CHAPTER 326: THE BEST DANCER WAS FINALLY ON THE STAGE

[KAWAI]

As Tamiko and his father walked back into the council room, everyone could sense the change. It wasn’t as obvious as intended before, but it was there. The little nudge of a reality that should have been and the possibility of what this would turn into.

It was something that they wouldn’t fight about but one that would send a message so strong that no one would ever dare to question anything.

Perhaps it was the insanity of the moment that shut everyone up, or maybe it was in the way the father and son walked through the doors, a new determination on their faces like hell was truly about to go down.

The Lycan lord had already been done with his briefing of their situation to the ministers and they were all thinking of what they needed to do in response. So, when the father and son came back, they were expecting worse shit to happen.

They were expecting chaos as they had always been used to, but the smile that lingered beneath the stoic faces was not something that anyone had been prepared for. So, they instantly stood up to acknowledge the royals.

"Have a seat, everyone. Prince Kaito has something to say," the mad king said.

Tamiko looked at his father, unsure of what the hell he was supposed to say. He had just stepped out because he had felt uncomfortable hearing them talk about his mother and now, he was back with his father delegating to him?

What was going on here?

Was this really okay?

"Papa..." Tamiko trailed off in uncertainty.

King Zaffuto just nodded at his son, urging him to go on. Maybe the kid didn’t have anything to say, but he would find the words. For this particular occasion, he had to. There was no other way around it.

"Okay..." Tamiko breathed.

He wasn’t used to this.

He didn’t know what he was supposed to say with all these people focused on him. The young prince could feel the shift in the air. He could sense the way everyone was focused on him.

It should have been a proud moment, but Tamiko wasn’t sure anymore. Perhaps he just had to believe in himself like his father did. Perhaps that was the only way for this to make any more sense, right?

"This is not a meeting for justice for the dead queen of hearts, or the royal omega, or the lost prince. This is a meeting for revenge. Vengeance is why we are here and it is also why we have to keep going," Tamiko began.

He knew his words sounded crazier than they had ever been. That the life they had cherished was not going to matter anymore if they didn’t get to the end of the road that was seeking them out. The roads would be blocked and justice wouldn’t matter.

It was a truth so simple, a reality so faulty, and yet in the midst of all that, lay the realization that there was never going to be a chance at justice for anyone. That life was never going to make sense for a long time.

This right here was the worst of possibilities, but then again blood needed to flow. Rage needed to be satiated and if another blood flow was it, then it had been decided. No one would flap back anymore.

"Which is why, in retaliation for the things the real did against Kawai. For the free lands they had used to organize themselves and tear what I loved to pieces, there will be none again. The free lands will never be free.

"As of this moment, let it be known that the entire free lands is a part of Kawai and that everyone out there who resides in the free lands, should vacate with immediate effect. Send the Kawai army to the free lands and make sure to secure them.

"No rogue is allowed in the free lands. All the Kawai rogues will be brought back home and settled in the barracks in the west. This is your first order from me, the crown prince of Kawai.

"Anyone who fails to comply, kill them all. Don’t give anyone a second chance, because they will be the ones who will be used by our enemies to fuck Kawai over again. No more Kawai massacres.

"It is time to protect our homeland," Tamiko announced proudly.

He was insane for this and it was obvious when the ministers looked at the prince like he had lost his mind. Then again, the man had lost everything before this madness and he wasn’t about to lose anymore.

He had lost his mother at the hands of the rogues who had been used. He had lost the chance to grow up a normal kid because of them. Perhaps he was bitter, but Tamiko was right in whatever the fuck he was choosing to do today.

After all, he didn’t want to lose again.

He had lost his Erasthai once because of those same rogues and they had all nearly lost Kawai because of them. This was not the time to think of what people would feel. This was war and the prince was behind it all.

No one had the guts to say anything because they all knew what this meant. This was the kind of war that no one would come out of with ease. This was the fate they had long been resigned to and maybe this was also their chance at a normal home, right?

"As you wish, your majesty. We shall comply with all the riders given," Floki said, as he looked at the young prince. He had seen the way the prince had handled himself from the onset and he appreciated that.

The young prince had shown them that he was someone they could follow into war. That he was the leader that was fit to replace the king. The aura around the prince was unhinged and it was more dangerous than the mad King’s aura.

It was the craziest and the most unsettling they had ever interacted with, and yet as the warriors bowed one by one and stepped out of their ministerial seats, they appreciated what life was like for them.

They were glad to have the reminder of the queen of hearts and that right there was the chance to make things right. They would avenge them all and they would let themselves be led by the psycho Lycan prince.

"You did it," Danny breathed once the ministers had left.

He had always listened carefully to Tamiko yap about putting an end to the free lands because that was the one place that encouraged cruelty to other races. It had at first been the plan to make sure that no one suffered the same fate as him.

It was a hurt state that had ruined so many things back then, and a fate that Tamiko had despised so much that if he had the power to turn back time, he would do whatever it took to make sure that life was better.

Maybe that was a dream back then, but right here with the power as the Lycan crown prince, Tamiko was fulfilling his dream. He was showing that he not only had restraint but that he also understood what life was meant to be.

This was the craziest they had all ever gotten but Danny was proud of his best friend. He was proud of the boy who had endured so much in Grealor and who hadn’t once forgotten where he had come from.

It was the most unhinged of moments and Danny wanted to scream and shout at the heavens for this chance.

"I’m so proud of you, brother," Danny added as he rushed to hug Tamiko.

He could tell from the prince’s eyes that the man was still in disbelief about what had just happened. It was alright though because this time, Tamiko wasn’t alone in the world or worried about protecting Danny from the hands of the Grealor bastards.

This time, he had people who would stand beside him without asking questions, or even challenge the idea. He had people who would always choose him, and boy was it a beautiful sight and reality.

He had an army who wouldn’t hesitate to lift their swords to fight for him and never against him. It was a beautiful time for them and no matter how things turned out from here, there was no denying that they would be all right.

"Still feels like a dream," Tamiko breathed as he looked at his father, his Erasthai, his uncle, and his best friend; all of who looked so damn proud of him that the world could easily collapse because of Tamiko and they still would be proud.

"Well, it’s not a dream anymore son. You have the power and no one will defy you. Whoever does that won’t live in the next second. I am proud of your first order and now I am certain that if Sadako and I decide to go explore the realm and leave you in charge, we won’t come back to a burning kingdom, son.

"That is a lot more than I could say for myself if Sadako ever left me alone," King Zaffuto said and Lord Sadako just rolled his eyes at his brother. Zaffuto always had a flair for the dramatics but this had to be the worst of them all.

Or maybe it was just because they were still grieving and had never gotten to the end of the road for it. Maybe with Tamiko as the king, the people would be safer and would trust in the crown more.

Then again, Lord Sadako had long restored the peace of the kingdom in his tenure anyway.

"Don’t listen to him, kid. You’ll do great," Lord Sadako voiced proudly.