect, nor is it meant to be. But at least, despite all the painful experiences I\'ve gone through, I can say that I love living in this world. And for that reason, I value this life more.

I don\'t remember who said it first or where I read it, but there was a belief somewhere that someone who has died once no longer fears death. This is one of the stupidest things I\'ve ever heard in this life. Shouldn\'t someone who has already felt the pain and emptiness of death fear it even more?

Moreover, while people who have never tasted death forget about it in their normal lives, could someone who has actually experienced death ever forget its reality? That\'s why I fear death more than anyone else.

Yet, despite my greater fear of death in this life compared to my previous one, I\'ve come face to face with it far more often here. That\'s why I began to think I must be doing something wrong somewhere. Perhaps being so afraid of death is what\'s causing me to encounter it more frequently. I really don\'t know... But at the very least, I\'ve concluded that I need a change in strategy.

I think the greatest truth I\'ve failed to see in this life is this: the more a person chases power and authority, the faster death runs toward them. My desire to conquer not only this continent but all the others from the start has gradually brought me closer to death.

No matter how cleverly I designed my plans and strategies, unforeseen events were always part of life. But without taking risks, one can\'t achieve much. Aside from all this, there\'s a thought that sometimes, despite myself, occupies my mind. What if I don\'t need to fear death? What if there\'s actually a cosmic power within me, allowing me to die and reincarnate as many times as I want?

After all, I still haven\'t found a logical reason why I was reincarnated into this new world. But the theories never end. What if this world I\'m living in is actually my dream world? What if I\'m in a coma right now, and everything I perceive as reality is just a product of my imagination? If this theory is true, does anything I\'ve done or anything I will do have any meaning?

These kinds of thoughts are truly like a dark swamp... So, it\'s most sensible not to think about it. After all, I can\'t burden my mind any longer with something I cannot learn or prove at this moment. What I need to do now is believe in this reality and live as if there won\'t be a third life.

For now, I set aside these thoughts and stood at the door of the throne room. It had been a day since my conversation with my mother, and I had been ordered by King Richard to be present in the throne room an hour ago. Every noble and important leader of the Asina Kingdom, regardless of their strength or status, had been ordered to come to the palace.

That\'s why the palace was packed, and I knew that everyone was already inside the throne room when I arrived at the door. Only I, Liam, and the other heirs were lined up in front of the throne room doors.

As for Liam, he had been released yesterday. The reason was that no evidence was found to accuse him of Lugoar\'s death. I already knew he would be released, and I had done everything I needed to do. I could tell from the sour expression on Liam\'s face that my plan had already succeeded.

He had likely received the news of his son\'s and his son\'s mother\'s disappearance as soon as he was released yesterday, and he had probably already enlisted many people to help find them.

Well, brother Liam, revenge is a dish best served cold. I swear on my entire existence that when the time comes for you to die in agony, I\'ll be right there by your side, watching and smiling. But for now, you need to continue your pitiful life.

"His Highness, Prince Liam, may enter," said the guard at the door.

Liam entered as his name was announced into the throne room. The door closed behind him, and half a minute later, the other princes and princesses entered in order. Even Kayle and Violet entered after their names were announced, but I still had not been called. Once there was no one left but me, the guard finally approached me, bowed respectfully, and saluted.

"His Highness, Prince Ethan, may enter."

"The third prince of the glorious Kingdom of Asina, Ethan Asina Lenistark, is arriving!"

As my name echoed in the throne room, I began to walk forward with slow, deliberate steps. As the grand doors of the throne room slowly opened, I stepped inside to be greeted by a magnificent sight. The room was packed with the most prominent nobles, statesmen, and even generals of the Asina Kingdom. All eyes were on me.

The room was so quiet that the sound of my footsteps almost echoed. I lifted my head and saw the large throne at the far back of the room. King Richard sat on it with an authoritative posture, his sharp, piercing gaze fixed on me. The man bearing the royal crown was a symbol of determination and power; it was clear that he cast a great weight over everyone in the room.

Next to King Richard were the three queens, including my mother, and the royal advisors stood in place. I could feel the tension in the room deeply. However, such moments had become more natural to me than ever before. Prince Liam and the other princes and princesses had already taken their places near the throne, but none of them could refrain from looking at me.

Gathering my confidence, I stood in the middle of the room. I glanced at Liam for a moment, my brother staring at me with a cold expression. This look reminded me once again how deep the conflicts and hostilities between us were. But now was not the time for that; there was a more important matter at hand.

Without rising from his throne, King Richard began to speak in a stern and authoritative tone,

"Lower your heads!" he commanded with authority.

When King Richard\'s commanding voice echoed in the throne room, everyone, without hesitation, knelt and bowed their heads. I, too, bowed like everyone else, but my mind was trying to grasp the meaning of this sudden command. At that moment, the tension in the room increased even more. I still didn\'t know what my father, King Richard, had planned or what purpose he had in gathering such a large crowd.

King Richard\'s voice echoed once again.

"Before I explain why I have called you all here, I can say with certainty that the light of the sun has once again shone on our fertile land. I, Richard Asina Lenistark, son of the sun, have already decided who will succeed me as king. My successor must be a contender for the throne of the sun and his power must reflect the light of the sun.

It is my sole duty to pass on such an important task to my strongest son..."

As King Richard\'s words echoed in the throne room, everyone held their breath, waiting for my father\'s next statement. The phrase "my strongest son" caught everyone\'s attention. The same question was on everyone\'s mind: Who would the throne be passed to? I could feel the eyes of my other siblings on me. Each of them was acutely aware that the outcome of this moment would completely change their lives.

King Richard\'s voice echoed once again: "This kingdom\'s future requires a strong and decisive leader. Someone who will protect the borders of the Asina Kingdom, be relentless against its enemies, but at the same time ensure the well-being of its people... Undoubtedly, the sun prince best suited for this challenging task is none other than my third son, Ethan Asina Lenistark!"

For a moment, there was a deathly silence in the throne room. Everyone looked at me in shock. I was frozen in place by the words that had just come out of Richard\'s mouth. It wasn\'t something I had fully expected, but deep down, I knew this could happen. Meanwhile, a sharp fury appeared on Liam\'s face.

The reactions of the other siblings were met with silence; each of them was trying to internally process the situation.

However, there was something only I knew. Richard had already told me that he had decided I would be the next king—or at least that\'s what he made me believe. But now, by announcing this to everyone, it was clear that he still wasn\'t entirely certain. Yes, declaring me the official heir to the throne was actually a ploy against me.

Richard\'s goal was to use me to pit the other children, especially Fiona\'s two remaining sons, against me like hungry dogs, pushing them to grow stronger. After all, with their lives and positions more threatened than ever, Fiona\'s sons would now be highly motivated, using all their power either to kill me or to further the struggle for the throne.

They would do anything to convince their father that they would make a better king.

In short, as always, Richard had cunningly deceived and manipulated the entire kingdom with his sharp mind. His real intention was to control me. Ultimately, although Richard didn\'t know for sure that I would soon stage a coup against him, he must have sensed it. After witnessing my power firsthand, he must have become fearful of me and my potential.

So, to control me and ensure that I would love him, he came up with a brilliant idea... He declared me the official heir to the throne. In short, Richard had killed dozens of birds with one stone

I couldn\'t help but laugh inwardly. This old bastard was far more cunning than I had ever imagined, and without a doubt, he was a master of intrigue. But unfortunately for him, I already had several backup plans prepared for just such a situation. \'Poor Richard... if your enemy wasn\'t me, you might have succeeded, but unfortunately, I am your enemy.

Enjoy the remaining few years of your reign, or you\'ll die with regret when I dethrone you in a few years through a coup...\'