**Chapter 2: Descent into Madness**

The cold, grey walls of the palace cell seemed to close in on Hans as he lay on the narrow bed, his mind racing with thoughts of failure and shame. It had been months since he was brought back to the Southern Isles, and his mental state had deteriorated rapidly. The isolation and loneliness had taken their toll, and Hans's grip on reality was tenuous at best. As he tossed and turned, the restraints on his wrists and ankles dug into his skin, a constant reminder of his fragile state. His brothers, who had once mocked and taunted him, now avoided him altogether, afraid of his unpredictable behavior. Hans's thoughts drifted back to Anna, the woman he had deceived and betrayed. He remembered the pain in her eyes when she discovered his true nature, and the anger that had fueled her words. He had never imagined that she would be the one to expose him, to bring him down from his lofty ambitions. The door to the cell creaked open, and one of the palace guards entered, carrying a tray with a meager meal. Hans's stomach growled at the sight of the food, but he made no move to eat. He had lost interest in the world around him, and his appetite had disappeared. The guard set the tray down on a small table and approached Hans's bed. "You need to calm down, Hans," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You're not helping yourself." Hans laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "What's the point?" he asked, his eyes flashing with anger. "I'm a failure. I'll never be the man I was meant to be." The guard sighed and shook his head. "You're not a failure, Hans. You're just...lost. But you can get better. You just need to want to." Hans snorted, rolling onto his side and away from the guard. He didn't want to get better. He didn't want to face the world again. He just wanted to disappear, to fade away into nothingness. As the guard left, Hans's mind began to spiral out of control. He thought about his family, his father and brothers, and the expectations they had placed on him. He thought about Anna, and the pain he had caused her. And he thought about himself, about the man he had once been and the man he had become. The darkness closed in around him, and Hans's screams echoed through the palace corridors, a chilling reminder of his descent into madness. In another part of the palace, Lars sat in his chambers, poring over reports and documents. He was concerned about his brother's deteriorating mental state, and he knew he had to do something to help him. He had tried talking to their father, but King Westergaard was too consumed by his own anger and disappointment to listen. Lars decided to reach out to Caleb, the crown prince, for advice. Caleb was ambitious and driven, but he was also intelligent and ruthless. Lars hoped that he would be able to offer some guidance on how to help Hans. As he sent a messenger to Caleb, Lars couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out for his brother. Hans's condition was worsening by the day, and if they didn't act soon, they might lose him forever. The fate of the Southern Isles, and that of Hans himself, hung in the balance. Lars could only hope that he was making the right decision, and that Anna would be willing to help his brother when he arrived in Arendelle.