MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin



[Wednesday — 27th November 2030 — 11:55 pm]

At the summit of a small hill, overseeing the sea surrounding the tall rocky terrain, a chilling scene was taking place for the world to witness.

An altar that was almost two meters high was erected majestically and shining in the color of dazzling gold.

All around, people entirely covered in white cloaks, enveloping their bodies from head to toe, were standing in rows on either side of the terrain, creating a road of honor that stretched and ended at the peak of the huge altar.

Further down the lane, even more people could be seen kneeling and praying in solemn voices, all draped in white, making their figures indistinguishable to no matter who saw them in this state.

Finally, at the peak of the altar; there was a man… standing there in a dignified posture.

Like the other people in this place, he was also covered in white. Unlike them, however, he had not covered his face with the cloak and only his body could be seen enveloped in the pristine white cloth.

However, even though the clothes covering was also white, there were also slight differences from the rest of the people as they were embroidered with a Golden inverted cross in the back and the front.

Looking at all the believers of his lord, Kang Ho felt his chest become hot with a fervor that he could only feel in these types of situations.

How long did he prepare for this exact moment?

Even though he had been forced to leave Korea which was the perfect ground for the cult's development, he had managed to find an even better environment right here in the great country of America.

For nearly eight years, he had prepared himself for just this moment.

This was a ritual that would change his entire life and put him in true contact with his one and only lord.

This was a golden opportunity that would completely change his life forever.

"We stand here today… together, to start the beginning of a new life my brethren."

Prayers filled the air, following his fervent words. The words of prayer that were leaking from the believers' mouths were harsh and indistinguishable.

It was like the sounds of steel grating against steel filling one's ear and rupturing their eardrums with their harsh cacophony almost causing them to go insane…

Kang Ho breathed deeply. The atmosphere was perfect.

This ritual was perhaps one of the simplest rituals to ever exist but at the same time, it had one of the harshest requirements possible in the supernatural world. Be it in terms of time and resources, both humans and even materials, this was a really hard ritual to enact for anyone.

It was only thanks to his talent as a preacher that the current situation was made possible and he was enjoying every second of it.

Soon, he walked up to a small bed made out of rocks; there the small figure of a sleeping kid with his limbs tied down to the bed and his mouth covered with a white cloth could be seen.

Kang Ho's face softened slightly as he caressed the face of the kid, his kid, before walking up to a pillar attached next to the Bed Rock.

The one tied down on the pillar with her mouth covered with the same white cloth was none other than his wife, Hae-Won.

Hae-Won's body was entirely naked, exposing her beautiful body to the world. But even as he looked at her beautiful and enchanting form, Kang Ho felt no lust.

Only pure disgust and hatred.

After all, she was the reason his criminal kingdom was destroyed overnight. If he did not have this ritual, then it would have been game over for him…

"I think it's time to reveal the truth buried in all the lies."

Hae-Won's expression was confused and vacant. But the moment he touched her forehead, things started to change… for the worse…

Not only did she get regain her consciousness but even memories that were buried so deep in her mind that she could hardly even remember them were pushed up for her to relive all over again.

She did not know how long this phenomenon lasted… It might have been only a few minutes but for her, it sure felt like it had been hours and even days.

When she finally stopped trembling and spasming from the onslaught of memories, and slumped slightly while still being bound, her eyes were filled with tears and agony as she looked at her… husband…

"You… Monster."

Hae-Won wept, as she finally started to understand the crux of everything.

She had always wondered deep down. Why did she follow her husband to America after it was discovered that he was a criminal and a cultist?

Even though she was not a saint, it should have been impossible for her to accept such a reality like it was nothing at all.

Why did she accept to let her husband indoctrinate her child?

Why did she have such an overwhelming desire to baptize her child the moment she learned that he wanted to baptize him?

What about her wedding?

"Just how long…?"

"Well, I have been manipulating since as long as we knew each other."

He smiled and caressed her face, "Though I am surprised you managed to betray me. I was sure that I had planted suggestions that would make even thinking of spilling my secrets completely impossible for you."

This was the only reason why Kang Ho released the illusion.

He wanted to know, needed to know, how she had managed to break free of those suggestions. This knowledge would be useful in the future.

"What did that bitch Yui promise you?"

Hae-Won rose her head, now that her suggestions were broken and her memory had been restored, she could now see the true face of the world hidden behind the veil.

Despair filled her chest but she was still able to understand the question that had been asked of her.

'It should be on that day.'

The day she fell asleep and had that weird dream.

Most likely, Cinder observed her memories and stole all the information that was locked deep in her mind.

This made her slightly bitter but at the same time, she realized that she felt no hatred for him.

Her gaze moved and she gazed at the sleeping body of her child,

"What will you do to him?"

"Now that your memories are back you should know the answer, right?"

He grinned maniacally and she cried helplessly, tears falling nonstop as she realized the destiny that awaited her dear child.

"Now bitch, time is pressing so answer me."

Hae-Won looked deeply at Kang Ho's face. Her time was soon coming to an end; something was telling her, assuring her of that outcome.

Death was approaching, she could tell, and she would die at the hands of the man she once loved and gave a child to.

When her thoughts reached this part, she smiled,

"I met a man."

Kang Ho's expression contorted,

"You…"

"He was everything that you could never even hope to be. Elegant, attractive, and well-spoken."

Kang Ho paled, he remembered his discussion with his mistress about the possibility of Hae-Won going out with another man.

"But do you know what distinguished him the most from your wretched self?"

An even larger smile, almost to the point of being as maniacal as Kang Ho's, formed on her face, "He was a true man who showed me the wonder of sex."

"Bitch!"

Squelch~

The sound of something being pierced resonated in the surroundings.

"Ah…"

Hae-Won looked down at the ceremonial dagger stabbed deeply in her chest.

Her mouth was wide open and blood started to flow out in gurgles as Kang Ho ruthlessly moved and twisted the dagger embedded in her chest.

Pain flowed out and she leaked out a gurgled cry causing him to grin, "You like this?"

Even as death began to claim her, a chuckle escaped her lips as she muttered something with pain.

It was so small that it was nearly inaudible so Kang Ho brought his ears closer to him.

"Even when using a dagger, you are still unable to reach deeper inside me than he did."

Kang Ho saw red at those words. His rage was followed by him taking out the dagger and repeatedly stabbing her to his heart's content.

But even as she stopped moving, even as her breathing became faint.

The mocking smirk never left her lips even as the life was being carved away from her body. It was as if she knew deep down that victory was hers and that he would fail eventually.

It was only after stabbing her more than six more times that he stopped.

Hae-Won looked down as her blood seemed to flow endlessly out of the arteries of her mangled heart. Her eyes were vacant, this was the last vestige of her life and the last breath she had in her.

She remembered her life.

It was a simple life. It was a happy life.

She remembered her marriage.

She may have made a mistake but she still was happy to have made a beautiful son that she was so proud of.

She finally remembered him.

Cinder.

The man who allowed her to finally find true happiness in her womanhood.

It was an awfully short relationship. One that burned like a comet flashing in the everlasting night sky.

This was the end of the road for her. But her heart was not filled with sadness. At this last moment, all she felt was certain level of lightness, as even the pain completely vanished.

She knew that Kang Ho would fail, even if only partially. What she did earlier this morning was perhaps the smartest decision in her entire life.

She wondered what face he would make then…

It was a shame that she would not be able to see it.

Speaking of faces, if she had one small regret at this moment, it was that, in the end, she had never been able to truly see the face beyond the mask of the man she had truly fallen in love with all her heart and soul. Unfortunately, it was a love that never had the chance of blooming from the get-go.

'Truly what a shame.'

If only she could have at least seen him wearing the clothes she bought for him. She was sure that he would he dashing.

Those were the last thoughts of Hae-Won as her eyes lost their light and her mind fell into the darkness.

———

(AN: Welp. Really hesitated to write this chapter.)

(EN: Death is always heavy. But it is just a natural process of life, after all.)