The rain fell upon the marble rooftops of the palace, drawing rivulets that snaked between the stones of the courtyard. It was a dark night, as if the sky itself shared in the sorrow that reigned over Greystone Castle. Between the tall columns, a boy of eight, with midnight-black hair and eyes as red as blood, walked hand in hand with his mother.

—Tom, do you know why we are here? —the woman beside him asked, her voice tinged with nostalgia and sorrow.

The boy looked up at her with bright eyes but did not answer immediately. Emilia, the woman who had once been the emperor’s legitimate wife, smiled at him tenderly and gently stroked his hair.

—Because the emperor called us —the child finally murmured.

His mother nodded and squeezed his hand.

The palace was majestic, yet cold. Despite its luxury and opulence, Emilia knew this place would never be a true home. She had spent nine years away from these walls, raising her son in distant lands. But now, the emperor had brought them back and restored their titles.

Tom Rey.

That was his new name. A surname that granted him a place in the empire’s history but also burdened him with the weight of betrayal and distrust.

As they entered the grand hall, the sharp gaze of a woman fell upon them. Lady Isolde, the emperor’s current wife, observed Emilia with a flawless smile, but in her eyes danced a shadow of contempt.

—Welcome back, dear sister —she said with venomous sweetness.

Emilia did not reply, merely inclining her head respectfully.

Tom felt an odd discomfort in the presence of that woman. Though she had a beautiful face and an elegant demeanor, something about her made his skin crawl.

Three days after their arrival, his mother was found dead.

Tom would never forget that scene.

Empress Emilia had been found murdered, her body stabbed in her own chambers. The sight was grotesque, but the most haunting image was that of the child kneeling beside her, clutching her cold hand in desperation.

—Mother! Mother, wake up! You said you would always stay by my side… Please, don’t leave me!

His cries were heart-wrenching, a plea that echoed through the dark halls of the castle. But no one came to comfort him. No one, except the shadows that loomed over him.

From the darkness, a figure watched the scene with a satisfied smile before vanishing into the gloom.

Emilia’s murder was investigated, but no conclusive evidence was ever found. The case was closed, and Lady Isolde was declared the emperor’s only legitimate wife.

Six years passed.

Tom grew up in the shadows of betrayal. He no longer cried, no longer screamed. He learned to hide his pain behind a mask of indifference. Now, at fourteen, his world was about to change once more.

The emperor was dying. Weakened by illness, he lay on his deathbed, his breath heavy as he summoned Lady Isolde.

—Take care of Tom… please…

—Of course, Your Majesty —she replied sweetly. But inside, she mocked his request. *“You want me to care for that bastard? I will make his life miserable. I will never love another woman’s child.”*

Moments later, Tom was called. He knelt beside his father’s bed, looking at him with a mixture of respect and sorrow.

The man who had acknowledged him as his son and had tried to restore his place in the world lay dying. Tom knelt beside him, feeling, for the first time in years, the echo of an imminent loss.

—My son… —the emperor whispered, his voice weak—. I regret leaving you so soon…

Tom pressed his lips together, feeling a knot in his throat.

—Do not speak anymore, Father…

The emperor coughed, raising a trembling hand to touch his son’s face.

—Listen well, Tom. Our family… has kept a secret for generations… —The emperor’s eyes darkened with each word—. When you turn fifteen… you will begin to hear Esder…

A chill ran down Tom’s spine.

—Esder…?

The emperor nodded.

—The God of Death. He is powerful but cruel. His voice poisons the soul, whispering into the ears of our bloodline… He feeds on hatred, on vengeance… —The emperor’s breathing grew heavier—. The more you listen to him, the more power he offers you. But that power comes at a cost.

The man coughed violently, his voice growing weaker.

—Do not let his shadow seduce you, my son… do not make the same mistakes I did…

Tom stared at him, feeling his words etch themselves into his soul.

—Father…

—Tomorrow is your birthday… —The emperor smiled weakly—. Promise me… that you will become the greatest emperor…

And with those words, he closed his eyes forever.

The rain pounded the cemetery ground as the coffin descended. Ministers, nobles, and servants watched in silence. Tom stood firm, his face expressionless, but inside, his world was crumbling.

Beside him, Lady Isolde sighed with feigned sadness and extended her arms.

—Come, cry if you need to —she said in a melancholic voice.

Tom looked at her without moving.

In his mind, his father’s words echoed like a distant warning.

*Do not let his shadow seduce you.*

Isolde embraced him tenderly before everyone.

But in her mind, she had only one thought: *“I will use you until I become the sole ruler of this land. I will be the absolute empress.”*

At that moment, Tom felt a shiver run down his spine. He couldn’t explain it, but something about the way Isolde held him felt unsettling. And deep within his heart, unbeknownst to him, Esder’s shadow had already begun to whisper his fate.

The next day dawned with a clear sky, as if fate itself were mocking the tragedy that had unfolded the night before. Despite the recent mourning, the palace was decorated with lavish golden ornaments and tables overflowing with delicacies. Lady Isolde had organized a grand celebration in honor of Tom's fifteenth birthday.

However, upon entering the hall, the young heir frowned at the overwhelming opulence.

—*I don’t think we should celebrate something so extravagant,* —he said quietly, gazing at the crystal chandeliers that reflected the light almost mockingly—. *It’s like saying I’m happy about my father’s death… or that I killed him myself.*

Lady Isolde gave him a warm, reassuring smile, as if speaking to a naïve child.

—*No one would think that, dear Tom,* —she assured him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder—. *Besides, it’s your birthday. His Majesty would have wanted you to enjoy it.*

Tom hesitated but eventually gave in.

By nightfall, the palace was filled with guests from all corners of the empire. Nobles, ministers, and foreign envoys attended not only to pay their respects but also to observe the future emperor closely.

Despite the splendor of the celebration, murmurs spread throughout the hall.

—*How disrespectful… the emperor died just yesterday, and he’s already celebrating…*

—*It’s an insult to his father.*

—*They say his death was very strange…*

Tom heard every comment, like poison seeping into his veins, but he decided to ignore them. He stepped away from the noise and walked into the gardens for fresh air.

—*What’s wrong, Tom?* —Isolde asked when she found him alone.

The young man looked at her coldly.

—*I shouldn’t have believed you. You said no one would think ill of me, but everyone despises me right now.*

The woman feigned surprise.

—*Do you really care what others say? If you let their words affect you, it will be your downfall. This is just a test.*

Tom remained silent. The empress smiled and slowly walked away, whispering to herself with a triumphant expression.

*"They won’t destroy you… I will. Keep listening to their words and hate them. Injustice is the easiest path to despair. Killing you would be simple… but using your power is far more valuable."*

Tom stayed behind, gazing at the starry sky from the balcony. Below, a pair of nobles spoke in hushed voices.

—*It’s strange what happened to the emperor… could his son have had something to do with it?*

—*Many believe so, but let’s not talk here. Someone might hear us.*

Tom felt a knot tighten in his chest.

*"Do they really think I could kill my own father?"*

Just then, a rough voice whispered from the darkness:

—*I can help you change their minds… I can make them shut their mouths forever.*

Tom’s eyes widened.

—*Who’s there?*

From the shadows, a figure emerged like smoke, darkening the night even further. Its presence was suffocating, and its voice was anything but human.

—*I can help you…*

Tom stepped back, a chill running down his spine.

—*Stay away from me…* —he stammered, looking around for the presence speaking to him.

—*I… can help you.*

Tom spun around and ran back to the palace, his heart pounding. The guests saw him pass by and started whispering among themselves, some even laughing.

—*Could it be that the emperor’s ghost came for him?*

—*He looks like he’s seen a spirit.*

—*Don’t be ridiculous.*

Tom ignored their words and slammed the door to his room shut.

—*Do you really think you can get rid of me like this?* —the voice mocked, echoing in every corner of the room—. *How foolish you are… even your name is laughable.*

—*What do you want from me?!* —Tom demanded, his breath uneven.

—*You.* —the shadow whispered—. *I want to make your dreams come true.*

—*Shut up!* —Tom shouted, covering his ears—. *I promised I wouldn’t listen to you!*

—*Promised who?*

A knock at the door made him jump.

—*My son,* —Isolde’s voice sounded falsely sweet—, *may I come in?*

Tom took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He didn’t want her to see his weakness.

—*Come in.*

The woman entered with a concerned expression.

—*What’s wrong?* —she asked gently.

Tom looked at her warily.

—*Nothing… mother.*

Even calling her that made his stomach turn.

—*Tell me… is it because of Esder?*

Tom’s eyes narrowed.

—*You… know about him?*

Isolde nodded seriously.

—*Your father told me about him.*

Tom frowned.

—*How do I get rid of him?*

The woman hid her satisfaction. *"By making you my pawn,"* she thought before answering sweetly:

—*By doing what I tell you.*

Tom looked at her with distrust.

—*And how do you know what my father said?*

Isolde sighed.

—*He told me what he would say to you about power. I worry about you, my son, and the only way to free yourself from Esder… is to fulfill his mission.*

Tom crossed his arms.

—*Mission?*

—*Years ago, Esder offered power to your ancestor in exchange for destroying the neighboring kingdoms. But he failed… and that is why Esder still haunts his descendants.*

Tom remained silent, processing her words.

—*So if I destroy those kingdoms… Esder will leave me alone.*

Isolde smiled with malice.

—*Exactly.*

Tom lowered his gaze, his expression a mix of doubt and determination.

—*I’ll do it. I’ll destroy everything… as long as this power doesn’t hurt anyone else.*

The empress smirked.

*"How naïve. How can you believe something so ridiculous when you’re already a man?"*

The shadow in the room remained silent, watching.

And so, the inheritance of the shadow began to take shape within the young emperor’s soul.

Tom lived his life as the Empress's dog. For years, he conquered kingdom after kingdom, bathing the land in blood under Isolde's orders. It didn’t matter how many empires fell at his feet, how many kings knelt before him begging for mercy. Nothing was ever enough.

However, Esder never left him alone.

Every battle, every sleepless night, every look of contempt from those he “protected,” the shadow was still there. Whispering. Tempting him.

Until one day, silence enveloped him.

For the first time in years, Esder didn’t murmur in his mind. Didn’t offer power, didn’t provoke him. He only left a few final words before vanishing:

—One day you will come to me of your own will. You will ask me for power. So I won’t insist. That which you believe loves you will betray you… and in the end, you will abandon your naivety.

Tom felt a chill run down his spine.

He didn’t want to hear it. He couldn’t.

He feared that if he did, he would become a monster. His father had warned him about that power, had made him promise he would never accept it. And for that promise, for the fear of losing what little humanity he had left, Tom clung to Isolde’s words.

“My mother loves me. My mother would never betray me.”

But his life was miserable.

The rumors followed him like a specter.

The Empress’s dog.

The fool who gave up his right to the throne.

Tom, the idiot.

The people looked at him with disdain, the soldiers showed him respect only out of fear.

But he would never hate anyone.

He couldn’t.

So he learned to ignore it. To feel nothing.

He fought. Conquered. Spilled his own blood and that of others on the battlefield. If he completed the mission, if he destroyed every enemy kingdom, then he could return home and be happy with his mother.

At last, with his final victory, he had done it.

Tom returned to his hometown.

He imagined a triumphant return, but what he found was the opposite.

The people received him with contempt, not with applause.

—Look, the Raven.

—The red-eyed monster.

They threw stones at him, rotten fruit.

“Why?”

“I protected you. I fought for you. I bled for you.”

A group of guards approached and surrounded him.

—What are you doing? Let go of me!

Fighting them would’ve been easy. He could’ve killed them all in an instant. But something inside him told him not to.

—The Empress wants to see you.

Tom frowned.

“Mother?”

He allowed himself to be captured.

Maybe this was just one more test.

They brought him before Isolde.

She was standing, her posture impeccable, her gaze unwavering.

Tom felt a lump in his throat.

—Mother… you don’t know how much I missed you… —he stepped closer, seeking the embrace he so desperately needed.

—Stay away.

Her voice was cold. Icy.

Tom froze.

—Mother…?

Isolde’s eyes looked at him with disgust.

—I am not your mother.

Tom felt his world collapse.

—How…?

—How dare you form an alliance with the enemy nation to destroy your own country?

—What are you talking about? I never…!

—Traitor.

Her voice echoed through the hall like a sentence.

—To the guillotine. Let everyone see how we kill the traitor.

Tom felt the blood freeze in his veins.

—Mother, wait!

Isolde stopped pretending to be sad.

And then, from the shadows, his brother appeared.

Tom’s stomach churned.

—Sister, —said the young man with a satisfied smile—, I’ve done what you asked. No one will find out it was all a lie.

Isolde smiled with malice.

—Very good.

Tom felt the ground disappear beneath his feet.

And in the darkness of his despair, a familiar voice whispered in his mind:

“I told you so.”