Chapter 1
"Cut off his tongue."
A piercing, haunting scream was heard as the man dropped faster than the death on his knees. "Please! You're Grace, this all is a misunderstanding!"
The man was begging on his knees, tears pouring from his eyes. Wide eyes stared at the young Lord in front of him.
Peter stared at the man, on the ground begging for his forgiveness. Ugly tears were smearing his face as snot started to make its way down his face. The young boy grimaced at the sight in front of him in disgust.
"My young lord! Forgive me, I'm on my knees begging!"
Peter didn't show any form of sympathy on his face. His eyes were as cold and unnerving. Brown dead eyes stared down at the man.
A crowd was formed around the two of them. People looked at them with both curious and wide frightened eyes. Mothers who were trying to pull their kids away, men who just stared at the sight in front of them, and women who looked with concern.
Then Peter walked forward to the man, head high as he looked snobbish. "Repeat what you just said."
"Please-"
"I said," the young man repeated maliciously, "to repeat what you just said."
The man now was shaking, "That frozen bastard. I said that!"
"You dare to call the future Heir of the Nord, a 'bastard'?"
The man his eyes widened even more as he cried louder, "You're Grace! Have mercy on me, please!" At that, Peter tilted his head, but still no empathy was shown on his face.
People started to whisper.
"Mercy," Peter said slowly as he looked now at the dark, cloudy sky, "Fine. You will get mercy."
The young Lord turned around, his dark black cape flashing behind him as he marched off. "Just kill him, and have his head hung up on a spike at the local market," his eyes scammed the crowd, "To show them what happens if they insult me, that's treason!"
The two soldiers that were standing next to the young Lord grabbed the man roughly as he cried even harder.
With that last snark, Peter marched away. Not looking back as the people looked horrified. The young man didn't even flinch as he heard the sound of a sword.
Peter just walked back home, watching as the snow fell from the sky. Boots crushing the snow under him.
----
"I heard you caused a scene by the market."
They were sitting on the long dark oaten table. Candles were spread around the whole hall and on the table. At the head sat Tony, wearing a wolf cloak. Peter, who sat on the left continued with eating. Pepper, on the other hand, who sat on the right, stopped eating.
"What?"
Tony didn't respond, he just took another sip of his wine. The woman figured that her husband wasn't much help so she turned to Peter.
"What did you do, young man?" she spoke with urgency.
"Nothing," the heir shrugged as he poked the meat with his fork.
"Oh, you don't get to act so clueless! What did you do?" When Peter paid her no mind, she turned to Tony, "And you're going to let him roam around like that? Causing chaos?"
Tony took another huge sip of his wine before answering, "Honey-"
"No! I never wanted this!" Pepper pointed a harsh finger at Peter, "He can rot on the streets, being eaten by dogs. I do not care! You took him in. Control him!"
The food was already cold and forgotten. Peter abandoned his food as he stared at Pepper. "I'm not a dog."
"Well behave like a human," she hissed at him.
"Enough," the king said with a tired expression. "Can't we have for once, I'm not asking for much, just once, some normal family dinner?"
Pepper and Peter side-eyed each other as they both picked up the fork and knife to eat.
"And you," sharp piercing eyes stared at Peter, "Listen to your mother. Don't ignore her and pay respect to her. If you cause another commotion like that today, I will do something about it!"
"Pepper," sharp eyes turned a bit softer now, "Please go a bit easier on him, the boy is seventeen. He still got something to learn."
"Seventeen! He's not nine."
Peter rolled his eyes at that. He knew that by himself, thank you were much. Every 'family' dinner was like this. He and Pepper were always screaming and arguing with each other.
"Mother," a sicky sweet voice came out of the young man, "I will try to not cause another scene. I apologize for my rudeness and will do so now in advance of the future." A nod of approval came from Tony as the woman only made a soft 'tsk' sound. "Father, please forgive me for worrying you about useless things."
The king smiled at the heir, "That's what I'm talking about! Pepper, see? He's learning."
"He is just manipulative! Don't you see it?"
Tony rubbed his head as he nearly finished his wine. "That's your son. You can't just talk about him like that, people will spread rumors."
"No! I never wanted him. This fake, cheap copy of my real son!" With that being said, the queen stood up and threw a glare at Peter. Then she marched to the two grand doors, that were opened by the two guards as she made her way down the hall.
Tony sighed at that.
Peter leaned down on his chair, arms crossed. Cold eyes stared at the little fire on the candle burning. "She hates me."
"No, she doesn't."
"Yes, she does."
The king just rolled his shoulder, "It was a rough day for her. Piper cares about you."
"She cares more about her real son." Tony winced at that. It was a rough topic, one that the man always wanted to ignore while Pepper only wanted to talk about that.
Harley, their real blood son, was kidnapped and never found. Peter never met him.
But he was haunting the young heir for nearly his whole life.
Soft whispers about the young boy who just disappeared one day were heard all around The Nord. A soft, kind boy who was the sweetest thing. Peter rolled his eyes at these kinds of rumors. It was no wonder he was kidnapped then. No weakling survives The Nord. It was just a basic rule everyone knew.
His father, Tony, rarely talked about him. But Peter knew the truth. The man was hurt and no one could heal that. It was just an open wound that would get stitched and break open again. A never-ending cycle.
His mother, Pepper, on the other hand, was really deeply hurt by this loss. Peter got it. Harley was her real flesh. Blood. Something that the young man could never achieve, even with all his hard work.
"I just lost my appetite. Can I please leave the table?"
"No, not yet. There is something we need to discuss."
Peter resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "If you want to talk about my behavior today at the market. To my defense, he insulted me!"
"I want to talk about other things."
"Well, I never wanted to be rude to Mother-"
"No. It's about the trail this year."
Peter stilled. His hands became fists as he stared at his father with big focused eyes. The young man felt his blood pump faster in his veins.
The trial happens once in five years. They needed to happen to test the 'new generation'. All the heirs needed to go through it. It was a protocol that was followed through generations. Some people protested, saying that these were the old ways. Peter understood it, in a way. No weaklings should be ruling.
"This year you would be eighteen, so- You're in the trail." His father glanced around him. He waved at some servants to go and the guards left the room without a word. "There would be some strong competitors."
Peter nodded at that and Tony took that as a sign to continue, "You need to be careful. People are envious of your position, Prince."
"I'm not an actual prince- We are not royalty. It isn't an official title that was given. You are The High Lord of The Nord," the young man said while shaking his head.
His father threw his son a light glare. "Maybe it isn't an official title. But we hold as much power as The Royal Family. The whole Nord isn't a tiny territorial, no, it's ours. Pete, the neighbor Clans swore to stay loyal and serve us."
"What are you trying to say to me?"
Tony then grabbed Peter's forearm tightly without a warning. The young man didn't flinch at all or even react.
"You will lead The Nord. Even if Pepper doesn't like it, even if the people will talk. You are my heir."
Peter stared at the man in front of him with wide eyes. He knew that one day he would take over-
But why? He wasn't blood.
"Why?" breathed the teenager out.
"What?"
"Why me? I'm just some measly street kid you picked up from pity. Mother told me once I looked like Harley, that it was the only reason you bought me here. I'm fitted to live on the streets- Not to live here, not to rule. I'm not The Prince of The Nord," his voice sounded more steady than he felt. Peter felt pathetic and somewhat emotional.
He wasn't even a bastard. He didn't have even a bit of blood from his parents.
Just some street kid.
"Don't. You're my son, Pete. Don't let others tell you otherwise. I picked you up from the streets because I wanted you to be my son, okay?" Tony looked away as he let Peter his forearm go, "I'm not for these emotional talks, y'know?"
Peter nodded at that. "Mother-"
"She is just grieving like that. I- Listen, she cares about you. I know that."
"Mother doesn't believe I would make it out alive from the trial."
Tony made eye contact with Peter. "I believe you would survive."
Then, the man cleared his throat. "Speaking of the trial. This year is more than interesting. The Crown Prince of The Royal Family is taking part in it too."
Peter felt like all the air was pushed out of his lungs. "Wade," the heir choked out.