Ethan stood in front of the Emperor, awaiting his decision.
He remained perfectly calm. His eyes stayed locked on the Emperor with quiet focus.
This was his coming-of-age ceremony.
He had finally turned eighteen.
Now he would receive a territory to govern.
The growth of that territory would decide whether he could ever claim the throne after the Emperor's passing.
What should have been a moment of happiness and joy felt more like a trial ground for a hardened criminal.
Ethan could feel the stares of every royal burning into his skin.
Their hatred lay bare, impossible to hide. Disgust twisted across their faces.
He was used to it. He had grown accustomed to the weight of those looks long ago.
Right from birth, he had been the object of scorn and ridicule. The easy target.
The bullied child everyone could pick on without fear.
His mother had fallen in love with a stranger.
She had become pregnant in the process.
Because of that single act, Ethan was born a bastard and branded the outcast of the royal family.
Everyone had turned their backs on him and his mother. No one offered a single word of kindness.
At age five, his mother had committed suicide.
The endless depression and the ache of her family's cruel treatment had finally broken her.
She left Ethan alone to face the same hatred from his own kin.
"Ethan Snow," the Emperor called his name. The coldness in his voice was unmistakable.
"Yes, my Lord," Ethan replied. He bowed low, following the strict custom of the court.
"You will be granted the Crimson Castle," the Emperor said coldly.
His words stunned the entire hall. Low murmurs rippled through the crowd at once.
No one had expected such a decision.
Ethan was a frail youth with no visible talent.
He could barely lift a sword.
Even a simple dagger grew too heavy for his weak hands after only a few moments.
Giving someone like him the Crimson Castle seemed unthinkable.
It stood at the very edge of the empire, isolated and unforgiving.
The fortress faced constant sieges from savage monsters and offered almost no resources to sustain life.
To everyone present, the choice felt like a death sentence delivered in silence.
Yet no one objected.
First, no one dared challenge the Emperor's will and risk his wrath. Not even his own blood kin would dare.
Second, no one cared what happened to Ethan. In truth, his death would bring relief to them all.
"Thank you for your grace, my Lord," Ethan said. He offered another courteous bow, his voice steady and respectful.
"Prepare to leave," the Emperor continued. "You are expected to depart for your castle by the end of tomorrow. No additional resources will be granted. Your escort is all you will have. I wish to hear good news from you."
The final words hung in the air like a quiet threat.
Ethan kept his gaze lowered, accepting the command without a flicker of protest.
The last words of the Emperor echoed through the silent hall.
Everyone understood exactly what they meant.
Ethan would not survive a month. The truth sat heavy and obvious in the air.
"My lord. If I may," Ethan called out.
His face looked nothing like what the court had expected.
Broken? Never. That was the very last thing Ethan would allow himself to feel.
Right from birth, Ethan had carried an unshakable composure. Calmness ran through him like steady breath.
Even when the entire world stood against him, he refused to cower.
Ethan possessed an indomitable will. He never quite understood where it came from, yet it never failed him.
"What is it?" the Emperor asked. His voice stayed flat and cold.
"I wish to make the Crimson Castle independent," Ethan said clearly. "I wish for the Crimson Castle to remain under my rule as the supreme authority. In return, I will not fight for the throne and I will not need any resources from the empire."
Ethan's words sent a fresh wave of shock rippling across the room.
To every royal watching, the bastard prince was simply rushing toward his own death.
"Hmm. Very well," the Emperor replied after a short pause. "The Crimson Castle belongs to you for as long as you live. From this moment, the Crimson Castle is no longer part of the empire, except in name alone."
"Thank you, my lord."
Ethan bowed his head low, then turned and walked from the courtroom with quiet confidence. The permission had been granted.
"My lord. Are you sure you want to do this? It's suicide!"
Nicholas spoke with clear worry etched across his face. He had been his mother's trusted escort for years.
Now he served as Ethan's only dependable ally.
"It is the best result I could have hoped for," Ethan explained. A calm smile touched his lips. "At least I will not have to pay taxes while receiving nothing in return."
"My prince, you—"
"You really think my uncles and aunts will approve any resources once I arrive?" Ethan continued smoothly.
"They definitely will not. In fact, they would likely demand outrageous taxes. At least that burden is now gone."
Ethan's smile stayed bright and genuine.
"Although, I never expected to receive the Crimson Castle," he added. "I was prepared for something far worse than this."
Nicholas stared at Ethan in open confusion.
Was the young prince actually happy about being handed the Crimson Castle?
A fortress whose walls had been dyed crimson with the blood of allies and enemies alike?
"Isn't the Crimson Castle the worst possible place you could receive?" Nicholas asked, his voice still heavy with concern.
"No," Ethan answered steadily. "A region under the direct control of my relatives, that would be the real danger. The Crimson Castle lies outside their reach. All right, Nicholas. Inform the others. We leave now."
"But—"
"The faster we depart, the better," Ethan cut in gently. "I cannot risk my uncles or aunts planning something underhanded."
After the command, Ethan moved quickly with his small escort.
He carried almost nothing, so the departure happened without delay.
His sudden decision shocked not only the royals but the servants as well.
By leaving so swiftly, Ethan had prevented his relatives from carrying out any quiet schemes to end his life.
In the end, even they abandoned their plots. The destination itself seemed deadly enough.