[Warning: Disturbing content below, discretion is advised. Skip to the other half of the chapter if you can't handle dark content.]
…..
Imperial Court, Human Continent.
Just like in the future, the current times were ruled by Emperor Ranks. Each Emperor Rank had a continent to himself and their courts would be called Imperial Courts.
The leader of the guard had come to the court to get the newborn pardoned, but to his dismay, the Imperial Highness wasn't there in the court.
He was in a faraway palace and wasn't to be disturbed, but then the leader got a message that if it's related to the pregnant woman's case, the Imperial Highness would make an exception.
Hence, the leader of the guards went to that faraway place, which was located at the border of their empire. There was a small palace and the Imperial Highness was resting there.
The leader went to the palace and surprisingly, nobody stopped him and let him in with the baby.
Once inside, he was guided to the chambers of the Imperial Highness.
He stood there for a bit and the Imperial Highness came out.
He was a tall man with a sturdy build. His aura, majestic. His appearance, really noble, just like how an Emperor should be.
As the Emperor saw the guard with the newborn, he understood there was.
He took the baby in his hands and said to the guard, "stand guard. I'll pass judgement on this devil's child. Whatever you hear inside, it'll just be the devil's scream as I exorcise it out."
The leader nodded and did as instructed.
What followed was another round of horrifying wails that sent shivers down the spine of the man.
He didn't budge from his place despite the wails as he was ordered to stand guard. Had that not been the case, he would've ran away long ago.
A few minutes later, the door of the chambers opened up and the Emperor appeared out in loose robes. He handed the baby back to the guard and said, "I heard the mother of this child was a beautiful lady. Make sure to raise this child properly and come back ten years later. You're dismissed."
Before the guy knew, he was teleported out of the palace.
He could still feel the chills and looking down at the sleeping newborn, a horrified look appeared on his face.
The leader felt his head spin and vomited at the side, all the while holding the baby.
He puked for a good few minutes and once he had calmed down slightly, tears dripped down his face.
He didn't say anything and with the baby, left the palace to do the duties given by the Emperor.
…..
Two years later.
In a small village, a toddler was happily crawling around his guardian, who was none other than the ex-leader of the guards himself.
His face was as emotionless as it could be, but the toddler's happy movements brought some warmth to him.
He didn't know babies were this adorable and felt like a father. But remembering what happened two years ago, he shivered and curled up in a corner, unable to face the happy baby.
…..
Four years later.
"Grumpy, play with me, grumpy." A cute six-year old girl with red hair tugged on the sleeves of a hardworking farmer.
"Not now, Keith." The man answered.
"No, no, play with me!" The child argued.
The farmer sighed in defeat, put his plough down and squatted down, gesturing to the child that he would play.
"Yay!" The girl jumped in joy on the man and off they went.
Minutes later, when the girl was put down, she happily ran in circles thanking the man, then went about her ways.
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Looking at her departing back, the man's eyes moistened up. "Oh, Keith…"
He remembered the orders of the Emperor and the horror that happened six years ago were still vividly etched into him, stealing any happiness he got while taking care of this little girl.
As the man stood in the field with a heavy heart, he thought to himself with some sternness, 'No… this mustn't go on… Keith should never be taken to the bastard Emperor…'
…..
Three years later.
Huff… Huff…
"STOP, YOU TRAITOR!"
A man ran at full speed from a group of guards while tightly holding onto a basket behind his back, where a child was curled up and crying in fear.
"Keith, listen to me Keith… huff… huff… everything you need to know is in the ring attached to a thread around your waist. DO NOT lose the ring by any means!"
"Grumpy… I am scared grumpy…" the child cried out from the basket.
"Keith, our life is on the line. You HAVE to survive by any means! There's a… huff… boat by the river. You'll board it and go to the other kingdom. ALWAYS lay low and never show yourself to anybody!" The man had tears on his face but he still answered.
"I cannot… sniff… live without you grumpy… sniff…" the girl continued to cry and said.
"Keith, I love you, my child. But… for me… for your old man… for you parents… you must live! You must! There's no other option…"
"B-b-but—"
"Keith, we are almost there! Promise me, Keith! Promise me that you'll live no matter what!" The man yelled.
The child shivered in fear, but mustered up some courage and said weakly, "I… I promise…"
"Good! Taking revenge is secondary, living is the most important! You must live a good life, Keith. For this old man, you must! Understood?"
The girl weeped silently.
"I SAID, UNDERSTOOD!?"
"Y-Y-Yes!" The girl was startled.
Soon, the man and the girl reached the boat on which two guards were waiting.
They immediately started taking off the ropes anchoring the boat and extended their hands for the man.
The man didn't care about anything and threw the basket into the boat with as much power as he could.
The basket crashed in the boat and the girl cried out in pain.
The boat took off and looking at them leave, a sigh of relief washed over the man.
He knew nothing of what was his life before that incident almost a decade ago.
He just knew of him tasked to take care of Keith and he did that with all his heart.
All his memories were around Keith. The loving warm memories of him playing with her.
Ah… he still remembered how he got the name grumpy. He seemed like a grandpa and was always in a bad mood, hence the name grumpy.
As he remembered the fond memories, a few arrows hit his back and sent him kneeling on the ground.
The girl on the boat had come to its side to see her old man one last time, but looking at him getting hit by arrows, she could do nothing but scream and cry.
She was being held down by the guards on the boat, loyal subordinates of this leader, and they too were crying as they watched their leader get killed.
Before dying, the leader flashed a small smile and said, "live… a good life… Keith. A flourishing life…"
BURST!
An arrow shot at the man's head and made his skull explode, killing him fully this time.
The little girl screamed her lungs out as she saw this, but the boat swiftly went to the other side of the river, into the borders of a new kingdom.
The guards chasing them clicked their tongues as they couldn't go to that side and threw rocks at the boat.
Nothing happened to the boat and safely landing on new borders, the guards ran away with the little girl into the dense jungle.
.
.
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…..
A/N: This is a bonus chapter for 100/100 Golden Tickets.
Next goal: 137/200 Golden Tickets, 709/900 Powerstone.
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