chapter 3: king Theodore makes his entrance
1111 Words
The grand ballroom of Eldoria Castle grew louder with every passing second. Voices blended together, glasses clinked softly, and the glitter of diamonds and gold nearly rivaled the massive chandeliers above. Important dignitaries from every corner of the world had arrived tonight, all to honor the almighty King Theodore.
Some came out of loyalty.
Others came out of fear.
But every single person in that hall owed the king something.
A throne secured.
A company saved from ruin.
A war quietly ended before it began.
King Theodore had pulled countless powerful people out of darkness over the years, and tonight was their chance to repay even a fraction of that debt by simply showing their faces.
The ballroom itself was enormous, built to host thousands comfortably, yet even it struggled to contain the sea of wealth gathered under one roof. The royal staff eventually had no choice but to tighten restrictions.
Only guests with assets worth a minimum of one billion dollars were permitted to remain inside the main ballroom.
The rest were politely escorted out.
Surprisingly, no one complained.
They understood their place.
Compared to the monsters of wealth and influence gathered tonight, they were ordinary ants standing at the feet of giants.
Still, Queen Charlotte had made sure no guest felt humiliated. Kind-hearted as ever, she arranged accommodations at one of the royal family's nearby eight-star hotels. A massive screen had been installed in the grand hall there, broadcasting everything happening live inside the ballroom.
There was endless food, expensive wine, music, and entertainment flowing freely for those unable to stay behind.
No one left dissatisfied.
Albert stood quietly near the staircase, watching the powerful mingle beneath the golden lights. The atmosphere was suffocating in a way only extreme wealth could create.
Then suddenly—
The grand ballroom doors swung open, instantly silencing conversations. The royal butler stepped forward, his voice ringing across the hall with practiced authority.
“His Majesty, King Albert of Eldoria… and Her Majesty, Queen Charlotte of Eldoria!”
At once, the entire ballroom fell silent.
Every noble, guest, and servant immediately rose to their feet, heads bowing deeply in respect.
The king and queen made their entrance with regal grace. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly against the polished marble floor while the golden chandeliers cast shimmering light upon them, making their presence even more commanding.
Albert straightened.
A wall of intimidating bodyguards entered first, their movements sharp and perfectly synchronized. Two walked ahead, four behind, while others spread across the sides like human shields. Their cold expressions alone were enough to make the crowd nervous.
And in the middle of them—
Was a frail old man.
King Theodore of Eldoria.
The man who had not shown his face to the public in over a decade.
A walking stick rested in his hand as he moved slowly across the marble floor. His silver hair was neatly combed back, his shoulders slightly bent with age. Time had clearly weakened his body, yet somehow… his presence still crushed the room whole.
Beside him walked Queen Charlotte.
Old age had touched her too, but gracefully. Her simple dark gown carried none of the excessive jewels worn by the women around her, yet she somehow looked far more elegant than all of them combined.
The couple barely seemed aware of the stunned crowd staring at them.
Queen Charlotte laughed softly at something her husband whispered, her hand resting gently on his arm while Theodore chuckled along with her like an ordinary old man enjoying a private joke with his wife.
Queen Charlotte glanced at the endless crowd and sighed dramatically. “All this noise just to see an old man with a walking stick.”
King Theodore chuckled under his breath. “Careful, Charlotte. This old man still has enough power to ban your favorite tea from the kingdom.”
Charlotte scoffed, completely unimpressed. “And this old woman still has enough power to make you sleep alone for the rest of your miserable life.”
For a brief moment, they did not look like the rulers of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world.
They simply looked like two old lovers walking together after surviving a lifetime side by side.
And somehow…
That was far more terrifying.
After what felt like an eternity, King Theodore and Queen Charlotte finally reached the elevated thrones at the center of the ballroom.
King Theodore smiled faintly as the crowd bowed before him. “Look at them trembling. You’d think I was some terrifying monster.”
Queen Charlotte snorted softly. “Theodore, you once made a president cry during a meeting.”
“That was one time.”
“It was last week.”
Heads still bowed
Not just those inside the ballroom, but even the guests watching from the royal hotel stood up from their seats before the giant screens, lowering their heads in respect toward the rulers of Eldoria.
The entire kingdom seemed to pause for them.
The old king and queen finally settled onto their thrones side by side, their presence alone dominating the massive hall.
Then suddenly—
“LONG LIVE KING THEODORE!”
The deafening roar shook the ballroom walls.
“LONG LIVE THE QUEEN OF ELDORIA!”
Praise after praise echoed through the hall as thousands shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices filled with fear, respect, and admiration.
King Theodore merely lifted one frail hand lazily into the air.
Instant silence.
Everyone immediately sat down without hesitation.
But just as the hall settled—
People began noticing something strange.
Prince Albert’s seat was empty.
Whispers instantly spread across the ballroom like wildfire.
“Where is the prince?”
“Wasn’t he here earlier?”
“Did something happen?”
“Why would he be absent tonight of all nights?”
The tension in the room quietly rose.
Only Bianca remained calm.
Unlike everyone else, she had already seen the prince earlier.
Almost as if sensing something, she slowly turned her head toward the two o’clock direction.
And there he was.
Prince Albert.
The entire ballroom unconsciously fell silent again as he walked forward with slow, steady steps, his presence elegant and commanding without even trying. Every movement carried the natural arrogance of someone born above others.
Beside him walked James.
Completely opposite in behavior.
While Albert looked untouchable and cold, James was busy flashing shameless flirtatious smiles toward the ladies in the crowd, even winking at a few stunned noblewomen who nearly fainted from excitement.
The contrast between the two men was almost laughable.
One walked like a king.
The other looked like trouble wrapped in expensive clothing.
- Writer
