The Palace Beast

***Kingdom of Wex ***

King Charles was seething with anger at his two sons, Prince Eliot and Prince Oswald. He had summoned them to his chambers to confront them about their recent actions. He yelled at them with a ferocity that made them feel like they were children again, being scolded by their father. His gaze fell on Prince Oswald, and his voice grew even louder as he accused him of a grave misdeed. "You dare transform in Maxis and put us all in danger!" he shouted, his hand shaking with rage. Prince Eliot stood by his brother's side, looking equally ashamed. They knew they had disappointed their father, but they also knew that they had been acting out of a sense of duty to protect their kingdom. As the king's anger continued to burn, the two princes could only wait and hope that their father would eventually calm down and listen to their side of the story.

Exhausted from his long and tiring day, the king let out a deep sigh as he slowly approached his bed. The stress of the day was evident in his body language as he slumped onto the bed, folding his arms across his chest and shaking his head in disbelief. His gaze locked onto Prince Oswald, who stood before him looking both defiant and nervous. In a voice filled with ire, the king addressed the prince, "You have disgraced our family and our kingdom. Your actions have proven that you are not fit to hold the title of Earl of Wizithon or any other royal title. Therefore, effective immediately, you are stripped of all your titles and privileges." The king's voice was cold and filled with disappointment as he spoke these words, his eyes never leaving the prince's face.

Prince Eliot's face grew visibly pale as he stood there, contemplating the severity of his actions and the gravity of the situation he had found himself in. His mind raced as he considered all the possible consequences that awaited him, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dread and shame. As he stood there, his heart pounding in his chest, he couldn't help but replay the events that had led him to this point. He knew that his misbehavior had been unacceptable, and the disappointment he had caused weighed heavily on his conscience. Despite his fear and apprehension, Prince Eliot knew that he had to face the consequences of his actions. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever might come next, and resolved to do better in the future and not to incur his father's wrath.

The moment Prince Oswald heard his father's decree, his heart sank, and he felt a wave of despair wash over him. He had been hoping against hope that his father would see reason and change his mind, but it seemed that this was not to be. He knew that there was no use in pleading with the king, so he clenched his jaw tightly and made his way out of the chamber, feeling a sense of anger and frustration welling up inside him. Despite his attempts to remain composed, his steps echoed loudly through the hallways, betraying the turmoil he was feeling inside. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder what would become of him now that he had been stripped of his titles, and what his future held in store. The king's gaze was fixed on Prince Eliot, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Tell me again, where is your elder brother?" he demanded. The question hung in the air, and the prince's discomfort was palpable as he shifted nervously. Prince Damon was supposed to have arrived in Wex by now, but there had been no sign of him. The king's concern was justified, and the prince couldn't help but feel a sense of dread settling in the pit of his stomach. Something was not right about his brother's absence, and the kingdom was on edge.

Prince Eliot, with a quivering voice, replied to his father's question, "Father, Prince Damon was the first to leave Maxis." He made a conscious effort to avoid looking his father in the eye, knowing that he was treading on dangerous ground. His heart was beating rapidly with fear, as he had heard of the king's harsh punishments, and he didn't want to be the next victim. He felt the weight of the moment, and every word he spoke had to be chosen carefully.

"I don't feel alright about..."

The king was in the middle of speaking when a gentle knock on the door caught his attention. He paused and turned his gaze towards the door, narrowing his eyes in curiosity. With a nod of his head, he granted permission for the person outside to enter.

The commander, Leo, pushed open the heavy wooden door with a loud creak, announcing his presence in the throne room. The sound of the door opening filled the room as he stepped inside, and the king waited patiently to see who it was. His face was etched with a deep frown as he walked towards the king and the prince. After bowing respectfully, he cast his eyes down, gathering his thoughts before delivering the news. "Your majesty," he began, his tone low and hesitant. "I must inform you that our riders have returned, but the news they bring is not good. Our scouts have reported increased enemy activity along the borders, and it seems that they are preparing for an attack." Leo paused for a moment, looking up at the king and waiting for his reaction.

"And my son the crown prince, where is he?!" the king roared. "I want to learn about his whereabouts!"

"Forgive me, Lord, King," the commander said, lowering his head in reverence. "We are still searching for him and his men traveling with him. I assure you..."

The king's voice trembled with a mix of fear and anger as he addressed the commander. "I need to know where the crown prince is. Please don't give me any empty assurances - I demand to know the truth. Every moment that passes by is a moment that fills me with dread. Something bad must have happened to him, I just know it." The commander could see the anguish etched on the king's face and felt a pang of sympathy. He quickly assured the king that they were doing everything in their power to locate the crown prince and would keep him updated with any new leads.