Chapter 6: Who Would Play His Games

The palace ground was peaceful with the Faeries going about their business and respective duties with smiles on their faces. However, that harmony was disrupted when a portal suddenly opened up in the middle of the courtyard and everyone stopped what they were doing out of curiosity to see who had arrived this time. 

Only royalties and high-ranking officials had access to the portals and they were hoping to see a familiar, if not popular Fae, only for the blood to drain from their faces when the cruel prince stepped out instead. Time seemed to have slowed down as they stared, jaws slacking at the dark prince that they hadn't expected at the palace. 

"Hello?" Prince Aldric waved at the people whose feet were stuck to the ground in shock, "Who missed me?" He grinned wickedly at them, revealing sharp white teeth. 

They snapped off from their shock and there was instant pandemonium as every one of them began to run in the opposite direction. No one wanted to be near him. Even the guards who spotted him had no idea how to approach him. While Prince Aldric was a dangerous Fae, he was also a prince and they had to treat him with respect as befitting his status. 

It was customary for anyone using the portals to arrive through the entrance of the palace for their disembarkation to be documented, or else they would be arrested as an intruder. Worst case, as an assassin, considering this was the palace and they took the protection of the king seriously. 

While the princes were not entitled to such rules, after all, this was their home, Prince Aldric was not welcome here, his majesty already decreed it. Unless summoned or on official duty, he was as good as an intruder. 

"Oh, don't worry…." Prince Aldric drawled when he saw the wary look the guards were giving him. He lifted his hand and showed off his ring, "I am here on official duties this time." 

There was obvious relief on their faces meaning that they wouldn't have to fight him, but there was still that flicker of doubt in their eyes especially when they took in his appearance. 

"About this… " He grinned with mischief, "My dear father summoned me right in the middle of battle, I'm sure he wouldn't mind my untidiness." 

Prince Aldric was still wearing his clothing from the battle which was stained with the Orc's slimy green bodily matter and they scrunch their noses in disgust. Aldric was not bothered by their opinion anyway knowing that he had purposely come in this way for a reason. If it were possible, he would have portaled directly in the throne room, but there were barriers set in place so portals couldn't open there. 

While the other guards were repelled by his appearance and gave him distrusting looks, one of them came forward and knelt before him, saying, "Let me take you to his majesty, my prince." 

Hearing that, Prince Adric lifted a brow in surprise, that was new. Usually, they followed him at a distance yet this one was asking to accompany him politely. Interesting. If his heart wasn't cold and hardened, he would say that he was touched. 

He studied the man who caught his attention, his eyes fierce, and searching. If this was a new plot to trap and catch him unaware, he had to be prepared. Aldric could not tell who he was, nor did he care to know if he was, to be honest; He was not going to stick along for long. 

It wouldn't hurt to know him anyway. 

"Your name?" He inquired. 

"Isaac." Aldric tasted the name on his lips, "Not bad." He muttered. 

He then crouched low, facing Isaac so his eyes were on the same level as his while the other guards behind him were more anxious than usual, having no idea what he was about to do. From the corner of his eyes, he already spotted one of them slowly reaching for the hilt of his sword. 

Aldric did not mind their actions knowing they were nothing but insignificant ants waiting to be crushed in his hands. He focused his attention on Isaac instead and penetrated his mind. Aldric sent him a mental image of tearing him apart from limb to limb and aside from an involuntary flinch, the man remained on his spot.  

Usually, his victims when he plants the gory image in their minds end up screaming and scrambling away from him with curses raining from their lips. But this one wasn't a scared child and was man enough to stand his ground. Only a few people challenged and interested him. 

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That brought a huge smile to Adric's face and he rose saying, "You can accompany me to see the king. Although I would advise you to raise your mental walls, as you can see, I relish misery and chaos." His smile turned into a villainous cackle that made the hairs on the bodies of the guards raise on edge. 

They were uncomfortable now yet could not do anything to Prince Aldric because he had not harmed anyone, that was their only basis for attack. Hence, they could only send pleading eyes to the chosen one in the name of Isaac to take him away from here. How he could stand the wild prince, they could not understand. 

"My prince, let's go," Isaac said, taking the lead, unsure whether the prince would follow or stay behind to have fun with the spooked guards. 

Surprisingly, the prince followed and he led him away. As if the news of Prince Aldric's return had spread over the palace grounds, they hardly saw anyone on their way and it almost looked as if the palace was haunted. The ones that bumped into them let go of everything they carried and ran away causing Aldric to roll his eyes toward the sky. This was getting boring. 

It was amazing how a mere rumor would impact his reputation. It all happened years ago when a servant angered him and he let loose his darkness on him, enough to haunt but not hurt him. Apparently, the servant was one for hysterics and made a huge deal out of it. From thence, his reputation was crafted in violence and death.

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If Aldric were, to be honest though, he encouraged the rumors with his love for mischief and pranks. It was just sad that the gossipmongers were not kind enough to narrate that all those involved in his games survived. If everyone ran from him, who would play his games? 

"We are here, your majesty," Isaac told him, his head bowed in respect. 

If this was an act, the man was good at it, Aldric watched him with a curl of his lips. He then stared at the large doors with two guards standing protectively in front of it with a spear in their hands. Unlike the other guards, these were the King's elite soldiers, and they gave him an indifferent look. 

They were not scared of him. Or at least, they pretended not to. Allow him to spar with them and he would input the same fear of the gods in them that the others were afraid of. Sadly, playing around with them was the same as messing with his father the king and as unruly and daring as Aldric was, he had no choice but to hold back the urge to test and play around them. 

As expected they scrunch their nose at his appearance and he saw one of them sneer at him right before the door was opened. Aldric was tempted to mark his face and come back later for his pound of flesh but there were bigger things to focus on. Like his amazing father seated on the throne and listening to the whisper in his ears by his advisor as he walked in. 

Every high Fae carried a unique aura and Adric's was a thick dark imprint in the air not to mention that Fae had heightened senses. Either his father had smelled him or heard him or sensed his aura because he turned and their eyes held. 

The king was not alone, there were the members of the court with him, and his brothers too, but they were all insignificant and blended into the background as he recognized absolute power instead. His father, his majesty, King Oberon was seated on his throne, looking imperial, stern, and regal. 

It was quite poetic in the sense that aside from his long silver hair, there was no difference between King Oberon and his son, Aldric. The prince bore an uncanny resemblance to the king, which was no wonder he didn't kill him for being half-dark Fae. 

However, those eyes that held him were suddenly filled with utter disgust as he took in his appearance. 

The king boomed with authority, 

"What is the meaning of this, Prince Aldric?"