The Inheritance of the Shadow

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.

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