**Chapter 3: The Southern Isles' Dark Reality**

The Southern Isles, a collection of islands ruled by the Westergaard family, were a far cry from the frozen paradise of Arendelle. The islands' lush green landscapes and crystal-clear waters were overshadowed by the darkness that lurked beneath their surface. King Westergaard, the ruler of the Southern Isles, was a brutal and ruthless leader who cared little for the welfare of his people. His insatiable desire for power and wealth had led him to impose harsh taxes on his subjects, leaving many on the brink of poverty. The king's 12 sons, including Hans, were no better. They were spoiled, entitled, and cruel, having been raised with the notion that they were superior to the common folk. They roamed the islands, taking what they wanted, when they wanted it, without any regard for the consequences. The people of the Southern Isles lived in fear of their rulers, never daring to speak out against them. Lars, Hans's brother, was a rare exception. He was kind and compassionate, with a sense of justice that had been instilled in him by their mother, who had passed away when he was young. Lars had always felt stifled by their father's regime, and he longed for a better future for the Southern Isles. Crown Prince Caleb, on the other hand, was a master manipulator. He was charming and charismatic, but beneath his polished exterior lay a ruthless ambition that would stop at nothing. Caleb was determined to one day take the throne, no matter the cost. Rudi and Runo, fifth in line to the throne, were young and idealistic. They had not yet been corrupted by their family's values, and they often found themselves at odds with their father's regime. They were beginning to question the morality of their family's actions, and they longed for a better future. The palace, where the royal family resided, was a symbol of their opulence and excess. Its grandeur and beauty were a stark contrast to the poverty and misery that existed outside its walls. The king's lavish spending on the palace and his own indulgences had left the islands' infrastructure in shambles. As the years went by, the Southern Isles had become a powder keg, waiting to ignite. The people's discontent was palpable, and it was only a matter of time before their frustration boiled over into violence. The Westergaard family's grip on power was tenuous at best, and it seemed that their reign was numbered. In the midst of this chaos, Hans's mental state continued to deteriorate. His isolation and loneliness had taken their toll, and he was rapidly descending into madness. His family, however, seemed more concerned with maintaining their power and status than with helping him. The Southern Isles were a ticking time bomb, and it seemed that nothing could stop the impending explosion. The darkness that had taken hold of Hans was a symptom of a larger problem, one that threatened to consume the entire kingdom. The question was, would anyone be able to stop it before it was too late? The situation in the Southern Isles was a complex web of corruption, oppression, and despair. The people were trapped in a cycle of poverty and fear, with no clear escape. The royal family, however, seemed determined to maintain their grip on power, no matter the cost. As the darkness deepened, it seemed that the only way out was through a revolution, one that would bring down the Westergaard regime and usher in a new era of hope and freedom.