In this world, there are only two kinds of people; Kings and Peasants. This wasn’t something that was decided at birth, both had to earn their title. A peasant can become a king and a king can become a peasant. It entirely depends on your mindset. Of course, there are peasants foolishly wearing the mantle of kings because they were given or inherited it. Those people were just delusional fools who didn’t know their place. A true king cannot be created from an inheritance, a true king is someone who takes their throne themselves. They use the body of countless peasants to form stairs that will lead them to their throne.

So, are you a king or a peasant?

“I want to be a king.”

The young girl said while looking up at the sky.

“What are you suddenly talking about, Natasa?”

The young girl looked around and saw that a bunch of kids her age was looking at her funny.

“I want to be one of those people everybody looks up to and strives to be. You know, a king.”

The children became silent for a bit before speaking again.

“Forget that. Let’s play tag!”

“Tag! Tag!”

“Yeah, but you can’t be it, Natasa! The game always ends too quickly when you’re it!”

“…..Alright.”

A few minutes later, the girl was sitting on a branch in a tall tree. She looked at the sign that was not to far away from her. Despite being five years old, she could read what it said with no problem.

“New Dawn Orphanage.”

She looked at the sign with a disgusted face. She was told that a stranger dropped her off here when she was an infant but she knew that was a lie. She overheard some of the older children say that her father begged the orphanage to take her saying that his wife, her mother was driven mad when she learned that she had given birth to an abomination.

“Peasants.”

Natasa spoke almost as if she was spitting.

“Hahaha! I got you!”

She heard the other kids below her playing and looked down on them with indifference.

“Peasants.”

She stood up and leaped off the branch and landed on the nearby roof. She turned around and looked down at the orphanage. She looked at the sister who wore a fake smile every day she worked here.

“Peasant.”

She looked at the girl that she shared a room with and remembered how she prayed at nights asking the gods to let her be adopted by a nice family.

“Peasant.”

At the boy who cries at least once a week asking why his parents abandoned him.

“Peasant.”

At the director, who secretly stole donations and the workers who are afraid to report him.

“Peasants.”

She turned her back and walked away.

“I’m surrounded by nothing but foolish peasants.”

She sat on an AC unit.

“Why work at a place that makes you miserable? Find a new job, idiot. Who are you praying to? The gods of this world are too busy to care about whether you’re adopted or not. Instead of praying, learn a skill that would make people want you, Moron. Why are crying? If they don’t want you, forget them and strive to become someone they’ll regret ever abandoning, dumbass.”

She clenched her fist so tight her body started trembling.

“Peasants, all of you! You’re all so quick to bow your heads and throw away your pride! None of you want to be fucking kings!”

She stared up at the wide blue sky.

“So cramped.”

She clicked her tongue.

“This orphanage, this city, this country, they all feel so cramped. I want to see more of the world. I want to meet true kings and compete against them. I want to become a true king and sit upon a true throne. Not this dump.”

She stood up and walked towards the ledge.

“I must leave this place as quickly as possible.”

She scanned the orphanage again. That’s when she spotted a beautiful head of silver hair. She started focusing on it and saw a girl that looked like she was at least four years her senior. The girl had a doll face that fit her dazzling silver hair, that stood out under the sun.

“Woah.”

For the first time in her life, Natasa felt like she’s seen true beauty and couldn’t take her eyes off her.

“Who is that?”

She stared at the girl as if she was in a daze and only stopped when a nun blocked her view by standing in front of her. Natasa clicked her tongue. She was gonna curse but stopped when she saw the nun bow to the silver-haired girl. What shocked her was the expression on the girl’s face. She looked at the nun as if she was garbage.

“What’s going on?”

Natasa became interested in her for a different reason. She watched as the nun spoke to her like a servant speaking to its master. Natasa became more and intrigued the longer she watched. After nearly a minute, the nun walked away apologetically. The girl stared into space for a bit before looking in Natasa’s direction.

“?!”

Natasa’s body flinched when she saw the pair of red eyes lock on her. Her body froze and she was unable to look away. She even felt like something was pressing down on her.

“What the hell is this?”

Natasa’s heart raced, her palms became sweaty, and it became difficult for her to breathe. She felt like this until the girl finally looked away. Natasa watched her walk away while drenched in cold sweat.

“That was…That girl was a true king!”

Natasa felt a cold sensation in her heart but her body was hot. She felt both fear and admiration towards the silver girl.

“That’s Bloom. She spends a lot of time outside the orphanage but she technically lives here.”

Natasa asked around about the girl earlier and received an answer from the orphanage director.

“Natasa, don’t make trouble for her. She’s very important to us.”

(Important huh? Then she must gives this orphanage money. Money is the only thing that makes this peasant act like a lackey.)

She thought.

“How old is she?”

“Nine.”

(Only four years older than me and she already has this place under her thumb. I was right about her.)

After learning about Bloom, Natasa eagerly awaited for the next time she visited the orphanage, which was nearly three months after. Bloom came one morning and was immediately greeted by the nuns and workers. Natasa watched as they did everything they could to please her which included doing things that she didn’t ask for. She waited until Bloom was left alone before approaching her.

“Yo.”

Bloom looked at her for a bit before speaking.

“You’re the one who has been watching me since I arrived. I was originally going to confront you but you saved me the trouble. What do you want?”

She got a cold “greeting”. This caused her to freeze up.

“If you have nothing to say then leave.”

“Wait!”

She calmed herself down.

“I think we’re similar, Bloom.”

“Similar? You and I? How so?”

“We’re both kings. We both want to stand at the top of the world. We both hate the peasants around us!”

“….I don’t know if it’s because you’re just a brat but I don’t understand a thing you’re saying but I’ll take a guess.”

She pointed at Natasa.

“You think you’re special right?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I can feel it in my bones. I have a great power inside me that will help me take my throne.”

“Your throne? Then do you wish to become king of this country?”

Natasa nodded.

“Then you should give up.”

Bloom looked at her with a cold gaze.

“Only I will sit on the throne. Everyone else will just be bones at my feet. If you still intend to become king after hearing that…”

Bloom walked up to Natasa and placed her hand on her head.

“Then I’ll just bury you along with everyone else that stands in my way.”

Once again, Natasa found herself unable to move. She looked up at Bloom and met with her blood-colored eyes that didn’t have an ounce of compassion in them.

(I’m gonna get killed!)

When that thought appeared in her mind, Natasa’s body became scorching hot. She could hear the cries of beasts in her head and felt power surging through her body.

(I won’t allow myself to get killed just like that!)

She glared at Bloom with beastly golden eyes.

(It’s kill or be killed!)

Bloom’s eyes widen when Natasa grabbed her hand. She then started glaring at her. Tension filled the air as they stared into each other’s eyes.

“Looks like you really are special. Although, there’s nothing special about a dead person.”

“Oh?”

Natasa started squeezing Bloom’s hand.

“Try it.”

“Natasa!”

The two turned their heads and saw the orphanage director running towards them. He forced Natasa to let go.

“I told you to not make trouble for her!”

The director bowed to Bloom.

“I’m sorry, Bloom. She’s a bit special so we normally give her some leeway but we’ll definitely punish her severely for this.”

“Don’t bother.”

Bloom turned around and started walking away.

“I was just messing with my junior.”

“I-I see.”

Natasa glared at Bloom’s back as she walked away and shouted.

“Be prepared, Bloom! If you become king I will definitely drag you off your throne!”

Bloom stopped and turned around and glared at her.

“Your funeral.”

She began walking again.

“Why you!”

The director slapped Natasa across the face.

“How dare you speak to her like that, you ungrateful brat?!”

He lifted his hand to hit her again but his body stopped on its own. Natasa was glaring at him with eyes resembling a mad beast’s.

“Oi, Peasant.”

She grabbed him by the collar and forced him to kneel before her.

“Striking a king is a crime punishable by death, you know.”

The director heard a low growl coming from Natasa’s body.

“Do that again and I’ll tear you limb by limb. Got it?”

He saw an army of beasts appear behind her. His knees became soft and the front of his pants became wet.

“Disgusting.”

Natasa flung him to the side and walked away. Bloom who was walking in the opposite direction mumbled under her breath.

“Natasa huh? I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Bloom never returned to the orphanage after that day but her name quickly became a household name across the nation in the following years.

A few years later, a young Natasa flung a book in front of the director.

“I’ve chosen my last name. Put it on all of my files right now. I don’t want it to be a problem later.”

“Y-Yes.”

Natasa had taken over the orphanage in Bloom’s absence. The director was nothing more than a servant in front of her.

“Kingsley?”

Natasa nodded.

“I wanted a name with king in it and this fits perfectly. Also, this country will soon become my meadow. So don’t you think Kingsley (King’s Meadow) is a fitting future name for this country?”

“I-I see. I’ll get it done as quickly as possible.”

Natasa smirked.

“I’m counting on you, Director.”

She left the room and walked down the halls where everyone who saw her would make way for her.

“I heard that she got a promotion in the army again. She even took the country’s name as her surname. She’s not evening hiding her intentions of becoming king.”

She laughed.

“You can go ahead and become king first. I hope you find happiness and get really comfortable.”

She clenched her fist with a twisted smile.

“It’ll just be more enjoyable when I drag you off your throne kicking and screaming.”

Once again, there are only two kinds of people in this world; Kings and Peasants. Whichever path you want to walk is your choice to make. As for Natasa Kingsley, she had long since chosen her path.

“I will be king!”