1

Axton, a handsome and mighty prince. He may have perfect physique, but not his personality. He is a prince who likes to oppress his people for personal gain. Every year he doubled the taxes, while the poor who could not pay had to become his slaves.

This morning he went to the old house of an old man who worked as a farmer. He came along with his five bodyguards.

“Quickly pay your tax debt!” said Axton, folding his arms across his chest.

He was arrogant and didn't care how much the old man suffered. The old man had only one note, nothing else, but Axton took the money and left.

“Master, aren't we being too cruel? That old man doesn't seem to have any money at all,” one of his bodyguards reminded Axton of what he had done, but he shook his head hard.

Every second of his life is a way to make more money. Axton was stubborn, not caring how other people were. What he has set, the people must obey him. Almost everyone scared him. They are afraid of becoming his slaves. Even if they didn't pay, the prince would raise their interest and cut their salary while being a slave.

The residents were uneasy about Axton's leadership. They wanted to rebel, but no one dared. Axton could have done worse. Last time, there was news that Axton beheaded a sword thief from one of the soldiers. The thief intends to sell the soldier's sword to get money for his sick son. Without hearing any explanation, Axton cut off his head right after the thief was caught. Very cruel, merciless and ruthless. 

“My lord, there is a guest in the castle. We have to go back soon. The governor of Eastern Europe has been waiting for my lord's presence,” said one of the guarding soldiers. Thus, Axton and his bodyguards immediately got back on their horses, returning to the castle. 

Belarus, governor of Eastern Europe, was sitting on a golden yellow sofa. He waited for Prince Axton to arrive. There was an urgent matter until he himself came without a messenger. Belarus used to be very good friends with Rovaldo, Axton's father. However, since Rovaldo died, the leadership was held by Axton.

He regretted that all regulations were overhauled by Axton and it caused chaos, especially on the increase in tax prices including export-import. Two days ago, the young prince imposed a higher import tax, but this decision overwhelmed the East. They need rice from abroad. If taxes are raised, they could starve to death because exporters don't want to sell their rice.

Axton just smiled lopsidedly at Belarus's words. He thought that his decision was the most appropriate. An increase in taxes will make you richer. 

“Well, anyway, the decision is mine. I've set it, so you just have to follow it!” Axton spoke firmly. His gaze was very serious, not wanting to be denied.

Belarus sighed. Stubborn young man, he thought. Belarus is very worried about Axton's leadership. The decisions he made would only benefit the officials and the upper classes. Then what about the poor? The poor will get poorer and the rich will get richer. 

“No, you have to withdraw your decision. People really need rice imports, the fields are dry,” said Belarus. 

“This is none of your business! Between countries is my business, Belarus, just take care of the East.”

Axton was about to get up and leave Belarus, but Belarus stopped him. 

“Stop, listen to me first, young man! You should learn from me about leading, about how to prosper the people!” Belarus looked at Axton with a gentle gaze. He learned one thing, to soften a hard heart with tenderness. 

“You should be the one in the mirror. If you're good at leading, why are you just a governor?” said Axton scathingly.

Axton's words unexpectedly made Belarus really angry. He snapped his fingers, calling out to someone who was outside the room. Belarus summoned his secret weapon, the weapon he needed when he was really angry. 

A beautiful girl appeared with her face covered in a thin cloth. Her hair is white, tied in a ponytail, and her clothes are all black. Axton clearly knew who was in front of him. Selena Dazzle, the most feared witch on the plains of Europe. 

“What is this? You used a witch to make me submit to you?” Axton laughed disdainfully. He looked at them defiantly. “That won't be possible! You think I'm stupid?”

Axton really hated dealing with witches. Next month he was already planning to make a rule that all witches should be hanged. They are very unsettling. All the witches roamed freely and did their own magic. 

“If you don't cooperate, you will know the consequences.” 

Selena moved her hand, about to cast magic on Axton, but unfortunately he pulled out his sword faster and stabbed it into her heart. Axton glared at the witch. Blood splattered on the floor. 

“All witches must die, including you!” Axton hissed sharply.

Selena was in unbearable pain, she couldn't even speak. Axton's sword stab was so torturous. It made her suffer. Her life was about to be lost. 

“¡Te maldigo, oh hombre, y muere tu alma!” Selena had time to cast a spell before her last breath. 

As soon as the sword was drawn, Selena collapsed, falling to the floor, along with Axton who also collapsed to the floor. Belarus, who had been watching in surprise, was now transfixed by this incident. He immediately left the room and disappeared. He didn't want to get involved in this. He was afraid that he would be dragged down by the Supreme Court Justice. 

Meanwhile, Axton couldn't move. He could neither speak nor move his body, as if his soul was trapped. Even now his gaze turned blank. The soldiers were suspicious of Belarus running out of the palace. They entered the meeting room and were shocked at the sight that was presented in front of them.

Selena's blood splattered. She and Axton were both lying helplessly on the floor. The soldiers immediately summoned a healer. They immediately rushed Axton to his room and got rid of Selena's corpse.

The heartbeat of Lucas Almero, Axton's brother, almost stopped when he heard this. He was painting in the library and had no idea how this happened.

Lucas immediately reported to the Supreme Court Justice and Belarus was summoned for trial. Selena's body was dumped far to the shore of the lake. It has been their tradition since long ago.

This incident shocked the public. Axton's name was getting worse, at least in the eyes of the witches. They couldn't accept that Axton had killed one of them. 

Two days after the incident, the Supreme Court Justice invited Belarus and several officials including the royal family. Belarus is free from prison because he is innocent. He just called out to Selena at that point and it was Axton who started the attack. Meanwhile, Lucas Almero, was appointed as the next king. He was twenty years old, five years younger than his brother, but Lucas was a wise and innocent man. He always listens to complaints from the community, and slowly but surely fixes the poor community system.

—★—★—

“La maldición pasará y desaparecerá, Cura!”

The spell didn't heal Axton at all. In fact it made Helena bounce against the wall until she felt pain in her back. The curse that her sister made couldn't be healed just like that. She wasn't as skilled as her sister. She didn't know how to cure Axton at this time.

Hearing the noise, the soldiers rushed into Axton's room, but Helena left before they could get there. She opened the window and jumped down. Helena was very curious, why her sister's curse could not be removed by her. The spell seemed to be only the size of a bean, useless.

She sighed softly as she walked through the city. She regretted not attending a magic school like her older sister. She was just busy playing around with her life.

Helena is very fond of art. She is good at painting. Every day she sells paintings and knitting clothes. She had absolutely no interest in magic. 

Helena tilted her head, staring at the bright moon. She wished she could talk to Axton. She wanted to go back in time, play freely with him. Now her heart is in doubt; should she take her revenge or help Axton release her siser's curse? 

“Hey, Helena!” said a man, Vale, a witch who can control fire and wind. 

“Hi, Vale. Did you just attend the worship service?” asked Helena. 

“Of course. Why aren't you there? I'm sorry to hear about Selena's passing.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you heard? Prince Axton has been cursed for killing your sister,” said Vale with a look of dislike. 

Helena nodded her head. “Yes, I know. Do you know how to remove the curse?” 

“What? You want to take it off? Just leave the prince like that. Let him suffer. Why did you bother removing the curse for? Don't use your good heart on people who are mean to you!” Vale warned sternly.

Helena sighed. She did hate Axton for killing her sister, but she wanted to hear his explanation too. She wanted to know why he killed Selena. The case of her sister's death was simply closed by the Supreme Court to clear the prince's name. Helena feels that life is never fair. All hers had been taken. She had no one there. 

“Well, if you don't know how, let me find out myself.” Helena glanced at Vale, and then turned around.

Vale snorted and glared at her. “I actually know. Don't underestimate me. I'm Vale, a third-rate witch. Even though I'm not as good as your sister, but I know the magic that Selena is good at. Even so, I won't tell you because I don't agree with your choice to free Axton.” 

Helena half turned to him. “I have my reasons. I'm the one with the problem with Axton, why did you stop me?”

Vale didn't answer and instead used his magic, creating a strong wind that made him disappear; the hallmark of Vale. When he is upset, he will just disappear. Helena sighed, what Vale had just done was quite childish for her.

For Helena, revenge is just a waste of time. Letting go and forgiving is better, especially since Axton had saved her before.