The Fake king

Bill's pov

My tears refused to stop flowing, like a river bursting its banks. Anyone in my position would have broken down… 

A lump formed in my throat, words refusing to come out. My chest tightened, making it hard to breathe… 

I don't know how much time passed, but eventually, I managed to stop crying and calm myself down—just a little. 

I needed to make a decision, a firm one, something that would change my life forever. 

"From this moment on, I won't let anyone, no matter who they are, control my anger or my happiness. I'll focus on myself from now on..."

Damn them... and damn this entire world. 

But what I found in that box made my breath hitch and my heartbeat race. I didn't know what to do because... 

"Am I just a replacement for someone else? No… That can't be..."

But if that were true, it would explain so much—her constant anger. 

Still, the idea that her rage was directed at me for something I had no connection to… that was an entirely different matter. 

I could bear being a mere substitute. 

But what truly turned my sadness into anger were the words written on the last piece of paper: 

"If this is true, then one day, they will tell me everything… the full, cursed story."

I carefully put everything back the way it was, erasing all traces of my presence in the room, then returned to my own. 

I changed my clothes and left the house. 

"Elena is coming today... I promised her."

I knew she was coming over for a school project, but I didn't want her to see me in this broken state. 

So, I went to the only place that ever gave me a sense of peace—somewhere I could clear my mind and calm down. 

When I arrived, the place was unusually empty. 

There were usually a few people scattered around, but for once, I was glad no one was here. 

I remembered it was going to rain today. Sitting on a swing, I watched as the first few drops fell. 

Before long, the rain mixed with the tears I had been holding back. 

"Even the sky feels the way I do now… How ironic."

Memories began flooding back, one by one. 

Everything I had been through only deepened my sorrow, my anger, my resentment… 

For ten years, I tried to search for a single good memory with them. 

Just one... Maybe then, I could forget everything else and find my smile again. 

But, as I expected—there was nothing. Nothing at all. 

The only things I remembered were the anger, the yelling, the endless beatings… 

The red, furious eyes… The looks of contempt… 

The rain poured down harder, drenching the entire area, soaking me completely. 

Yet, I felt nothing. 

After nearly an hour like this, a shadow cast over me. 

A black umbrella blocked the rain. 

I slowly looked up and immediately recognized its owner. 

Those deep blue eyes. That long, flowing black hair resting on her shoulders. 

That small, familiar face… 

The only person who would search for me in this kind of weather. 

"You'll get sick if you stay like this... Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?"

Her voice carried concern as her eyes scanned me, though there was a clear trace of frustration in them. 

Seeing her standing there… I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. 

For the first time, I cried in front of her—the only person in this world who had never looked at me with hatred or anger. 

The only one who didn't see me with disgust. 

"Elena... I... I..."

I didn't know what to say. 

I simply covered my face with my hands, trying to suppress my sobs, trying not to appear weak… 

Elena, unable to bear seeing me like this, suddenly pulled me into an embrace. 

Her soft hands gently patted my back, her voice a soothing whisper: 

"It's okay… Everything will be fine now..."

Her words, the warmth of her touch—it gave me a sense of comfort I had never felt before. 

A peace I had never known. 

For the first time in my life, I let myself sink into that feeling… 

Minutes passed, and I finally regained some composure. 

"How long do you plan on clinging to me like this, Elena...?"

I had regained my usual expression—emotionless, empty eyes staring back at her. 

"Heh, it's fine. You can cry more if you want... I'm here."

She said it so proudly, lifting her nose toward the sky like she had accomplished something grand. 

I suddenly felt an urge to throw her into the rain. 

"Ouch! Ouch! Stop, that hurts!"

As much as I appreciated her presence, getting too comfortable in this moment would only give me false hope— 

False hope that someone like me could ever find happiness like normal people do. 

Which was impossible. 

I pinched her cheek lightly, making her step back in slight annoyance. 

"I was worried about you! Is this how you repay my kindness?"

I placed my hand on her head and took a step forward. 

"Let's go back. You'll get sick if you stay out in the rain like this."

I started walking ahead, hoping to make her forget what she saw here today. 

"Excuse me?! I walked all this way in this terrible weather just for you!"

"Alright, alright… I get it. Thank you for that, oh noble and benevolent queen of kindness."

At my words, I saw her face twist in shock, as if she had just seen a ghost. 

"What is it?"

"You… you just thanked me! Does that mean… you finally have emotions?! A real heart?!"

I sighed deeply. 

"I've always had a heart, just like any other human. Now, stop talking nonsense and let's go."

"No, no… You never laughed, never cried, never showed any expressions at all! Of course, I'd be shocked!"

I rubbed my temples in frustration. 

Alright... I couldn't argue with her on that. 

"Well, you saw me cry just now. Isn't that proof enough?"

Yet, she still seemed stunned. 

"Come on, let's go. You'll catch a cold if you stay out here too long."

Elena finally returned to her usual self and walked up beside me. 

"My mom said you could come over to our place. It looks like you were left alone again, weren't you?"

I sighed as I listened to her words. I grabbed my umbrella, walked closer to her, took her hand, and we made our way toward the house.

"Alright, let's go change these clothes first, and then we'll head out..."

We arrived at my cursed home. I handed her some of my clothes so she wouldn't catch a cold. We waited for a while for the rain to stop, and then we left.

"Elena, remember, don't tell Lady Lana anything about what you saw earlier."

She frowned slightly, her voice laced with discontent.

"Fine, I won't... but you have to tell me what happened to you."

I put on a serious face. She wasn't going to back down until she knew the truth.

"I'll tell you someday... but not now."

"Hmm! You're doing it again."

Even if she insisted, I myself couldn't fully grasp what I had seen. I didn't even know how to explain it to her.

And beyond that... I wasn't even sure if what I saw was the complete truth. Maybe something was missing... maybe something was wrong.

After much effort, I finally convinced her that I would tell her another time.

And so, the days passed quickly...

Sometimes, I would visit her house to play with her—because of a promise I had made. Other times, I just wanted to escape my thoughts, to forget what I had seen there.

Lady Lana was truly kind. The way she treated me and Elena was completely different from anything I had ever experienced with my own family.

But... at the same time, I caught a glimpse of something—something like an illusion, a hallucination...

I saw it. I was sure I saw it.

Thin threads wrapped around them, as if they were mere puppets controlled by someone else...

I didn't know if I was hallucinating or if my mind was leading me somewhere I didn't want to go.

But I chose to ignore it.

I convinced myself that I was just tired. After all, I was only ten years old. Hallucinations were common for children, right?

Or... at least, that's what I wanted to believe.

"Bill! Are you going to participate in this year's competition? I'm sure you'd win easily!"

Her sweet voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"No, I have no interest in that. What about you? Are you going to join?"

She lifted her chin high, a confident smile spreading across her face, standing proudly.

"Of course! This time, I'm definitely going to win!"

Her words, filled with pride, were met with my blank, expressionless face.

"Yeah, yeah... Sure you will, Miss Tenth Place."

Elena had participated in the competition twice before, placing tenth both times.

That was why she was working twice as hard this year.

"What did you just say?! You arrogant little brat—!"

At that moment, we were bickering over almost everything. And somehow, arguing with her was... fun.

She was the only person who still managed to stir something inside me.

But, before I even realized it, the holiday had come to an end.

The day they would return... had finally arrived.

And I truly wished it never would.

I saw the car approaching from afar, and without hesitation, I rushed back to my room, shutting the door behind me.

I didn't want to see any of them.

I sat in my room, reading one of the novels that had captivated me, completely absorbed in its world.

But then, unexpectedly—perhaps for the first time ever—

I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

What shocked me wasn't the knocking itself... but the voice that followed.

My father's voice... calling me from the other side.

The man I hadn't seen or spoken to in three years was now standing outside my door, knocking as if he had never been absent from my life.

The thought alone made me uneasy... even afraid.

"Bill, open the door. I want to talk to you."

His voice was calm, yet void of any real emotion...

Damn it... Just leave me alone.

I opened the door, and for the first time in my life, my father stepped into my room.

He glanced around briefly before sitting on the bed across from me.

"What brings you here? Did I do something to upset you?"

Despite my nerves, I managed to keep my composure.

But the moment his eyes met mine—

I froze.

I felt all strength leave my body, my legs begging me to run away.

Black threads wrapped around his body, as if they were controlling his very soul...

"Bill, how about we make a deal?"

Damn you... Damn your deal... Just get out of my room...