Chapter Text
“By the decree of the Great Judge: Theseus Borealis De la Norte, son of Duke North wind De la Norte, shall be stripped of his noble title and executed by the guillotine for high treason—for conspiring to harm the Third Prince, Mark De La Verdant Cerealis, and plotting to overthrow the Imperial Family.”
With a sharp crack, the Judge’s wooden gavel sealed the finality of the decision, leaving behind a tense silence that filled the great hall with a buzz of anxious anticipation.
In the middle of the hall, a kneeling figure could be seen with its head bowed down, wrists bound by thick chains, and wearing dirtied rags. Their face was obstructed from view by shaggy, unkempt hair and the awkward angle of their posture, now tense and rigid.
'Theseus couldn’t believe it—how did this happen to him? He had done nothing wrong! He did everything to avoid causing trouble. He even went out of his way to change the cruel image people associated with his name... and yet.'
Lost in his swirling whirlpool of thoughts, Theseus couldn’t help but wonder what went wrong in his plans. Could someone have plotted against him? He went through every single possible detail, interaction, and conversation in his memory that could have landed him in this unfavorable position. He knew there were many people who didn’t like him—but to go this far?
Then suddenly, a cold and deep voice pulled him out of his frozen state.
Lifting his head hesitantly, there he saw the towering figure of the Imperial Crown Prince of the Royal Family: Prince Alexis Ares De Thanatos Mortis, wearing the royal family’s imperial garments of royal blue and red, topped with jewels and accessories that glittered when the light hit them. The prince’s long pink hair, usually worn in a loose braid, was now styled in a high ponytail, showing off his sharp jawline and handsome face, now marred by silent disdain and a sneer toward the person in front of him.
Theseus couldn’t help but shrink back. Crown Prince Alexis, commonly known as Imperial Crown Prince Technoblade, was one of the most powerful men in the kingdom, second only to his father, the Emperor Sanguine himself.
In the entire history of the Mortis Empire, the Imperial Mortis Family had reigned supreme for more than 1,000 years, maintaining its power through war, bloodshed, and sheer force.
Looking at the prince in front of him, Theseus could already say that he was facing the Reaper of Death himself, with the way the prince was looking at him with crimson red eyes.
Bracing for the cruel words the Crown Prince would say, Theseus didn’t expect the words that came out of the prince’s mouth.
“Theseus Borealis De la Norte,” the Crown Prince said slowly, as if testing how the syllables would settle on his tongue.
“You have committed many great crimes in your age,” Prince Technoblade said, looking down at Theseus with an indifferent gaze.
“Plotting. Scheming—” pause.
“Conspiring,” the prince said with a smirk, his gaze moving away from Theseus. His expression darkened as his eyes shifted onto the predatory stares of the nobles who had gathered to witness his downfall.
“But the Imperial Family has decided to take into account your years of service in helping the Empire grow.”
Theseus’s breath stuttered, and his eyes widened at the Crown Prince, who slowly uttered the words of the Imperial Family’s private decision.
“The Imperial Family would spare you from your awaiting fate if you gave up everything you ever stood for and became our pawn—whose only purpose is to do whatever we command until your very last breath, and discard you when you are no longer useful.” The prince looked back down at Theseus again, whose head now hung low.
“So what will it be, Theseus? Will you take it?” the Crown Prince said coldly.
But just before Prince Technoblade could finish his words, Theseus let out a soft, close-mouthed laugh that quickly began gaining volume—and before they knew it—
*SNAP*
A loud, maniacal, and mocking laughter erupted from Theseus, filled with insanity and unhinged amusement. Prince Technoblade looked at Theseus with intense fury, just as Theseus looked at him with madness.
“Crown Prince Technoblade, do you really underestimate me and treat me like a fool?!” Theseus spat like a bitter pill, his voice dripping with enraged fury.
“I might have been reckless, but I’m not stupid. You, the Imperial Family, and the nobility can paint me as a deranged villain all you want—but I will not stand for this pathetic excuse to humiliate and control me. I’d rather die and let my head roll to the ground than bow to your every whim and live bearing that humiliation!”
Theseus’s voice trembled with burning intensity. He looked at the prince in front of him with glaring defiance, daring the prince to do his worst.
“You’ve made your grave now, Theseus. I guess you're more than happy to lie in it,” Prince Technoblade sighed, shaking his head.
“Guards! Take the criminal away and lock him up in the deepest cell in the dungeon.”
The Prince’s command rang out. Soon enough, guards in gold-plated uniforms with the Empire’s crest appeared, holding weapons in their right hands, while their available hands yanked Theseus’s chains harshly, dragging him off the cold marble floor with a grunt.
As Theseus found himself escorted out, whispers erupted from all the present nobility. Whispers about how stupid he was for not accepting the Crown Prince’s offer, people mocking him, and whispering how glad they were he was finally gone. He recognized some people in the crowd—people he once considered allies. But now, he should have known better when he woke up in this world two years ago.
Taking a quick peek, Theseus looked back at the Crown Prince, who now stood alongside the Emperor and the Second Imperial Prince. Just as the doors began to close, Theseus saw, out of the corner of his eye, a flash of purple clothing and split-dyed hair rushing toward the Imperial Family—who were smiling happily at the sight of the person.
And that’s when Theseus knew that his story was coming to a close soon.
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Theseus didn’t know how many days, hours, or weeks he had been in the cell. All he knew was that the guards tortured him by never telling him how long it had been since the trial—screwing up his sense of time.
He lay curled up on the stone-cold cobbled floor of the cell, near the edge of the iron bars that were wet from non-stop water dripping from leaking pipes above. His vision was blurry—probably from the lack of food and water.
Then came the sound of boots echoing off the stone-cold walls, each step leisurely taken. Then a face he could never forget appeared.
The Second Imperial Prince, William Orpheus De Thalassa Mortis—Prince William, for short.
“Well, well, well… if it isn’t Theseus. How have you been?” Prince William said with a mocking laugh.
“Was our prison service to your liking?” the prince grinned like a Cheshire cat, their smile never reaching their eyes.
“Oh, totally. 10/10 for terrible service,” Theseus mocked back at the prince. “0/10 for torture though—your guards could do a little better than that.”
Like a switch, the Second Imperial Prince reached through the iron bars, grabbing hold of Theseus’s collar and pulling him closer.
“Listen here, you little shit—don’t you dare think you have any power in this situation,” the prince spat, venom lacing his voice.
“Because by tomorrow, you’ll be a dead man walking.” With that, Prince William let go of Theseus’s collar, watching him cough frantically, holding his throat and glaring defiantly at the prince.
After Prince William left the dungeon, Theseus curled himself in the farthest corner of the cell—hugging his knees and tucking his head in.
Theseus wondered—how could all of this have happened? Not too long ago, he was a young lord destined for greatness. He had allies, and everything seemed to be going well for him. He had even been working on his image to become better. And now look where he ended up.
But Theseus knew—before all this, he had been someone else. He had another life, another name. And in that life, he was called Tommy—a carefree 16-year-old average student who was living a normal life… until he wasn’t.
His life ended on his 17th birthday. He didn’t remember how—but that was all he knew.
After that, he woke up here, in the body of 15-year-old Theseus Borealis De la Norte—the despicable and most hated villain in a rising popular novel called “A Place Amongst You.” The story starts with the main character, Mark De La Verdant Cerealis—also known as Ranboo—an illegitimate child of the Count of the southern territory, being brought home after two of his older siblings failed to awaken their powers as descendants of the Cerealis family. Faced with many hardships and bullying from his siblings, Ranboo was then sent to learn to control his powers at the Imperial Academy—where all noble children are expected to attend.
On Ranboo’s first day, he encountered many students with both good and terrible intentions.
After being at the school for a couple of weeks, Ranboo finally met the person who would make his life complicated and miserable. And it was none other than him—Theseus, the villain everyone abhors and despises.
Theseus dies at the ripe age of 17 in the novel. So when Tommy woke up in the 15-year-old body of Theseus, it was only natural for him to panic—Tommy didn’t want to die again.
So he devised a plan. A plan to help clear Theseus’s name and lighten his public image. But he guessed it was all for nothing—because now, he was going to end up just like Theseus in the novel. Executed for crimes he didn’t commit.
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Theseus woke up to a rough kick to the stomach, and the guards telling him to wake up—because someone was here to see him.
And to his surprise, the one who visited him was none other than the protagonist themselves.
Restraining himself from saying something inappropriate, he forced his face into a neutral expression—making himself seem unbothered by the protagonist’s arrival.
They were wearing a dark cloak over their head, as if sneaking out and doing something they shouldn’t.
“Your Highness, what pleasure do I owe for you to visit me in my prison cell?” Theseus said with no expression.
“I am here to see you one last time before your execution, Lord Theseus,” Ranboo said with a stern voice over a seemingly brave face.
“Please, leave the titles behind, Your Highness. I’m already stripped of my position and title. What more can you get out of mentioning that? Do you wish to remind me of what I’ve lost?” Theseus replied with a mocking smile.
“No!—Yes. Yes, it is to remind you that your evil deeds have consequences, and you should face them,” Ranboo stammered, their face flushing with embarrassment, even until now he is still able to get to him Ranboo though.
“Isn’t my execution enough of a consequence for all the 'supposed' evil deeds that I haven’t done?”
“Even at death’s door, must you insist on lying that you are innocent,” Prince William suddenly interrupted, startling the two.
“But no matter—that ends today.” The prince said haughty.
“Theseus Borealis De la Norte, you are to come with me to be escorted to the guillotine.” Just like in the Great Hall, silence filled the dungeon eerily.
" Brother wait-"
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It was nearing the time of execution, and a flood of people flocked to the center of the city square, wanting to witness the execution of a former noble and the Northern Duke’s son at that!
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Theseus Borealis De la Norte stepped into the crowd’s view, his once pristine appearance now reduced to dirtied rags with rusted iron chains binding him from his wrists to his feet and to his neck, limiting his ability to move.
But this did not dissolve the former noble’s pride. Instead, he raised his chin high, unwilling to let himself look down and hide his face like a coward.
When the guards finally arrived at the center of the crowd, one of them pulled out a rusted key matching the chains, which now dropped to the ground with a loud clack.
His hands were then bound again by a long rope that dug into his skin. Theseus was then forced to kneel before the guards, who roughly placed his neck where the blade would land and locked the lunette shut above him, unable to move.
Then came the speeches reiterating his supposed crimes and evil doings.
“Any last words, criminal?” said the governor who listed his sins.
“No.” Then, the world went silent.
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‘If you had a chance to go back,
would you take it?’