03/01/2026
A young prince was born. He was innocent, sensitive, and emotional. He was not afraid to show it. His king was his hero. Until he abandoned him for selfish endeavors. He relied on his queen to support his growth, enhance his strength, and help him achieve his highest potential as a man. But the young prince was not ready. He was still learning how to be a child. Throughout his travels, he faced bullying, mockery, deceit, and exploitation. It was because his heart was too big. He was too innocent and too positive to understand. To comprehend that the world was full of people who would use him until there was nothing. Nevertheless, he still believed. He knew there was good in the world; he had to believe it for his own sake.
As the young prince grew. He made attempts to take on various roles. Profane was not convincing. Aggression backfired. Loud, ignored. The more he tried to deviate from what he truly was, the more he realized. He will always be sensitive. His emotions will always be more powerful than his logic. His heart was not on his sleeve. He was his heart.
The more he understood and embraced it. The more powerful he became. Little did he realize that the stronger he became. More people will come from the shadows to take his power. More will come to use him until he is a husk. Certain individuals have achieved success. For decades, using him, lying to him, baiting him. And yet, he still saw the good in these…leeches. These…bloodsuckers. Because he hoped, he wanted to believe that they loved him. However, the older he got. The wiser he became. He realized the unfortunate truth. Not all who claimed to love him did. And yet, he persevered.
The young prince became a king. The head of his own kingdom. The head of his own household. A queen from a strong and influential family line. He was betrayed by the very queen who had sworn loyalty to him. Not once, but twice, he was a victim of infidelity. Hoping for support in a very vulnerable time. He learned that his allies, subjects, and closest comrades were out for themselves. Save one brave soul who sought to save him. And save him, he did.
Returning to his old stomping grounds. The exiled king had to start anew. Starting from the bottom to establish his new kingdom. That was when he found his new queen. Another who came from yet another strong family line. And this union came a heir. A, because princess, with hair as majestic as a lion’s mane. The king thought he found his forever. Until he realized his queen’s true motives. To make an heir for herself and to rid herself of her king. An almost successful scheme. Once again, the king met with comrades and allies who turned on him. The older ones of the high council turn their backs on him. His life was almost forfeit.
That was until he ran into a bard who knew of his plight, with a flagon of mead and a cheerful song. This blond musician helped him to recover. An unexpected friendship turned out to be one of his greatest sources of support. After numerous experiences with the courts. The king was able to recover.
When the king thought was going to raise his princess alone. One fateful night, he met the sunshine of his life. She was the sun to his dark days. She, too, came from a strong family line. People thought she had grown tough and experienced because of her years spent travelling. A veteran warrior queen whose experience would complement the tumultuous life of the king. All was well for their union. The king inherited another princess, and the queen gave birth to a third. So, the king was a father to three precious princesses, and he could not be prouder. He even acquired his own band of adventurers. Were they odd? Yes. But they were his, and he was happy to have new comrades.
However, as the years went by. The truth became clear. The father of his dear queen was clearly a swindler, a conman. The adventurers he thought were his closest companions turned out to be charlatans, predators, and thieves. And his queen? It turned out that his sunshine was a black hole in disguise. Focused on her own ambitions and was willing to suck everything from him. Where were his allies, comrades, and supporters? While a few were on his side. The vast majority turned on him. The reputation of the queen’s father made it hard for others to side with the king. He was abandoned and left without a kingdom or home, forced onto the streets with only his name.
What of the king today? Is he dead? Did all those who have used and abused him win? Was he forgotten, his name and reputation to be a myth, rumor, an urban legend?
Far from it. The king met a new princess. She is from the depths of the ocean. A mermaid, a siren with a powerful voice. She can also control the elements. Turn the hearts of the stiff-necked humans. Her eyes are darker than the abyss. They can make the hardest of individuals blink. His supporters are waiting in the shadows for his return. When his name was re-established, they would step forward and support him. The king and his new queen have been bound by the cosmic threads of the universe. Their bond is stronger than time and space itself. Nothing will stop them from establishing a new kingdom. A house is stronger than it was before. And no one will topple them. For this is the House of Darkner. And the empire has returned.
