III. The Impact of Her

The room shook as the doors hit the wall upon his entrance.

He then created chaos within his quarters. Hand-made vases gifted by his admirers were smashed as he walked past them. Everything that was on top of his table or cupboards, he swept them clean. And all his page and the guards could do was to step back and watch their master as he destroyed his once beautiful room.

He has never been humiliated in such a manner. And he was surprised that a woman - a mortal, to be exact - had the courage to refuse his advances.

“Leave!” he shouted. But his page and guards did not move a muscle. They were too afraid to take, even the slightest step out of his sight. He turned around, and when he saw that they were still there, he threw an ornament towards them. “Leave! I don’t need you! I don’t need anyone! Leave me alone!”

Terrified, they rushed out of the room. His page immediately closed the door.

Exhausted and heartbroken, he sat on the foot of his bed. He held onto his hair as he cried his heart out. He just could not understand it.

Every woman that he came across with would always fall at the mere sight of him. It did not matter whether it was within their kingdom or not. Ladies would fight with one another, just to get their attention, even for the slightest bit. And when a woman finally got his attention - his emotions - he was left a shattered man.

‘Perhaps, my hopes were too high,’ he thought to himself. He was certain that he would get the answer that he thought would hear. But to his dismay, she did not. And what made it worse was that the woman that he wanted loved another man.

And that man was someone that he treated as a brother, a family member.

He buried his head in his arms as he asked himself, “What am I going to do now?”

“Revenge.” A voice spoke from the darkest corner of the room.

The heartbroken man quickly drew his sword in its direction. “Who are you and what do you want?” I asked.

A hooded man appeared and replied, “Prince Benjamin.” He then let out a cynical laugh.

“How did you get in here? How do you know me? And what do you want?” Benjamin asked without stopping. His sword was still drawn to the man.

“It is not about what I want. But it is what you want,” the man replied.

Benjamin answered, “I don’t understand what you mean. I don’t need anything, especially from a stranger like you.”

“Are you sure about that?” the man asked as he slowly took a step forward. “Don’t you want someone to be yours?” he asked.

Benjamin froze. But he kept his distance. For all he knew, this man could suddenly bolt towards him and slashed him right then and there.

“Am I correct, young monarch?” the man repeated. “Don’t you want the love of your life to be yours and yours alone? Just agree to my offer and I will be more than happy to help,” he continued.

The man’s words slowly sunk into Benjamin’s heart. Clouded by his anger, frustration, and infatuation with the mortal, he wanted the chance.

The pitiful prince lowered his sword and said, “What must I do?”

The man sneered.

He found a puppet.