Bleeding isn’t the best thing ever, especially if you’re bleeding in a stadium. Crowded by your subjects.

For a competitive killing game for the crown of an empire.

The crowd roars in dissatisfaction as a trumpet sounds for a break to begin. I grit my teeth, breathing hard, focusing on the bloodlusting man in front of me. If I kill him, I win. The only problem is that the man is my brother.

“Just give up already,” he says, grinning dispite the blood and gore smeared upon his tunic trousers, “You know you can’t win, Twig.”

I ignore his taunts and raise my sword higher. A trumpet blares: the break has ended. Today is not the day I will die. But it is not the day I wish to kill my brother.

“Balee!” I yell. “We do not have to do this!”

Instead of reacting the way I want, his grin grows. “Of course we do, brother,” he takes the first step forward and lunges at me, dagger in hand, “It’s either kill or die in this world, isnt it?”

I sigh and lift my sword swiftly, blocking his attack. “So it is.”

***

I regret a lot of things in my life. Many, many things. But I cannot change the fact that I did those things. All I have left to do is endure them.

I sit on my throne, picking at my slik pinie (long dress for rich males) and sighing as another Du (Duke) tries to convince me on why I should approve his verdict.

“Dear Emperor, by approving this, we will get more money off the greedy to give to you.”

I frown at his statement. “So you are assuming that I am more greedy than the greediest wrenches of my empire.”

He pauses at that, fake smile sliding off his heavily painted face, before regaining his posture and looking up at me with an apologetic look in his eyes.

“Ah! No my Emporer! I mean—I—“

I roll me eyes and lean back against my throne, bored once more. “Guards, take him away, will you?”

The Du’s eyes widen and he takes a step back. “N-no need for that, Your Greatness, I will escort myself out.”

As he does so, rather quickly, though not before sticking his hand into his pocket, I narrow my eyes and turn to my nearest guard and say, “Shoot him.”

***

“Wow, Emporer! How did you know he had a cheri (bomb, based off the word “cherry bomb” because of its small, portable form in games)?!”

I shrug at the nearest reporter. “He seemed suspicious.”

I don’t see the need in telling them about my Secret Service.

“But, Your Honor, that wasn’t the first attempt on your life this month was it?”

“You are correct, that was maybe the 5th so far.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

I blink. Then grin faintly at the memory that had resurfaced. “As my brother said many years ago, I must kill or die.” I turn away, my guards shuffling behind me. “Which one do you prefer?”

[Ahhhh!! My attention span for writing is so low. Anyway, this is from my world and the place where they are in, the country of some sort, is called Noord. Thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far!]