Alex lay sprawled on his bed, the soft comforter tucked around his bloated body like a cocoon. It was supposed to be a day like any other: the kind of day where he'd watch hours of anime, snack on enough greasy food to fill an entire palace kitchen, and send flirty texts to random girls on his phone—without a care in the world. But today was different.(Of course how could you feel the same man---A bombshell just dropped on you). Today, the walls of his gilded cage felt closer, tighter. Almost claustophobic.
His mother's words echoed in his mind like a bad song on repeat: You will be crowned. He had refused it at first, clung to the illusion that maybe, just maybe, it was all some kind of cruel joke. (I wish is was but here we are). But the more he thought about it, the more it sank in. The crown was his, whether he liked it or not. He had no escape. No loophole. No allies. (what about me? I'm hurt...wait...I don't exist). He was trapped in a life he hadn't chosen, shackled to a destiny he never wanted. (And I have to witness this utter annoyance living his life---I mean how many bags of chips did you eat today? I counted sixteen.)
A knock on the door interrupted his miserable thoughts. He didn't need to be told who it was—his siblings were the only ones brave enough to intrude on his personal space.
"Piggy Prince, you're awake?" Lorelei's voice drifted in, her tone sharp and commanding, even through the thick wood of the door. (I'm only saying this since I think it's my job--Lorei is his tormentor #1...I mean older sister)
Alex groaned in response. (I groaned too. why does no one describe me?). He didn't have the energy to deal with them today. Not after the bombshell their mother had dropped on him.
"I'm busy," he called back, hoping they'd get the hint.
There was a pause. Then, without so much as a warning, the door swung open.
And there they stood.
His siblings—each of them like a lion ready to pounce. (Hah! Enter three heralds of doom)
Crown Princess Lorelei(tormentor #1), his eldest sister, stood at the front. Her dark, intelligent eyes glinted with amusement, a slight smirk playing on her lips. At 25, she was the family's genius, the heir presumptive (not anymore, though) who could speak ten languages, strategize military defenses, and still look like she had just stepped out of a high-fashion magazine.
Behind her stood Julian(tormentor #2), 23, the kingdom's resident hacker, his arms crossed over his chest in a way that made it clear he thought Alex was beneath him. His lean frame and sharp, calculating gaze made him look like he belonged in a tech startup, not a royal palace.
And finally, there was Seraphina(tormentor #3), 20, with her polished charm and ruthless cunning. Her beauty was dangerous, her smile deceptivelysweet, and Alex hated the way she always seemed to be watching him like a hawk. (oh btw, she knows 14 languages and curses our Piggy with them every time she sees him. I don't think it'll be described here due to censorship issues--I'm still working on it)
"Oh, Alex," Lorelei said, as if she were speaking to a child, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. (seriously, aren't you siblings?). "Still in bed? How typical." She walked into the room, uninvited, and gave the space a sweeping glance, her eyes lingering on the empty snack trays and half-eaten junk food scattered around. (if one looks closely they can see the 16 chip bags I said he ate before...such a glutton). "How... productive."
Alex shot her a glare, but she didn't even flinch. (who would flinch when a piggy glares at them?)
"Listen," Alex said, his voice thick with resentment, "I didn't ask for this. You all made it clear from the start that you would be the ones to take the throne. You wanted the stress, the responsibility, the endless death threats. So why the hell should I have to do it?"
"Oh, poor little Piggy Prince," Julian said with a mocking smile, stepping further into the room. "You think you're the only one who's been living off the hard work of others? We've all been pulling the weight of this kingdom, while you've been living your life in front of a screen, feeding your face. We've been letting you leech off us for years." (If you mean by letting him live as an imperial prince for 17 years then you're right. But you're only 23 so should I assume you started working as a royal when you were 6? Probably not.)
Seraphina, leaning casually against the wall, added with a laugh, "You've had your fun. You've had your carefree days. But guess what? It's our turn to leech off you now." (Again, I think their logic is flawed).
Alex's face reddened with a mixture of anger and frustration. "What the hell does that mean?" he asked, trying to stand up, but his body felt like it was glued to the bed.
"Oh, come on," Lorelei said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Don't play coy. We all know you're not cut out for ruling. But you've been living in luxury off our backs, and now it's time for you to return the favor. You're going to be king, Alex, and we're going to make sure you do it right—even if we have to break you in the process." (Aren't there things like human rights there? who says that?)
"We've all had to take on our roles—our duties. The kingdom's future rests on our shoulders, and frankly, I'm sick of carrying the load alone," Julian added, his words sharp and biting. "So if you think you can sit around and continue to indulge in your lazy, self-centered lifestyle, think again."
Seraphina's eyes gleamed with a predatory satisfaction. "The thing is, Alex, you're not going to be given any easy out. You will be forced to live up to expectations. And we are going to make sure you learn everything you need to know... whether you like it or not."
Alex felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He knew what this meant. They weren't going to let him off easy. They were going to train him. Break him. Force him to become the king they thought he could be. He could already feel the weight of it pressing down on him. (I agree this time Piggy, they're devils incarnated to screw you up)
He turned to them, his hands clenching into fists. "You can't do this to me! I won't let you!" (If I had hands, I'd gladly help you)
Lorelei smiled, leaning forward, her gaze intense. "Oh, we can. And we will. We've spent years building this kingdom into the powerhouse it is today. And now, it's time for you to earn your place in it. No more running away. No more pretending you're just some useless prince who can live off everyone else. You're going to learn how to lead." (I don't know how that will turn out but good luck)
Julian smirked, tapping his fingers together. "I've already got some simulations set up. They're... extremely realistic. Think of them as training programs. If you want to avoid becoming a complete disaster of a king, you'll have to survive them." (Oh Mr Hacker-Prince Julian, please have mercy on him~)
"And I'll be handling your diplomatic training," Seraphina chimed in, her voice like silk, but her smile never wavered. "We'll see how well you handle political intrigue and manipulation. Let's just say, I'm very good at breaking people." (You too, Seraphina~)
Alex's blood boiled. He wanted to scream, to tell them all to leave him alone. But deep down, he knew they wouldn't. They would never let him live his life in peace. They were going to force him to become a king, and in the process, they were going to leech off him.(Seriously, this is so cruel. I hate you siblings)
"Fine," Alex said, through gritted teeth, his hands trembling with fury. "If you think you can turn me into a king, then go ahead. But don't think for a second that I'll let you control me. If I'm going to be king, it's going to be on my terms." (I will cheer you on, but I doubt your courage, Piggy)
Lorelei laughed, an amused, almost pitying sound. "We'll see about that, Alex. We'll see."
(Lets see Alex, I wish you luck. And, good luck to myself too, since I have to witness this idiotic mess)
(May the fun and games begin~)