Eli_Noble

A young noble, torn between duty and desire, finds himself thrust into a world of dark magic and hidden dangers when an ancient force threatens to consume his kingdom. As the shadows of betrayal close in, he must confront the very power he has always feared, and make a choice that will determine not only his future but the fate of Eldoria itself. With his allies by his side, he embarks on a dangerous journey that will test his resolve, his strength, and his heart. 

In the end, the line between ruler and protector blurs, as he learns that the greatest power is not in what you control, but in what you are willing to sacrifice.

The Runaway Viscount and the Enchanted Court

Malthor's dark eyes locked onto Cedric with a cold, calculating gaze. The air around him seemed to shift, growing colder, darker. Cedric's stomach tightened. He had thought Malthor was gone—defeated. Yet here he stood, alive, and at the Queen's side.

"You thought you could escape the Fae realm's politics, didn't you?" Malthor's voice was smooth, like silk over broken glass. "You thought you could carve out your own little corner of the world without consequences."

Lyra, standing beside Malthor, looked uncomfortable—no, conflicted. Her gaze flickered briefly to Cedric, her expression unreadable. There was a subtle shift in her stance, something hesitant, something torn. Cedric's chest tightened as he realized the truth.

Lyra had been playing a deeper game all along.

"You've been with him all along, haven't you?" Cedric's voice came out sharp, more bitter than he had intended.

Lyra's eyes flickered with a mixture of guilt and determination. She didn't answer immediately, but the silence between them said everything. She had chosen a side, and it wasn't his.

"Lyra, no," Cedric said, his voice cracking, the hurt evident in his eyes. "Why?"

She stepped forward, her expression pained but resolute. "I never wanted to deceive you, Cedric. But there are forces at play here that you don't understand. The Queen's power is fragile. There are factions within the Court that wish to see her fall, and Malthor's return... it changes everything."

Malthor chuckled darkly. "I'm not here for revenge, Cedric. I'm here to offer you an opportunity." He stepped closer, his voice low and coaxing. "You can join us. You can help us take control of the Fae realm. With your power, we can reshape this place into something better. Something stronger."

Cedric's heart thudded painfully in his chest. His mind raced, trying to process everything—Lyra's betrayal, Malthor's offer. His entire life had led him to this moment, but now that he was here, he wasn't sure what to believe. Was this his path? To ally with Malthor and overthrow the Queen? Or was it to resist, to fight for his freedom, even if it meant standing alone?

"No," Cedric said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside him. "I will never join you."

The Queen's smile was thin, cold. "You'll regret that decision, Cedric. Power like Malthor's isn't something to turn your back on. Neither is mine."

But Cedric didn't back down. "Then I'll take the consequences. I'd rather stand alone than lose myself in a game I never chose to play."

For a moment, everything hung in the air, heavy and suspended. The tension was unbearable. Malthor's expression darkened, but it was Lyra's gaze that hurt the most. She looked at him like she had already lost him. And perhaps, in a way, she had.

"You've made your choice, Cedric," Lyra said softly, her voice filled with regret.

The Queen stepped forward, her presence like a shadow falling over him. "You will find, Cedric, that there are no easy choices here. And no one escapes unscathed."

The Unseen Hand