The Third Prince Of Darkness

When I emerged from the teleportation portal, I found myself near the capital. A letter had arrived from the palace a few days ago, and it was evident that preparations for war had begun at least several months earlier. This meant that the war could break out at any moment. Sighing, I used my dark powers to teleport to Isabella's residence outside the capital.

When I arrived at Isabella's mansion, I saw her preparing to move. As I stepped out of the shadow realm and appeared behind her, the very next second, I felt a sword at my throat. Isabella looked at me in shock and immediately withdrew the sword in her hand.

"Ethan?! When did you get here?" she asked.

"I just arrived. I'm sorry for scaring you," I replied.

Isabella clutched her heart and took a deep breath. "I almost killed you just now... Never sneak up on me like that again!" she said.

"You're right, but I didn't want to be seen by your servants."

Isabella walked over to me, opened her arms, and hugged me tightly. In return, I grabbed her by her wide hips, making her flinch, but she didn't object. She held onto me in silence for a while, and when I tried to pull away, she pressed me back into her embrace. It's worth noting that Isabella, being at Kaiser Level 6, so, still much stronger than me.

"Are you moving somewhere?" I asked, still in her embrace.

"Yes, I need to return to the palace. By Richard's orders, I have to protect the capital," she replied.

"Protect the capital? ... Does that mean Richard is joining the war as well?"

Isabella nodded. "Yes, he's going too."

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This was quite surprising. Kings usually didn't participate in wars, but it was actually good news. If Richard was joining, it meant the coalition forces were taking this war seriously. That was a crucial step toward victory. Yet, thinking about it now, Roxanne had told me to come to the capital immediately after the war ended. Did that mean Isabella might be in danger? Whatever the case, I needed to head to the capital as fast as possible after the war, just as Roxanne had instructed. She had already spent the past week constantly urging me to go.

"Be careful, Bella. We might lose this war."

For a brief moment, Isabella's eyes darkened with worry, but she quickly composed herself and spoke with a firm, determined voice:

"The capital won't fall while I'm here, Ethan. If things reach that point, I will be one of those who decides the fate of this war. You can be sure of that."

I admired her resolve. As always, Isabella exuded strength, but I knew that beneath her tough exterior lay a vulnerability. The thought of losing her tied my stomach into knots.

"I'll be on the battlefield too, Isabella. But if anything happens... if you get hurt... I won't be able to bear it," I said seriously.

Isabella smiled, a smile that carried both warmth and the weight of war. "Don't worry, Ethan. I'll take care of myself. But you should be more careful. Our victory depends on you, too." She reached out, cupped my cheeks with both hands, and kissed me on the lips.

The kiss was long and passionate, as if Isabella was trying to carve her longing into me. I started caressing her hips with my hands, but she suddenly grabbed them. "Sorry, little Ethan, but I have to leave for the capital today," she said.

"That's fine. I'll head out too. See you at the palace," I said, pulling back to leave, but Isabella caught my hands, stopping me.

"Are you upset with me? If you want, I can delay my departure for the capital..." she said, surprising me.

Even though I knew Isabella was a confident and strong woman, over time, I had started to sense her growing dependence on me. After all, this was likely the first proper relationship she'd ever had in her life, and naturally, she was afraid of ruining it. What woman wouldn't fear losing a man she had loved for years without any complaints? Isabella had done exactly that—she had never stopped loving me, even for a moment, despite our long separation. It was only natural for her to fear losing the first man she had ever loved.

"Bella, I'm not upset with you. I'd never refuse to spend time with you, but I also won't do anything that makes things harder for you. Okay? You're my queen; I could never stop loving you."

A flicker of relief and happiness appeared in Isabella's eyes. She held my hand tightly and, with a small bow of her head and a smile, said,

"Even though I'd like to spend more time with you, you're right. I have to go. But we'll meet in the capital, and... please take care of yourself."

No one would ever imagine that the strongest woman in the kingdom could act so sweetly.

"You too," I said softly. Then I gently released her hand and stepped back. Before turning away, I noticed the determination in her eyes. Parting ways before a war was difficult for both of us, but it reminded me of the strength of our bond.

Summoning my dark energy, I prepared to re-enter the dark realm. However, as Isabella saw me getting ready to leave, she took one last step forward and embraced me again. In a whispering voice, she said,

"Come back to me, Ethan. No matter what..."

"Always," I replied, then vanished into the darkness.

---

As soon as I teleported, I found myself in a wooded area just outside the capital, amidst intense military activity. People were rushing around the camps; soldiers were donning their weapons or practicing magic on training grounds. The nearness of war was now more tangible than ever.

I stepped out of the woods and began walking toward the capital's main gate. Some soldiers seemed to recognize me by my appearance, and for some reason, smiles spread across their faces when they saw me. They all gathered around me at a respectful distance, standing to attention. Even the soldiers who didn't know me followed their comrades' lead. Before long, I had to make my way through a sea of soldiers as I headed toward the capital.

It seemed that my accomplishments at the academy, as well as what I had achieved under the identity of Arthur, had already spread to even the smallest villages in Asina. My fame was growing day by day, so it was natural that the soldiers' morale would rise upon seeing me. After all, I was Ethan Asina Lenistark, the third prince of the Asina Kingdom—the one who had even defeated the demon princess.

This was good because it made my claim to the throne inevitable... assuming the war went well.

Before entering the capital's walls, the guards who recognized me immediately arranged for escorts and provided me with a strong horse. As I mounted the horse and rode into the capital with a dozen guards, the crowds spilling into the squares and streets momentarily overwhelmed me. When they saw my silhouette on horseback among the guards, they began cheering excitedly.

"Prince Ethan! Prince Ethan has arrived!"

The enthusiasm of the people spread like waves. Some raised their hands in joy, and children broke free from their mothers' arms to get a closer look at me. From windows and balconies, men, women, and the elderly chanted, "Long live Prince Ethan!"

Even though the guards tried to push the crowd back, it was impossible to contain the wave of affection. One of the guards walking beside my horse turned to me in astonishment and said,

"Your Highness, I cannot understand how the people learned of your arrival so quickly!"

This surprised me as well. I had just entered the gates a few minutes ago, and I wasn't expecting such an overwhelming reaction. It seemed that someone from the crowd who had seen me enter had quickly spread the news. Yet, the people seemed to draw great morale from knowing I was among them.

I slowly brought my horse to a halt and raised my hand to greet the gathered crowd. For a moment, the cheers subsided, and everyone turned their full attention to me.

"My dear people!" I began in a loud voice that echoed across the square. "It brings me immense joy to stand here with you today. In these challenging times, your unity and support for one another are Asina's greatest strength. War is approaching, but your courage and faith will lead us to the greatest victory!"

My words sparked another wave of cheers among the crowd. People began shouting, "Long live Ethan! Long live our Prince!"

For a brief moment, an elderly woman in the crowd caught my eye. She held an old flag in her hands; her face was wet with tears of joy. I nodded respectfully in her direction. In response, she raised her flag even higher and shouted with all her might, "Long live the future of our kingdom!" Her gesture amplified the crowd's excitement even further.

The guards finally managed to gently push the people back enough for me to continue forward. I urged my horse onward, cutting through the crowd as I made my way to the palace. Yet, the people continued to follow me. It was as though the entire population had come together to send me off.

When I reached the palace gates, the soldiers standing guard immediately opened them. As I entered the palace courtyard, the crowd stopped at the gates, still cheering and saluting me. I turned back one last time, raised my hand to wave at them, and shouted,

"Asina will always stand strong! Together, we will prevail!"

My words were met with thunderous cheers. Even as I entered the palace, their enthusiastic chants still echoed in my ears. Yet, a strange heaviness settled in my chest. Having the unwavering support of the people was an honor, but it also carried a tremendous responsibility. I now understood that I had to give my all to ensure I did not let their hopes down.

Even though Roxanne had predicted we would lose this war, I knew that at the very least; I had to do everything within my power.