Reincarnated as the disaster prince

Caden was born under the light of a hundred lanterns, the grandest celebration his kingdom had ever seen. As the second prince, he was showered with love, gifts, and admiration. His mother, Queen Bianca, often reminded him he was special, the pride of the kingdom. But even from an early age, Caden felt a shadow over his happiness—the presence of his elder brother, Theodore. Though they shared the same blood, they lived vastly different lives.

Theodore's mother,the former queen , had died tragically, and rumors of neglect surrounded the lonely prince. Theodore was kept in the decaying Rose Palace, far from the splendor of the main palace. Caden often gazed at the distant silhouette of the crumbling structure, wondering why his brother was left there alone.

When Caden first asked about Theodore, his mother's face darkened. "He doesn't belong to us," she said coldly. "He's a stain on this family. Never go near him." Despite her venomous words, Caden's innocent heart yearned to understand his brother.

Late at night, when the palace corridors were silent, Caden sometimes overheard whispers coming from his mother's chambers. Men cloaked in darkness spoke of Theodore in hushed, ominous tones. Words like "accident" and "elimination" chilled Caden to the bone. He didn't fully understand what they meant, but he felt the weight of danger surrounding his brother.

One day, driven by curiosity and defiance, Caden sneaked into the Rose Palace. The sight broke his heart. Dust and cobwebs adorned the once-beautiful halls. The gardens, once vibrant, were overrun with weeds. Inside, he found Theodore—a fragile boy sitting alone by a cracked window. His thin frame and hollow eyes spoke of neglect. When Caden offered him food and toys, Theodore hesitated but accepted with a faint, grateful smile.

But tragedy struck when Theodore fell violently ill after eating Caden's gift. The boy, pale and trembling, begged Caden to leave him alone. It was then that Caden learned the truth: the gifts he brought had been poisoned by his own mother. She had used him as a pawn in her cruel game. Caden was devastated. He confronted his mother, only to be met with punishment and scorn. "You should thank me," she hissed. "I'm protecting you from that abomination."

From that moment, Caden's emotions twisted. He wanted to save Theodore, but his mother's manipulation and the guilt of his own involvement began to warp his perspective. Theodore, once a symbol of Caden's guilt and helplessness, became a target for his frustrations. If Caden couldn't save him, he would push him, provoke him—anything to see Theodore fight back, to prove he wasn't weak and helpless.

Years passed, and Theodore endured endless torment from Caden. But Caden's heart was never truly satisfied. It wasn't until the day Theodore stood up to him, fists clenched and fire in his eyes, that Caden felt something new: pride. For the first time, his brother looked at him as an equal, not an unreachable figure or a helpless victim.

But beneath that pride was a well of sorrow. Caden knew the scars he'd left on Theodore would never heal. He had wanted to be his brother's savior, but instead, he had become his tormentor. Now, as he looked into Theodore's glaring eyes, Caden smiled, even as tears welled in his own.

"Finally," he thought. "He sees me."

Caden returned to his room late at night, his expression neutral despite the racing thoughts in his head. His friends, Marcus and the others, were waiting for him, their faces filled with curiosity.

"Hey, Caden, where did you go this late at night?" Marcus asked, his voice cautious.

Caden's gaze flicked toward him, cold and dismissive. "Do I have to explain my every move to wimps like you?"

The boys flinched at his sharp tone. "Oh, sorry," they muttered in unison, bowing their heads.

With a wave of his hand, Caden dismissed them. They obeyed without hesitation, leaving the room. Alone at last, Caden let out a breath, a grin slowly spreading across his face. His chest felt light, his thoughts fixated on the day ahead. Tomorrow was his first day back at school after two weeks of absence, and he was looking forward to it. He couldn't wait to see Theodore again.

The Next Morning

Caden strode into the classroom, his three companions trailing behind him. While the boys looked shy and humiliated after their humiliating defeat against Theodore, Caden remained composed, his expression unreadable.

The classroom fell silent at their arrival, the tension thick in the air. Some of the students tried to greet Caden, acting as though nothing had happened, but he ignored them, heading straight to his seat. His gaze was fixed on the door, anticipation coursing through him as he waited for Theodore to appear.

Then, Theodore walked in.

The room's atmosphere shifted instantly. Conversations halted, and everyone turned their attention to the elder prince. Theodore's sharp, commanding aura silenced the chatter, and his mere presence seemed to demand respect. He walked to his seat with effortless grace, pulling out a book and opening it as though the stares meant nothing to him.

Caden's lips curved into a smile. To the other students, it looked unsettling, but to Caden, it was pure joy. Seeing Theodore like this, untouchable and powerful, thrilled him.

In a loud, confident voice, Caden declared, "I will compete with my brother."

The class froze, jaws dropping. Whispers erupted.

"Brother?" one student muttered, bewildered. "Did he just call him 'brother'? He always called him 'curse boy.'"

Even Marcus and his friends were stunned. Anger flickered in their eyes as they exchanged glances. They didn't understand why their leader, Caden, was suddenly softening toward the brother he once despised.

Theodore, however, didn't react. His eyes remained glued to his book, his indifference cutting deeper than any words could.

Caden frowned, but his excitement didn't waver. He would make Theodore acknowledge him, no matter what.

A sudden hush fell over the room as the door opened, and Miss Dalia entered with Principal Roman following close behind. The students quickly scrambled to their seats, their confusion evident as they tried to gauge the reason for this unexpected visit.

Roman's gaze swept the room before landing on Theodore. A strange smile spread across his face, one that made Theodore's stomach churn with disgust.

"I have an important announcement," Roman began. "Our upcoming test will be a group project, centered around teamwork and hunting skills."

The room buzzed with excitement as students began discussing potential groups.

Theodore, raising his hand calmly, interrupted the chatter. "Principal Roman, may I request to participate alone?"

The class fell silent again, their shock palpable.

Roman's smile widened. "Of course, my treasure. For someone like you, exceptions can always be made."

Theodore's jaw tightened at the term "treasure," but he nodded curtly and resumed reading his book.

Caden, however, was livid. He shot to his feet. "How can you let him compete alone? If he gets special treatment, I demand to work alone too!"

Roman chuckled, the condescension in his voice grating. "You, Caden? You're far too weak to handle that. Theodore has mastered advanced mana techniques and wields a three-star aura. You can't even begin to compare."

The class erupted in gasps, their eyes darting to Theodore with newfound awe and respect.

Caden's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. His jaw tightened as his emotions swirled—a volatile mix of envy, rage, and frustration. Without a word, he stormed out of the classroom, his friends following him eagerly.

The Hallway

"Caden, this is it!" Marcus exclaimed, grinning. "The war between you and your brother is finally happening."

But Caden wasn't listening. His mind was racing, replaying Roman's words and the indifferent look on Theodore's face. Three-star aura. Advanced mana. The terms repeated like a mocking chant in his head.

He stopped in his tracks, his breathing heavy. His anger burned, but beneath it, a cold realization settled over him.

He didn't just want to surpass Theodore. That wasn't enough. He wanted Theodore to look up to him, to grovel beneath him, to feel the crushing weight of despair. He wanted to destroy him.

Caden smirked as his eyes darkened, the sinister gleam in them sending a shiver down Marcus's spine.

"The war has begun," Caden murmured.

For the first time, the lines between love, hate, and obsession blurred entirely in his mind.