Hollowed by Hatred

My father’s hand froze in mid-air at that. “Master? What master? And why would you die?”

His voice was confused and a little impatient. “Stop messing around. Your wedding with the princess is in three days. She promised to make it grand, even though you have a history as an army slave.

“From then on, you and Ethan will serve the princess together. Good times await!”

Good times? But the lady doctor at the army camp told me I was terminally ill. She said I was going to die in three days.

I was even grateful for a moment, thinking I could finally be free after five years of torture and reunite with my father and sister.

As it turned out, they had not died at all.

I looked up at my father. His benevolent face looked even scarier than the masters at the camp.

Just looking at him made my body tremble uncontrollably. I hurriedly lowered my head. “I’m not lying… I wouldn’t dare to lie…”

Before I could finish my sentence, my father frowned. “After five years of punishment, are you still insisting on fighting Ethan for the princess’s love? She would never have summoned you back so soon if he hadn’t asked!”

My sister took a deep breath and yanked me up from the ground painfully. “Michael Keyes! And here I felt sorry for you! Looks like you haven’t changed at all!

“Do you think Father and I would feel bad for you just because you slapped yourself a few times? If you still hate Ethan so much, I’ll send you right back to that camp!”

Go back there? My entire body started shaking at the thought. My limbs went cold, and I could barely breathe.

When my family was supposedly sentenced to death, the king spared me because I had been the princess’s fiancé. Instead, I was sent to the military camp as a slave.

On the very first day, the soldiers tortured me until I called them “Master”. Whenever I resisted, they would hang me naked in the water, allowing snakes to crawl all over my body. When I begged for mercy, they would drag me into their tent and take turns…

I still remembered their words.

“As expected of the princess’s former fiancé! Such smooth and supple skin, such a thin and frail body!”

“Stop fighting back! You’re just our slave, so you’ll do whatever we tell you to do!”

“Ha, so much for being a nobleman! Your noble clan is gone, and no one’s gonna save you!”

Ironically, back then I used to think, ‘If my father and sister were here, they wouldn’t let me be tortured like this.’

As it turned out, that was exactly what they did.

Not long after I became a slave, I wanted to die. However, someone saved me every time I was on the brink of dying.

They would not let me die, but they came up with new ways to torture me. How could I go back to a place like that?

I refused to go back, even if… I only had three days left to live. My body trembling like a leaf, I kneeled and begged on the floor. “I don’t wanna go back! I’ll do anything, just don’t send me back!

“I’ll be a good boy! I’ve learned my lesson! Please, I’m begging you, don’t send me back…”

My forehead quickly started bleeding, but I did not dare to stop begging or wipe the blood away. Back in the camp, the first thing I learned was obedience.

If I was obedient, they would not hit me.

My father seemed surprised at first, but soon his frown relaxed. “That’s enough. Get up, and let’s head back inside. As long as you obey, you’ll still be my son.”

I hurriedly nodded and said carefully, “I promise I’ll be good!”

My sister smiled in satisfaction. “Ethan’s plan worked like a charm. Sending Michael to an army camp for five years of hard labor taught him well.”

She then commanded a nearby maid, “What are you waiting for? Take Master Michael to get dressed…!”

“No, no need!” I instinctively jumped up and shook my head in a frenzy. “I can dress myself…

“I promise I won’t… get dirty… So please don’t beat me…”

My father raised a brow. “Beat you? Why would we…?”

Just then, I heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice behind me. “Brother! You’re back?”