Inside the royal garden of Rownster, a young boy—born from one of the king's concubines—was being bullied by his older half-brothers.
"Useless trash," sneered the eldest.
"What's the point of you being alive, bastard?" mocked the second.
"Wouldn't it be better if you just died?" added the third.
"I-I… I didn't—" the boy stammered.
"What was that?" the eldest stepped closer. "Are you talking back to us now?"
"Yes, brother. Looks like he's trying to resist," the third said.
"Then should we teach him a lesson?" asked the second.
"That sounds like a good idea," the eldest replied.
Suddenly, the boy's mother rushed in, bowing deeply.
"Please stop, Prince Kael, Risten, and Gerta… I sincerely apologize on my child's behalf."
"What!! You're nothing but the king's mistress. Not even a legitimate wife. Do you really think I'd listen to your pathetic plea?" Kael snapped.
Just then, the queen approached.
"What is causing this commotion?" the empress asked calmly.
"Oh, mother, this wretched woman is ruining our fun," Kael said.
"Yes, mother, she kept interfering," Risten added.
"Hmph. Shouldn't we avoid meddling in the matters of another woman's children, Lady Syris?" the queen said coldly.
"M-my apologies, Queen Vista… I only wished to—"
"Enough!" the queen cut her off. "Children, continue what you were doing. As compensation, let her grant whatever my son wishes."
"V-very well, Queen Vista…" Syris whispered.
"Tell her, my son. What do you want?" the queen asked Kael.
Kael smirked and stared at Syris' chest.
"Well then… spend a night with us. Isn't that a fair request?"
"V-very well… if that is your wish, young master Kael…" Syris trembled.
"W-wait, Mother! This is our problem. You don't need to be involved!" the little boy cried.
"It's fine, Karls. Mother will return soon," Syris said softly.
At that moment, the king's guard arrived.
"I've heard enough," the knight said. "Anyone—be it concubine or queen—who attempts to take another belonging to the king without permission shall face execution. That law applies even among those of the same status. So I advise Her Majesty and her children to refrain… unless you wish to answer to my blade."
"Tch… you shouldn't have come, Gilbert. Children, let's go," Vista said sharply.
"B-but Mother—" Kael complained.
"We will not involve ourselves with him," Vista whispered. "He is the king's trusted knight."
"But Mother, are we going to let this go?" Gerta asked.
"Of course not. The king will surely punish them later," Vista replied.
"Thank you so much, Sir Gilbert," Karls said.
"It's my duty, young master," Gilbert replied.
"Yes… we truly appreciate it," Syris added.
"Haha, think nothing of it. But please be more careful next time," Gilbert said before leaving.
"Karls, I have matters to attend to. Tonight, eat dinner with your younger sibling, alright?"
"Okay, Mother," Karls replied quietly.
A few days later, rumors spread rapidly.
Both Syris and Gilbert were summoned to the throne room. When they arrived, the entire court had already gathered.
"Is it true Lady Syris had an affair with Sir Gilbert?"
"Yes, I heard the same!"
"Such disgraceful behavior!"
"Even if she's just a concubine, this is too shameful!"
If Gilbert was the king's left hand, then Caribert was his right.
"Silence," Caribert commanded. "Let us hear the explanation from Syris and Gilbert, followed by the king's judgment."
The king spoke, "Is it true you two committed such a forbidden act?"
"Absolutely not, Your Majesty. We would never commit such dishonor," Gilbert answered firmly.
"And you, Syris?"
"I swear, Your Majesty… I have never done such a thing," she replied.
"Hm. Then what do the rest of you think?" the king asked the court.
"She's guilty, Your Majesty!"
"She's lying!"
"Execute them!"
"Hang them!"
"Cleanse them in the name of the gods!"
The voices of those aligned with the queen filled the hall.
"So be it," the king declared flatly. "May you not torment me in the afterlife. Sentence them to the gallows."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Caribert replied.
Syris and Gilbert were dragged to the town square.
Hearing that his mother and the man he considered an uncle were to be hanged, Karls sprinted to the square. Once there, he saw them already bound beneath the execution platform.
"Mother!! Uncle Gilbert!!" he cried out.
"Don't cry, Karls. Even if I'm gone, I will always be with you," Syris said gently.
"She's right, young master. We will watch over you wherever you are," Gilbert added with a weak smile.
Moments later, the beam dropped. Their bodies went still.
Karls fell to his knees, screaming.
"World… is this truly your justice?! Is this what you wanted?!"
A voice echoed within him:
"Conditions for Awakening fulfilled.
– Pain
– Suffering
– Ambition
– Hatred
– Fear
Access authorized. Confirm: Do you accept the awakening of your power?"
"W-what is this…? A-ah… fine! Yes!" Karls shouted.
"Permission received. Access confirmed. Power unlocked. Reverting timeline… fifteen years into the past."
"W-wait—WHAT?!" Karls cried.
In an instant, he was pulled away from the tragedy that had shattered him—sent back to the time when he was only five years old.
Was this the work of the gods?
Or merely fate twisting its threads?
No one knew for certain.