Mark of the Exiled Prince

Chapter Three:The Boy They Created

I was taking a glass of juice from the fridge when my mum walked in, carrying Elena and placing her gently on her little chair.

“Good morning, baby,” she said with a soft smile.

“Thae…” Elena chirped happily, stretching her tiny arms toward me, asking to be carried.

I smiled and took a step forward—but then I froze.

We’re not related by blood.

The thought hit me like a crack in my chest.

My mum noticed immediately. She reached out and held my arm gently.

“She’s still your younger sister, Thae,” she said softly.

I forced a smile. “I’ll be going to class soon.”

I picked Elena up briefly, then set her back down.

“I told you to put on your shirt before coming down for breakfast, Thae.”

“Ahh… it’s hot,” I grumbled.

My dad walked in just then and patted my shoulder. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good… when will I be going?”

“We still need to make arrangements, but soon,” he replied, taking a seat beside me.

I nodded and ate quietly. The silence felt heavier than usual.

When I was done, I stood up and kissed Elena and Mum on the cheek.

“I’m going to get ready for school.”

“Are you sure you want to go?” my dad asked.

“I’ll be fine, Dad.”

I walked toward my room, feeling both of their eyes on my back.

———

The school walkway was crowded, but it felt like I was walking alone.

Everyone stared.

Whispers followed me.

Disgust. Judgment.

I ignored it and went straight to my locker.

As I opened it, a letter fell out.

My chest tightened.

Elizabeth.

She wanted me to meet her on the rooftop.

I didn’t want to go… but something in me refused to let it go.

I needed to hear her reason.

Even if it broke me more.

———

When I pushed open the rooftop door, she was already there, waiting.

“Why did you call me here?” I asked coldly.

“Thae… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she said, reaching for my hands.

I pulled back immediately.

“You didn’t want to date me, so I… I tried to sleep with you that day, and when you refused… I thought you’d tell everyone. So I lied first… so no one would believe you.”

My stomach twisted.

“Thae… you know I’ve loved you for a long time.”

“Elizabeth,” I said slowly, my voice sharp, “can you hear yourself right now?”

Tears streamed down her face.

“I’m sorry, okay? I just want things to go back to how they were.”

Silence.

Then—

“Is that why you called me here?” I let out a bitter laugh. “You disgust me.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond.

I turned and walked away.

I didn’t stop walking.

Even when I heard her voice break behind me.

“Thae, please—!”

The rooftop door slammed shut behind me, cutting her off completely.

My chest felt tight… not from guilt, but from anger. Disgust.

How could someone twist things like that… and still ask to “go back” like nothing happened?

I walked straight down the hallway, my steps faster, heavier.

Then I heard it.

Whispers.

“They’re coming from the roof…”

“Wasn’t that her?”

“Isn’t that the guy…?”

I clenched my jaw and kept walking.

I didn’t care.

I wouldn’t care.

But then—

A scream.

Sharp. Loud. Terrifying.

Everything froze.

Students rushed toward the direction of the sound. My heart dropped as my body moved before my mind could stop it.

No… no, no, no—

When I got there, a crowd had already formed.

People were covering their mouths. Some were crying. Some were recording.

My chest tightened as I pushed through them.

“Move—”

And then I saw it.

Elizabeth.

Lying on the ground.

Blood spreading beneath her like a dark stain.

My ears rang.

“She jumped…” someone whispered.

“I saw her on the rooftop…”

“She was crying…”

Slowly… painfully… heads began to turn.

Toward me.

“He was just with her…”

“That’s him…”

“Didn’t he—?”

“No way…”

The whispers grew louder. Sharper. Deadlier.

My breathing became uneven.

“I didn’t…” I muttered, but my voice felt too small. Too weak.

A teacher rushed forward, shouting for space. Someone called for help.

But it was already too late.

I could see it.

In her stillness.

In the way her hand didn’t move.

In the blood that wouldn’t stop spreading.

She was gone.

And somehow…

Everyone was already blaming me.

A hand grabbed my arm suddenly.

I flinched hard.

“Thae, you need to come with me,” a teacher said, her voice firm—but her eyes…

Her eyes already judged me.

I looked around one last time.

At the crowd.

At the phones pointed at me.

At the whispers that were no longer whispers.

“Murderer…”

My chest cracked.

And for the first time—

I felt it.

I was truly alone.

“I shouldn’t have come to school… not today.”I whispered.