Chapter 81 - My Blindness!

The queen's chambers, a cold and dark space of polished gold and shimmering marble, felt heavy with the weight of grief. A year had passed since Cassandra's death, and the memory of her still strong and vivid, a phantom pain that gnawed at my soul.

My mother loved me more than I could have imagined, but I despised her, insulted her and trampled on her love, until her emotional was destroyed. My strength, my power came from this woman! This fierce warrior mother who I had so cruelly rejected. I despised her affection and love. In my pursuit of gold, I had despised the diamonds that lay at my feet...

With her eyes red-rimmed, my mother tried to approach me, her hand reaching out hesitantly. — Son, please, — she pleaded, her voice trembling. — Try to understand... 

I was filled with tears, veins, jaw clenched, and fists clenched. I cut her off, my voice a furious growl. — How did she die? — I demanded, my eyes blazing with fury.

Hera told me that my eyes were shining gold this day, as if I didn't have an Iris in my eyes.

She wiped her tears off and looking at Cassandra's body on the bed, my mother sighed. — She was poisoned... — my mother whispered, her voice barely audible.

By that time, I was already a candidate for the King's Force—my eyes went from blue to an unnatural golden light—I was thirteen years old, and I my arrogance and anger surpassing even that of Ares.

It was the day my grandmother died. Funny how even after I became a Titan, after I killed my heart and will, her death still hunted me. I should have protected her. I should have known that Brunhilde, that viper, would poison her. She died because of me...

My golden eyes narrowed, the light within them intensifying. — Who poisoned it? — I demanded through clenched teeth, my voice a low growl.

Hera II, the ethereal beauty, stood before me, her silver dress shimmering in the dim light, covering her entire body. Her fair alabaster skin seemed to glow with an inner light. Her eyes, an awe shade of sapphire blue, were filled with tears. Her long, wavy hair, the color of moonlight, cascaded down her back, framing her face like a silver halo. Her face was extremely well defined. 

You are tired of her description, but she was breathtakingly beautiful, I never felt anything for her, but I admit that I have never seen a more beautiful creature, she was simply ecstatic. The most beautiful women in the world.

It was amazing how at just fourteen, she already had the curves and volume of an eighteen-year-old. She was overly attractive and too much. No wonder she was seen as the goddess of divine perfection and beauty—she is not a god. Anyway, that day, she was standing in front of the bed with tears in her eyes, there were no words that could externalize the suffering she saw.

Holding tight her silver dress with both hands, Hera wiped away her tears and with trembling lips, she started. — Arthur, calm down, we don't know yet... — she said, her hand reaching out to my shoulder.

I flinched, pulling away from her touch. — Where did the poison come from? — I repeated, my voice hard as stone.

My mother's shoulders trembling, looked away, her voice barely a whisper. She was also suffering, more than I was. I knew Cassandra for only six years, but she knew her whole life, she was her mother. I could see the fear she had of saying who poisoned her. She knew I would want revenge and end up dead.

— From the mainland, — she confessed, lowering her face. — Not from the island.

— Now leave me alone! Don't come near me! — I growled, pushing past them, my footsteps echoing through the silent chamber.

A rageful, cold and suffocating sensation, washed over me. They knew who had killed and who ordered my grandmother's death. But they were keeping it from me. It wasn't smart to tell a pre-teen with anger problems and arrogant, not to mention that Apokolips was already feeding my anger at that time, I would die seeking revenge if I knew that Zeus ordered her death.

My mother was not to blame, much less Hera. I was unfair, and because of that I disobeyed...

One year later, I was summoned to the throne room. Cassandra's throne, now draped in mourning black, loomed over me like monstrous shadow.

With my hands in my pants pockets, I looked at my mother with disdain in my eyes. — What did you call me for? — I grunted.

Brunilde, with a vein on her forehead, her hands on her hips and a faked a smile, stood in the third step of the throne stairs. — Please, prince, — she sneered, — Show some respect for the queen, your mother.

Glaring the queen on the throne, I raised an eyebrow. — So? — I demanded.

Seated on the throne, my mother hid her tears. I could see the sadness on her trembling lips and her eyes shining with tears. Her eyes speaking to me, "Is it so hard to forgive me, Arthur?" But they had only a disdainful gaze in response.

Looking at me with a sad and tired expression. — H-Honey, — she began, her voice trembling. — I-I wanted to know... What you desire as a birthday gift... 

— I won't participate in the Supreme Championship anymore! — I declared, putting my hands on the back of my neck and stretching my spine with a yawn.

It had been a year after my grandmother's death, and I was punishing my mother for everything that happened. I wanted the name of the person who killed, and I was sure she knew, Hera knew, but they both sealed their mouths, they would rather be seeing me alive and hating them than see me dead.

A collective gasp echoed through the throne room. The Amazons, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief, murmured among themselves. — But how can he?! 

Looking at the queen, Brunhilde held out her hand in my direction. — T-This is an affront to our tradition! An affront to Queen Cassand... — she began, but I immediately interrupted.

Brunhilde was always a pest, she made my life hell, turned the Amazon princesses against me, and had a natural gift for angering me—I hadn't killed my heart yet.

With veins on my face, I released my aura. It flared, a dark, menacing cloud that enveloped the entire room. My eyes shone golden; it was funny how they shone gold but I managed to emanate a paralyzing bloodlust.

— Dare to mention my grandmother's name, you viper! — I warned, my voice a chilling roar, — I will cut off your head right now! 

My flaming black aura, and the burning bloodlust in my eyes. The Amazons were covered in pale fearful faces, they shrank back, their eyes wide with terror. I think it was at this time that the title of Golden Lion, or is it white...? I forgot, but I think it's Gold, White came later...

Brunhilde, looked at the Amazon princesses with a laughter, stammered, — See? This is the one that we used to sing his name, today he turns against us. Turns against his own mother, the queen... — passing her gaze over the group of princesses.

I ran my hand through my brown hair and looked at the murmuring princesses. — Whoever has something against my decision should come here and say it to my face! — I sighed, looking at the princesses with a slight smirk and a sharp look.

All frightened Amazons retreated and murmured among themselves. — N-No, he's going to kill us! — They looked at me with pale skin.

Brunhilde looked at the queen with fury in her eyes. — Your Majesty, I know he's the prince, but... Will the queen let him without a punishment?!

She just wanted a pretext to kill me, but I was fifteen years old, and I was already in the Transcendent Realm, I was seen as a small monster.

Sitting on the throne, my mother looked at me and blinking her eyes, tears fell from her eyes. — A-Arthur, please... — she whispered, her face redded. Her low tone showed her exhaustion and depression, but I remined blinded by my anger.

With my hands in my pockets, I rolled my eyes, despising her tears. — I'm not going to fight anymore... — I began, only to be interrupted by some armored soldiers who rushed into the throne room.

One of the officers crouched down and breathing heavily, said. — Your Majesty, Your Highness... We have an emergency...