Xavier :The tale of the broken

07. The alignment

Morning inside the villa felt artificial.

Silence existed here in controlled layers climate-regulated air, softened footsteps, distant movement from staff who never spoke unless addressed.

Wealth removed friction from life. It did not make it warmer.

It didn’t make it human.

Being a king came with enemies. Some dangerous. Some petty.

Some just searching for attention to increase their fame.

I stood at the window overlooking the private courtyard. The fountain ran with precise pressure, water landing in identical patterns every second.

Three days ago men bled on concrete for territory measured in meters. Today marble reflected sunlight without memory of it.

Power didn’t feel different only quieter.

And somehow… heavier.

Liam was probably hiding. Afraid.

The real question was did Lenny know about his illegal trade?

Or did she choose to ignore it?

I stepped outside, letting the wind move through my hair. It was cold… real. Unlike everything inside.

Being a millionaire felt acceptable… but I needed more.

Money wasn’t enough .It never was.

A knock came exactly once.

“The Pakhan requests your presence,” the attendant said without entering.

I put on my coat and walked through the corridor lined with art chosen to suggest permanence. Nothing here was sentimental. Everything here was intentional including me.Even my existence here was no longer mine.

The office doors were already open.

He sat behind the desk, unmoving, hands resting on a cane he didn’t need but always held.

Authority rarely required practicality.

There she stood beside him black silk night gown. Her hair combed back, precise lines, no decoration that didn’t serve proportion. Even the gold at her wrist looked measured rather than worn.

Her eyes moved to me once. Light brown. No eyeliner.

Her posture never leaned, never relaxed. She didn’t sit until Pakhan did.

“Close the door.”

It shut behind me with a soft click that sounded less like privacy…

and more like a lock.

He wanted to see if Xavier wanted revenge… or power.

“How long did you date her?” she asked first.

Pakhan still hadn’t spoken.

I was being dissected.

“Six years.”

“Six years,” she repeated softly, as if weighing the time itself.

“How is your relationship with your father?”

I didn’t like the question.

“Okay.”

“Where is your real father?”

I exhaled slowly.

“I don’t know.”

“Did that ever bother you?” she asked quietly.

“It used to.”

“How did he react to Lenny’s relationship with Liam?”

“He seemed happy.”

A flicker of something sharp moved in my chest but it passed before it could settle.

“Was she happy?”

“I don’t know.”

“She started dating Liam two years into your relationship. Did you know?”

“No.”

Silence stretched.

“How do you feel about her now? Love or hate..?

“Neither.”

“Revenge?” she pressed. “They slept in the same bed you shared.”

“Every festival. Every birthday. Every family gathering. Every time they met you were just too blind to see it.”

“Denial. Retaliation. Revenge. Massacre.”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Pakhan watched quietly.

“Nothing of that sort.”He finally spoke.

“If I order you to spare Liam forever… do you obey?”

“If he lives,” I answered calmly, “he lives because he is useful.”

The words came easily.

“Hatred is loud. Power is quiet. Which one are you?”

“Power.”

A small smirk appeared on her lips.

It was either approval or interest.

“You may leave,” Pakhan said. “Tonight we celebrate your victory here.”I bowed slightly.

“Pakhan.”

The drive home was quiet but my thoughts weren’t.

I processed possibilities outcomes weaknesses.

A faint, dying echo of something human.

I decided to visit Mother and Lia. It had been a while.

I changed clothes green formal trousers, black silk shirt slightly open at the collar, formal shoes, necklace, silver watch, simple gold chain.

Mother was in the garden watering her roses.

“Mother.”

I kissed her cheek.

“Xavier, what a cute surprise.”

“How are Lia and Father?”

“Lia is good. She’s in her room… and you know your father.” She smiled bitterly.

“I want to buy you both a house.”

The words came before I thought about them.

She held my cheeks gently.

“Sweetheart…”

“I know you won’t leave him. But always remember you can.”

“I know. I’ll keep that in mind.” She looked at me. “Work is treating you well… your clothing taste changed.”

“I always dressed like this,” I joked.

She didn’t believe me.

“Any new lady?”

“Not yet.”

“No rush, my son.”I nodded.

“I’m going to see Lia.”

“Staying for dinner?”

“Maybe.”

I hadn’t noticed it was late.

The door flew open as soon as l knocked

“Brother!”

She hugged me tightly.

Like she was afraid I’d disappear again.

“Yes. How is my baby sister?”

“Good! I missed you, Xav!”

“Me too.”

I meant it completely.

“How’s school?”

“Good! I showed my friends the party pictures they said you’re hot.”I let out a faint laugh.

“Am I?”

“Yes! Even at the party women wanted to approach you… and Lenny was staring at you when they complimented,” she giggled.

“Really?” I acted surprised.

“What did you say to her on the balcony?”

“Nothing, Lia.”

“Hm… okay.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because when you came downstairs you weren’t in the mood anymore… and she was annoyed.”

I nodded.

“And brother, Liam was—”

A knock interrupted us.

“So agitated when Lenny followed you upstairs,” Lia added quietly.

“Interesting,” I said.

When we reached the dining room, Mother and Father were already seated.

We sat.

“So you finally come home for dinner,” Father said sharply. “To what pleasure do we owe this visit?”

“I wanted to see Mother and Lia.”

“You should’ve called them to your shabby little house.”

I ignored him.

“What’s the matter? Can’t make a comeback?”

“I don’t live there anymore,” I replied calmly. “You should visit where I live now.”

Lia held my hand under the table.Then the door opened.

Lenny and Liam walked in.

He moved normally pretending but I saw right through it.

The tension in his shoulder.

The hesitation in his step.

They greeted everyone.

“Young brother,” Liam said.

I didn’t look at him

He no longer existed unless I allowed it.

They talked. Laughed. Played their roles.

A perfect family a perfect lie.

Mother stayed quiet.

Lia barely touched her food.

And I watched from above it all.

Then my phone rang.

I stood immediately.

After hearing the report, I kissed Mother and Lia goodbye and left.

It was urgency l drove fast.

The villa gates opened.Gunfire echoed it was inside l ran ,guards were down there was blood everywhere .

The smell hit first l rushed upstairs.

She was kneeling beside him.

Her hands pressed his wound steady at first, then tightening as blood spread faster than pressure could stop.

“...No,” she whispered.

I knelt beside her.

Pakhan grabbed my sleeve and pulled me closer.

His eyes were clear.

“I did not choose you because you are loyal,” he said, voice thin but controlled.

“I chose you because you would replace me.”

“Men think power belongs to the strongest…

It belongs to the last man who understands what must survive.”

His grip tightened once.

“Today… that is you.”

Then silence the pressure faded.

Silence fell before the shooting even stopped.

Knees touched marble one after another.

The successor had been named.

I did not move I did not speak and she did not kneel.

I finally spoke.

“Rise.”

Her gaze didn’t break.

“So,” she said softly,

“now we see what you become.”

I stepped closer.

“You asked what I would become.”

Her chin lifted slightly I held her gaze.

“Seal the exits. No one leaves the city.”

The room stilled.

“Find who ordered this.”

“Alive?” a guard asked.

I didn’t look away from her.

“Alive is optional.”

The air shifted.

“And send word to Liam,” I added quietly.

“Tell him hiding will only make this slower.”

I stepped closer still.

“I become what survives.”

My hand brushed lightly past her wrist.

She didn’t move.

“You don’t kneel,” I observed.

“I don’t submit to uncertainty,” she replied.

A faint smile curved my lips.

“Good.”

My voice dropped.

“Stay.”

As the men rose, something in the corner of the room shifted a shadow that didn’t belong. The empire began, but the war had just started.