Chapter 20: A Promise Wrapped in Lies

  Theodore

  The castle was nothing like the world outside. It was polished, pristine, and almost unnervingly quiet. After being escorted through a labyrinth of corridors, we were each given separate rooms, warm showers, and elegant clothing that felt foreign on my skin. I had grown used to dirt, to the rough texture of worn-out fabric, but here—here we looked like nobles, like we belonged.

  Maki, however, didn’t seem to share that sentiment. She tugged at the collar of her dress, fidgeting with the smooth fabric as though it was suffocating her. She kept a smile on her face, but it was the kind of smile that didn’t reach her eyes. The kind that said she wanted to be anywhere but here.

  The dining hall was grand, lined with intricate carvings and chandeliers that bathed the room in a golden glow. A long table stretched before us, filled with food that smelled too rich, too foreign. We took our seats, the weight of expectation pressing down on us as Prince Marshall sat at the head of the table, poised and composed.

  “Eat,” he said with a small, practiced smile. “You are my guests.”

  We hesitated, but hunger won over caution. The first bites were awkward, the silence thick between us, but the prince was in no rush. He ate with grace, his movements deliberate, his gaze calculating as he observed us.

  Then, when the air had settled just enough, he spoke. “You understand why you’re here.”

  We didn’t answer, so he continued.

  “I want to help you.” His voice was smooth, assured. “You will be welcome in this kingdom. You will have safety, guidance, and, most importantly, my personal assistance in surviving the universal curse. There are people you’ve lost, aren’t there?” His tone softened just enough to sound genuine. “People who were taken from you—whether in your previous world or even in this one. A family member? A lover? A friend? A son?”

  Taki flinched. Akira’s grip on his fork tightened.

  “I can help you find them and protect them,” Marshall continued, leaning slightly forward. “I can reunite you with them. And if they are here, I will make sure they survive the universal curse. I will protect them.”

  Taki and Akira were no longer just interested—they were invested. Akira, usually so guarded, was the first to break the silence.

  “This world…” he hesitated, then asked, “Is it connected to the real world? If someone dies there, do they come here?”

  Marshall nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yes.” He lied.

  Marshall’s gaze swept over us again, measuring our reactions. Then, as though the previous topic had been nothing more than a passing thought, he continued, “All I need from you is one thing. The blessing stealer among you.”

  Maki stiffened.

  “The kingdom has a plan,” he explained. “We have a way to avoid the universal curse. The king himself will be going to a sacred place—one that can protect him. And he can bring one person with him.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  A pause. Then his eyes flickered toward us. “That person will be the blessing stealer.”

  He was lying, but only later—much later—we would realize just how much he had lied.

  A stunned silence filled the room.

  “The rest of us?” Taki asked. “What happens to the rest of us?”

  Marshall’s expression was calm. Too calm. “You will be given resources to survive. We will not abandon you. And as I promised, I will personally see to it that you are helped.”

  “Why can’t we go with them?” Akira asked.

  Marshall’s gaze sharpened slightly, his expression betraying nothing. “Because,” he said smoothly, “the royal blessing attracts enemies. Dangerous ones. Especially those who share the same power.”

  For a fleeting moment, something shifted in his demeanor. His eyes flickered toward Akira, then to Taki. The way they asked, the way they waited for his answer—it told him something. Akira had instinctively said ‘them,’ unconsciously distancing himself from the blessing stealer. And Taki’s expectant look mirrored the same unspoken certainty.

  Marshall pieced it together in an instant.

  He turned back to the group, his voice even, calculated. “If two blessing stealers move together in Elthias, others with the same blessing will sense them. They will assume it is the king and his son, making them immediate targets. Traveling with them only increases your danger. Staying in the kingdom, where an attack is less likely, is the safer choice.”

  Akira spoke up. “And how do you plan to protect us from the universal curse?” His voice was steady, but his eyes held a flicker of doubt.

  Prince Marshall met his gaze without hesitation. “Most people will assume the king and his son are outside the kingdom. That means weaker enemies will try to eliminate anyone inside the kingdom who shares their blessings, thinking they are an easier target. But they will be mistaken. I will always be here to eliminate them, alongside some of the strongest fighters and blessing users in the world.

  “To make things even more efficient, we are relocating non-blessing users outside the capital and gathering all blessing users within it. This way, the capital becomes the only target for these weaker enemies, allowing us to deal with them swiftly. And that is only the first step.

  “Once their numbers have dwindled, the kingdom will send elite groups—mostly special forces and skilled blessing users—to track down and eliminate any remaining threats.

  “Of course, not everyone will receive this level of protection. But you, and those you care about, will—if we ever find them.”

  His words hung in the air like an omen. The explanation didn’t sit right with me. It felt… disorganized, as if he was weaving a truth that didn’t quite fit.

  Maki remained still, her expression unreadable. She had no intention of revealing herself, not until she noticed the way Akira and Taki looked at Marshall—the faint hope in their eyes. The prince’s words had convinced them. The promise of seeing their lost loved ones again, no matter how slim the chance, had swayed them. And then there was Marshall. His gaze, sharp and deliberate, studied her in a way that sent a chill through her spine. The way Akira spoke, the way Taki hesitated—it had already given her away. And Marshall knew it. He wasn’t just waiting; he was pressing her, cornering her without a single word, his expectant stare suffocating. It felt as if he had already decided, and she was merely confirming what he already knew.

  Her fists clenched. If she stayed silent, they would speak for her. And Marshall’s eyes, unwavering and knowing, made it clear—he had already decided. The weight of his stare, the silent pressure he exuded, pushed her toward the inevitable.

  She exhaled sharply. If her identity was to be revealed, it would be on her own terms.

  “I am Maki,” she said, her voice firm. “The blessing stealer.”

  Akira tensed. Taki inhaled sharply. I didn’t react—not outwardly. I had suspected it for some time, but hearing her say it aloud felt different.

  “But I can’t steal,” Maki added quickly. “I can only copy blessings.”

  Taki hesitated before asking, “If two people have similar blessings, do they count as one under the universal curse? Or does any small difference make them entirely separate?”

  Marshall’s smile remained, but his eyes gleamed with amusement. “That information is confidential,” he said smoothly, “but I will share it with you as a reward for your cooperation.”

  He leaned forward slightly. “The truth is, the four kings are currently meeting to finalize the details of the universal curse. This is one of the matters still under discussion.”

  Marshall’s lips curled into a smile. “Excellent,” he murmured. “Then we will begin preparations.”