[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-154":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100911,1437,"Chapter 154: What Will it Cost","the-reborn-king-chapter-154",154,"\u003Cp>Alfred awoke, only to find himself in the dead dream world he found himself in before. It was a strange thing that had only happened once. Despite that, it felt so real. He could reach out and touch his furniture. He could feel the softness of his clothes. Everything about it was strange, yet he knew that he only came here last time because he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He could only wonder why he was back again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing himself up, he walked the empty corridors of his palace, the eerie silence filling the air. It was tense, yet the sound of a crying child cut through that. His feet moved before he even acknowledged it. He recognized it in an instant, and even though it was a dream, he would rush to Edward’s side no matter what. He pushed the large doors that led to the throne room, and inside, a single cot sat in the middle. He saw his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running over he reached down and picked him up, his crying stopping instantly. Alfred watched as the small child wore a emotionless face that didn’t suit a child. \"How much is too much?\" Once more he heard that gentle motherly voice from behind him. Turning he saw the woman made of pure moonlight, her faceless head staring deep into his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why am I here again?\" It felt weird to ask. He knew it was a conjuring of his own mind. The moonlight woman tilted her head to look at him before looking down at Edward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t cause this.\" She walked over, each step leaving a white puddle that glowed. \"You did.\" Despite having no facial features he could see that she smiled at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what? Am I meant to apologize for what I have done in the Commonwealth? Am I meant to profess how sorry I am for that man’s death and repent? Its politics. These things happen.\" He was annoyed. Why should he feel guilty about someone he had never even met? He didn’t even order the assassination. It was all Horace’s work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not.\" She walked even closer. \"I just wonder when enough is enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It never is.\" An eerie, almost demonic voice called out from behind and Alfred sighed as he turned his head and saw a figure clawing its way out of his shadow. If one listened closely, one could hear the hundreds of screams following behind it as if it were its own theme tune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Moonlight woman looked past Alfred at it with disapproval. \"He risks everything he loves with it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A sacrifice that will happen if it must.\" The demonic figure walked closer, avoiding any light that came through the windows. \"Something he is prepared to do.\" Alfred frowned at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up.\" He coldly said. \"Both of you. You’re nothing more than my mind.\" He looked down at Edward in his hands who looked up with an expressionless face. \"Can we just get this over with? Please.\" Unlike before when he was so mentally cornered, he felt calm and could see through everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t understand.\" The Moonlight woman said with a deep, tired voice. Walking over she placed her hand on Edwards face giving him a warm look. Alfred looked at her before looking down at his son. Taking her hand away she touched her index finger on his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred watched as white streaks spread on his body. An ear-piercing cry rang out that made Alfred want to cover his ear, but he couldn’t as he watched the young boy in his hands slowly melt away into a black sludge. He reached out to Alfred who began to breathe heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!\" He attempted to bring him into his embrace but his body slowly melted through his fingers and arms. The sound of laughter rang from behind as the shadow figure clapped, his laughs growing with each futile attempt Alfred made to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred knew it was a dream, but hearing his son cry in such agony and slowly turn into nothing made him frantic. He brought what remained of his son close to his chest but the cries slowly died down as the last bit of the black sludge fell through his grasp falling onto the floor. He looked at the moonlight woman with hate, but it disappeared as he saw tears fall from her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He will never be safe. As easy as it is to take a life for you, it is for them. As your ambition grows so does the danger around him. Until he is nothing.\" She interlocked her fingers as if she wished to pray and fell to her knees. In a language that Alfred couldn’t understand she began to quietly mutter. Despite never hearing it before, he could tell she was asking for forgiveness for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From behind shadowy arms wrapped around his chest. The figure’s face leaned close to his ear and like the devil it whispered. \"Remember your promise.\" Its face split into a wide grin. \"She is a coward. She doesn’t understand you can have everything.\" The demonic figure bent down and its hand touched the black sludge. Black smoke left its body and made a cloud around it. As it slowly disappeared, the figure of Edward returned. \"Expand, and expand, and expand. Once everything is under your feet, so will your enemies. If you wish for everything, all you must do is destroy all the threats against you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can protect them in other ways.\" She pleaded once more but the Shadowy figure looked at her with a wide smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you remember father?\" The shadow spoke and Alfred was confused. He looked back at it and waited. \"Our father, a deadbeat who did nothing for you.\" Alfred knew it referenced the old world and as he remembered the faint memories of his old father he frowned. \"Life only became safe after you took control of it. You could eat your fill whenever you want after you control your own destiny.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up Edward he handed him back to Alfred. \"You almost lost Isra because your enemies escaped your control. Don’t become your father.\" He whispered back into his ear and Alfred’s eyes went cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She would have never been in danger if it wasn’t for your ambition.\" The Moonlight woman spoke once more. Her voice was full of conviction as she looked past Alfred at the shadowy demon. It laughed at her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are not his ambitions.\" It spoke full of cunning. \"But the ambitions of who he owes everything.\" Unlike its evil appearance, it gave a warm smile to the moonlight woman, but she could only see the trickery behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred’s head fell. Everything happening was his own mind. All they said were his own thoughts. Despite this, he looked at her. \"He’s right. I don’t want this. I do this for little Alfred. I do this to protect those I care for.\" As if hearing the words it wanted the shadowy figure’s face split into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reassured himself over and over. Everything he did was for Little Alfred and his family. He didn’t want any of this originally, but had no choice. \"a fool.\" The moonlight woman said quietly before turning. As she walked away her body slowly disintegrated into light and spread across the room vanishing. he looked back down at Edward in his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I nearly lost Isra. I won’t let it happen again.’As if hearing his thoughts the shadowy figure smiled.’I simply must make a world where there can be no threats. Only then will they be safe.’Alfred looked behind him at the shadowy figure that shared his face. It gave a smile and wrapped its arms around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When everything is under your control, nothing will escape you.\" Its sweet whisper spoke once more and Alfred gave a single nod. Control. It was all everything came back to. Looking down at his son, he smiled.’I will protect him.’He closed his eyes with that final thought and the world went black. Slowly his thoughts died and he returned to his peaceful sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is unacceptable.\" Mother threw her cup across the room as she clung to the table. Her face contorted into a deep anger as she read the report in front of her. Her breathing was frantic but she quickly composed herself and adjusted herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite this, she couldn’t get rid of the anger. The rest of her weapons were gone. This wouldn’t have made her so volatile, but the report of Gregor preaching to the people tipped her over the edge. Her friend. The one who had been by her side for so long. He had made it clear that he would not walk on the path with her and that was fine. She knew Gregor simply hated war and blood. But to join her enemy. The people wished to destroy her and everything they as believers in Khors wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unacceptable. Her hands threatened to snap the table in half as she coldly stared ahead. Yet this coldness disappeared, and a deep sadness replaced it. She collapsed onto the floor, grabbing her face, a single tear leaving her eye. ’Gregor.’His kind smile appeared in her mind, and she clenched her teeth.’Why did you betray me? Everything we suffered. For you to do this.’She wanted to cry, but could no longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No matter the cost.’The final words she left for Gregor. She had hoped it would be enough to persuade Gregor to leave. She didn’t want him to be hurt. Even now, she loved him. But this was overshadowed by her love for her lord, her saviour. He would understand. Mother stood up and leaned on the table. \"Forgive me, Khors. Forgive me, Gregor. But I will see your Kingdom built.\" Mother looked at the door. \"Aseel.\" She called out, and within seconds, the masked man walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t even bother to walk over and looked him in the eyes. \"I have something for you to do.\" She gave a bitter smile.’It’s time. I must rally my people.’She knew the Empire was winning. It was time to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>",1708,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","be0422457978a120b35478d24c269a9ceb922d1edf052f7531026e538df7c4a4","the-reborn-king-chapter-155","the-reborn-king-chapter-153",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]