The war for the throne had only just begun, but the battlefield had already claimed its first victims.
For the 7th Prince, this war was not about brute force—it was about eliminating threats one by one.
Tonight, four royal contenders would fall.
---
The 5th Prince's Downfall – Betrayed by Greed
The 5th Prince had gained power through fear and bloodshed.
He ruled the Northern Territories like a tyrant, executing nobles who opposed him and forcing thousands of soldiers into his army.
But his cruelty had a price.
His own generals hated him.
One night, as he feasted inside his war camp, a small vial of poison was dropped into his wine.
By morning, the 5th Prince was found dead in his chambers.
His body was still warm, but his army had already switched allegiance.
They now served the 7th Prince.
---
The 6th Prince – The Shadows Were Not Enough
The 6th Prince had no army—only spies and assassins.
He believed that war was won in the darkness, not on the battlefield.
But he made one mistake—he underestimated the 7th Prince.
One night, the 6th Prince sent assassins to eliminate his younger brother.
They failed.
And in retaliation, the 7th Prince sent his own assassins.
Unlike the 6th Prince's men, the 7th Prince's killers did not aim for one target.
They slaughtered the entire intelligence network of the 6th Prince in a single night.
With his power gone, the 6th Prince tried to flee.
But before he could escape, the 7th Prince himself stood in his path.
"You lived in the shadows, dear brother," the 7th Prince said, his voice cold. "Now, you will die in them."
With a single strike, he ended his brother's life.
---
The 1st and 2nd Princesses – Their Influence Crumbles
The 1st Princess was a skilled diplomat. She had foreign alliances ready to support her claim to the throne.
But politics could not save her from a knife in the back.
One of her most trusted advisors—**secretly working for the 7th Prince—**plunged a dagger into her heart while she slept.
With her death, her alliances crumbled.
The 2nd Princess, meanwhile, controlled the Imperial Treasury.
She had thought gold was stronger than steel.
She was wrong.
The 7th Prince's army stormed the treasury, slaughtering her guards.
She tried to escape, but in the end, she was dragged before the 7th Prince.
"You fought with gold," he whispered, standing over her. "I fight with power."
With that, he ended her life.
---
The Throne War Narrows
In just one night, the war had changed.
The 5th Prince, 6th Prince, 1st Princess, and 2nd Princess were dead.
Now, only three Princes and one Princess remained.
1st Prince – The Emperor's chosen heir. He would not go down without a fight.
2nd Prince – A cunning manipulator. He had planned for this war long before anyone else.
4th Prince – A master strategist. He never fought a battle he could not win.
3rd Princess – A warrior princess. She would rather die than surrender.
And standing among them was the 7th Prince—the true monster of this war.
He had lost his ability to love. He had no friends, no allies—only pawns.
"One by one," he whispered to himself. "I will bury them all."
___________________________________