There are many legends and tales of great kings: the Arthurian legends of King Arthur and his Round Table, the tales of Charlemagne and his Paladins, King Beowulf, Odysseus and his journey, and even real figures like the Spartan King Leonidas, the conqueror King Iskandar, and Gilgamesh—the first ever recorded tale of a king. Whether real or myth, one thing they all had in common was greatness. They were leaders, warriors, heroes—admired and remembered.

When the king was born as the only son of the royal family, a god appeared and demanded the child be handed over. The god saw great potential in the boy and wanted to grant him power beyond imagination. But his mother and father refused. No matter the promise, it wasn't right to give up their child—not without his own choice. Furious, the god cursed the kingdom. He foretold that once the boy took the throne, the kingdom would become a living hell. There would be endless wars, betrayal, and revolts—he would make it happen.

Years later, the prince married Penelope, a princess from a neighboring land who had run away from royal expectations. She was taken in by the royal family and raised alongside the prince. Their marriage was a loving one, not a forced alliance, and the people celebrated their union as the prince took the throne with Penelope by his side. On the very first day of their rule, tragedy struck. The king's parents died under mysterious circumstances. The curse had begun to unfold.

First came war with a neighboring kingdom. Then a deadly plague. Then another war. Then murders within the city. Disaster after disaster—each worse than the last. Still, with Penelope's unwavering support, the people managed to endure. The king knew it couldn't go on like this. He made a difficult decision—a journey to break the curse. Penelope was fearful, unsure if she could rule alone, but she let him go. Before he departed, she gave him a necklace of her own making and kissed him goodbye at the gates. The journey was said to take five years.

Twenty years later, the king finally returns. His journey was long, dark, and filled with loss. So many lives sacrificed. And now, he walks alone through the gates of his kingdom. But the kingdom he left is not the one he returns to. The once-proud streets are dirty. People beg for food. Poverty hangs in the air. Some recognize him and bow, tears in their eyes, pleading for salvation. Others—soldiers—stare in silence, unsure or afraid.

As he moves closer to the castle, the scenery shifts. The closer he gets, the wealthier everything looks. The divide between poor and rich, once narrow, is now a deep chasm. Finally, he reaches the castle. The guards try to stop him—strangers, new recruits. But others recognize him immediately, bowing low. As the king enters the throne hall, he witnesses something downright horrible. There, sitting on the throne, is another man. And beside him—Penelope.

She looks different now. Gone is the warm, radiant smile. In its place is an expressionless mask. No joy. No sorrow. Just emptiness. 'A stranger? Who let him in?' the man says, his voice cold. Guards move forward—then stop, uncertain. Penelope's eyes meet the king's. They go wide—shock, then joy. 'You came back!' she says, standing up. But just as quickly, the man beside her murmurs something. Penelope freezes. Her body trembles. She sits back down. 'I'm sorry,' she whispers. 'I... acted out.' Her voice is quiet. Submissive. Not at all like the girl he once knew.