After a long walk, Leos and Leo reached the castle every step toward it had felt heavier than the last.
Leo couldn't understand the situation the only thing he could do was stare at his father's expression, serious yet unreadable
When they reached the castle's door, it stood wide open ready to receive the inmates.
One of the guards ordered, "Take the child to the second-level jail, and that old man to the last level."
That's what Leo heard. He couldn't believe it: the crushing truth that he might never see his father again
"Okay, we'll go downstairs then," one of the guards said.
"Let's separate the prisoners."
"Leave my dad alone!!!" Leo lashed out with a kick, but the guard easily caught his leg.
"How dare you, little brat!" The guard swung a punch at Leo's head, then stopped it inches from his forehead.
"Tch. You'll pay for that. If the king's orders weren't to take you alive, I'd kill you right now."
"Come on, guys. Let's go," another guard sighed.
Leo started yelling and refused to move.
The guards tried to restrain him, but a punch straight to the temple left Leo unconscious.
"Sorry, son." Leos' head hung low he'd accepted his fate.
Stay kind... save others... no matter how hard life... gets
Leo jolted awake gasping, the words echoing in his skull.
"M-Mom?.."
He turned to find himself behind a translucent cell wall.. a "jellcell."
"Wh... Where am I..?"
"In prison, boy," a prisoner nearby grunted. Leo saw the man's back as he lay on his side, scratching his messy hair. "Sorry 'bout your mother, kid."
Leo didn't respond. He stared at the ground, tears welling.
But ya know, kid? King Richard's the kind who arrests folks for next to no reason."
"Richard..." Leo stared at the prisoner, whispering the name consistently
"WHO TOLD YOU TO SPEAK? I'M ORDERING YOU TO CLAM UP!"
"Damn it, here she goes again," the prisoner muttered, his voice dropping.
"Well, well, well! Look who's here? a new toy to play with!!" The girl crossed her arms, staring at Leo with a smirk.
Leo didn't respond. He didn't even look at the girl.
But she entered the jail cell.
"Hello," the girl pinched Leo's cheeks.
He didn't react. His cold stare only provoked her.
"I SAID HELLO! Don't you know who I am? I am the king's daughter!! You should treat me like a princess!" She slapped Leo.
"Woah, did I miss something?" The next prisoner turned slightly.
"Go away, scumbag." Leo's voice was barely above a whisper his eyes never met hers
"Scumbag?!" The princess shot to her feet, jabbing a finger at Leo.
"A piece of junk like _you_ says that to _me_?"
She kicked his head—slamming him into the ground.
Leo didn't respond. Didn't even flinch or move
But the spoiled princess kept kicking. Again. Again and again
"You like it? You like it, huh?" Her laughter turned hysterical.
She stopped, leaving Leo nearly unconscious.
"Let's have real fun from now on."
She spat on him before turning away.
"What a poor kid…" The prisoner closed his eyes and lay back on his bed.
On the ground-floor, a sound echoed metal striking metal
Clang Clang
For a moment, it resembled a blacksmith hammering a stubborn sword.
But it was Leos' head hitting the jail cell bars
"What's going on?!" Richard approached Leos' cell, yelling like a man truly concerned.. while secretly savoring every metallic strike.
"Yes! Yes! Keep going! I want to watch you suffer!" Richard's tongue curled between his lips.
But Leos froze when he saw Richard. He lifted his head, locking eyes with the king.
"You... Yes, you..." Leos whispered, each word weaker than the last as pain consumed him. "You'll be hunted like a desperate rat. Sooner or later... just wait."
Those words alone were enough to provoke Richard. He felt utterly belittled.
Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. The chant pounded in his skull.
"You know who you're talking to? KNOW YOUR PLACE, YOU WORTHLESS TRASH!"
Richard didn't hesitate. He gripped his sword.
"You know a trash's fate?"
Leos didn't respond, still staring into Richard's eyes, brow furrowed.
"...To be thrown away!"
But Leos smirked.
Richard severed Leos' head in one strike
then collapsed to his knees.
He gasped, barely breathing, as if Leos' final words had become stone in his lungs.
Richard seized Leos' head then he rushed to Leo's cell
Blood dripped steadily from it, forming a continuous line of crimson drops on the ground just like first raindrops
Richard threw Leos' head. Leo saw it skid toward him.. at first, a dark shape he mistook for a rat passing by
Then he saw: his father's severed head on the ground. A scream tore from his throat
**"DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!"**
Richard and his daughter laughed, hysterical, at the shattered boy.
Leo couldn't take it His mind snapped and lost consciousness immediately
"BUHAHAHA! What a loss... your father's dead. But at least we've got you to entertain us!"
"I want to watch you break... Rot in this cell!"