Power Begins with Violence (Part One)

A monster.

A monster that fed on power.

Tales could not help recalling that figure he had not seen in so long.

The figure who held a scepter and wore a crown, called himself his father, yet was so dignified and forbidding.

The prince pondered for several seconds.

"You dislike the current state of the Western Wasteland, and even more so, you refuse to forget the Western Wasteland of the past—the Western Wasteland that once belonged solely to Falkenhaus?"

"So you're placing your hopes in me to 'do something.'"

The prince raised his head to look at Cyril, his tone growing wary.

"You know."

"Six years ago, when I left Everstar City, someone told me something similar."

The Duke of the Western Desolation stared intently at Tales for several seconds before laughing.

"No, Your Highness."

Falkenhaus slowly exhaled and turned to face the window.

"Don't think of me as an old pedant who clings desperately to traditional rules, or a fool obsessed with past glory and unwilling to open his eyes to the future—although there are plenty of people like that among my peers."

Tales snorted softly.

"Then what makes you different from them?"

This time, Cyril remained silent for a long while.

He simply stood motionless, looking down from above at the busy, orderly camp beneath the window.

"Why, Tales?"

At last, the Duke of the Western Desolation spoke with a sigh.

"Why are we able to rule this land?"

The wary Prince of Starfall furrowed his brow.

The ruler of House Falkenhaus continued slowly.

"Whether it's me ruling the Western Wasteland as its duke now, or you ruling all of Star Kingdom after being crowned king in the future..."

"Enjoying all this superiority over others?"

Cyril's topic shifted too quickly and concealed too many barbs. Combined with his