A Dance of Kings

"Finally... Ru..."

"Yes, Your Highness," Heise said, presenting Ru, who had been meticulously cleaned and dressed in an elegant. The boy lay on the bed, his delicate body framed by soft, cascading fabrics adorned with flowers and ribbons. The Victorian-style attire was intricate, almost theatrical, with its lace and silk, giving Ru the appearance of a carefully wrapped gift. "But let me warn you upfront," Heise added, his voice tinged with unease. "He's just sleeping. The final clone has a consciousness. He's not like the seventh clone. Please... don't burn him."

Without waiting for a response, Heise turned and practically fled the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

The monarch raised an eyebrow, his silver eyes narrowing behind his ornate mask. "Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. "Who does he think I am?" He paused, glancing back at Ru, his figure almost glowing under the soft light. The monarch's gaze lingered on the ribbons and flowers, the delicate lace, and the way the fabric seemed to drape so perfectly. He sighed, answering his own question with a dry, "He thinks I'm a pervert..."

Shaking his head, the monarch stepped closer to the bed. He extended a gloved hand toward Ru, hesitating for a moment as if unsure whether to touch him or not. His fingers hovered just above Ru's cheek.

"Such fragility," the monarch murmured, his deep voice softening. "And unique."

He withdrew his hand, clasping it behind his back as he straightened, his regal demeanor returning. "Sleep well, Ru," he said, his tone now firm, almost commanding. "When you wake, we shall see if you are truly worth the trouble."

With that, the monarch turned and strode toward the door, his cape billowing behind him. But before he left, he cast one last glance over his shoulder, his silver eyes glinting with something unreadable. "And Heise," he added under his breath, "you and I will have words about your... creative choices."

The door closed with a soft click, leaving Ru alone in the room, bathed in the faint glow of moonlight.

The room was silent, the air heavy with the faint scent of flowers and the lingering presence of the monarch. Ru lay still on the bed, his delicate form draped in the intricate Victorian attire, ribbons and lace cascading around him like a dream. But beneath the surface of his serene appearance, something stirred.

The Almighty Ru.

The consciousness within him, the one that had endured countless cycles of death and rebirth, the one that had danced with shadows and flames, now awakened. His eyes fluttered open, no longer the soft, innocent gaze of the sleeping boy, but sharp, calculating, and filled with a power that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality.

He sat up slowly, the ribbons and flowers falling away as if they were mere illusions. His movements were deliberate, each one carrying the weight of centuries. He could feel it—the presence of the monarch. That familiar, haunting energy had once been his ghost lover, the one who had walked beside him in the void between life and death.

"Finally," Almighty Ru whispered, his voice low and resonant, a stark contrast to the fragile figure he had appeared to be moments ago. "You've come back to me."

He rose from the bed, the Victorian dress dissolving into a swirl of light and shadow, replaced by a more fitting attire—a dark, flowing robe adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shift like living things. His hair, once soft and short, now cascaded in wild waves, framing his face and spilling to the floor. Stars blazed in his emerald eyes.

The room he infiltrated took on a colorless, ghostly appearance.

He walked to the door, whose image fluttered like a curtain. His bare steps stopped at the line of light that sharply demarcated the border. He was torn between extending his hand or not.

A whisper escaped his wet lips. "Who are you? And why do I want you so much?"

The moment Ru's true self awakened, the monarch froze in the hallway outside the room. His silver eyes widened behind the mask, and he turned sharply back toward the door. He could feel the pull, the undeniable connection that had bound them together across lifetimes.

The door burst open, and the monarch stood there, his presence commanding and immense. But for the first time in centuries, there was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "King Ru," he said, his voice a mixture of awe and longing. "Is it you?"

The Almighty Ru dodged the gray shadow that fell over him like a web of chains. He placed his hand over his heart, trembling like a fragile leaf as he stepped back, each movement heavy with unspoken sorrow. "This cannot be... This is beyond comprehension," he uttered, his voice quaking with despair. "You are not him... Yet you..."

"Don't run away from me," the monarch said, his voice soft yet sharp, like the edge of a blade wrapped in silk. He took another step, his boots crunching against the fragile ground. "I want you," he confessed, his tone deepening. "I desire you with every part of my being. And you have no authority to change that."

Ru's steps backward stopped at the last line of light connecting his existence to the room—bed was the limit. His lips parted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he masked it with a sly smile. "Who do you think you are?" he inquired, his voice light but laced with challenge. His emerald eyes sparkled with mischief as he added, "Who are you, except you are one of the faces of King Faceless?"

The monarch stopped as he was about to step onto the fragile ground of the crystal tower. However, even his shadow was enough to create cracks on the ground. "I'm glad you're wondering who I am," he said, the harshness in his voice contrasting with the smooth smile on his lips. "I am the son of King Faceless."

Ru tightened as the crack approached his fingertips. He was nearly falling. One step later, he would be completely isolated from the room; the next step was among the stars. He swiftly collected himself and stated firmly, "Is your name Seneca?" he inquired.

The monarch's gaze lingered on Ru, tracing the lines of his face and the way his hair moved in the void's breeze. "Yes," he admitted, the word coming out strained, as if it cost him something to say it. His eyes were caught up in the fluttering of the fabric, which revealed Ru's perfect physique moment by moment.

"This is weird," Ru remarked, observing the monarch's gaze wandering across his figure. He brushed his cheek lightly and felt his temperature, all the while feigning the act of moving a strand of hair from his face. "It seems like your blood ties run deep." He took a few measured steps to fend off the wind's intent to strip him bare. "You demons are much more loyal to each other than I thought."

The monarch’s expression darkened. He clenched his fist without showing it as he took a step forward. "Don’t equate me with demons," he said, his voice sharp, though there was a flicker of pain in his eyes.

Ru tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Why?" he asked, his tone innocent but his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Because I’m not just a demon," the monarch replied, his voice softening. "I’m half human."

Ru’s smirk softened into a genuine smile, his eyes narrowing playfully. "You’re explaining yourself to me," he said, his voice warm. "I like it."

The monarch’s lips twitched, a hint of a smile breaking through his stern expression. "Then you will join the game," he said, his tone firm but laced with hope.

Ru’s smile faded slightly, his expression turning serious. "If you don’t touch my clone, that’s exactly my intention."

The monarch’s eyes softened, and he took another step closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I risked everything to get you out of that crystal tower," he said, his tone raw with emotion. "You should know that I’m in on that ridiculous game."

Ru’s breath caught, his emerald eyes searching the monarch’s face. "Why?"

The monarch’s gaze never wavered. "You know the answer," he said, his voice trembling with intensity. "I want you."

Ru’s lips parted, his chest rising and falling as he processed the words. "What if you can’t take me?" he asked, his voice teasing but with an undercurrent of challenge. He took a step closer, and this time he didn't care that his robe was sticking to his body. "But... what will you do if I take you, King Seneca?"

The monarch’s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it was replaced by a smirk. "So you’re challenging me," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Ru’s eyes gleamed with defiance. "Yes, Your Highness," he said, his tone dripping with mock reverence.

The monarch’s smirk turned into a full smile, his silver eyes shining with amusement. "I accept your challenge, King Ru," he said, his voice firm but filled with warmth.

Ru smiled softly, and he took a step back. "See you inside, King Seneca," he said, his voice carrying a promise.

The monarch’s smile remained as he watched Ru, his silver eyes filled with determination. "See you inside, King Ru," he stated.

As Ru entered the void, his shape morphed and dissolved into a flurry of butterflies radiating vibrant lights. They danced in the air before their brilliance consumed them, reducing them to delicate ashes that drifted away like snowflakes. The monarch stood frozen, his gloved hand still outstretched, fingers trembling as if yearning to capture even a fragment of Ru’s essence. But the ashes slipped through his grasp, leaving only the faintest shimmer on his fingertips.

For a moment, the monarch’s mask of regal composure cracked, revealing a flicker of raw emotion—longing, frustration, and something deeper, something he couldn’t quite name. He clenched his fist, the shimmer fading as he exhaled sharply. With a deep breath, he turned on his heel, his cape swirling behind him like a storm cloud, and strode away, his boots clicking against the marble floor with deliberate, measured steps.

Heise stood in the corner of the chamber, unobserved by the monarch, with a faint reflection in the window. He watched the scenario unfold with a devious grin on his face, his sharp eyes gleaming with enjoyment and calculation. He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, his movements precise and deliberate, as if savoring every moment of the monarch’s vulnerability.

“You will both be mine,” Heise murmured, his voice like honey laced with poison. He tilted his head, studying his reflection in the glass, his grin widening as he ran a finger along the edge of the frame. “Such fascinating pieces on the board… and I hold all the strings.”

He leaned closer to his magic mirror, his breath fogging the glass as he whispered almost to himself, “I don’t know if I will let you make love with Ru. We will think about it when those days come.” His grin turned wicked, a spark of mischief dancing in his eyes. “After all, what’s a game without a little… interference?”

He stepped back from the mirror, his reflection fading as the light shifted.