Lord of Deception

The grand halls of the royal palace gleamed under the glow of golden chandeliers. Nobles and high-ranking officials whispered amongst themselves, their eyes flickering between Kael and the Hero, Lucian. Tension hung thick in the air.

Lucian stood before the royal council, fists clenched, his face twisted in barely contained fury. His once-radiant golden armor seemed dull, as if the very light had abandoned him. Across from him, Kael stood calm and collected, dressed in deep crimson robes, his hands clasped behind his back.

This was not a battlefield of swords.

It was a battlefield of words, power, and manipulation.

The King's Doubt

King Alistair sat atop his throne, his expression carefully neutral. The man had once placed unwavering faith in Lucian, believing him to be the chosen hero blessed by the gods. But now? Doubt crept into his eyes.

"Lucian," the king's voice was heavy with authority. "These are serious accusations. Explain yourself."

Kael had prepared this moment for weeks. He had meticulously planted seeds of doubt, exposing Lucian's recklessness, his inability to control his emotions, and his growing instability. More importantly, Kael had subtly orchestrated a series of events to make the Hero appear as a danger to the kingdom rather than its savior.

Lucian took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Your Majesty, these are lies! I have done nothing but serve the kingdom! This man—" he pointed a shaking finger at Kael, "—is twisting everything!"

Kael let out a small sigh and shook his head. "Lucian, you wound me. I have no need to twist anything. The facts speak for themselves."

With a simple gesture, one of Kael's informants stepped forward—a high-ranking noble who once stood by Lucian's side.

"My King," the noble said, bowing deeply. "The Hero acted recklessly during the last skirmish. He ignored our warnings, attacked without strategy, and cost us hundreds of lives. He even nearly struck down innocent civilians in his blind fury."

Murmurs spread through the chamber.

Kael simply stood silent, allowing Lucian's own past mistakes to condemn him.

The Hero's own allies—once loyal knights and nobles—spoke against him, their voices filled with regret. One by one, they distanced themselves. Some did it out of fear, others out of self-preservation. But the result was the same.

Lucian's support crumbled.

The Lover's Betrayal

Then came the final blow.

From the shadows of the chamber, she stepped forward. The Hero's lover—the woman he swore to protect, the one who had been slowly falling under Kael's influence.

Her voice was quiet, filled with hesitancy. "Lucian..."

Lucian turned to her, desperation flashing in his eyes. "You don't believe this, do you? You know me! You know I would never—"

She lowered her gaze. "I... I don't know anymore."

Silence.

Kael's lips curled into a small, victorious smile. He didn't even need to say anything. Doubt had already poisoned her heart.

Lucian stumbled back as if he had been struck. "No... no, you can't believe them over me!"

The council's judgment was clear.

King Alistair leaned forward, his voice grave. "Lucian, until these matters are resolved, you are hereby stripped of your authority as the kingdom's champion. You will not wield the kingdom's forces until we have fully investigated these claims."

Lucian froze.

Kael won.

Lucian had lost his position, his allies, his lover's faith.

And the best part?

Kael never had to lift a sword.

Checkmate

As the meeting ended and the nobles left the chamber, Kael approached Lucian, who stood in stunned silence.

Leaning in, Kael whispered into his ear, his voice smooth as silk.

"You were the Hero. Now? You're nothing. And the best part, Lucian? You did this to yourself."

Lucian's breath hitched. He turned, fury burning in his eyes, but Kael was already walking away, untouchable, victorious, and in complete control.

To be continued.....