(Kyo Kara Maoh) A Fleeting Dream of Splendor

Set against Chapters One and Three of Volume 20 of the original novel, this basically fills in the gaps about Zhen Xian's life from childhood to his twenties. Volume 20 opens with the Great Sage's failed assassination attempt on the True King, but gives little explanation for why it happened, so that's what I focused on imagining. I think the Sage's actions are what kept the True King from fully trusting him, and why, even after they parted ways, he bound the other's memories with a curse. It hurts them both, a clear-cut clash between lord and subject! A solemn disclaimer: This is fan fiction, an adaptation of the original, not an expansion of it. Please forgive me if any details differ completely from the original. Theme: