Royally Destined to Die

CHAPTER ONE

PRINCE KAL

I was staring out the window, feeling like I was the most useless, pathetic creature in the universe. Most people would think that I'm acting like a spoiled brat. I'm really just being honest.

Sure, this castle I live in is magical. My room is gorgeous. My opportunity to have a decent education is a blessing. I get to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, unlike hundreds of people who live in the slums. The respect I receive and my status as a prince is desirable.

My life is envied by thousands of people all across Serania.

But I had no purpose. I was a prince, and that's what I'll always be. I was second-born, so I'll never get to inherit the throne from my father. If I was never born, no one would even notice. All the royal family really needed was one son or daughter to be the next King or Queen. Which is something I'll never be.

I was the second born son, absolutely useless, and I hated it. I didn't want to be overshadowed by my brother. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted either to be King, or nothing at all.

If the throne somehow came into my possession, I would be the happiest man in Serania.

Right now, I wasn't so sure. Not after my father got assassinated two weeks ago. Now, my brother was be King. I'm still just a prince, but now I was next in line for the throne. Next in line to be freaking assassinated

'Nothing's going happen to you. Nothing's going happen to Roger. No one will get assassinated. The throne will never be your burden.'

That last thought felt a little bittersweet, even if it might be true. It was true.

'But you won't get hurt.', I reminded myself. And then-

'KNOCK, knock, knock'

"Prince Kal. Are you decent?", a voice asked from the other side. I felt myself scowl.

"...It's urgent, Your Majesty.".

'You Majesty....?'

My pulse quickened involuntarily. Only the King was addressed as "You Majesty'. I had a terrible feeling about what I going to hear. A strong sense of déjà vu".

I gave my head a sharp shake, and took a deep breath, straightening my shirt and adjusting its collar. I looked at myself in the mirror that covered an entire wall in my room, and run my finger through my blond hair, trying to make it look...presentable, at least. I don't think I even looked at my hair since I heard about my father's death. Or if I took a bath, for that matter. At least I've brushed my teeth.

"Come in.", I called, my voice immediately going cold. There was a pause, and the door was slowly pushed open. A servant boy who looked around twelve years old stepped inside. He was looking at me like I was going to pull out a sword and slaughter him right there and then.

Which was ridiculous. I wouldn't do that. It was against the law.

"Would you care to explain why you wanted to waste my time.", I snapped, glaring. That made the servant boy look even more terrified. I considered snapping at him again, or threatening him for his pathetic service. I didn't, though.

I was done. I didn't want to yell at some boy who looked like he'd piss his pants if I so much as looked at him. I didn't want to be mean at all. I wanted to know what was going on. If Roger was alright. If I was going to be.

"Please tell me what the news is.", I asked, my voice softer this time. The servant boy paused, and them stuttered out:

"D-do you want the good news or the bad news first, Your Majesty?".

"Bad news.", I replied immediately. Get the bad news over with first, and then let the good news cool you down. That's what my father always told Roger, when he was preparing him to be King.

"W-well the bad news is that P-Prince Roger is dead. The good news is that you're g-going to be King.".

Hearing those words, I froze. I squeezed my eyes shut. Roger was dead. He was gone. As the King's last son, I was now alone.

"How was he killed?", I whispered. But I knew, deep in my gut. And I knew what this meant for me.

"S-same as your father, Y-Your Majesty. Assassinated. Suffocation, most likely, but barely any sign of struggle.".

I paused, letting the information sink in. This meant that I was going to be King of Serania. The youngest King in history, at seventeen years old. My childhood dream. My present nightmare. What everyone in the kingdom assumed was still my deepest desire.

"When's the coronation?", I asked, straightening myself back up. The steel was back in my voice. The servant boy took a step back, eyes wide.

"T-tomorrow, Your M-Majesty", he stuttered out. I tried to look regal and imposing, even thought I was falling apart on the inside.

"Very well. You're dismissed", I snapped. The servant boy just stood there, mouth open. I snarled and took a step forward.

"I said, you're dismissed.", my voice shifting from cold to frost. The boy let out a squeak, and ran out of my room without a backward glance. As soon as he got himself out of my room, I stepped forward and slammed the door shut, and stood with my back pressed to it.

This was my life. My freaking life. It sucked.

I spent my entire childhood craving the throne, and it falls into my lap at the worst possible time: when there are angry assassins who want to kill me. If there are assassins, then it has to be the Magical Race. When my father got killed, everyone knew that that's what it was.

The Magical Race consisted of witches and wizards. We've never really gotten along. They've been trying to take over Serania for hundreds of years. The Magical Race have never succeeded before, or even got close to it. They've never killed anyone important before; especially not a King.

But the Magical Race had a new leader, and a powerful one. That much I can guess.

As far as I can tell, they want to overthrow Serania and take all the humans as slaves. That's why they're killing off the royal bloodline. If I die, then there'll be no one life to take charge of the throne, and the kingdom will have no choice but to submit their rule.

Or they plan for worse.

I've always wanted the throne. My people know that.

Two Kings, my father and my brother, were assassinated. They were the two people standing in my way to the throne. Roger got murdered after two weeks as King. If I don't get killed in that time frame, then people will begin to think that I'm the assassin. The throne is my motive. My people will get suspicious, and there'll be a rebellion. Both sides will fight. My side against the rebellion.

People against people.

We'll tear the kingdom apart ourselves.

Serania will burn, and the magical race will be watching. But that's not how this is going to go down.

As the King of Serania, I'm going to make sure of it.

CHAPTER TWO: https://writinglightning.wixsite.com/website/post/a-shock-to-the-system