Myrcella’s POV

I made my way down to the dungeon where Julius was being kept, each step echoing faintly against the cold stone walls.

I approached a cell and stood in front of it.

The entire cell had been reinforced with power dampening, layered so thoroughly that even standing near it gave off a faint, suffocating pressure. It wasn’t just a precaution. It was a necessity. Julius wasn’t someone you could casually lock up and forget about. If there was even the slightest flaw in the system, he would exploit it. That was the kind of person he had become.

Power dampening covered every inch of the cell. Walls, floor, ceiling, everything had been designed with that single purpose in mind. On top of that, he was restrained with bindings infused with the same effect, wrapped tightly around his arms, torso, and legs. It wasn’t just to hold him in place. It was meant to suppress him completely. Even someone with enough raw strength to snap through ordinary chains wouldn’t be able to break free from this.

The entire structure existed for one reason. Keep Julius inside, no matter what.

Even the walls themselves weren’t normal. They had been constructed with layers of power dampening embedded deep within, making them impossible to bypass through abilities. Leon had warned me about someone who could phase through solid matter, slipping through walls like they were nothing. In any other situation, that kind of ability would have been a nightmare to deal with.

Here, it meant nothing.

Even if she tried, she wouldn’t be able to get through. The dampening would shut that ability down before it even had a chance to work. This place wasn’t just secure. It was suffocatingly absolute.

I stopped in front of the cell and looked at him.

My brother.

"Is it the day, sister?" he asked, a mocking smile spreading across his face.

That smile bothered me more than anything else. It didn’t fit the situation at all. Anyone else in his position would have shown fear, anger, or at least some hint of desperation. Julius looked relaxed. Amused, even. Like he was watching a performance instead of being part of it.

"Is it the day of my judgment?" he continued, tilting his head slightly. "My reckoning?"

"It is not," I answered calmly. "I haven’t been coronated yet."

"Oh, so you are going to be coronated," he said, letting out a soft chuckle. "Good for you, I guess. You managed to become what you’ve always dreamed of." His eyes shifted slightly, something darker settling in. "As for me, I’m going to be killed. And by my own sister, no less."

I studied his face for a moment.

It felt strange. Familiar, but wrong at the same time.

The Julius I remembered had a kind expression, the type that made people trust him without thinking twice. That version of him was gone. Completely gone. What stood in front of me now was something else entirely. His eyes had this sharpness to them, like he was constantly looking for something to tear apart.

"All I want is for this kingdom to be as good as it deserves to be," I said, keeping my voice steady. "To serve the people. That’s all there is to it."

The words came out naturally, but I could feel the weight behind them.

"I don’t dream about it," I continued. "It’s something the citizens need. It’s what they’ve been hoping for. I’m just trying to give them what’s best. I didn’t become king because I wanted to. I did it because someone had to. If nothing changes, this kingdom will slowly fall apart until there’s nothing left of it."

He let out a short laugh.

"You’re making yourself sound like some kind of hero," he said, shaking his head slightly. "When in reality, you’re nothing more than a hypocrite."

His tone sharpened as he went on.

"What’s wrong with us doing whatever we want? We were born with power. That alone puts us above everyone else. It’s only natural for us to use it however we see fit. That’s our birthright. Why should we hold back? Why should we care about people who can’t even stand on the same level as us?"

His voice started to shift, twisting in a way that felt unnatural.

"We have power. That’s all that matters."

There was something off about the way he said it. It wasn’t just conviction. It felt distorted, like the words were being forced through something else before they reached me.

I let out a quiet breath before responding.

"Do you really think a place ruled only by power could last?" I asked. "That kind of system always collapses. Maybe not immediately, but eventually. People start turning on each other. Those at the top fight to stay there, and everything beneath them crumbles."

I kept my gaze fixed on him.

"It’s an illusion," I said. "Something people cling to so they can pretend they’re in control. In reality, everything starts falling apart from the moment that system is put in place. You don’t understand how people think. You don’t understand what they need."

A small pause settled between us before I continued.

"And you definitely don’t understand how to rule."

His expression didn’t change, but I could see the tension building.

"If you had won against me," I added, "the kingdom wouldn’t have survived. You would have lost it, sooner or later."

He clicked his tongue.

"Do you really believe that?" he asked, his voice lowering slightly. "Sister, I have the power of a Great One."

There was a hint of pride there. A dangerous kind.

"Do you honestly think anyone could stand against me? Against someone like me, who holds the power of a god?"

I didn’t hesitate.

"I believe you could stay in power for a long time because of it," I said. "Power like that doesn’t disappear easily."

His smirk returned for a moment.

"But Julius," I continued, "you already lost."

That smirk faded.

"Even with that power," I said, "you still lost. So what makes you think you’re untouchable?"

For a brief second, there was silence.

Then his expression twisted.

"That’s only because that person is a monster," he snapped. "I still can’t believe you’ve devoted yourself to him."

There was bitterness in his voice now.

"He’s nothing more than a monster."

That struck a nerve.

A sharp one.

My fingers twitched slightly, and for a split second, I considered stepping forward and grabbing him. The thought came naturally, almost instinctively. His restraints would probably hold, but taking that risk would have been careless.

I forced myself to stay still.

Losing control here would only make things worse.

So I steadied my breathing and met his gaze.

"If he’s a monster," I said slowly, "then what are you?"

The question hung in the air.

His reaction was immediate.

The smirk vanished from his face, like it had never been there to begin with. In its place was something far less pleasant. A deep, displeased expression settled in, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared back at me.

For the first time since I walked in, he looked genuinely affected.