Chapter 0.3 – Auren, Crowned by Fire and Mistakes

(aka: Emotional Damage in 12 Acts, Featuring Eyeliner and Betrayal)

....

They called him The Prince of Perfume and Poison.

Because every noble woman left his presence smelling of roses—

and every noble man left wondering what secrets he'd stolen.

But once—long ago—

Auren was just a boy.

The spare prince.

The "pretty one."

Too soft to be dangerous. Too clever to be trusted.

---

The Empress's Favorite

He was raised by books and mirrors.

Taught that smiles were safer than swords.

That wit would wound more precisely than war.

"The crown belongs to your brother," she said,

"but the game belongs to you."

And Auren played.

Until the day his brother died.

(And no one cried harder than Auren.)

---

The Fire

The official record says the fire that killed Prince Kael was an accident.

But the official record was written by Maelric.

And Auren…

Auren never forgot how warm his hands were after.

"One prince for another," the Empress whispered.

"Don't make me regret it."

So he smiled.

"Of course not, Mother."

And vowed to never let anyone get that close again.

---

The Mask

From then on, Auren became a jester in silk.

The flirt. The fool. The one everyone underestimated.

"Auren laughs too much," they said.

"He'll never survive the court."

But behind every joke was a question.

Behind every kiss, a knife.

He fed information to spies disguised as lovers.

He tricked lords into turning against each other—then cried at their funerals.

And somewhere along the way…

He forgot who he was without the act.

---

The Mistake

He met Elara during her first rise—

when she walked into court with fire in her steps and no fear in her gaze.

And for a moment… he believed in her.

Believed in them.

Until Serina whispered in his ear.

Until Maelric placed a letter in his palm.

Until the Empress reminded him:

"She will steal everything, Auren. Even you."

And he made a choice.

He betrayed her.

---

The Crown of Regret

Now, years later—

He still wears perfume.

Still makes people laugh.

But his eyes have learned to stay dry.

"If I must be the villain," he once said,

"then let me be a charming one."

"But gods help the day I stop pretending."