The Third Prince Of Darkness

Luciana's warm smile froze on her face when she suddenly heard the words. Her eyes momentarily became distant, and the love on her face shifted to an expression of concern. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy; these last words, which had caught everyone's attention, created an unexpected tension. My mother, Luciana, breaking her silence, spoke softly.

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"Little Ethan... I don't understand. Did you just say you were going to kill your father? But I don't get it. Wasn't you already officially recognized as the heir and the next king?"

"Yes, that's true, but I can't wait any longer. I need to become king as quickly as possible."

"Why? Why do you want to become king so fast? If you look at the Kaizer stage, you're going to have a long life. Is killing Richard the only solution? Why not choose a more peaceful path?!" Luciana said the last words with some irritation.

"Yes, that's the only way. There are many reasons to kill Richard, mother... But I hope you understand the weight of explaining this decision to you. You need to keep this a secret from Richard. Within a year, I will stage a coup against him. Now, forget about why I've made this decision or why I'm not doing this or that. Answer my question—will you be by my side, mother?"

When Luciana saw the determination and seriousness in my eyes, she swallowed. Torn between her motherly instinct to protect me and the responsibility of being the wife of a king, but she made her decision in less than a second. Trembling, she took my hand and took a deep breath. "I will always be with you, little Ethan. But just the fact that you're in danger drives me crazy. Also, I know I won't stop a young man as ambitious as you. So promise me, you won't put your life in danger no matter what. Promise me, little Ethan. Promise your mother, who loves you more than anything."

At those words, I felt deeply her concern and love. When she looked at me, I could see the fear, anxiety, and at the same time, that strong desire to protect me as a mother. I took a deep breath, squeezed her hand tighter, and looked into her eyes with determination.

"I promise, mother," I said quietly. "I won't put my life in danger unnecessarily. On my path to the throne, I will try to proceed with as little harm and bloodshed as possible."

When Luciana saw the determination in my eyes, the tension in her face eased slightly. Her hand was still trembling, but she nodded approvingly. I hoped I had comforted my mother, who sat beside me, strong but inwardly frightened.

At that moment, Isabella quietly approached and lightly touched my shoulder. "Ethan, your mother's concern is all of our concern," she said in a soft voice. "But we're with you on this journey. We won't leave you. Together, we will be stronger."

For a moment, my eyes shifted to Isabella, and I gave her a grateful smile. I could see the trust and support in her eyes. Feeling that I was not alone on this path strengthened my conviction in my decision.

We spent a few more hours talking, just my mother and Isabella. The topic quickly shifted away from my coup plan and turned to my potential suitors that seemed to make my mother a bit happier. Luciana kept asking about the girls, and interestingly, Catherine had caught her attention. Isabella, on the other hand, seemed more interested in Ellera. Perhaps it was because Catherine's character resembled Luciana's, and Ellera's past was similar to Isabella's.

Finally, when it was very late, I walked my mother to her room. Since I had often slept beside her as a child, she suggested we sleep together again, but I refused, saying I was an adult now. However, when I rejected Luciana, I saw a fleeting moment of sadness and depression on her face, which made me feel regret. Without a doubt, Luciana was a very lonely woman. She had no relatives or a loving husband. She was a beautiful woman with a big heart, completely alone in the palace. After Violet and I were born, she must have become more joyful, but from what I had heard from Isabella, Luciana had been unhappy and extremely depressed before Violet was born.

That's why, before Luciana could close the door, I grabbed her hand. She looked at me with a surprised expression.

"What is it, little Ethan?" she asked.

"… hah. fine, I'll come to you shortly, alright?" I said.

Luciana's eyes brightened, and a beautiful, warm smile spread across her face. She didn't say anything; she just nodded vigorously and then went inside.

"That's how easy it is to make her happy… Little Ethan."

When I turned to look at Isabella, I saw her with a beautiful smile as well.

"Did you hear us?"

"Oh yes, little Ethan, I heard you."

I walked towards Isabella, making sure no one was around.

"But I won't be able to make you happy tonight," I whispered in her ear.

Isabella stepped back, looking at me as if I had said something ridiculous. "I'm already happy, little Ethan. Don't worry about me."

"Good. But stop calling me little Ethan. You know very well how Big I am."

Isabella, both surprised and angry, opened her mouth and playfully slapped my chest. "Why are you saying such things?! Someone might hear you!" she said in a low voice.

"It's ridiculous for you to say that. After all, it's not normal for a woman screaming beneath me to be afraid of being heard"

"Hahaha, shut up, shut up…! Go and sleep with your mother, little Ethan!" Isabella said, pushing me toward Luciana's bedroom with all her strength. After pushing me to the door, she quickly turned and ran away, her face deeply flushed.

My smile involuntarily widened as I turned around and knocked on the door. When I heard a sweet and happy "Come in!" from inside, I entered.

Luciana had already changed into a nightgown and was waiting for me. Since the bed was quite large, I walked to the other side and sat on the bed.

"Wait! Are you going to sleep in these clothes? Don't be ashamed of your mother, little Ethan, and dress more comfortably," Luciana said.

I sighed, already beginning to question why I had come here. I quickly removed my unnecessary clothes, though, of course, I still had enough on me to cover. As I turned and lay on the bed, I saw Luciana's loving expression as she looked at me. She came even closer until only a few inches separated our faces. Whether from up close or from a distance, her beauty was undeniable, once again proving that she was absolutely stunning. If women's beauty were to be categorized, Luciana would undoubtedly belong to the highest tier.

Luciana's dazzling beauty was even more captivating up close. Her silver-white hair shimmered like moonlight shining in the night sky, cascading over her shoulders like a soft veil that embraced her skin. Though the color of her hair was cool, it gave her a warm and inviting appearance, as if it were wrapping everyone who gazed upon her in a sense of calm.

Her blue eyes reflected an inner world, deep like the ocean. These eyes sparkled with a secret in every glance, possessing a depth and delicate allure that could penetrate to the heart. The glint in her eyes mirrored the maternal love and protective instinct that radiated from her, further strengthening the trust I felt toward her.

Luciana's facial features were a perfect blend of grace and softness. Her smooth, fair skin shone with the perfection of porcelain, and the faint pink on her cheeks added an innocent and pure expression to her face. Her lips were curled in a gentle smile, a smile that carried a warmth and sincerity that could melt anyone's heart.

When she reached out her hands toward me, I was amazed at the elegance of her fingers and the delicacy of her touch. Her hands, with the nobility fitting for a queen, held both strength and tenderness at the same time. These graceful hands reflected the touch of a woman who had shouldered the heavy responsibilities of the kingdom for years but had never lost her maternal love.

Luciana was not only physically beautiful, but possessed an enchanting spiritual beauty as well. Her unique beauty and inner grace were so magical, they seemed to make a person want to dance on clouds. Without a doubt, if Luciana were not my mother, but a woman I did not know, I would have been willing to destroy the world just to win her over. But sadly, she is my one and only mother, and I could never do anything to harm the relationship I have with her. When I realized how much this truth hurt my heart, I was left in shock. Fortunately, I would soon fall asleep, and I wouldn have to determine whether these feelings were real or just the nonsense of a dream.