《The Unwritten Heir》 Chapter 1: A Truth Hidden in History [Footsteps echo through the grand hall.] Children: [Excitedly] ¡°Wow! So beautiful, Grandpa! Look at all these paintings on the walls!¡± Grandpa: [Chuckles] ¡°Yes, my dear. These are the portraits of our ancestors¡ªthose who ruled and protected this kingdom.¡± Children: ¡°Wow! They look so powerful!¡± [The group continues walking through the hall, admiring the grand portraits. Suddenly, one child stops and points excitedly.] Child 1: ¡°Grandpa, look! A sword! It¡¯s huge! Whose is it?¡± Child 2: [Noticing an inscription] ¡°There¡¯s a name written here... Let me read it... Lu... Lucia...¡± Grandpa: [In a solemn tone] ¡°Lucian Al Pestelio... The Great.¡± Children: ¡°Grandpa, who was he?¡± Grandpa: [Lowering his voice] ¡°He protected this kingdom... even though the kingdom and its people never did anything for him.¡± [A moment of silence] ¡°Oh! It¡¯s already time for lunch. Let¡¯s go and eat something.¡± Children: ¡°Yeah!¡± [Evening sets in. The old man sits alone in his office, staring at a portrait of his family. His expression is distant, lost in memories.] [The door creaks open, and his son enters.] Son: ¡°Dad? What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve been quiet ever since you saw that sword. Is everything all right?¡± Old Man: [Sighing] ¡°There are many secrets hidden within our family¡­ and he is one of them.¡± [Taking a deep breath] ¡°Lucian Al Pestelio.¡± [Hearing the name, his son looks puzzled. From behind, his wife, sister, and mother enter, drawn by the conversation. They all exchange surprised glances.] Son: ¡°Dad¡­ Pestelio is our family name. But I¡¯ve never heard of him. Who was he? Why does no one know about him?¡± [The old man looks at them, his eyes filled with sorrow and pride.] Old Man: ¡°His name was erased from history¡­ yet he was the greatest knight ever born into this family.¡± Son: ¡°But why? If he was so great, why was his name hidden?¡± [The old man leans back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as he recounts the past.] Old Man: ¡°Our family has ruled and protected this land for generations. It is our sworn duty. But in fulfilling that duty, there were times when kings neglected their own families, prioritizing the kingdom above all else. It began with the 13th King of Astria, Karl De Al Pestelio. He was a wise ruler, always thinking of his people. His wife, Elsa De Al Pestelio, stood by his side, helping him in every way she could. Together, they had three children¡ªthe eldest, Novel Al Pestelio, their second daughter, Ersia Al Pestelio, and their youngest... Lucian Al Pestelio.¡± [A flashback to the past¡ªthe Queen¡¯s chambers.] [Elsa lies in bed, exhausted but smiling, while Karl sits beside her, concern etched on his face. Their children, Novel (7) and Ersia (5), stand nearby, watching anxiously.] Karl: [Holding Elsa¡¯s hand] ¡°Elsa, does it hurt? Do you need anything?¡± Elsa: [Smiling weakly] ¡°Karl, I¡¯m fine. This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve given birth, so stop worrying.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. [Karl¡¯s face remains tense with concern.] Elsa: [Softly laughing] ¡°Don¡¯t make that face. The children will start worrying, too.¡± [The children, already teary-eyed, look at their father.] Novel & Ersia: ¡°Mom, does it hurt? Why does Dad look so sad?¡± Elsa: ¡°No, my loves, I¡¯m fine. Come here.¡± [She opens her arms, and the children climb onto the bed beside her.] ¡°Soon, you¡¯ll have a younger sibling. You will be an older brother and sister¡ªyou must protect them, alright?¡± Novel & Ersia: [Eyes sparkling with excitement] ¡°A younger sibling? Wow! We¡¯ll protect them!¡± Elsa: [Smiling] ¡°That¡¯s my brave children. Now, go back to your room and finish your homework.¡± [She looks at Karl] ¡°And you¡­ You should go and fulfil your duties. I have the head maid and the nurse with me¡ªI¡¯ll be fine.¡± [Karl hesitates but finally nods.] Karl, Novel, & Ersia: [In unison] ¡°Bye! Take care!¡± [As they leave, Elsa watches them with a soft smile, unaware of the fate that would soon shape their family¡¯s history forever.] [After two months, when the Queen¡¯s labor began] Karl paced anxiously outside the chamber, his hands clenched into fists. Karl: ¡°How is Elsa?¡± Midwife: ¡°Your Majesty, everything is fine for now. The labor pains have just begun. Please wait here.¡± [From inside the chamber, Elsa¡¯s agonized cries filled the corridor. Karl¡¯s heart pounded in his chest.] Karl: ¡°Why is she in so much pain?¡± Adios (the royal secretary): ¡°Your Majesty, childbirth is always painful. We can only pray to the gods for their safety.¡± [Karl pressed his hands together, whispering prayers under his breath. Suddenly, Elsa¡¯s screams grew weaker. The midwife rushed out, her face pale.] Midwife: ¡°Bring more warm water and towels, quickly!¡± [Karl grabbed the midwife¡¯s arm, his voice trembling.] Karl: ¡°What happened?¡± Midwife: ¡°A complication has arisen. Everything was fine, but suddenly, the Queen was losing consciousness. The situation has become critical. We are trying our best to save both the Queen and the child.¡± [A cold dread settled over Karl. His hands shook as he grabbed the midwife¡¯s shoulders, his voice filled with desperation and rage.] Karl: ¡°Listen to me carefully. Your priority is to save the Queen. No matter what, Elsa must live¡ªeven if it means the child does not.¡± [The corridor fell into an eerie silence. Everyone stood frozen, shivering at the fury in Karl¡¯s voice. The midwife swallowed hard and nodded.] Midwife: ¡°Y-Yes, Your Majesty.¡± [Moments later, the cry of a newborn echoed through the chamber. The midwife emerged, her expression one of relief.] Midwife: ¡°Your Majesty, the Queen and the child are both safe.¡± [Karl stormed into the room without hesitation. Elsa lay exhausted on the bed, her face pale but smiling. A maid cradled the newborn in her arms. But instead of joy, Karl¡¯s face darkened with anger. The tension in the room thickened as he took heavy steps toward the child. The air itself seemed to freeze.] [Elsa stirred, her eyes fluttering open. The moment she saw Karl¡¯s furious expression, she knew. With a sudden burst of energy, she shouted.] Elsa: ¡°Karl! Stop!¡± [Karl halted, startled by her voice.] Elsa: ¡°Bring the child to me.¡± [The maid hesitated before carefully placing the infant in Elsa¡¯s arms. She gazed at her child, love and warmth filling her eyes.] Elsa: ¡°Karl, look at him. Our child.¡± [Karl turned away, his expression unreadable.] Karl: ¡°The child is too small¡­ I might hurt him if I hold him.¡± [Elsa frowned, sensing the distance in his voice.] Karl: ¡°You should rest. I will visit another time.¡± [Without another word, he strode out of the room. His footsteps echoed ominously down the hallway.] [Adios followed closely behind as he made his way to his office.] Adios: ¡°Congratulations, Your Majesty.¡± [Karl stopped abruptly. His cold and unyielding voice sent a chill down Adios¡¯s spine.] Karl: ¡°Never mention that child to me again.¡± [Outside the office, passing maids overheard his words. The rumor spread like wildfire throughout the palace¡ªthe King did not love his third child. Soon, the entire kingdom whispered of the monarch¡¯s rejection, and the child, though born of royal blood, became a shadow in his own home.] [Thus began the untold story of Lucian Al Pestelio.] [After four days] Elsa sat in her room, cradling her newborn child, her heart was heavy with the weight of rumors and Karl¡¯s cold demeanor. Stroking the infant¡¯s soft cheek, she whispered in an emotional voice, "My child... I don¡¯t know what happened that day to make your father act this way, but don¡¯t worry. With time, everything will heal." Her voice carried a fragile hope, but her forced smile barely concealed the sorrow behind her teary eyes. The maids who stood nearby lowered their gazes, their hearts aching for their queen. At that moment, the child¡¯s tiny eyes fluttered open, and he gave a small, innocent smile. Seeing that pure expression, Elsa¡¯s tears, which she had been holding back, finally fell. The maids rushed to her side, offering silent comfort as she wept. Chapter 2: Unwanted Child
One day, as Elsa sat in the palace garden with her three children, Novel and Ersia giggled happily, playing with their younger sibling. Elsa''s heart warmed at their bond, but her peace was shattered when she overheard a conversation among the palace maids. ¡°The rumors about the third prince are true,¡± one maid whispered. Another maid nodded. ¡°Yes, after that night, His Majesty has never once come to see him.¡± ¡°But why?¡± a third maid asked in hushed tones. ¡°No one knows,¡± the second maid sighed. ¡°I feel terrible for the little prince.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s been nearly two months,¡± another added. ¡°They still haven¡¯t given him a name, a royal title. It¡¯s as if the King refuses to acknowledge his existence.¡± Just then, the head maid appeared, her voice sharp. ¡°What are you all doing here? Get back to work at once!¡± The maids scattered instantly. The head maid turned toward Elsa and bowed deeply. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty. This won¡¯t happen again.¡± Elsa said nothing. She simply looked down at her child, her expression unreadable, but her grip around him tightened protectively. That night, Elsa and Karl lay side by side in their chamber, though an invisible wall seemed to separate them. The silence stretched between them until Elsa finally spoke, her voice laced with sorrow. ¡°Karl, I know you don¡¯t like the third prince. I won¡¯t ask why. But please, I beg you,¡± she turned to face him, tears welling in her eyes, ¡°don¡¯t show your dislike so openly. Please, Karl, I don¡¯t want my child to suffer.¡± Karl¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you why I feel this way, and I won¡¯t pretend otherwise.¡± Elsa reached for his hand, her grip desperate. ¡°Please, Karl. He is our child.¡± Karl pulled away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t.¡± Tears streamed down Elsa¡¯s face. When Karl reached to comfort her, she pushed him away. ¡°You should stay away from him, too,¡± Karl said, his tone unwavering. ¡°It will be better for you.¡± Elsa gasped in disbelief. ¡°How can you say that, Karl?¡± she cried. ¡°He is my child¡ªour child! How can you be so cruel to your son?¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Karl said nothing, his expression one of silent command. Shaking with anger and heartbreak, Elsa stood tall before him. ¡°Even if you refuse to love him, I will give him all the love he needs.¡± With that, she turned and left, running to the nursery where her son lay sleeping. She sat beside him for the entire night, watching over him with unwavering devotion. The next morning, in his office, Karl turned to his secretary. ¡°Adios, where is Elsa?¡± Adios bowed. ¡°Your Majesty, the Queen is with the children.¡± Karl¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°She should return to her duties instead of wasting time. Tell her she is to resume her responsibilities immediately. If she refuses, remind her¡ªit is an order.¡± Adios hesitated but finally nodded. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± He approached Elsa later that day and relayed the King¡¯s command. Elsa smiled bitterly. ¡°So it¡¯s an order, hmm?¡± She met Adios¡¯s gaze firmly. ¡°Tell His Majesty I will obey¡ªon one condition.¡± Adios inclined his head. ¡°What condition, Your Majesty?¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°He must name our son.¡± Adios¡¯s eyes widened slightly, but he composed himself. ¡°I will inform the King.¡± Back in the royal office, Karl listened as Adios delivered Elsa¡¯s message. His expression grew thunderous, his voice filled with fury. ¡°Fine,¡± he growled. ¡°If that is what she wants¡ªso be it.¡± Three days later, the naming ceremony for the third prince was held. Unlike the previous ceremonies, this time, no one was invited. When Elsa saw this, her heart sank. "My baby, please don¡¯t be sad. Mom will make everything right," she whispered to herself. Karl named the third prince "Lucian Al Pestelio" and then left the ceremony without another word. The following day, Elsa resumed her royal duties, leaving her with little time to spend with Lucian. She barely managed to see him at the end of the day, having not laid eyes on him since morning. Elsa became even busier as the social season began, managing events and preparing Ersia for her introduction to society. Meanwhile, Karl officially declared Novel as the crown prince and dedicated his time to training him. No one spared a thought for Lucian. A child neglected by his father and ignored by the palace. Years passed, and Lucian turned three. Sitting alone in the corner of his dimly lit room, he stared out of the window, watching the gardens he was never allowed to visit. ¡°I want to go outside, but no one lets me,¡± he murmured. Chloe, his nanny, entered with a tray. "Prince, it¡¯s time to eat. Come here." Lucian turned to her with hopeful eyes. "Can I go outside and play in the garden after I eat?" Chloe hesitated. "I¡¯m sorry, Prince, but you can¡¯t go outside." "Why?" Lucian asked, his voice small. "I¡¯m so bored. No one plays with me. Mom is always busy, Dad doesn¡¯t let me see him, and my brother and sister never come to see me." Hearing this, Elsa, who had been standing outside the bedroom, felt a pang of guilt. She longed to rush in and embrace him, but she couldn¡¯t. She turned away, her eyes filled with sorrow. Aria, the headmaid, approached. "Your Majesty, why don¡¯t you go and see the third prince?" Elsa shook her head. "You know Karl doesn¡¯t like Lucian. He has done everything to keep me away from him these past three years. I can endure it, but I won¡¯t give him another reason to hurt Lucian." Everyone in the palace knew the truth: the king despised his youngest son. As a result, the staff began neglecting their duties towards Lucian. The maids no longer cleaned his room properly, the servants harassed him, and even Chloe, once his only source of comfort, began avoiding him. Karl was well aware of what was happening, yet he did nothing.
Chapter 3: Lucian鈥檚 Curiosity and the Southern Palace
Two years later, the Astria Kingdom won a war, and Karl announced a grand celebration. "Prince, there will be a grand celebration in a week!" Chloe told Lucian. The palace buzzed with excitement on the day of the celebration. The grand hall was filled with nobles, warriors, and dignitaries. The gates opened as the royal family made their entrance. "His Majesty, along with Her Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the Princess, has arrived!" the gatekeeper announced. Karl took his place at the center and commanded, "Begin the ceremony." Lucian, watching from a hidden corner, was awestruck. It was the first time he had seen such a gathering. Suddenly, a noble caught sight of him. "Who is that? How did a beggar enter the palace?" the noble sneered. A soldier frowned. "That can¡¯t be a prince! Just look at his clothes." Lucian, wearing an old, worn-out outfit, began trembling. Chloe rushed to his side. "Prince¡ª" Before she could stop him, Lucian ran toward Elsa, crying, "Mummy! Mummy!" The hall fell silent. The nobles whispered among themselves. "Who is that child?" "Could it be...?" "The third prince? The one the king despises?" Karl''s eyes darkened. "Take him away." Chloe tried to console Lucian, but he clung to Elsa¡¯s gaze. "I want my mom!" The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Elsa took a step forward, but Karl grabbed her wrist. The look in his eyes silenced her. Lucian was dragged away. That evening, Karl summoned Elsa to his office. "Bring the third prince here," he ordered coldly. Elsa stood her ground. "Why? You¡¯ve never acknowledged him before." Karl glared. "Who brought him into the hall?" Elsa scoffed. "So what if he was there? Karl, I don¡¯t know why you hate him, but I won¡¯t let you harm him." Karl¡¯s expression darkened. "Elsa, he is not my child. I want nothing to do with him." Elsa gasped. "How can you say that?!" Karl leaned forward. "Forget about him." "No! I can¡¯t! He is my son!" Karl¡¯s patience snapped. "Then choose: Novel and Ersia or him. If you choose Lucian, you will never see your other children again." Elsa paled. "Karl, they are all my children!" "Choose. Now." Tears streamed down Elsa¡¯s face. She looked toward the door as if hoping for an escape. "I¡¯m sorry, my baby. Mummy doesn¡¯t have enough power. I¡¯m sorry, Lucian." Karl smirked. "You¡¯ve made your choice. From now on, you only have Novel and Ersia." A sudden noise came from the hallway. The door was slightly ajar. "How much did he hear?" Karl asked coldly. Adios, his aide, replied, "Since you gave the queen the ultimatum." Elsa¡¯s breath hitched. "No¡­ No¡­ My baby¡­" She ran toward Lucian¡¯s room, finding Chloe knocking desperately. "Prince, please open the door!" Chloe pleaded. Elsa placed her palm on the door. "Lucian, my baby, please let me see you." Silence. Lucian never opened the door. Later that night, Karl issued his final decree. "Send the third prince to the Southern Palace." Adios hesitated. "The Southern Palace, Your Majesty? But that place¡ª" "I wasn¡¯t asking for your opinion. That¡¯s an order." The next day, Elsa noticed servants moving luggage. "Is someone arriving?" Aria, the headmaid, hesitated. "No, Your Majesty." Elsa frowned. "Then whose bags are those?" "By the king¡¯s decree, the third prince is to reside in the Southern Palace." Elsa''s blood ran cold. "No! I must speak to Karl!" "I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty, but you are not allowed to leave your chambers until he is moved. Furthermore, you will not be allowed to visit him." Desperate, Elsa pleaded. "Aria, please! Let me see him one last time! I¡¯ll do anything!" Aria relayed her request to Karl. After a moment¡¯s silence, he said, "Fine. But it will be the last time." When Lucian entered Elsa¡¯s room, he bowed stiffly. "Greetings, Your Majesty." Elsa¡¯s breath caught. Her son had stopped calling her ¡®Mom.¡¯
Chapter 4: The Southern Palace When Lucian entered Elsa¡¯s room, he bowed stiffly. "Greetings, Your Majesty." Elsa¡¯s breath caught. Her son had stopped calling her ¡®Mom. They stared at each other, neither speaking. Then, Lucian turned and walked away, heading toward his exile in the haunted, abandoned palace that no one dared to enter. And so, the forgotten prince disappeared into the shadows. The news spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom¡ªPrince Lucian, the third prince, had been sent to the Southern Palace. In the servant quarters, the maids whispered among themselves. "Do you know why no one is allowed near the Southern Palace?" one asked. "No, why?" another responded, leaning in with curiosity. "A long time ago, the Southern Palace was the main residence of the royal family. But a devastating fire broke out one fateful day while the king was away. The queen, along with her maids and attendants, perished in the flames. When the king returned and learned of the tragedy, he ordered the palace to be sealed. Since then, no one has dared to enter. People say they¡¯ve seen a figure wandering the palace grounds at night, but when they try to follow, she vanishes into thin air." The second maid shuddered. "Are you saying the place is haunted? I refuse to work there!" As rumors of a ghost spread, fewer and fewer maids were willing to serve in the Southern Palace. Eventually, only three people remained at Lucian¡¯s side: his nanny, Chloe, a single guard, and Lucian himself. The Southern Palace was vast, but after being abandoned for thirty years, it had fallen into decay. Cracks lined the walls, and dust coated every surface. Chloe frowned as she surveyed their new home. "This is where they expect a child to live? Look at the walls and ceiling¡ªwhat if they collapse? I don¡¯t understand why the king despises the third prince so much. He¡¯s just a boy." The guard, Alex, shot her a warning glance. "Be careful with your words. Speaking ill of the royal family could get you punished." Chloe crossed her arms. "Who¡¯s going to hear me here? The king doesn¡¯t care what happens to Lucian." "Enough," Alex muttered. "Let¡¯s start cleaning. I¡¯ll help." Chloe sighed. "Fine. But after that, I need to prepare food for the prince." That evening, Chloe knocked on Lucian¡¯s door. Receiving no response, she entered and found him gazing at the Empress¡¯s palace in the distance. His small hands clenched at his sides, his eyes brimming with silent sorrow. "Prince, it¡¯s time to eat," Chloe called gently. Lucian hastily wiped his tears and walked over to the table. He ate quietly. Days turned to weeks. At first, things seemed manageable. Soon, however, people in the main palace began neglecting the Southern Palace altogether. The food sent to Lucian was often spoiled. Chloe tried to complain, but no one listened. She wasn¡¯t even allowed to meet with any higher officials. Then, one day, noble children arrived, claiming they wanted to meet the third prince. Chloe had hoped Lucian might finally have friends. But she quickly realized they had come only to mock him. Over time, the taunts turned into beatings. Chloe did everything she could to shield the prince, but she was powerless against the nobility¡¯s cruelty. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. One day, the children came in a particularly foul mood. They tortured Lucian more than ever before. When they finally left, Chloe rushed into the room and found him collapsed on the floor, his small body covered in bruises. She immediately picked him up and ran toward the palace gates, only to be stopped by a guard. "You are not allowed to leave," the guard said firmly. "Move aside! The prince is hurt¡ªI need to see a doctor!" Chloe protested. "By order of His Majesty, the third prince is forbidden to leave the Southern Palace, no matter the circumstance." Alex arrived just in time to see the confrontation. "Chloe, what¡¯s happening? Where are you taking the prince?" "He needs a doctor!" she pleaded. Alex took one look at Lucian and turned to the guard. "Move aside." The guard hesitated. "Sir, it¡¯s the king¡¯s order. We can¡¯t go against it." Nearby maids overheard the exchange, their faces pale with shock. Helpless, Chloe carried Lucian back inside, placing him on the bed. He was in pain, but she had no medicine to ease his suffering. She clasped her hands together and whispered, "Please, God, have mercy on this child. Please." She stayed by his side through the night. The rumors spread. When Elsa, the king¡¯s concubine, heard what had happened, she wanted to visit Lucian but couldn¡¯t. Servants gossiped about the cruelty the third prince endured. When Adios, the king¡¯s advisor, informed the king, he merely waved his hand dismissively. "From now on, never bring me any news related to the third prince." The next day, Alex secretly brought medicine "Where did you get this?" Chloe asked, eyes wide. "From town. Give it to the prince¡ªit will help with the pain." "Thank you," Chloe whispered, taking the medicine gratefully. It took Lucian ten days to recover. The noble children stopped coming, deterred by the spreading rumors. One morning, Lucian sat by the window, watching knights train in the distance. Chloe entered and smiled. "Prince, you¡¯re up early." Lucian pointed toward the training ground. "What are they doing?" "They¡¯re knights in training. One day, they will protect the kingdom." Lucian¡¯s eyes shone with determination. "I want to become strong too." Chloe hesitated. "You can, but first, you need to eat. Come on." The next day, after breakfast, Lucian made his way to the training ground. He approached a knight and said, "I want to become a knight. Can you train me?" The knight scoffed. "What are you doing here? Go back before you get hurt." Lucian stood his ground. "No, I won¡¯t go." Other knights noticed and murmured among themselves. "Isn¡¯t that the neglected third prince?" "Shh! Don¡¯t say that aloud." A commanding voice interrupted them. "Get back to training!" The Knight Commander stepped forward. "Why is the third prince here?" Lucian, intimidated, hesitated before saying, "I want to be a knight." The commander studied the frail boy before him. "Becoming a knight isn¡¯t easy. It takes dedication and hard work. Are you ready for that?" Lucian nodded firmly. "I¡¯ll do anything." Chloe arrived, breathless. "Prince! What are you doing here?" The commander raised his hands. "Relax, I haven¡¯t done anything." "Then why is he crying?" Chloe demanded. Lucian wiped his face quickly. "I¡¯m not. I just¡­ I want to train." The commander smirked. "Come back tomorrow at dawn if you¡¯re serious." That night, Chloe tried to talk him out of it. "Prince, you¡¯re still small." "No," Lucian said stubbornly. "I want to do it." The next morning, Lucian arrived early. "Start running," the commander ordered. "Ten laps." Lucian, though frail, pushed himself. By the tenth lap, he collapsed to the ground, exhausted but smiling. "How do you feel?" the commander asked. Lucian panted, "Good. I want more." The commander grinned. "See you tomorrow, then." And so, the third prince¡¯s journey to strength began. In the evening, Chloe asked, ¡°Prince, what were you talking about with the Knight Commander?¡± Lucian replied, ¡°I want to become a knight, so starting tomorrow morning, I will train myself.¡± Chloe looked concerned. ¡°But Prince, you are very young for that.¡± Lucian''s determination did not waver. ¡°No, I want to do it.¡± The next morning, Lucian woke up early, got ready, and reached the training hall. The Commander addressed the trainees, ¡°Everyone, start practicing!¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± the knights responded in unison. Turning to Lucian, the Commander said, ¡°Third Prince, if you want to become a knight, you must first build your stamina. Are you ready?¡± Lucian stood tall. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Say it louder!¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Lucian shouted. The Commander nodded. ¡°Start running. Complete at least ten laps.¡± Lucian, excited for his first outdoor training, eagerly began running. It was tougher than he expected, but he pushed through and finished the laps, collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion. The Commander approached. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Panting heavily, Lucian smiled. ¡°It feels good. I want more.¡± The Commander smirked. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s meet again tomorrow at the same time.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Lucian replied enthusiastically. Chapter 5: The Meeting with the King and Queen The Painful Truth One month had passed, and Lucian¡¯s training had been progressing steadily. However, today was different. King Karl and Queen Elsa arrived at the training grounds for an inspection. Their presence alone made the air tense. The knights stood straighter, swords gripped tightly as they demonstrated their discipline. Karl observed them in silence, his sharp gaze scanning the field, searching for flaws. Elsa stood beside him, her hands clasped, wearing a faint smile as she admired the progress of the trainees. Satisfied, Karl turned to leave. But then¡ª ¡°Commander! Commander! I¡¯ve completed the task you assigned me!¡± The voice rang across the field like a crack in the air. Karl halted. The knights around him stiffened. Elsa¡¯s smile disappeared. Slowly, they turned toward the source of the voice. Lucian. He stood at the far end of the training ground, panting slightly, his face bright with determination. But the moment he saw his father¡¯s cold, piercing eyes, his breath caught in his throat. The glow of pride flickered and died instantly. The entire training ground fell silent. Karl¡¯s expression darkened. His voice was quiet, but it carried through the silence like a knife. ¡°What is he doing here?¡± The Commander swallowed hard. ¡°Your Majesty, the Third Prince is merely following my instructions.¡± Karl¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. ¡°So, he is training here?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty,¡± the Commander said quickly, his voice tense. ¡°He only runs laps around the field.¡± Karl scoffed. ¡°Running laps? Does he think that will make him strong?¡± He stepped toward Lucian, his heavy boots crushing the dirt beneath them. Lucian¡¯s body instinctively tensed. The urge to step back, to shrink away, clawed at him, but he held his ground. Karl stopped before him, towering like a stormcloud. ¡°So, you want to become a knight?¡± Lucian¡¯s hands balled into fists at his sides. He wanted to answer, but his throat felt tight. Karl¡¯s voice was sharper this time. ¡°I asked you a question.¡± Lucian barely managed a whisper. ¡°Y-Yeah.¡± Karl smirked. ¡°Then let¡¯s test that.¡± He turned, scanning the knights before pointing at a young trainee. ¡°You. Spar with him.¡± The young trainee grinned¡ªa cruel, knowing grin. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The Commander stiffened. ¡°Your Majesty, the Prince has never fought before. He will get hurt.¡± Karl¡¯s lips curled, eyes gleaming with something far colder than amusement. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want. He needs to learn his place.¡± Lucian¡¯s fingers trembled as a wooden sword was shoved into his hands. The weight was unfamiliar¡ªheavier than he expected. The air felt thinner as he stepped into the training circle. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The young trainee didn¡¯t hesitate. The first strike came hard and fast. Lucian barely raised his sword before the wooden blade slammed into his ribs. Pain exploded through his side. He staggered backwards, gasping. The next blow struck his thigh. His legs buckled, but he caught himself. Then came another. And another. Wooden strikes landed against his arms, his legs, his back. The sound of impact filled the field, mixed with Lucian¡¯s labored breathing. The watching knights looked away, their jaws clenched. No one moved to stop it. Karl watched, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Lucian tried to raise his sword again, but his arms wouldn¡¯t obey him. They felt heavy. Weak. His entire body throbbed, and his vision blurred. He could barely breathe. One last strike¡ªstraight to his head. A loud crack. Lucian collapsed. Blood dripped from his forehead, staining the dirt beneath him. His wooden sword lay inches from his fingertips. The world swam. Above him, Karl¡¯s shadow loomed. He crouched down, voice low and cruel. ¡°Well done,¡± he said¡ªnot to Lucian, but to the young trainee. ¡°This is the kind of strength I expect from my knights.¡± Lucian barely registered the scattered murmurs of ¡°Congratulations.¡± A ringing sound filled his ears. The world blurred. His limbs felt like they weren¡¯t his own. His father¡¯s voice cut through the haze. ¡°Did you really think you could become a knight?¡± Karl¡¯s tone was edged with disgust. ¡°Know your place, boy. Don¡¯t ever do anything that catches my attention again.¡± Karl straightened, already turning away. To him, the moment was over. Lucian wasn¡¯t even worth another glance. Lucian¡¯s vision wavered, but his hand twitched. He reached out. His fingers trembled toward the figure of his mother. ¡°M-Mother¡­¡± Elsa had been silent the entire time. Frozen in place, her breath shallow. Her fingers twitched as if she wanted to reach out. Wanted to stop this. Wanted to help him. Lucian¡¯s eyes¡ªdazed, unfocused, pleading¡ªmet hers. His fingers stretched toward her, his entire body screaming for her to save him. She hesitated. A war raged in her eyes. But then Karl turned to her. His expression was calm, unreadable. But it carried an unspoken command. Elsa¡¯s lips parted. Her chest rose and fell quickly. Then¡ªshe turned away. Lucian¡¯s fingers fell limply to the ground. His throat tightened. His chest ached¡ªnot from the beating, but from something deeper. It hurt more than the strikes. More than the bruises. She left him. She didn¡¯t look back. Lucian closed his eyes. And for the first time, he truly understood. He had no family. He had never had one. And no one¡ªnot his father, not his mother, not anyone¡ªwas coming to save him. The Commander quickly lifted Lucian and carried him to the southern palace. Chloe saw them through the window and ran to them. When she saw Lucian¡¯s injuries, she gasped. ¡°How could he do this to his son? And the Queen¡ªshe just stood there and did nothing?¡± Alex rushed in. ¡°Chloe, we need to stop the bleeding first.¡± The Commander nodded. ¡°Call the royal physician.¡± Chloe¡¯s face darkened. ¡°He won¡¯t come.¡± ¡°Why?¡± the Commander asked. ¡°Because it¡¯s the King¡¯s order.¡± Alex clenched his fists. ¡°Chloe, take this medicine and wipe away the blood. I¡¯ll find another way.¡± Sometime later, Alex returned with a doctor from the town. Chloe gasped. ¡°Where did you find him?¡± ¡°The town,¡± Alex replied. ¡°Doctor, please, help him.¡± The doctor examined Lucian. ¡°His condition is serious. Fetch these herbs immediately.¡± Chloe bit her lip. ¡°We don¡¯t have money for herbs.¡± Alex reassured her, ¡°I¡¯ll find a way.¡± Shortly after, Alex returned with the herbs. The Commander followed. Alex handed over the herbs. ¡°The Commander gave me the money.¡± Chloe looked at the Commander. ¡°Thank you.¡± The doctor treated Lucian¡¯s wounds and bandaged him. ¡°Now, we wait for him to wake up.¡± Lucian remained unconscious for three days. When he finally woke, Chloe rushed to him. ¡°Prince, you¡¯re awake! Oh, thank God! Are you in pain?¡± Lucian didn¡¯t respond. He simply looked at her and turned away. Chloe was worried but didn¡¯t push him. She brought food, but Lucian ate in silence and returned to bed. Outside his room, she confided in Alex. ¡°He hasn¡¯t spoken a word. He¡¯s in shock.¡± Lucian overheard them and silently wept, remembering all the suffering he had endured. That night, he called Chloe and said, ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me for a week.¡± Chloe protested, but Lucian shut his door. The Commander intervened. ¡°Let him be.¡± For a week, Lucian relived his torment in silence. When he finally emerged, Chloe rushed to him. ¡°Prince, are you okay?¡± Lucian gave a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chloe leaned in and whispered to Alex, ¡°He¡¯s changed. I¡¯ve served him for the last ten years¡­ He¡¯s not the Lucian we once knew.¡± Alex furrowed his brows. ¡°What are you saying, Chloe? How is that possible?¡± Hearing their conversation, the Commander¡¯s expression grew serious. A sense of caution settled in. Meanwhile, Lucian, now healed from his injuries, trained in secret within his room. Chloe noticed but never questioned him, nor did she tell anyone about it. Chapter 6: The Knight Exam and a Mysterious Appearance
Five years passed. Now Lucian is fifteen, he watched as the Astria Kingdom prepared for its grand Knight Exam, an event held every five years. This year, many aspiring warriors were preparing for the challenge. The previous winner was First Prince Novel, now twenty-two years old. The Knight Exam had no age restrictions, allowing knights of all ranks to participate in promotions. However, the competition was divided into categories based on age. Despite this, anyone could enter any category if they wished. One evening, Chloe approached Alex. ¡°The Knight Exam starts in a week. Are you going to participate?¡± Alex shook his head. ¡°No. Even if I enter, they won¡¯t give a commoner like me a fair chance.¡± Chloe sighed. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right¡­ I wonder who will win this year?¡± Alex smirked. ¡°Chloe, if you have time, want to go to the arena with me?¡± Chloe¡¯s face turned red. ¡°W-What?! You¡­ want to go with me?¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°Only if you¡¯re free.¡± Chloe, flustered, quickly turned away. ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ Let¡¯s see.¡± Then, without another word, she ran off. Later that night, Lucian glanced at Chloe. ¡°Chloe, why don¡¯t you go and enjoy the festival?¡± ¡°But, Prince¡­ how can I leave you here alone?¡± Lucian smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Don¡¯t suppress your happiness for my sake. Go and enjoy yourself.¡± Chloe hesitated but then nodded. ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll bring back some gifts for you!¡± Lucian chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve also prepared a gift for you. You¡¯ll receive it on the last day.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Really? Now I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± The long-awaited day had arrived. The Knight Exam would take place during the day, while the festival continued at night. Excitement filled the air. At the registration counter, a mysterious figure stepped forward. His face was hidden beneath a hood, his body wrapped in a dark cloak. A slender black sword rested at his waist. He approached the desk and signed up under the name Kyle. Once registration was completed, all participants gathered in the grand hall. An officer stood before them, his voice firm and commanding. ¡°The Knight Exam is divided into four categories,¡± he announced.
  1. Category One ¨C Ages 13 to 18
  2. Category Two ¨C Ages 19 to 25
  3. Category Three ¨C Knights seeking promotion
  4. Category Four ¨C The Champions¡¯ Tournament, where winners of the first three categories compete for a chance to meet the First Prince Novel or even be selected to train with the Royal Knights.
¡°You are free to enter any category, regardless of age. However, anyone caught using external enhancements¡ªaside from their registered weapon¡ªwill be disqualified. In this exam, all are equal. Nobles, commoners¡­ none of it matters. Only talent prevails.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. His gaze swept over the crowd. ¡°Understood?¡± The participants responded in unison. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°The exam starts tomorrow. You are all dismissed for today.¡± As dawn broke, the participants arrived at the grand Knight Arena. A massive crowd gathered, their cheers echoing through the coliseum. The officer stood before the competitors. ¡°Let¡¯s begin. You will see four different coloured lines¡ªeach representing a batch. Stand according to your assigned colour.¡± Four examiners entered the arena. Each carried a bowl filled with folded slips of paper containing the participants¡¯ names. ¡°Follow us,¡± one of the examiners instructed. The participants obeyed, stepping onto the grand stage where their names would soon be called. The Knight Exam had begun. The crowd roared. The battle for glory was about to unfold. The examiner began drawing names randomly from the bowl, calling participants one by one. The tension in the air was thick with anticipation. Finally, Kyle¡¯s name was called, and against him, the son of Count Doer¡ªJacob. The examiner''s voice rang out, ¡°Both Kyle and Jacob, enter the ring! Take your positions and prepare to fight!¡± Jacob smirked, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Today is my lucky day. Fighting against you means my victory is assured!¡± he boasted. Kyle remained silent, his eyes locked on Jacob. The moment the examiner signaled the start, Jacob charged with an upper slash, aiming to overwhelm Kyle instantly. But Kyle had already anticipated it. With a swift motion, he unsheathed his sword, the sharp metallic ring slicing through the silence, catching the attention of the entire audience. Steel clashed as Kyle executed a flawless counterattack, deflecting Jacob¡¯s strike with ease. Frustrated, Jacob roared and lunged at Kyle again, but in a blink, Kyle¡¯s blade met his with such force that Jacob¡¯s sword shattered into pieces. The crowd erupted in cheers as the fight was over in a flash¡ªKyle was the undeniable victor! Thus, the first round concluded, and sixteen warriors advanced. The festival that evening was lively, filled with the stories of the day¡¯s battles. THE THIRD AND FOURTH DAY The third day saw the start of the third-category participants¡¯ trials. Warriors of all kinds clashed in spectacular duels, pushing themselves to the limit. Then came the fourth day¡ªthe long-awaited Knight Promotion Exam, where only the best of the best would earn the esteemed rank. THE FIFTH DAY ¨C SEMI-FINALS At the start of the next round, Kyle faced Count Doer¡¯s eldest son. The match barely lasted minutes¡ªKyle cut through his opponent¡¯s defenses like a blade through paper, securing his place in the final. Other battles raged on, warriors clashing with fervor, but by the end of the day, only two combatants remained¡ªKyle and the son of Duke Balzac, Andre. The entire kingdom buzzed with excitement for the grand finale. THE FINAL SHOWDOWN ¨C SIXTH DAY The arena overflowed with spectators, nobles and commoners alike, all eager to witness history. The ground trembled as the fighters stepped into the ring. Kyle and Andre¡ªtwo warriors of unmatched skill, standing face to face. ¡°BEGIN!¡± the examiner bellowed. The moment the fight commenced, sparks flew as swords clashed with unimaginable speed. Every strike, every parry was met with equal force. The audience held their breath, mesmerized by the intensity of the duel. Neither warrior backed down, pushing each other to their very limits. Blades sliced through the air, echoing through the arena like a symphony of steel. The energy was electric¡ªevery movement so precise, so masterful, that even the most seasoned knights watched in awe. Sweat dripped from their brows, and muscles burned, but neither faltered. And then, in a blinding display of skill, Kyle broke through Andre¡¯s defense! With a decisive slash, Andre¡¯s sword flew from his hands, landing outside the ring. The crowd exploded into thunderous cheers¡ªKyle had won! Andre, breathing heavily, extended his hand. ¡°That was incredible,¡± he admitted. ¡°Next time, I will win.¡± Kyle, with a respectful nod, shook his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s fight again someday.¡± The cheers grew deafening, voices uniting in celebration. ¡°KYLE! KYLE! KYLE!¡± The examiner stepped forward, placing a golden medal around Kyle¡¯s neck. The entire arena shook with applause.
Chapter 7: The Final Test, the Crown Prince, and a Mysterious Voice
THE FINAL TEST Just as the excitement reached its peak, the Higher Official raised his hand, silencing the crowd. ¡°Knighthood is not just about victory¡ªit is about skill, bravery, and perseverance. Winning or losing does not define you; your dedication to the path of the warrior does. Always move forward!¡± The participants roared in agreement. ¡°YES, SIR!¡± Then came an unexpected challenge. ¡°Those who wish may enter the next round. However, this is not a match for victory but for knowledge and skill. Step forward if you accept.¡± Silence fell upon the arena. No one dared move, uncertain of what lay ahead. Then, without hesitation, Kyle took a bold step forward. ¡°I wish to fight,¡± he declared. ¡°Whom do you challenge?¡± the Higher Official inquired. Kyle''s gaze swept over the other winners. ¡°I challenge all of them,¡± he said firmly. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The official¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°All of them¡­ together?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kyle confirmed, his voice unwavering. The official hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Very well. All winners, step onto the stage!¡± Six participants entered the arena. Two immediately forfeited, knowing they had no chance. Only four remained. The official¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°This is your final chance to surrender. Once the fight begins, there is no turning back.¡± No one backed down. ¡°BEGIN!¡± At first, it was chaos. Blades clashed as warriors tested each other¡¯s strength. Then, as if in silent agreement, the three fighters turned their focus on Kyle, launching a coordinated assault to eliminate him first. But Kyle was ready. With unparalleled reflexes, he evaded their strikes, countering with precision. The Higher Official, initially expecting Kyle¡¯s downfall, was stunned to see him holding his ground against all three opponents simultaneously. Every attack thrown at him was met with impeccable defense. Every move was anticipated. The crowd erupted, chanting his name. Kyle was not just fighting¡ªhe was dominating. One by one, his opponents fell until he stood alone in the ring, victorious once again. THE KING¡¯S PALACE Meanwhile, in the grand halls of the King¡¯s Palace, Karl turned to his advisor, Adios. ¡°How goes the Knight Exam?¡± he inquired. Adios, with a knowing smile, replied, ¡°Your Majesty, the exam is proceeding smoothly. I believe by the end of today, we shall have our champion.¡± Karl leaned forward, intrigued. ¡°And who might that be?¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Adios chuckled. ¡°A name that the kingdom will soon remember¡ªKyle.¡± Karl: ¡°Kyle? Who is he? Is he some noble¡¯s child?¡± Adios: ¡°No, Your Majesty. His origins are unknown. I believe he is either a commoner or perhaps a fallen noble.¡± Karl: ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Karl steps into the arena, taking his seat where he has the perfect vantage point to observe the match. As he watches Kyle fight, a flicker of surprise crosses his face. Karl: ¡°Adios, are you certain he doesn¡¯t belong to any noble family?¡± Adios: ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Meanwhile, in the arena, Kyle is locked in combat against three opponents alone. None of them are willing to back down, each determined to showcase their skills. The audience watches in awe, murmurs of excitement rippling through the stands. The battle continues relentlessly, neither side yielding nor showing signs of exhaustion. Sensing that the fight could go on indefinitely, the examiner glances at the higher officials for approval before finally stepping forward to announce the match¡¯s conclusion. The examiner announced the results: Kyle secured 1st place, followed by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winners. The crowd erupted into cheers, celebrating their achievements. Karl, standing tall before them, addressed the participants. ¡°Everyone who competed today, and those who wish to in the future, remember¡ªthis kingdom seeks knights who will protect its people. Even if you didn''t win, do not be discouraged. Each of you displayed remarkable skill. Seeing your determination, I can confidently say that the future of the Astria Kingdom is in capable hands.¡± The audience roared in unison, ¡°Long live the King! Long live the Astria Kingdom!¡± As a reward, all four winners received medals from a high-ranking official. The official then turned to them and asked, ¡°Is there anything you desire?¡± The fourth-place winner hesitated before stepping forward. ¡°If possible, I would like to train with the royal knights.¡± The 2nd and 3rd place winners nodded in agreement. ¡°We wish for the same opportunity.¡± However, Kyle remained silent, his gaze locked on the royal family. Karl took note of his stillness and asked, ¡°Kyle, what is your request?¡± Kyle took a step forward, his voice calm but firm. ¡°I want to spar with the First Prince.¡± A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. Gasps and murmurs filled the air as Karl turned to the First Prince, Novel. After a brief pause, Novel smirked and nodded. ¡°I accept.¡± The examiner promptly announced the duel. Both fighters entered the arena, and the sparring match began. At first, Novel tested Kyle¡¯s reflexes, allowing him to dodge several attacks. Observing this, Kyle swiftly engaged in close combat, forcing Novel to take him seriously. The audience chattered among themselves. ¡°Does he think he can defeat the First Prince?¡± ¡°These young ones are too arrogant.¡± Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Wait¡ªlook at that!¡± The crowd fell silent as they watched Kyle skillfully counter Novel¡¯s strikes, moving with effortless precision. While exchanging blows, Kyle spoke in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve heard you have a younger brother, but I don¡¯t see him anywhere. What happened to him?¡± At the mention of his brother, Novel¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern. Focus on the fight.¡± Kyle smirked. ¡°Oh? But you know¡­ I could end this match right now if I wanted to. Of course, that would make you look bad.¡± Novel¡¯s patience snapped. Gritting his teeth, he launched a barrage of attacks. Kyle chuckled. ¡°Ah, so our prince is angry. But your attacks¡ª¡± he sidestepped with ease, ¡°¡ªthey¡¯re not even a threat to me. It¡¯s getting boring. Let¡¯s talk about something else. Tell me, do you even remember your brother¡¯s name¡ªthe one you abandoned?¡± Novel froze. A flood of forgotten memories surged back, images of the brother he had not seen in years. The audience murmured. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did the First Prince stop moving?¡± Even Karl, Adios, the high-ranking officials, and the examiners exchanged puzzled glances. Kyle¡¯s voice cut through the silence, taunting. ¡°Did your memory return?¡± He let out a deep, mocking laugh. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± The air in the arena grew tense. Novel¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°Do you think that will shake me?¡± With renewed aggression, he resumed his attacks, disregarding Kyle¡¯s words. Seizing the momentum, Novel executed a new technique, attempting to counter Kyle¡¯s movement. But he miscalculated. His strike cut into Kyle¡¯s back. The crowd erupted in cheers for Novel. Kyle stumbled, struggling to stand. His expression twisted in anger as the audience jeered at his pain. Then¡ª A voice echoed in his mind. "Let me take over. You¡¯ve done enough."
Chapter 8: The Battle and the Face Behind the Mask
Kyle¡¯s posture shifted. His body straightened as he lifted his head, scanning the audience with piercing eyes. A sudden, eerie silence fell over the arena. One by one, the spectators¡¯ laughter faded as they locked eyes with him. A chill ran down their spines. Fear. Something had changed. And for the first time, they weren¡¯t sure if Kyle was someone they could laugh at anymore. Novel noticed a sudden change in Kyle¡¯s demeanor¡ªhis posture, gaze, and entire presence felt different. Concerned, he asked, ¡°Are you okay? If you''re injured, we can stop the match here.¡± Kyle, now exuding an air of cold determination, locked eyes with Novel and replied, ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± The examiner hesitated but, seeing Kyle¡¯s unwavering resolve, signaled for the match to resume. This time, Kyle launched an unrelenting assault, moving with a speed and precision that left Novel struggling to react. The audience held their breath as the battle intensified¡ªeach strike, dodge, and counterattack was executed with growing ferocity. At first, they seemed evenly matched, but gradually, Kyle¡¯s relentless offence forced Novel backwards. The arena trembled under the weight of their duel, and the tension in the air became palpable. Then, in a split second, Novel''s foot caught on a crooked stone. He stumbled, his balance faltering. Instinctively, he swung his sword to steady himself, but the blade sliced through the cloth, concealing Kyle¡¯s face. Kyle barely noticed¡ªhis focus remained solely on victory. He pressed forward, his sword poised for the finishing blow. Suddenly, a voice rang through the arena. ¡°Your Highness, the Third Prince!¡± Time seemed to freeze. Kyle¡¯s blade hovered just inches from Novel¡¯s throat, his expression unchanging. The voice belonged to Chloe¡ªhis nanny. Gasps rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned toward Kyle. The cloth that had hidden his identity had fallen, revealing the unmistakable golden hair and piercing blue eyes¡ªfeatures identical to the King¡¯s. A stunned silence engulfed the arena. Novel stared at him in shock. His younger brother¡ªthe one he had not seen in years¡ªstood before him, no longer a nameless competitor but a lost prince returned. Kyle¡ªno, Lucian¡ªtilted his head slightly. ¡°Well? Are you conceding?¡± Novel swallowed hard, then let out a deep breath. ¡°Yes¡­ I lost.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. The moment his words left his lips, the crowd erupted in cheers. ¡°The Third Prince! Long live the Third Prince!¡± Karl watched from the royal stands, his expression unreadable. He knew it was too late now¡ªwhether he accepted it or not, the people had already embraced Lucian as their rightful prince. And the kingdom would never be the same again. News of the Third Prince¡¯s victory at the Knight Exam spread like wildfire across the kingdom. The people couldn¡¯t stop talking about it. ¡°The kingdom is truly blessed! We now have not one but two extraordinary knights. The future of our army is in strong hands!¡± ¡°Yes! The First and Third Prince¡ªwhat a force they will be!¡± Even the nobles, who once dismissed Lucian¡¯s existence, were now murmuring amongst themselves. Meanwhile, within the grand halls of the palace, the ministers gathered in hushed conversations. ¡°Are we truly talking about him?¡± one minister whispered cautiously. ¡°The Third Prince? The very same prince the King despises?¡± Another minister glanced around warily. ¡°Yes, but keep your voice down. If His Majesty hears us speaking his name, his wrath will be upon us.¡± Despite their caution, the entire palace was abuzz with the same topic. The Third Prince had returned¡ªnot as a forgotten shadow, but as a warrior of undeniable strength. In the Queen¡¯s chamber, Elsa noticed the subdued whispers among the maids. ¡°What are you all murmuring about?¡± she asked, her voice calm but firm. The maids hesitated. One of them finally spoke, ¡°Your Majesty¡­ it¡¯s about¡­¡± Elsa raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why did you stop? Speak.¡± Before the maid could respond, the door opened, and Novel and Ersia stepped inside. Novel took a deep breath before speaking. ¡°Lucian, Mother. It was Lucian who won the Knight Exam.¡± Elsa¡¯s body stiffened. Her breath hitched. Lucian. The name she had not heard spoken so openly in years. The son she had lost¡ªnot to death, but to cruelty and choice. Novel¡¯s voice softened, but there was a demand for truth in his tone. ¡°Mother¡­ why is Lucian not with us? Why weren¡¯t we allowed to see him? What happened when I was gone?¡± Elsa¡¯s lips parted, but no words came. The memories surged back¡ªthe night she was forced to make an impossible choice. The look in Lucian¡¯s eyes when he realized he had been abandoned. His tiny hands reached out for her as the doors to the Southern Palace closed forever. Tears welled in her eyes before she could stop them. Novel and Ersia stared in shock. They had never seen their mother cry. Ersia rushed to Elsa¡¯s side, panicked. ¡°Mother, what¡¯s wrong?! Why are you crying?¡± Elsa clutched Ersia tightly in her arms, holding her as if she were afraid to let go. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, my love,¡± she whispered. ¡°Nothing at all.¡± But Novel knew better. He clenched his fists. His mother¡¯s tears were not for the present. They were for the past¡ªfor the brother they had lost. And for the first time, Novel truly understood. Lucian had never left them. They had left Lucian. After the fierce battle between Novel and Lucian, the kingdom found itself divided. Some remained loyal to Novel, believing he was the rightful heir and future ruler. Others, having witnessed Lucian¡¯s incredible swordsmanship, started to wonder if the Third Prince was the true warrior the kingdom needed. But as admiration for Lucian grew, so did the whispers about his dark past. The truth of his mistreatment within the palace spread like wildfire. The very knights and maids who had once mocked and ignored him now feared him. Some even avoided the corridors where he walked, afraid of what he might do to those who had wronged him. Karl, seated in his study, read the endless reports flooding in. Lucian¡¯s name was everywhere. The kingdom was no longer speaking of the First Prince alone¡ªthey were comparing him with a boy Karl had spent years trying to erase. The Emperor sighed, gripping the armrest of his chair. ¡°This is only the beginning,¡± he muttered. He knew Lucian¡¯s name would only continue to grow, and soon, it would be impossible to contain.
Chapter 9: The Kings Order Two days later, the royal family gathered for dinner¡ªsomething they had not done in years. Karl, Elsa, Novel, and Ersia sat at the grand dining table. Karl, setting his fork down, glanced at them. ¡°We are all busy with our duties, but I believe it¡¯s good to have a family dinner at least once a week.¡± Elsa smiled, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. ¡°Yes, you are right.¡± The atmosphere was warm¡ªalmost too perfect. The servants standing by the walls exchanged glances, relieved to see a moment of peace in the palace. For once, the First Prince wasn¡¯t buried in his responsibilities, and the Emperor wasn¡¯t locked away in his office. But Novel felt uneasy. He wanted to ask about Lucian, yet seeing his family smiling, he hesitated. Should he ruin this rare moment of happiness? No. Not yet. The next morning, Novel sat alone in his study, deep in thought. Something wasn¡¯t right. He had spent years away from the palace, training, fulfilling his duties, and preparing to lead. Yet no one had ever spoken of Lucian. His brother had been erased from memory as if he never existed. His mind raced with questions. Why? Why had Lucian been sent away? What had happened in the years he was gone? A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Your Highness,¡± a servant spoke cautiously. ¡°You seem troubled. Is there something on your mind?¡± Novel turned to him. ¡°How long have you worked in the palace?¡± The servant straightened. ¡°Twenty years, Your Highness.¡± Novel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Then you must know everything that has happened here.¡± The servant hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I will do my best to help you, Your Highness.¡± A cold silence filled the room. This was it. The moment for answers. Novel leaned forward, his voice dropping. ¡°Tell me. What happened to the Third Prince? Why was he sent to the Southern Palace?¡± The servant¡¯s face paled instantly. His hands trembled, and he cast a fearful glance toward the door as if someone might be listening. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness,¡± he stammered. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about it.¡± Novel studied him. The servant''s voice was weak, and his posture screamed fear. He was lying. But why? Novel sat back, his expression unreadable. ¡°Very well. You may go.¡± The servant bowed quickly and exited; his footsteps hurried as if fleeing danger. Novel sat in the dim light of his study, his fingers tapping against the desk. ¡°What happened in the palace when I was gone? What is everyone so afraid of?¡± "If even the servant¡¯s fear speaking of Lucian, then whoever is behind this¡­ is someone powerful.¡± For the first time in his life, Novel realized¡ª The answers he sought would not be given. He would have to uncover them himself. The royal palace was no longer at peace. Rumors of the Third Prince¡¯s return had spread, and now, people dared to compare him to the First Prince. But what shook the palace even more was Novel¡¯s growing curiosity. The servants spoke in whispers. "The First Prince is asking about the Third Prince." "What if he tries to visit the Southern Palace?" One of the palace servants, trembling with unease, rushed to Adios. ¡°Sir, the First Prince is asking too many questions. If this continues, he may uncover everything.¡± Adios exhaled sharply. ¡°It was only a matter of time¡­ but I must inform His Majesty before this turns into something uncontrollable.¡± He straightened his posture, walked through the grand halls of the palace, and knocked on Karl¡¯s office door. Knock. Knock. A cold voice answered. ¡°Come in.¡± Adios stepped inside, his face tense. Karl, noticing this, set down a document requesting reinforcements in the Northern border and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Where were you?¡± Adios hesitated for a moment before speaking. ¡°Your Majesty¡­ The First Prince is asking about the Third Prince.¡± Silence. Karl¡¯s expression was unreadable. His fingers tapped against the desk in rhythmic thought. He already knew this moment would come¡ªbut not this soon. Then, he did something Adios did not expect. Karl picked up the letter about the Northern conflict and made a decision that left Adios frozen. That evening, Adios arrived at the Southern Palace. Chloe spotted him from a distance and immediately rushed to Lucian. ¡°The King¡¯s aide is here.¡± Lucian, now accustomed to unexpected visits, walked out with his usual cold demeanor. Adios bowed slightly. ¡°I greet the¡ª¡± Lucian raised a hand, cutting him off. ¡°Enough with the empty formalities. Why are you here?¡± Adios observed him closely. Gone was the abandoned child from years ago. What stood before him now was a man whose presence was commanding, whose eyes held a fire that refused to die. Without hesitation, Adios handed over a royal decree sealed with the King¡¯s emblem. Lucian unfolded the letter and read its contents. Then, a slow, hollow laugh escaped his lips. ¡°Ha¡­ Ha¡­ Ha¡­¡± Chloe stiffened at the sound. Lucian¡¯s laughter held no joy¡ªit was laced with rage, mockery, and disbelief. ¡°He sent me here to rot. Stripped me of everything. Didn¡¯t even bother to see if I was alive¡­ And now¡­ he orders me to go to the North?¡±**His expression darkened. ¡°And not just that¡ªit¡¯s a direct command without a choice?¡± His voice was dangerously low. Lucian met Adios¡¯ gaze; his smirk was cold and unforgiving. ¡°Go and tell him¡­ What will I get for following his order?¡± Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Lucian was no longer the weak, neglected prince. This was a man who knew how to fight back. Adios inhaled sharply. ¡°I will deliver your words, Your Highness.¡± Chapter 10: The Reward The following day, Karl summoned Lucian. Lucian arrived at the grand doors of Karl¡¯s office. As he reached for the handle, a flood of painful memories surged through him. This was the very place where his fate was sealed years ago. Before he could step inside, another presence appeared. Elsa. For a moment, time stood still. Elsa¡¯s eyes widened¡ªshe hadn¡¯t seen him this close in years. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to speak, to embrace him, to beg for forgiveness. But she didn¡¯t. Lucian¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. His voice was sharp as a blade. ¡°I greet the one and only Moon of the Kingdom, Her Majesty the Queen.¡± Elsa flinched. His words were respectful¡ªbut his tone was laced with venom. Before she could respond, Karl¡¯s voice echoed from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± Lucian entered the office. Karl sat behind his desk, his piercing gaze locked onto him. Lucian bowed mockingly. ¡°I greet the one and only Sun of the Kingdom.¡± Karl¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Get up.¡± Lucian straightened. ¡°So, you want a reward?¡± Lucian smirked. ¡°Yes.¡± In the next moment, Karl moved. SLAP! This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The force of Karl¡¯s hand sent Lucian crashing to the floor. Elsa gasped. Adios tensed. Lucian tasted blood in his mouth. Karl stood over him, his face twisted with fury. ¡°You are alive. Isn¡¯t that the greatest reward you could ask for?¡± Lucian clenched his jaw. ¡°And now¡­ you dare ask for more?¡± Elsa tried to rush to Lucian, but Karl¡¯s glare froze her in place. Outside the door, Novel had arrived. He had come to see his father and brother¡ªonly to hear everything from the hallway. He couldn¡¯t move. This was not the father he had known. Lucian, struggling to stand, placed his palm against the ground. Before he could regain his footing¡ª Karl¡¯s boot collided with his stomach. Lucian was sent flying into the bookshelf. The sound of books crashing down on him filled the room. Adios rushed forward. ¡°Your Majesty¡ªif this continues, the Third Prince will die.¡± Karl did not care. He marched forward, ready to strike again. Elsa screamed. ¡°Lucian!!¡± Lucian¡¯s head was bleeding. He lay motionless, his chest rising and falling weakly. Outside, Novel took a step back. He could hardly breathe. The father he idolized¡­ was standing over his son, ready to kill him. Karl¡¯s voice was void of emotion. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether he lives or dies.¡± Elsa sobbed, calling for the guards. ¡°Take him to the royal doctor! Hurry!¡± The guards carried Lucian¡¯s unconscious body away. Karl turned his back to them. ¡°Tell him this¡ªbeing alive is the only gift he will ever receive. And he will follow my orders without question.¡± That evening, Lucian woke up. His vision was hazy, his head pounding. A voice echoed in his mind. "Lucian, get up. Lucian¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ Mother is sorry¡­¡± His eyes fluttered open. But it wasn¡¯t Elsa. It was Chloe. ¡°Lucian!¡± she cried out in relief. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Lucian¡¯s throat was dry. He tried to speak, but his body ached all over. Outside the door, two guards stood waiting. Karl¡¯s order was absolute. The moment Lucian regained consciousness, he was to pack and leave for the North immediately. Chloe¡¯s hands shook as she packed his belongings. She bit her lip to hold back tears. Lucian, still injured, had no choice but to comply. His bags were loaded onto a cart. His horse stood waiting. As he climbed onto his saddle, he turned his gaze toward the Empress¡¯s palace. Not a single person stood there to pray for his safety. No goodbyes. No farewell. Only the cold night air. Lucian gripped the reins tightly. And without looking back¡ªhe rode toward the North. And so began the journey of a prince who was never meant to return. But fate had other plans. Chapter 11: The Border and the Duke The journey was long and merciless. It took twenty-five days to reach the North from the capital, and with each passing mile, the climate grew harsher. The burning heat of the capital faded into a biting cold, the wind slicing through flesh like a blade. Each soldier had been provided with thick cloaks, gloves, and insulated tents to protect themselves from the cold. Lucian, however, had no such luxury. When he opened his bag, he found only a thin blanket and a small supply of food¡ªjust enough to survive but far from comfortable. It was barely enough to keep a person warm. Lucian exhaled sharply, his fingers brushing over the thin fabric. His breath turned to mist in the freezing air. As expected, the King had not spared even a thought for his survival. His stomach clenched at the memory of Chloe. She must have sacrificed even the little they had to get him these supplies. She was the only one who never left his side, no matter how hard life became. Even in starvation, she never abandoned him. He still remembered her face when he left for the North. She stood at the entrance of the Southern Palace, her expression filled with worry and silent pain. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but she never did. That night, as Lucian huddled under his thin blanket, shivering from the cold, he made himself a promise. "No matter what happens, I must return alive." Even if the King had sent him to die, he would survive. On the twenty-fifth day, they finally reached the Northern Command Base. Unlike the grand palaces of the capital, the North was harsh and unforgiving. Large wooden fortresses stood tall against the endless white plains of snow, and hundreds of soldiers patrolled the area. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Here, no one bowed to royalty. No one cared about noble blood. The only thing that mattered was strength. As they approached, the soldiers stood in formation, their sharp eyes scanning the new arrivals. Among them stood a man with a towering presence, his silver hair ruffled by the wind. Duke Laniel Delmar. A living legend. The man who protected the North for generations, undefeated in battle. His eyes were like the tundra¡ªunfeeling, cold, and merciless. Lucian felt something he hadn¡¯t in a long time. Fear. This man was different from Karl. Karl was cruel, but his emotions were predictable¡ªrage, hatred, disgust. But Duke Delmar¡­ he was unreadable. He wasn¡¯t just powerful¡ªhe was terrifying. The moment Lucian stepped forward, the Duke¡¯s sharp gaze fell upon him. Lucian swallowed the lump in his throat, then forced himself to speak steadily. ¡°I greet the Protector of the North, Duke Laniel Delmar.¡± The Duke didn¡¯t respond immediately. His piercing gaze studied Lucian carefully as if examining his worth, his purpose, his very existence. Then, in a voice colder than the winds around them, he spoke. ¡°Who are you?¡± Lucian¡¯s heart pounded, but he kept his composure. ¡°I am a soldier. My name is Lucian.¡± There was no hesitation in his voice. He had already abandoned the name "Pestelio" the day he left the capital. The Duke¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He stared at Lucian for an uncomfortably long time, then turned to his Vice Commander. When he spoke again, his voice was like ice, sending shivers down the spines of those present. ¡°Vice Commander.¡± The air suddenly felt heavy. The Vice Commander straightened immediately. ¡°Yes, Commander!¡± The Duke¡¯s eyes never left Lucian. ¡°What is a child doing here?¡± Lucian¡¯s blood turned cold. The Duke¡¯s tone was not just dismissive¡ªit was dangerously sharp as if Lucian¡¯s presence alone was offensive. The Vice Commander quickly stepped forward, hiding Lucian¡¯s true identity from the surrounding soldiers. ¡°Sir, as per the King¡¯s decree, all nobles must send a family member to serve. He is the eldest of his fallen noble family. With no soldiers of their own, he was sent here.¡± A long silence followed. The Duke¡¯s gaze flickered¡ªjust for a moment. Then, without a word, he turned his back on Lucian and walked away. Lucian exhaled quietly. He hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d been holding his breath. The Duke hadn¡¯t accepted him. And worse, he didn¡¯t even acknowledge him. Chapter 12: The Attack That night, dinner was served. It consisted of hard bread and a watery soup. Some soldiers from noble families immediately complained about the lack of proper meals. "Is this what we''re expected to eat?" one shouted. But no one paid them any mind. Lucian quietly ate his meal. He had lived off worse. After dinner, the soldiers returned to their tents, exhausted from the journey. Meanwhile, inside the Duke¡¯s office, Count Oliver¡ªhis aide¡ªentered. "What do you think of him, Duke?" Laniel Delmar stood by the window, gazing out at the snow-covered land. His mind was unreadable. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "He is young." His voice carried no sympathy. No interest. Just a statement of fact. "Too young." The Duke¡¯s cold eyes narrowed slightly. "I don¡¯t think he will survive." Oliver hesitated. "Then why did the King send him here?" There was no answer. Then, quietly, Oliver added, ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, the King does not care for him. Even if he dies here, it will not concern him.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The Duke clenched his jaw. "I know that." His voice was firm. "But I am more concerned about the Queen." Oliver frowned. ¡°The Queen?¡± The Duke pulled open his desk drawer. Inside was a sealed letter. The elegant handwriting belonged to Queen Elsa. He had read it before. And yet, he found himself reading it again. "Please look after him. If nothing else, at least let him live." Laniel Delmar never involved himself in palace affairs. He had no interest in the games of nobility. But something about this situation felt different. What was truly happening in the capital? As the wind howled outside, the Duke¡¯s gaze lingered on Lucian¡¯s tent in the distance. For now, he would watch. And wait. Because something told him¡­ That child was not ordinary. And the North had just gained a warrior the kingdom was not ready for. The Northern Border had been stable for months, but the soldiers knew peace never lasted long. As winter arrived, the landscape became a death trap. Snow covered every inch of the mountains, the air cut like daggers against the skin, and the wind howled like a beast in agony. Some soldiers began to regret coming to the North. The icy paths were treacherous, the endless training gruelling. Every night, the freezing winds seeped into their bones, reminding them that death here would be slow and unforgiving. Then, one day, everything changed. A soldier, panting and drenched in sweat despite the cold, came sprinting into camp. His eyes were wide with panic. "ENEMY TROOPS HAVE STARTED MOVING!" A chill far worse than the winter air settled over the camp. The enemy nation had begun its attack. The worst part? They had the advantage. The Northern Army was trapped in the mountains, where the harsh terrain slowed their movements. Meanwhile, the enemy had smooth plains at their back, allowing them to strike without difficulty. This was not just an attack. It was an extermination. The Duke of the North, Laniel Delmar, wasted no time. ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle! We march to the border now!¡± The army moved out, but the conditions were nightmarish. The blizzard raged, making it nearly impossible to see. The wind howled violently, and soldiers struggled to move through knee-deep snow. Then, the first attack came. Chapter 13: The First Battle Boulders and stones rained down from above. The enemy had already reached the mountaintop. The Northern soldiers, struggling to walk on the slippery slopes, had no way to dodge. The ones who got hit screamed as they tumbled back down the icy paths, disappearing into the snow below. Blood mixed with ice. Lucian, who had been stationed at the base camp, watched as injured soldiers were dragged back, covered in wounds, frostbite already setting in. This was his first time witnessing war up close. The screams. The sight of men shivering from shock as their blood froze in the snow. The hopelessness of falling soldiers who knew they would never get up again. And yet, there was no fear in his heart. Only determination. Lucian didn''t have a sword in his hands, but he refused to be useless. He worked tirelessly¡ªmoving injured soldiers, fetching supplies, distributing food, and patching wounds with trembling hands. And still, the battle raged on. The Duke gritted his teeth, realizing that if they kept charging blindly, they would all be slaughtered. ¡°HOLD POSITION!¡± he commanded. The soldiers took cover behind the massive rocks that shielded them from the enemy¡¯s attacks. The Duke¡¯s piercing gaze studied the enemy formation. He needed a plan. Fast. The storm was their greatest enemy, but it could also be their greatest weapon. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Then, after hours of waiting¡ªthe storm slowed. The wind weakened. The snowfall became lighter. And at that moment, the enemy, believing they had stalled the Northern Army, relaxed. That was their fatal mistake. ¡°NOW! WE STRIKE!¡± The Duke¡¯s voice roared through the battlefield. His soldiers rose from behind the rocks, their morale ignited by his command. Like demons emerging from the snow, they charged forward. The enemy, caught off guard, tried to regroup¡ªbut it was too late. The Duke himself led the charge. His sword cut through the enemy ranks with terrifying speed. He moved like a blizzard-given form, unstoppable and merciless. Lucian watched from below. For the first time, he understood. This was not just a battle. This was survival. By the time the enemy realized what was happening, the Duke had already reached the top. The enemy panicked¡ªand then retreated. The Northern Army had reclaimed their position. The Duke surveyed the bloody battlefield. He knew the storm would return soon, and climbing the mountain again would be impossible. ¡°MOVE THE BASE CAMP UP HERE,¡± he ordered. ¡°WE STAY ON HIGH GROUND.¡± It took three days for the entire army to relocate. The harsh snowfall made it nearly impossible to move, but they pushed through. At last, they settled in. That evening, a rare peace filled the air. The storm had quieted, and the sky was clear for the first time in weeks. Thousands of stars sparkled above them like an endless ocean of light. The soldiers sat around fires, talking, laughing, and breathing for the first time since the battle began. For a moment, it felt like they were just men under the night sky¡ªnot soldiers preparing for another war. Even Lucian, exhausted from working all day, found himself drawn to the mesmerizing sky. It was beautiful. But he was alone. Even in the light of the stars, Lucian¡¯s world was filled with shadows. Some soldiers glanced at him from a distance but did not approach. The commoners feared that speaking to a noble¡ªeven a fallen one¡ªmight bring them trouble. The noble soldiers ignored him completely as if he didn¡¯t exist. Lucian sat in silence, watching the stars. No one spoke to him. No one asked how he was. Just like always. For the first time since he arrived in the North, he realized something. Even though he had fought alongside them, even though he had worked to save their lives¡­ He was still an outsider. And in the middle of the endless white snow beneath the vast ocean of stars, he had never felt more alone. Chapter 14: James Injury and the Enemy Nation attack A year had passed. Karl¡¯s official declaration of the First Prince Novel as Crown Prince spread like wildfire across the kingdom. The people rejoiced, believing that Novel would bring a bright future to Astria. The princess, Ersia, had also proven her competence in governance, managing the southern regions with skill. No one spoke of the Third Prince anymore. In the North, time moved differently. The war never truly stopped¡ªsmall battles erupted like sparks, threatening to ignite into full-blown infernos at any moment. For Lucian, it was just another day of survival. With the departure of the returning soldiers, the Northern forces had thinned. The Duke reorganized the troops into small patrol groups, each consisting of four men. Their task was to scout the border, check the fences, and ensure the enemy made no advances. This time, it was Lucian¡¯s group¡¯s turn to patrol. It was a five-day mission, and the first three days passed without incident. Then, on the fourth day, disaster struck. James, one of the patrol members, lost his footing on the icy mountain ridge. The moment felt slow, endless as if time itself had cracked open. Then¡ª Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°AAAHH!¡± His scream echoed through the empty air as he tumbled down the jagged slope. The sickening sound of his body crashing against the rocks sent chills through Lucian¡¯s spine. ¡°JAMES!¡± Kane and Joe sprinted toward him, their boots crunching against the frozen ground. Lucian¡¯s heart pounded. He forced himself to move. ¡°Carry him here! Hurry!¡± Blood stained the snow as they dragged James onto flat ground. His breathing was shallow, his skin ghostly pale from shock. Lucian saw the deep cut across his stomach. Too deep. Too much blood. He¡¯s going to die. No. Not on my watch. Lucian¡¯s hands worked automatically. Fast. Precise. ¡°Press down here¡ªHARD! Don¡¯t let up!¡± He grabbed Joe¡¯s trembling hands and pushed them against the wound. Joe hesitated. ¡°But he¡ª¡± ¡°DO IT!¡± Lucian snapped. Joe swallowed and pressed harder. James let out a strangled gasp, his body convulsing from the pain. Lucian turned to Kane. ¡°Open the medical kit. Now!¡± Kane fumbled through the bag, his fingers stiff from the cold. Then¡ª CRASH. The pain reliever bottle shattered on the ground. A deadly silence followed. Kane¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Oh¡­ shit.¡± Lucian froze. No pain reliever. James¡¯ body was already shaking¡ªif shock set in, it was over. Lucian inhaled sharply, forcing down his fear. ¡°Forget it. Bring me the rest of the supplies.¡± He worked quickly, wrapping bandages around James¡¯ stomach, securing them as tightly as he could. It wasn¡¯t enough, but it would have to do. Lucian wiped bloodied hands against his trousers. ¡°We need to get him back to camp. Fast.¡± Kane and Joe lifted James, but the weight slowed them down. Then¡ª A sound. Distant voices. Lucian¡¯s entire body went still. The three of them ducked behind a boulder and listened. Enemy soldiers. Close. Their voices were clear now. ¡°¡­As planned, we strike tonight. The moment they¡¯re asleep, we¡¯ll slaughter them all.¡± Chapter 15: The Fear or Determination Lucian¡¯s breath caught in his throat. They were planning a surprise attack. Hundreds of men. The Northern base would be wiped out. They had to warn the Duke. But¡ªJames was too injured to move quickly. Lucian made his decision instantly. ¡°Kane. Joe.¡± His voice was low, urgent. ¡°Take James and go.¡± Joe stiffened. ¡°No.¡± Kane shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving you.¡± Lucian¡¯s hands curled into fists. ¡°You HAVE to. If they get to the camp before us, everyone will die.¡± Kane and Joe exchanged glances. They knew he was right. Lucian saw the hesitation in their eyes. The fear. The unspoken question. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "Will we ever see you again?" Lucian tried to smile¡ªbut it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Just go.¡± Joe grabbed Lucian by the shoulder, squeezing tightly. Kane hesitated, then pulled Lucian into a rough hug. It felt like a farewell. Like they were saying goodbye forever. Kane pulled away first, his voice low, almost pleading. ¡°Listen. Don¡¯t fight them head-on. Stall them. Delay them. And if it¡¯s too much¡­¡± His voice cracked slightly. ¡°Run. Just run.¡± Lucian nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Then, he watched them disappear into the dark. And for the first time, Lucian was alone. Lucian¡¯s breath came fast and shallow. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He crouched low, scanning the enemy camp. The soldiers were still organizing, going over the plan. I don¡¯t have much time. Lucian¡¯s eyes darted to the forest. A plan formed in his mind. A desperate, reckless, suicidal plan. If I can¡¯t fight them head-on¡­ He pulled out his dagger and ran toward the trees. Lucian worked fast, hands shaking with adrenaline. The flexible branches¡ªhe twisted and tied them into crude, deadly traps. He buried sharp wooden spikes beneath loose snow. He stacked logs so they would tumble like an avalanche when triggered. His hands were raw, and his breath was visible in the freezing air. He took one last look at his work. It had to be enough. Because there was no one else left to fight. Lucian crouched in the shadows, gripping his dagger tightly. The enemy was coming. And he was the only thing standing between them and total slaughter. Alone. Again. But this time¡ªhe refused to fall. Chapter 16: A Meeting with General Vadim The sun had long disappeared, swallowed by the suffocating darkness of night. The forest was silent, cold, and merciless. Lucian lay hidden, his breath shallow, and his pulse erratic. The enemy soldiers moved like shadows, creeping forward, unaware that death waited for them beneath their feet. Then¡ª SNAP! A cry of pain tore through the silence. Lucian¡¯s heart pounded. It worked. He sprang from his hiding spot, sprinting toward the noise¡ª But the moment he arrived, his stomach twisted. The traps¡­ had only slowed them down. Some soldiers bore small cuts, while others were already cutting through the snares with ease. Then¡ª A voice, cold and razor-sharp, cut through the night. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "If there are traps, it means someone is here. Search the area!" Lucian froze. That voice¡­ was different. It didn¡¯t belong to some mindless soldier barking orders. It was controlled. Precise. Lucian peered through the darkness¡ªand then he saw him. A tall, broad-shouldered figure stood in the torchlight, his armor black as the void, the insignia of the Velkan Empire carved into his breastplate. His eyes¡ªsharp, calculating¡ªglowed like burning embers. General Vadim "The Ravenous" Kholov. A brutal tactician. A master of psychological warfare. A man known for turning the battlefield into a slaughterhouse before his blade even touched flesh. Vadim smirked, his scarred lips twisting into something almost amused. "Cowards lay traps when they can¡¯t fight like men." His voice was calm, almost lazy, but the menace in it made the soldiers stiffen. Lucian¡¯s gut twisted. He knew that name. Vadim Kholov didn¡¯t just kill his enemies. He broke them first. Lucian turned and ran. His boots crushed dead leaves, twigs snapping beneath him. He barely saw the tree root before¡ª THWACK! Lucian crashed face-first into the cold, unforgiving ground. Pain exploded through his ribs as he tumbled straight into one of his traps. A sharp branch pierced through his shoulder. He screamed, blood dripping onto the dirt. The enemy soldiers turned, their eyes narrowing. Vadim tilted his head. "There you are." Two men stalked toward him, their swords glinting in the moonlight. Lucian gritted his teeth, trying to move, but the pain was unbearable. The two soldiers grabbed him, yanking him out of the trap and shoving him to his knees. Vadim strode forward, towering over him. He crouched, gripping Lucian¡¯s chin with cold, metal fingers. His gauntlet. A jagged, clawed thing¡ªmade from the melted-down blades of the enemies he had slaughtered. Lucian shuddered. Chapter 17: The Game Vadim studied him like a wolf sizing up wounded prey. "Well, well¡­" His gravelly voice was almost¡­ amused. "Astria sent me a child?" Laughter erupted from the soldiers. Lucian clenched his fists. Vadim¡¯s grip tightened, the claws pressing into Lucian¡¯s jaw. "You tried to slow us down with traps.¡± His tone was mocking. ¡°Tell me, little prince¡ª" Lucian¡¯s blood ran cold. Did he know? Vadim chuckled at Lucian¡¯s reaction. "Oh? You flinched. That means I¡¯m right about something." Lucian forced his expression to remain blank. Vadim¡¯s eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement. "Well, it doesn¡¯t matter who you are. Because now¡ª" He leaned in, his breath hot against Lucian¡¯s ear. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "You belong to me." Lucian didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t speak. But deep inside, something growled. Vadim stood. "We still have time before our attack. So..." He turned to his men. "Let¡¯s have some fun." A soldier tossed a blade onto the ground in front of Lucian. It was massive. Too heavy for his exhausted body. Vadim smirked. "If you can land a single hit on one of my men..." He spread his arms. "I¡¯ll let you go." Laughter. Mocking jeers. Lucian¡¯s fingers curled into the dirt. He knew. He knew this was a game to them. A cruel, twisted amusement. He would never leave this forest alive. But¡ª He had to try. Even if it killed him. ¡°Well, well¡­ what do we have here?¡± His voice was cold, sharp like a blade. ¡°A little lost mouse?¡± Laughter erupted from the soldiers. Lucian gritted his teeth, his vision swimming. Every inch of his body screamed in agony. Two men grabbed him roughly, cutting the snare and dragging him forward. ¡°He¡¯s wearing Astria¡¯s uniform.¡± The commander stepped closer, inspecting Lucian with disgust. ¡°Check him.¡± A soldier rummaged through Lucian¡¯s belt, finding only a small knife. ¡°Nothing but a toy, sir.¡± SLAP! Lucian¡¯s head snapped to the side, blood spraying from his lips. The soldier glared at him. ¡°You little rat. Do you know how many men got hurt because of your pathetic tricks?¡± Lucian didn¡¯t answer. Instead¡ª He smiled. His bloodied lips curled upward, and even as his body trembled from pain, he laughed. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªa weak, breathless chuckle¡ªbut it made the soldiers furious. ¡°You think this is funny?¡± The first kick hit his ribs. Then another. Then another. Lucian didn¡¯t know when he stopped counting. Chapter 18: The Fight and the Voice Returned His body curled inward, instinctively trying to protect itself, but there was nowhere to hide from the pain. Boots slammed into his stomach, his chest, and his back. Something inside him cracked. He coughed, spitting blood onto the snow. For a moment, his vision blurred, and all he could hear was his heartbeat¡ªslow, sluggish, fading. ¡°Enough.¡± The commander¡¯s voice cut through the night. Lucian lay motionless, his limbs numb, his breaths shallow. ¡°We still have time before the attack¡­ so let¡¯s play.¡± The commander smirked, stepping forward. ¡°Give him a sword.¡± A soldier threw a blade onto the dirt beside Lucian. It was massive. The weight alone was enough to crush his exhausted body. Lucian barely had the strength to lift his head, let alone fight. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Listen well, little rat.¡± The commander knelt beside him, his breath hot against Lucian¡¯s ear. ¡°If you can beat one of my men, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Laughter. Mocking. Lucian¡¯s fingers curled into the dirt. He knew. He knew this was a game to them. A cruel, twisted amusement. He would never leave this forest alive. But¡ª He had to try. His body screamed in protest as he reached for the sword. His arms shook violently. It was too heavy, but he forced himself to stand. A soldier stepped forward, grinning. ¡°You get the first strike.¡± Lucian tightened his grip on the hilt. His legs wobbled. His head spun. But he swung. And missed. Laughter erupted again. Lucian tried again. And missed. He tried again. And again. Each time, he failed. Each time, they laughed louder. Then, the soldier moved. A flash of silver. Lucian felt the first slash before he saw it. A deep, searing pain in his abdomen. The next cut came to his leg. Then his arm. Blood dripped onto the snow. He was being toyed with. His body was shutting down. He staggered, his knees almost buckling. His vision darkened at the edges. His breathing was ragged. Still¡ªhe fought to stay standing. But in the end¡ª He fell. Lucian¡¯s body hit the ground. He heard laughter, distant and cruel. "So this is how it ends?" His heartbeat was slowing. The snow beneath him felt softer now. Colder. His mind drifted. "Kane and Joe must have reached the camp by now¡­" "The commander must know about the attack..." "At least¡­ they will be safe." "I wish I could¡¯ve¡­ said goodbye to Chloe." His body refused to move. His vision blurred completely. For a brief moment, in the blackness of his fading consciousness, he thought of his mother. Would she mourn him? Or would she turn away¡­ like she always had? Lucian¡¯s heart gave one last slow beat. Then¡ªnothing. "Hey." Chapter 19: The Same person or Different Lucian¡¯s mind floated in the abyss, weightless and slipping away. Then, a voice.Cold. Familiar. Inhuman. "Didn¡¯t I tell you?" Lucian¡¯s fading heart twitched. The voice chuckled¡ªa dark, knowing sound. "You¡¯re not ready to fight." Lucian¡¯s mind screamed, but his body lay paralyzed. Then, from the depths of unconsciousness¡ª A whisper. "Have a nice sleep. Let me take it from here." The battlefield fell silent. Lucian lay motionless in the blood-soaked snow, his body shattered, his wounds gaping, his pulse a slowing whisper. The enemy soldiers stepped over his corpse, already celebrating their victory. Then¡ª Lucian stood. The cheers died. Gasps rang through the ranks. It was impossible. A moment ago, he had been dead. Stolen story; please report. Yet now, he was rising, his movements unnatural, his spine snapping into place with an audible crack. His head tilted at an odd angle as if he were adjusting to his own body. The air around him thickened, heavy with something dark and primal. One soldier, trembling, took a step forward, extending his sword to check if Lucian was truly alive. SNAP! Lucian¡¯s teeth sank into his wrist. The soldier screamed. Lucian lunged forward, dragging him to the ground like a starving predator, his jaw locking on flesh, tearing through tendons. Blood sprayed into the air. "AAAAHHH! GET HIM OFF ME!" The others scrambled back, horror twisting their features. More soldiers rushed in, their instincts screaming at them to stop him before he tore through them all. They grabbed Lucian, striking him, kicking him, their boots slamming into his ribs and skull. But¡ª It didn¡¯t stop him. Their fists felt like whispers against his skin. One soldier, desperate, rammed his sword into Lucian¡¯s back¡ª It sank in deep. Lucian didn¡¯t flinch. The soldier¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Lucian simply turned his head, his lips curling into a slow, terrifying smile. The wind howled. The trees whispered. Something wasn¡¯t right. The commander¡¯s face darkened. "Kill him." The order rang through the battlefield. The soldiers surged forward. But Lucian was gone. A blur. A shadow. A phantom. Steel slashed through empty space. Lucian appeared behind them. He was playing with them. A soldier swung¡ªLucian ducked. Another lunged¡ªLucian sidestepped, twisting impossibly fast, slicing the man¡¯s throat in one fluid motion. A third came from behind¡ªLucian feigned a stumble. The soldier¡¯s confidence surged¡ª Mistake. Lucian let the blade graze his arm before twisting mid-fall, using the momentum to drive his sword upward¡ªthrough the man¡¯s gut. The soldier choked, blood spilling from his lips. Lucian yanked the blade free. Bodies fell. Screams rose. Chapter 20: The Scream The soldiers hesitated. Their fear was tangible now. Lucian felt it. He thrived on it. More men poured in. Too many. Lucian¡¯s body wasn¡¯t invincible¡ªnot yet. His wounds were real. His energy was draining. He had to think. He had to hunt. Lucian darted into the trees, his silhouette vanishing into the darkness. The soldiers hesitated. Where did he go? This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The commander barked an order. ¡°Find him! Now!¡± They advanced, torches raised, eyes scanning the shadows. CRACK! A scream tore through the night. A soldier stepped on a hidden tripwire¡ªa branch whipped forward, impaling him straight through the throat. More traps followed. Hidden pitfalls. Loosened stones. Thinly veiled spikes. The soldiers panicked. They were the hunters. Why did it feel like they were the prey? Lucian waited. Watched. He let them think they were safe. Then¡ª He struck. A sword flashed from the darkness, severing a man¡¯s leg before he even saw it coming. Another fell, his body yanked into the shadows¡ªhis screams cut off abruptly. The soldiers turned, swords raised, breath ragged. Lucian was nowhere. Then¡ª He was behind them. His blade sang through the air, severing tendons, and slicing flesh. Limbs fell. Steel clashed. At first, they could withstand his attacks. But then¡ª His strikes became heavier. One by one, their defenses broke. One by one, they fell. Lucian moved through them like a reaper, his strikes carving deep, violent wounds. Limbs fell. Flesh split. Blood soaked the earth. More soldiers poured in from the forest, forming a ring around him. Three hundred men. A vast circle, swords gleaming, eyes locked on the monster in the center. ¡°ATTACK!¡± Lucian smirked. The massacre began. Lucian vanished into the trees. The enemy commander¡¯s breath hitched. The silence was worse than the screams. Chapter 21: The Massacre The wind howled through the trees, carrying whispers¡ªLucian¡¯s voice, or something twisted into his likeness. Shadows moved, flickering between the trees, but there was nothing every time a soldier turned. Just darkness. Just fear. "Hold formation!" the commander barked. But his voice wavered. He could feel it¡ªsomething was watching them. A breath. Behind him. He whirled¡ªnothing. A soldier beside him dropped his sword, his hands trembling. "Captain¡­ I-I think¡ª" SHLICK. His voice was cut off, a dagger embedded deep in his throat. He choked, clawing at the steel, blood gushing through his fingers. His knees hit the snow. Panic erupted. The soldiers confusedly turned on each other, blindly swinging their weapons at the moving shadows. One lunged forward¡ªonly to slice his comrade across the chest. "STOP! Hold your positions!" the commander screamed. But it was too late. Lucian had already turned them against themselves. A soldier ran, bolting into the darkness. He didn¡¯t make it far. A scream tore through the night¡ªshort, sharp, then gurgling. Then silence. Lucian was toying with them. The commander gritted his teeth. No. He would not let his men fall like this. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Then he heard it. A pained wheeze. A figure stumbled from the shadows. Lucian. His body trembled, barely standing. His fingers twitched around his sword, his arms limp. Blood dripped from countless wounds. He was broken. Finished. The soldiers exhaled, relief washing over them. "He''s done," one of them murmured. "He can barely stand," another scoffed. The commander sneered. ¡°Kill him.¡± A soldier stepped forward, raising his sword¡ª Then Lucian¡¯s head lifted. His eyes. Crimson. Glowing. Drenched in bloodlust. The soldier froze. The torches flickered. And then¡ªLucian smiled. A slow, chilling grin. Lips cracked. Teeth glistening red. His face was soaked in blood¡ªnot all of it was his. The soldier stumbled back. "C-Captain¡­" Lucian swayed¡ªthen, without warning, he collapsed. Silence. Then¡ª A breath of relief. "He''s dead." "Finally." The commander exhaled sharply. "Check his body." Three soldiers approached cautiously, nudging his limp form with their boots. Nothing. No reaction. One kneeled, reaching out¡ª Lucian¡¯s hand shot out, clamping onto his wrist. The soldier''s breath caught. Lucian looked up. That smile was still there. Bloodstained. Unholy. And then¡ª Lucian yanked him down and drove his blade straight through his gut. The soldier choked, blood spraying from his mouth. Screams. Lucian sprang to his feet. His wounds were forgotten. His movements were unnatural. His blood-red eyes gleamed like burning coals, and his smile stretched wider as he tilted his head at the horrified soldiers. "Did you think..." His voice came low, guttural. "... I was done?" The soldiers broke. One swung wildly¡ªLucian dodged, grabbing his wrist and twisting until the bone snapped like dry wood. The soldier screamed¡ªLucian silenced him with a dagger to the throat. Another turned to run¡ªLucian let him. He wanted them to run. To scatter. To feel hunted. Like a jackal, he waited in the shadows. "Regroup! Keep your backs to each other¡ª" CRUNCH. A soldier collapsed, a dagger buried in his spine. Another shrieked, clawing at his face as Lucian ripped out his eye with his bare hand and crushed it between his fingers like pulp. The mutilated man staggered, his remaining eye wild with terror before Lucian drove a blade through his temple. The commander¡¯s hands trembled around his sword. This wasn¡¯t war. This was a slaughter. Lucian tilted his head, running a bloodstained hand through his hair. The last few soldiers broke. Weapons clattered to the ground. They turned¡ªand ran. Lucian let them. Chapter 22: The Massacre (Part 2) At first. Then¡ª He chased. A blur of black and red. One man tripped. Lucian was on him in an instant. His fingers wrapped around his throat, squeezing. The soldier thrashed, but Lucian held on, watching. Watching as the fear in his eyes turned to something else. Hopelessness. Lucian let him go. Let him stumble away. Then¡ª He ran him through the chest. His dying breath came out as a soft whimper. The others didn¡¯t even look back. Because the moment they did¡ªthey saw him. Lucian. Standing in the snow. His body drenched in blood. His face twisted into something inhuman. Eyes burning red. That horrific smile. He was waiting. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Hunting them. Just like a jackal. The last man screamed, tripping over a corpse as Lucian¡¯s shadow fell over him. A final, pitiful plea. Then¡ª Silence. When it was over, Lucian stood alone. Surrounded by bodies. Blood. Nothing but blood And silence. His chest rose and fell¡ªhis breath ragged, his body shaking from the remnants of the carnage. He could still hear their screams. Still, taste the blood. The full moon bathed him in silver light, making him look otherworldly¡ªterrifying. Kane and Joe stumbled into the base, their lungs burning and their bodies shaking. The moment the guards saw them, they dragged them to the commander¡¯s tent. They barely made it inside before collapsing onto their knees. ¡°Commander!¡± The Duke and his officers turned to face them. Kane¡¯s voice broke with desperation. ¡°The enemy¡­ they¡¯re already inside the border. They¡¯re attacking tonight¡­ AND LUCIA¡ª¡± His voice cracked. Tears streamed down his face. ¡°He¡¯s fighting them alone. Buying us time. BELIEVING we¡¯d bring help.¡± Silence. The Duke watched them, his face unreadable. Kane gritted his teeth, bowing his head. ¡°Please.¡± His voice trembled. ¡°Save him.¡± A moment passed. Then¡ª ¡°Take them into confinement.¡± The guards grabbed Kane and Joe. ¡°NO¡ªWAIT!¡± The Duke¡¯s cold voice interrupted them. ¡°Give them food, medicine, and rest.¡± Kane¡¯s breath hitched. The Duke turned to his vice-commander. ¡°Ready the soldiers. We¡¯re going to retrieve our soldier.¡± The Duke¡¯s army marched through the night, following the echoes of screams. Horrific. Unnatural. The closer they got, the more terrified the soldiers became. ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s happening up ahead?¡± The screams didn¡¯t stop. They only grew worse. Then, through the trees¡ª A clearing bathed in moonlight. Blood. Everywhere. Bodies lay piled like mountains, a grotesque sculpture of twisted limbs and severed heads. And standing at the very top¡ª Lucian. His body was drenched in blood, his uniform torn to shreds. In his hand¡ª The severed head of the enemy commander. His eyes glowed with madness, one deep ocean blue, the other a haunting, blood-red. The soldiers behind the Duke froze in horror. Was this¡­ the same boy? The Duke stepped forward. Lucian didn¡¯t react. His breathing was uneven, his shoulders trembling. Then¡ª His fingers twitched. His hand moved to his head, gripping it. His chest heaved. A shudder ran through his body as if he was struggling against something inside himself. Then¡ª He collapsed. The battlefield fell into silence. And the moon watched over him, glowing cold and pale. The moon hung low, casting a pale glow over the northern camp as the Duke¡¯s soldiers carried Lucian¡¯s lifeless body into the medical tent. Chapter 23: The Medical Camp and Lucian The air was thick with dread. Everyone had seen it. The battlefield was painted in blood. Lucian¡ªstanding atop a mountain of corpses, drenched in the crimson of his enemies. And yet, now¡ª He was barely breathing. The Duke stood before the gathered soldiers, reading the medical report aloud. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words crushed them all. "Both hands¡ªfractured. Internal bleeding. Ribs shattered. Lacerations cover his entire body. He was tortured." A silence settled over the camp. Then came the final blow. "There are two possibilities," the Duke continued. "One¡ªhe may never be able to hold a sword again. Two¡ªbecause of excessive blood loss, he might not make it to the morning." A soldier stepped forward, his face pale. "Is there¡­ is there even a chance?" The doctor hesitated. "One per cent." One. The weight of the number settled in everyone''s chest like a stone. One per cent. A breath away from death. For a moment, the silence was unbearable. Then¡ª The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. A voice cut through the night like a blade. ¡°One per cent is enough.¡± All eyes turned to a soldier, his fists clenched. ¡°He is one man¡­ who defeated an army of three hundred alone. If anyone can survive with a one per cent chance¡ªit¡¯s him.¡± Another soldier nodded, his eyes blazing. "Yes! He¡¯ll make it!" More and more voices joined the chorus. Faith. Determination. They believed in him. The Duke, watching them, finally spoke. "Doctor. Do your surgery. Leave the rest to him." But the doctor¡­ Didn¡¯t move. The medical tent was silent. The doctor stood paralyzed, staring at the tools in his trembling hands. His assistant pleaded. "Sir, please. If we don''t act now, he''ll¡ª" "I can¡¯t." The doctor¡¯s voice was hoarse. "What?" "I can¡¯t do the surgery." The assistant froze. Then, the Duke¡¯s guards entered. ¡°The Commander is summoning you.¡± The doctor¡¯s hands clenched into fists. The Duke¡¯s office was dimly lit, the shadows stretching across the walls. The doctor stood before him, his shoulders stiff, his eyes filled with something between fear and guilt. The Duke¡¯s voice was quiet, controlled. "Is everything prepared for surgery?" The doctor lowered his gaze. Silence. The Duke¡¯s fingers tapped against the desk. "I asked you a question, doctor." Still, no answer. Then¡ª "WHY?" The Duke¡¯s voice turned sharp. "Why won¡¯t you treat him?" The doctor¡¯s lips trembled. Then, with a shaking breath, he spoke. "It was¡­ an Imperial Order." The Duke¡¯s eyes narrowed. "What order?" The doctor¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. "The King¡­ ordered that no medicine be given to the third prince. No doctor must save him. If I disobey¡­ my entire family will be executed for treason." A heavy silence. The Duke stared at him, his mind racing. The King¡­ Karl¡­ Wanted Lucian dead. The doctor¡¯s breath hitched, waiting for the Duke¡¯s reaction. But the Duke said nothing. Not a single word. Then, he dismissed him. That night, long after the camp had fallen into uneasy sleep, The Duke entered the medical tent. In the flickering candlelight, he looked down at Lucian¡¯s battered, unconscious body. Without a word, he pulled a small vial from his coat¡ªa rare medicine from the cold lands of the north. He opened it. And applied it to Lucian¡¯s wounds. Then, he left. No one saw. No one knew. Except for the guards outside the tent. "You saw nothing," the Duke said. And they nodded. Chapter 24: Someone is hiding something Fifteen Day Later Darkness. Lucian¡¯s mind was drifting. A voice called to him. "Didn¡¯t I tell you?" A cold, inhuman chuckle. "Give me your body¡­ and I¡¯ll make you strong." The whisper slithered through his mind. "Right now, you¡¯re weak. I can take over¡­ No, don¡¯t wake up. No¡ª" Lucian¡¯s eyes snapped open. Lucian¡¯s breath was ragged, his vision blurred. His body was covered in bandages, pain radiating from every limb. He felt weak. So weak. Then¡ª ¡°LUCIAAAAN!!¡± Kane''s voice cracked with relief as he burst into the tent. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Lucian barely had time to react before Kane was at his bedside, grabbing his shoulders. His eyes were red, his hands shaking. "You idiot¡­ YOU ALMOST DIED!" James entered soon after, his voice quivering. "Thank you¡­ thank you for saving my life." Lucian stared at him, speechless. He never expected gratitude. All he could do was offer a small, exhausted smile. But deep inside¡ª He felt something strange. Something wrong. Later that night, an attendant entered the tent. "The Duke wishes to see you." Lucian, still sore and weak, forced himself up. Inside the Duke¡¯s office, the air was tense. The Duke¡¯s eyes studied him. Lucian fidgeted, feeling uncomfortable under that sharp gaze. "How are you feeling?" the Duke finally asked. Lucian hesitated. "I¡¯m¡­ fine. Thank you for saving my life." The Duke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he leaned forward. "Do you remember¡­ what happened that night?" Lucian blinked. He thought back. He remembered running¡­ fighting¡­ getting beaten. He remembered falling. Then¡ª Nothing. Just¡­ darkness. Lucian shook his head. "I only remember until I fell." The Duke¡¯s gaze hardened. He said nothing, but Lucian felt something shift in the air. Something cold. Something suspicious. The Duke dismissed him. But as Lucian left the office, he didn¡¯t see the three officers behind the Duke. The men who had witnessed the slaughter. The men who saw him rise from the dead and massacre an entire army. "Not a word," the Duke ordered. They nodded. But deep inside¡ª The Duke was watching. Because whatever Lucian was¡­ He was no longer just a boy. Something else had awakened. And the Duke wanted to know what. Chapter 25: The Friends The moonlight filtered through the thin tent fabric, casting soft shadows over the dimly lit space. Lucian was deep in sleep, exhausted from the relentless training the Duke had put them through. His body ached, his muscles burned, and his mind swam with fatigue. But something felt¡­ off. A presence. No¡ªseveral. Lucian¡¯s instincts screamed at him to wake up, but his body was too sore to move. He forced himself to stay still, pretending to sleep, his mind racing. Then¡ªa whisper. ¡°Hey, are you sure this is the right thing to do?¡± Lucian¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°Yes. What are you waiting for? Do it now.¡± A second voice¡ªhushed but firm. Lucian¡¯s breathing quickened. "Hold his legs and hands. I''ll do it." WHAT?! NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. Before he could think, sheer panic overtook him. ¡°HELP! HELP!!¡± In an instant, the tent exploded into chaos. ¡°AAAH¡ªWHAT THE HELL, LUCIA¡ª?!¡± CRASH! Someone tripped over a stool. BAM! Another knocked over a pile of wooden crates. Lucian kicked blindly, scrambling backwards, ready to fight for his life. Then¡ªa familiar voice. ¡°L-LUCIAN, IT¡¯S ME! IT¡¯S ME, JAMES¡ªSTOP SCREAMING!!¡± Lucian froze. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he saw James, Kane, Joe¡­ and two others standing there, wide-eyed and completely bewildered. Lucian¡¯s face burned with embarrassment. James, still recovering from the shock, sighed and rubbed his temples. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Okay. Now that my eardrums are shattered¡­ care to explain WHY YOU JUST SCREAMED LIKE A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS?!¡± Lucian shifted awkwardly. ¡°I¡ªI thought you guys were trying to¡­ um¡­¡± The five of them leaned in, waiting. Lucian gulped. ¡°¡­do something to me.¡± Silence. Then¡ª Kane SNORTED. Then Joe. Then Lucy. Then, all five of them BURST into laughter. Lucian felt like disappearing into the earth. James, wiping away tears, gasped, ¡°Wait, wait¡ªYOU THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA WHAT?!¡± Lucy, still laughing, clapped his shoulder. "Lucian, my friend, I hate to break it to you, but you are not my type." Del, grinning, added, ¡°And even if you were, I prefer someone who doesn¡¯t wake up swinging.¡± Lucian groaned and covered his face. ¡°I¡¯M NEVER GOING TO LIVE THIS DOWN, AM I?¡± Kane grinned. ¡°Nope.¡± Lucian sighed. ¡°¡­So what are you guys even doing here?¡± James grinned again and held up a small jar. ¡°We brought medicine for you, dumbass.¡± Lucian blinked. James continued, ¡°Your training was brutal today, and we figured you¡¯d be sore. But you were sleeping so peacefully, so we thought we¡¯d just apply it without waking you up.¡± Lucian stared at them, completely stunned. They¡­ cared? For a moment, his throat tightened. No one had ever done something like this for him before. Then, Kane ruined the moment. "And then SOMEONE had to ruin it by screaming bloody murder." More laughter. Lucian rolled his eyes, still trying to fight back a smile. James smirked. ¡°Now, shut up and lie down so we can fix you.¡± Lucian hesitated. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Kane gave him a playful shove. ¡°Rule of friendship, idiot¡ªno ¡®thank yous¡¯ or ¡®sorries.¡¯¡± Lucian¡¯s heart clenched. Friendship. For the first time¡­ he had friends. His eyes burned, but he quickly wiped away the tears before anyone noticed. James did. But instead of saying anything, he just smiled. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this over with,¡± James muttered, rolling up Lucian¡¯s sleeves. Lucian yelped. ¡°WAIT¡ªTHE MEDICINE STINGS¡ª¡± ¡°Too late.¡± And with one quick slap of the ointment, Lucian screamed. After Lucian finished suffering under their ¡°care,¡± James finally introduced the two new faces. James gestured toward the cheerful, red-haired noble. ¡°This is Lucy Decardo. His father¡¯s a Baron in the Decardo Estate, somewhere in the countryside.¡± Lucy grinned and waved. ¡°I have four older brothers who are all knights, and my dad sent me here because he thinks I¡¯ll be useless if I don¡¯t ¡®toughen up.¡¯¡± Lucian nodded. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Then James motioned to the quiet, sharp-eyed boy with dark hair. ¡°And this is Del Neiro. His dad¡¯s a merchant, and he and Lucy have been best friends since childhood.¡± Del gave a polite nod. ¡°Pleasure.¡± Lucian smiled. ¡°I¡¯m Lucian.¡± Kane snickered. ¡°Yeah, we kinda figured.¡± Everyone laughed again. For the first time in his life, Lucian felt something warm spread through his chest. He had always been alone. He had always been forgotten. But now¡­ For the first time¡ª He felt like he belonged. As the night went on, they talked and laughed, sharing stories and jokes. Eventually, the others headed back to their tents, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts. He lay back, staring at the ceiling, smiling. "Maybe¡­" "Just maybe¡­ things are finally changing." And for the first time in years¡ª Lucian slept peacefully. They all stay together for some time, and then they all go to their tent to sleep. Chapter 26: The Past and the Announcement Four years. Four long years. Lucian had spent four years building a life of his own¡ªone without chains, without expectations. He had laughed with his comrades, bled beside them in battle, and forged bonds with those who saw him not as a prince but as a soldier. And yet, deep down, he knew¡­ It was all borrowed time. Because no matter how far he ran, his past never stopped chasing him. And now, the past was coming to him. The announcement came from the Duke himself. ¡°The Crown Prince, Novel Al Pestelio, is coming.¡± The camp erupted with excitement. Soldiers cheered, voices filled with admiration for their future king. Praises poured like a flood. ¡°The Crown Prince himself is visiting!¡±¡°I can¡¯t believe it! He¡¯s going to lead us one day.¡±¡°I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s as strong as the King himself.¡± For everyone else, it was a joyous occasion. For Lucian¡­ It was a nightmare. His stomach twisted violently. His fingers trembled. His skin felt cold, yet he was suffocating. That name. That name. A name he had once spoken with love and admiration. A name that had once made him feel safe. Now, it felt like poison. Why now? Why, after all these years? Is he coming to kill me? Does he want forgiveness? No¡­ He probably doesn¡¯t even remember me. Does he? Lucian clenched his fists until his nails dug into his skin, leaving crescent-shaped wounds. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It doesn¡¯t matter.I don¡¯t care.I stopped caring a long time ago. Then why¡­ Why does it feel like my ribs are caving in? That night, Lucian sat in his tent, staring at his own hands. A storm raged inside his mind. His breathing quickened. His chest tightened. Memories, sharp as daggers, ripped through him. The moment his father looked at him with hatred. The moment his mother turned her back. The moment his brother walked away. A name discarded. A boy abandoned. A forgotten existence. His breath hitched. Then¡ª The screaming started James was passing by when he heard it. A sound so raw, so inhuman, it made the hairs on his arms rise. He froze. His heart pounded. That voice. Lucian¡¯s voice. "HELP!" James burst into the tent. His breath caught in his throat. Lucian was on the ground, convulsing. His limbs twisted unnaturally. His fingers clawed at his head, nails digging into his scalp like he was trying to tear something out of his skull. His eyes¡ªwild, unfocused, drowning in terror. His chest rose and fell too quickly, too sharply. Like a drowning man gasping for air. ¡°Lucian!¡± James shouted, rushing forward. Lucian didn¡¯t hear him. Because Lucian wasn¡¯t there anymore. Inside his mind Lucian was ten years old again. He stood in the grand halls of the palace. Alone. His father¡¯s voice thundered around him. ¡°You are NOT my son.¡± His mother¡¯s figure stood in the shadows. Her back turned to him. He reached out. ¡°Mother¡­?¡± She took a step away. The distance grew. The palace walls collapsed around him, turning into endless darkness. He was falling. Falling deeper. Falling into something he couldn¡¯t escape. Then¡ª Suddenly, he wasn¡¯t ten anymore. He was twelve, lying on the cold floor of the Southern Palace. A noble¡¯s son stood above him, laughing. The pain. The blood. The loneliness. ¡°Just die already. No one will care.¡± He was thirteen. He sat in his room, staring at the moon. He hadn¡¯t eaten in days. The maids had stopped bringing food. His body was weak. His heart was weaker. He was fifteen. Standing in the arena, sword in hand. Facing his brother. The crowd¡¯s whispers were daggers to his back. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the forgotten prince?¡±¡°Shouldn¡¯t he be dead?¡± The sword cut through his cheek. His mask fell away. And then the whole world knew. The Voice Whisper¡¯s The air in his mind shifted. Lucian froze. Chapter 27 A voice slithered through the darkness. Cold. Familiar. Inhuman. ¡°You see now, don¡¯t you?¡± Lucian whipped around. Nothing but shadows. The whisper curled around his throat, suffocating. "They never wanted you." Lucian clenched his teeth. "You were born to be cast aside." No. "Let me take it from here." The Seizure begin James grabbed Lucian¡¯s arms, but he kept thrashing. ¡°HELP! SOMEONE HELP!¡± More soldiers rushed inside. Five men. It took five men to restrain one boy. ¡°WHAT¡¯S HAPPENING TO HIM?!¡± someone shouted. Lucian¡¯s body jerked violently. His breath hitched. His lips parted in a silent scream. His eyes¡ª His eyes were turning red. A deep, demonic red. The soldiers staggered back. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± One of them made the sign of the gods. ¡°HOLD HIM DOWN!¡± The soldiers pressed his limbs to the ground, but Lucian¡¯s body fought like something else was inside him. His screams grew distorted. More inhuman. Like something was being ripped out of him. The tent shook. The air became heavy. Then¡ª The Duke burst inside. His sharp gaze swept the scene. Lucian¡¯s glowing red eyes. The unnatural struggle. The suffocating presence. For the first time in years¡­ The Duke felt fear. ¡°Bring me his medicine. NOW.¡± Duke injected the medicine. Lucian collapsed. His breathing slowed. The tent fell into silence. The soldiers stared at the Duke, drenched in sweat. Lucian¡¯s body was motionless. The Duke exhaled sharply. ¡°It was a seizure.¡± His voice was calm, but his eyes were troubled. Someone swallowed hard. "What the hell did he go through?" Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. No one had an answer. The only sound in the tent was Lucian¡¯s ragged breathing. And the quiet realization. That this boy had been through hell. And somehow¡­ He was still standing. Lucian awoke the next morning to aching muscles and a throbbing skull. James, Joe, Kane, Lucy, and Del sat beside him, their faces full of worry. James was the first to speak. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Lucian hesitated. ¡°Yeah¡­ I think so. But my head¡­ it hurts.¡± Lucy sighed in relief. ¡°You should rest today. After experiencing something like that, you need time to recover.¡± Lucian froze. ¡°Seizure?¡± Joe nodded. ¡°The Duke said it happened because of trauma. Some kind of memory or experience that forced your body to shut down.¡± Lucian lowered his gaze. He had so many memories that could break him. Which one had done it? Later that night, as Lucian lay in his tent, staring at the ceiling, he heard it. A voice. "Hey... did you forget what happened yesterday?" Lucian bolted upright. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± His eyes darted around the tent. No one. Then, again¡ª "I¡¯m inside you. If you want to meet me¡­ close your eyes." A cold dread settled in his chest. Lucian hesitated. Then, slowly, he shut his eyes. And the world vanished. Lucian felt like he was falling. The darkness swallowed him whole. Then¡ªhe landed. His feet hit solid ground. He looked around. It was pitch black. A void. He took a step forward. Then another. Then¡ªhe saw something. A child. Sitting alone. Lucian¡¯s breath caught in his throat. The child looked familiar. He took a step closer¡ª Then, the child vanished. Suddenly¡ª A battlefield. Lucian was standing in an arena. Two figures clashed swords before him. Then¡ª A throne room. A boy stood before the king, trembling. Lucian saw himself. Then¡ª His father moved forward. Lucian tried to speak. Tried to warn himself. Tried to scream. But no sound came out. The memories kept shifting. Faster. Faster. His head pounded. The pain was unbearable. Lucian clawed at his skull. "STOP IT! STOP IT!" The real world snapped back into place. Lucian gasped, bolting upright. His heart raced, his skin drenched in sweat. That voice¡­ That thing inside him¡­ It wasn¡¯t a dream. It was real. And it was waiting. Lucian gripped his chest, trying to calm his breathing. He was not alone in his mind. Something else was there. And it was watching. Waiting for its moment to take over. Lucian shivered. Because deep down, he knew¡ª One day, it would. As the days passed and the Crown Prince¡¯s visit loomed closer, Lucian found himself tangled deeper in the web of memories. The whispers in the shadows were growing louder. That night, he made another attempt to confront the voice. At first¡ªnothing. Silence. But the moment he let his thoughts drift to his past¡ªto the suffocating chains of his childhood¡ªa searing pain tore through his skull. A whisper slithered into his mind. "Hello, my prince¡­ are you finally ready to meet me?" Lucian¡¯s vision darkened, and he fell. But this time, it was different. The air was thick. Suffocating. A heavy fog coiled around his limbs like unseen hands, dragging him deeper into the abyss. The sky above stretched endlessly¡ªtoo clear, too empty. A void. Then, the memories came. Flooding. Burning. Drowning him. A voice weeping. A child sobbing. And then¡ªblackness. Suddenly, twisting, clawing hands erupted from the darkness, gripping his arms, his legs, and his throat. Cold fingers curled around his body, pulling him down into the abyss. "NO!" Lucian struggled, but the hands were endless. The harder he fought, the tighter they gripped. "LET GO OF ME!" The suffocating grasp tightened until he couldn¡¯t breathe. Until he couldn¡¯t move. Then¡ªeverything stopped. The hands vanished, and the world shifted. He was back in his bedroom. A small figure lay curled on the floor¡ªhimself. A ten-year-old Lucian. Beaten. Bruised. Sobbing into the cold silence of the night. His tiny fingers trembled as he clutched his arms, trying to hold himself together. "I only wanted to be a knight¡­ why do they hate me so much?" Lucian staggered backwards. His breath caught in his throat. He had forgotten this. He had buried it so deep that even time couldn¡¯t reach it. But now¡­ now it was here. And then, the voice returned. "Stop crying." The small Lucian gasped, his teary eyes darting around the room. "Who... who said that?" "I¡¯m inside you." "Where?" "Close your eyes, and you will see." The young Lucian obeyed, his tiny hands pressing against his swollen eyelids. And then¡ªthe darkness shifted. A figure stood before him. A shadow. No face. No shape. Just a whisper of something ancient. Something powerful. "Who are you?" "I am you¡­ and you are me." "Why are you here?" "Because I have been waiting for you." James had been passing by Lucian¡¯s tent when he heard something strange. A muffled noise. A whimper. Frowning, he stepped inside. Lucian was asleep, but his expression was twisted in pain. His fingers twitched, his body tense like he was trapped in a nightmare. James hesitated. "Lucian?" Lucian didn¡¯t stir. His breathing was erratic. Something was wrong. James placed a hand on his shoulder and shook him gently. "Lucian. Wake up." Lucian¡¯s eyes snapped open. He gasped as if pulled from the depths of drowning water. His gaze darted wildly¡ªconfused, unfocused¡ªuntil it landed on James. James saw it immediately. The fear. Lucian blinked, his breathing still uneven. James frowned. "Are you alright?" Lucian hesitated, his mind still foggy, the whispers still lingering in his head. But he forced a small nod. "Yeah¡­ just a dream." James didn¡¯t believe him. But he didn¡¯t push. Lucian looked away, his chest tight. Why¡­ why did that memory return? Why now? Chapter 28 The Crown Prince''s Arrival The day had come. The soldiers were buzzing with excitement, their voices filled with admiration. "The Crown Prince is coming! Let¡¯s go see him!" The vice commander ordered everyone to assemble. The sound of galloping hooves filled the air as the Crown Prince, Novel Al Pestelio, arrived at the northern border. The Duke welcomed him, and together, they walked toward the camp. Soldiers lined up in formation, standing proudly, cheering for their future king. Lucian stood at the back, his hands clenched at his sides. Then¡ªNovel¡¯s gaze swept over the soldiers. And then¡ªhe saw him. Lucian felt it. The weight of that gaze. His breath hitched. His stomach twisted. But before Novel could say anything, Lucian turned sharply and stepped behind a tree. Out of sight. Out of reach. The Crown Prince continued forward, his expression unreadable. That night, after dinner, Novel and the Duke sat inside the command tent. A dim lantern flickered between them, casting long shadows on the walls. The Duke leaned back, folding his arms. "Why are you here, Your Highness?" Novel¡¯s gaze remained steady. "You already know, Duke." The Duke¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You¡¯re young. You still believe in idealistic dreams. You don¡¯t understand war." Novel didn¡¯t flinch. "And do you want this war to continue forever?" The Duke exhaled, his expression hardening. "It is not that simple. Do you know how many men have bled for this border? How many have died?" Novel¡¯s eyes darkened. "That is why it must end." Silence. For a moment, the only sound was the wind howling outside. The Duke watched him carefully. Then, he chuckled¡ªa bitter, almost mocking laugh. "You sound just like your mother." Novel¡¯s expression flickered. But he didn¡¯t deny it. "You know for the next generation¡­ for the future, we have to stop it," Novel murmured. The Duke¡¯s smirk faded. His expression, for the first time, looked... tired. He ran a hand over his face, sighing. "We tried before. And it failed. Every time, it failed." "But we never tried this way," Novel said softly. The Duke looked at him. And for the first time, he saw not a prince¡­ but a future king. Still, he said nothing. Novel stood. "Rest well, Duke. I will see you in the morning." As he left, the Duke remained seated, staring into the flickering light. His mind was restless. Not because of the war. Not because of the prince. But because for the first time in years¡­ He felt uneasy. As if something was coming. Something far worse than war. The next day, the Crown Prince gathered with the Duke and his officers, presenting his strategy. But¡ª Every single idea was rejected. The discussions stretched for hours, filled with debates, counterarguments, and tense silences. The Duke was firm. The northern border had been at war for years, and no words alone would change that. Meanwhile¡ª Lucian sat alone, lost in thought. He couldn¡¯t shake the dream. The blurred memory haunted him. A figure standing in the middle of a battlefield¡ªhis entire body drenched in blood. Both his eyes¡ªdark, burning red. But the face¡­ The face was missing. Lucian ran a hand through his hair, frustration tightening his chest. Who was it? Why did it feel so¡­ familiar? The feeling left a hollow ache in his heart. James and Lucy were passing by when they spotted Lucian sitting alone, his posture tense, his eyes distant. ¡°Lucian?¡± Lucy called softly. He didn¡¯t react. She frowned. ¡°Lucian?¡± She tried again, this time louder. Lucian flinched, snapping out of his daze. He looked up, startled, as if waking from a nightmare. Lucy and James exchanged a glance before sitting beside him. ¡°You okay?¡± James asked. Lucian hesitated. His mind was tangled with too many thoughts, but deep down, he knew¡ªhe needed help. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. He exhaled. ¡°James, Lucy¡­ can you help me?¡± They nodded immediately. Lucian hesitated before speaking. ¡°If¡­ if there were memories you had forgotten¡ªcompletely wiped from your mind¡ªbut they suddenly started to return, just in pieces¡­ what would you do?¡± Silence. James and Lucy looked at each other, unsure how to respond. Lucy, after a long pause, said, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± She hugged her knees. ¡°Memories are strange, Lucian. Some are treasures. Some are wounds. And sometimes, our mind buries the most painful ones to protect us. If something buried is coming back¡­¡± She looked at him with soft, worried eyes. ¡°¡­it might be something you weren¡¯t ready to face before.¡± Lucian¡¯s throat tightened. Lucy gave a small smile. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Whatever it is, you¡¯re not alone.¡± James clapped a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re here.¡± Lucian felt warmth creep into his chest. He had never had people like this before. People who stood by him. He took a deep breath. ¡°Thank you.¡± They sat there in comfortable silence, letting the cool wind brush against them. Later that night, Lucian and James walked together after dinner. Lucian glanced at James. Something was still bothering him. ¡°James¡­ do you remember the night we were attacked?¡± James tensed. Lucian noticed immediately. James hesitated, his grip tightening around his wrist as if he was holding something back. Then, without a word, he grabbed Lucian¡¯s arm and pulled him into a nearby tent. Lucian frowned. ¡°James, what are you¡ª¡± James shushed him, glancing around before lowering his voice to a whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened that night. But I do know one thing¡ªthe commander warned everyone never to talk about it.¡± Lucian¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Never?¡± James nodded. ¡°Not a word. Not a single mention. It was an order.¡± Lucian¡¯s mind reeled. What were they hiding? His voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°Do you remember anything? Where do they find me?¡± James hesitated again. Then¡ªhe exhaled. ¡°¡­I overheard some of the officers talking. They said they found you deep inside the forest. Near a cliff.¡± Lucian frowned. ¡°A cliff?¡± James nodded. ¡°It¡¯s in the middle of the woods. They said from there, you can see the moon perfectly.¡± A shiver crawled down Lucian¡¯s spine. A cliff¡­ deep in the forest¡­ on a full moon night. His heart pounded. He had to go there. Two days later¡ª It was a full moon. Lucian waited until the camp fell silent. Until the torches dimmed and the sound of soldiers laughing around fires faded into the quiet hum of night. Then, he moved. Silent. Quick. Careful. He took a horse and slipped into the trees. As he rode deeper into the forest, the night felt¡­ heavier. Like something was waiting. Something new he was coming. And it was watching. The Duke was restless. Something had been bothering him ever since that night¡ªthe night Lucian was found. And then, just as he was considering his thoughts, he saw it. A shadow slipped out of the camp. Lucian. The Duke¡¯s eyes narrowed. Where is he going? Without hesitation, he grabbed his horse and followed. The deeper they rode into the woods, the more unnatural the air felt. Then¡ªthe Duke spotted hoofprints in the dirt. Lucian had dismounted. Not far ahead, his horse was tied to a tree. And beside it¡ªbootprints leading into the trees. The Duke¡¯s grip on the reins tightened. He dismounted, tying his horse as well. Then¡ªhe followed the tracks. Something wasn¡¯t right. The air was too still. The deeper he walked, the more it felt like he was walking into something that wasn¡¯t meant to be disturbed. His pulse quickened. Lucian¡­ Where are you going? And¡ª What are you trying to remember? Lucian reached the cliff, his breath uneven, and his pulse erratic. The moon hung above him like an unblinking eye, casting its pale light over the forest. The wind howled through the trees, a whispering chorus of voices he couldn¡¯t quite understand. The air felt wrong. Heavy. Suffocating. He scanned the area, searching for¡­ something. But all he found was silence. Lucian exhaled, frustration and disappointment settling deep into his chest. Had he come all this way for nothing? Then¡ª A presence. His heart stopped. Something was watching him. A slow, creeping dread curled inside his gut. His muscles tensed, his senses screamed, but his body refused to move. Then, from the darkness¡ª Two red eyes. Lucian¡¯s breathing became shallow. Cold fear spread through his veins like poison. The way those eyes stared¡ªunblinking, predatory¡ªmade every instinct in his body shriek. The wind died. The world froze. Lucian tried to take a step back, but his legs didn¡¯t respond. It was as if chains had wrapped around him, pulling him deeper into the abyss. Then¡ªit moved. A blur of shadow lunged toward him. Lucian''s heart slammed against his ribs. His body finally obeyed¡ªhe turned to run. But his foot snagged on a root, sending him crashing to the ground. His vision blurred. And when he looked up¡ª Nothing. The glowing red eyes were gone. Lucian sat there, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Maybe¡­ maybe he had imagined it? He turned¡ª A face. Right beside his. Lucian¡¯s scream never left his throat. His face stared back at him. But it wasn¡¯t him. The reflection of himself grinned¡ªa twisted, bloodstained grin. His eyes were pitch black, with only thin rings of burning red. His face, his entire body¡ªdrenched in blood. Lucian tried to move. He couldn¡¯t. The world around him melted. Memories¡ªvisions¡ªthings he had long buried¡ªcame alive. He saw himself, lying broken and bleeding on the battlefield. He saw the enemy soldiers advancing, their blades gleaming in the moonlight. He remembered falling. He did not remember getting back up. But now he saw. His body¡ªhis hands¡ª Slaughter. Blood sprayed. Screams filled the air. Pleas for mercy¡ªignored. His sword was carved through flesh like it was made of paper. He saw himself laughing as he tore through them, his blade drinking in their terror. No. No, that¡¯s not me! The vision shifted. He was standing atop a mountain of corpses. His face is unrecognizable. His eyes burned with abyssal hunger. His lips curled into a monstrous smile. Lucian clutched his head, nails digging into his scalp. This wasn¡¯t real. This wasn¡¯t real. But then¡ªthe shadow of himself stepped closer. And whispered¡ª ¡°You enjoyed it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lucian¡¯s entire body convulsed. His stomach twisted violently. He dropped to his knees, retching onto the ground. His mind burned. His skin itched, like something was crawling underneath it. ¡°No¡­ no, I didn¡¯t¡­ I¡ª¡± ¡°You killed them. You ripped them apart. And you smiled.¡± Lucian¡¯s breaths turned ragged. He gripped his arms, scratching violently as if trying to tear off his skin. The voice laughed. The vision shifted again. This time, he saw something new. A woman crying¡ªa man standing beside her. They looked at a child. A child with familiar blue eyes, sleeping soundly. The man leaned down, brushing the child¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but this is the only way to protect you.¡± A knock at the door. A young maid entered. Lucian¡¯s breath caught in his throat. Chloe? The images blurred, overlapping, crashing into him at once. Voices. Screams. Pain. The sound of metal clashing. The whispers in his head get louder. ¡°You are not real.¡± ¡°You are a mistake.¡± ¡°You are a monster.¡± Lucian clamped his hands over his ears, but the voices only grew. The Duke had followed Lucian¡¯s tracks deep into the forest. The moment he arrived, he felt it. A suffocating presence. Lucian stood beneath the moonlight, completely still. The Duke¡¯s gut twisted. Something wasn¡¯t right. He took a cautious step forward. A twig snapped under his boot. Lucian didn¡¯t move. But something else did. The Duke¡¯s breath hitched. A shadow stood beside Lucian. It wasn¡¯t human. Then¡ªit turned. The Duke froze. It smiled. A smile so sinister, so wrong, that for the first time in years¡ªthe Duke felt true fear. Then¡ªit vanished. Lucian collapsed. The Duke stood frozen for several moments, his pulse hammering. Then, he rushed forward. But before he could reach him¡ª Lucian¡¯s eyes snapped open. The Duke stopped. Those weren¡¯t Lucian¡¯s eyes. They weren¡¯t human. Then, as if nothing had happened, Lucian blinked¡ªhis normal blue eyes returning. He gasped, looked around frantically, and ran. The Duke did not move. Because deep in his mind, a terrifying realization took root. What exactly is the royal family trying to hide? And more importantly¡ª Why is the Crown Prince here? Chapter 29 Lucian sat inside his camp, his breath ragged, his hands trembling. His thoughts spiraled out of control. "What was that?" "Did I do that?" "Did I kill them?" He turned to the mirror. His reflection wasn¡¯t his own. A twisted, blood-soaked version of himself stared back. His eyes¡ªpitch black, with only thin rings of burning red¡ªbored into his soul. The reflection tilted its head, smiling¡ªa wide, jagged grin too wide for any human face. Lucian stumbled back, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs. But when he looked at his hands¡ª Blood. Thick. Dripping. Staining his fingers, his wrists¡ªhis entire body. And then¡ªcorpses. They surrounded him. Some lay motionless, their blank eyes staring into nothingness. Others¡ªstill alive¡ªreached out to him, their bodies torn apart, mouths forming silent pleas. Their fingers curled around his ankles. Begging. Lucian''s breath caught. He kicked at them and scrambled backwards, but the bodies wouldn¡¯t let go. Their lips moved, whispering in unison: ¡°You did this.¡± "No¡­ no, this isn¡¯t real." The world started spinning. The soldiers'' screams, the brutal massacre, his monstrous laughter¡ªit all came rushing back. "No, it¡¯s not me." ¡°You¡¯re a monster.¡± The voice slithered into his mind. Lucian clawed at his ears, trying to drown it out, but it only grew louder. The voice changed. It was his mother¡¯s voice now. ¡°I should never have given birth to you.¡± His father¡¯s voice. ¡°You are a monster who will kill everyone.¡± Chloe¡¯s voice. ¡°If I had known what you were, I would have killed you myself.¡± James. ¡°You disgust me. Stay away from me.¡± Joe. Lucy. Del. Novel. Everyone. Their faces twisted in hate. They surrounded him, closing in. Hands reached for him, clawing at his skin. Lucian screamed. "SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" The voices stopped. A silence so unnatural it made his skin crawl. He staggered to his feet, gasping for breath. His reflection remained unchanged. It grinned. ¡°Who are you?¡± Lucian whispered. His reflection tilted its head. ¡°I¡¯m you¡­ You are me.¡± Lucian¡¯s stomach twisted. He shook his head violently. "No. I''m Lucian. You are not me. You are a monster." The reflection laughed. A deep, guttural, inhuman laugh. ¡°Really?¡± it whispered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you enjoy it?¡± Lucian¡¯s pulse stopped. No. His reflection stepped forward. ¡°Didn¡¯t it feel good?¡± Lucian backed away. ¡°No¡­ No, I¡ª¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you smile?¡± The mirror shattered. But the reflection remained in each shard. Hundreds of pieces. Hundreds of bloodstained, grinning faces. ¡°HAA¡­HAA¡­HAA¡­¡± The Camp Awaken to a Nightmare The entire camp heard the scream. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Some soldiers bolted upright, thinking it was an enemy attack. Others rushed outside, their hearts pounding. James and Lucy ran toward Lucian¡¯s tent. The closer they got, the worse the feeling became. When they entered¡ªthey froze. Lucian was on the floor, his body shaking violently. His nails were digging into his arms, his skin torn from scratching. His breath was uneven, erratic, and broken. But what truly horrified them¡­ Was his smile. Lucian¡¯s lips curled upward, but tears streamed down his face. A smile of pure madness. It wasn¡¯t Lucian¡¯s smile. It was the same one they had seen on the battlefield. James reached out, trembling. ¡°Lucian?¡± Lucian''s head snapped toward him. James felt his stomach drop. Lucian¡¯s eyes¡ªdeep, empty pools of red. James staggered back. His breath hitched. Lucian laughed. Low. Guttural. Unhinged. Then, he started rubbing his hands against the ground. Again. And again. Until they bled. "Lucian!" Lucy grabbed his arms, trying to stop him. "You''re hurting yourself!" But he didn¡¯t stop. He didn¡¯t even hear her. The words kept leaving his lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. I didn¡¯t do it. It wasn¡¯t me. I didn¡¯t do it.¡± Again. Again. Like a prayer. Like a curse. The news reached the Duke. He ran to the tent, his heartbeat racing. The moment he entered, his breath caught. Lucian wasn¡¯t himself. He had seen men lose their minds before. He had seen warriors break under the horrors of war. But this¡ª This was something else. The Duke moved swiftly, taking a small vial from his coat. ¡°Hold him down.¡± James and Lucy hesitated, but they obeyed. Lucian thrashed violently. It took five soldiers to restrain him. The Duke injected the medicine. Lucian''s body jerked¡ªthen went still. His eyes fluttered closed. His breathing slowed. The tension didn¡¯t leave. Not even when the madness faded from his face. The Duke turned¡ªand froze. At the entrance of the tent, standing in the shadows¡ª The Crown Prince. He stood there, watching. No emotion. No surprise. Like he expected this. The Duke¡¯s lips parted, but before he could speak¡ª Novel turned and walked away. A whisper escaped his lips, too quiet to be heard. "It¡¯s already begun." The sky burned in hues of deep orange as the sun bled into the horizon. The air was thick with anticipation. Something was coming. The vice-commander¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and unwavering. ¡°All soldiers, assemble! The Crown Prince will address you.¡± A ripple of movement spread through the camp. Boots pounded against the ground. Soldiers rushed to line up, standing tall and waiting. But one man hesitated. Lucian. He lingered in the back, his body rigid. He should not be here. Yet, his feet refused to move. His heart pounded against his ribs, a deep unease gnawing at him. The past was getting closer. He could feel it. Then¡ªthe Duke¡¯s voice sliced through the air. ¡°Attention!¡± The camp froze. And then¡ªhe arrived. Novel Al Pestelio. The Crown Prince of Astria. He moved with effortless authority, his eyes sweeping over the men¡ªuntil they landed on Lucian. Lucian inhaled sharply. But then¡ªNovel smiled. ¡°I am Novel Al Pestelio, Crown Prince of Astria, standing before you today.¡± A silence. Then¡ªa chuckle. A low, genuine laugh. The soldiers relaxed, mirroring his grin. Some even laughed with him. The tension broke¡ªbut only slightly. Novel let them settle before continuing. ¡°You all know why we are here.¡± His voice shifted. Stronger. Commanding. ¡°For years, Astria and Velkan have fought over land. A war fueled by ambition. But tell me¡ªhas this land been worth the blood spilled?¡± There was a tense silence. The soldiers shifted uneasily. ¡°¡­No,¡± someone murmured. Lucian¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°I will not stand here and tell you to continue this war. I will not ask you to die for something that should have never begun. I want to end it.¡± A shockwave passed through the camp. End the war? The air felt heavier. Soldiers exchanged glances, their grips on their swords tightening. Was he serious? Novel¡¯s voice softened. ¡°I do not want to lose more people. I do not want to see families torn apart. I do not want to lose any more family members.¡± His voice wavered¡ªjust slightly. And his eyes flickered¡ª And they found Lucian. Lucian¡¯s stomach twisted violently. He knows. Novel blinked¡ªand turned back to the soldiers. ¡°I swear to you all¡ªI will bring peace. But I need your trust.¡± The weight of his words hung in the air. Then¡ªa soldier spoke. ¡°And how do you plan to do that?¡± Novel exhaled slowly. Then¡ªhe smiled again. ¡°This.¡± A figure stepped forward. A man clad in armor, his presence unnatural. The soldiers tensed. Something felt wrong. Lucian¡¯s hands tightened into fists. Then¡ªthe man stepped into the light. Gasps ripped through the camp. Novel¡¯s voice remained steady. ¡°Let me introduce you to the Crown Prince of the Velkan Empire.¡± A deafening silence. The soldiers froze. Lucian¡¯s chest tightened. His breathing became shallow. Velkan¡ªthe very empire they were at war with. Standing before them. The enemy. The man held his ground. His emerald-green eyes burned. His presence commanded attention. Alexzander De Cerci. The rightful heir to the Velkan Empire. The tension reached its peak. Then¡ªsomeone snapped. A soldier stepped forward, his voice filled with rage. ¡°He¡¯s the enemy! We¡¯ve lost too much to his kind!¡± His words cracked the silence. Others nodded. Hands tightened around swords. But then¡ªAlexzander knelt. The camp stilled. And then¡ªhe spoke. ¡°I know what my people have done to you. I do not expect forgiveness.¡± His voice did not waver. ¡°My uncle, the current king, is the one who seeks war. Not me. And for his greed, I was exiled. Now¡ªI stand before you, not as a prince, but as a man who wants to end this war.¡± He bowed his head. The Crown Prince of Astria lowered his head too. For the first time¡ªthe soldiers saw them not as rulers. But as men. Men who had lost. Men who wanted to end it. The silence dragged on. Then¡ª One whisper. ¡°¡­He bowed.¡± A second voice. A third. Then¡ªa roar. A deafening cheer. Lucian stood frozen, his heart hammering in his chest. He saw it. Novel¡¯s gaze never left him. And in his eyes¡ªLucian saw the truth. This was never just about the war. He was here for him. And deep down¡ªLucian knew it. But he wasn¡¯t ready. His hands clenched tightly. A sharp, burning sensation crawled up his arms. He itched¡ªhis skin felt too tight. A whisper curled in his mind. ¡°You don¡¯t belong here¡±. Lucian swallowed hard, his breath uneven. No. This can¡¯t be happening. He¡¯s not looking for me. I don¡¯t exist to him. I stopped existing to them years ago. Didn¡¯t I? The cheering faded into static in his ears. His vision blurred. He felt like running. But Novel¡¯s voice broke through the haze. A whisper. Just for him. ¡°I finally found you.¡± The long-awaited moment had come. Chapter 30 After weeks of tense negotiations, the Velkan Empire¡¯s response arrived. It was not a treaty.It was a death sentence. "Surrender the traitor Alexzander De Cerci, and we will spare you." The words sent a ripple of anger through the camp. The soldiers clenched their fists, their hatred for Velkan burning brighter than ever. They had fought, bled, and lost too much¡ªand now Velkan wanted to decide their fate? No. Not today. Not ever. Standing before his men, Crown Prince Novel held the letter in his hand, his expression unreadable. Then¡ªhe tore it apart. "We offered peace," he said, his voice carrying across the camp, steady and strong. "They denied it." He took a deep breath, turning to the thousands of warriors before him. Their faces were hardened, determined. They were ready. "This will be the last war," Novel declared. "We will fight¡ªnot for greed, not for conquest¡ªbut to bring peace to Astria." His eyes scanned the crowd, pausing¡ªfor a brief second¡ªon Lucian. Lucian¡¯s stomach twisted. He knows. "Are you with me?" Novel roared. The soldiers erupted. "YES!" "FOR ASTRIA!" "LONG LIVE THE KINGDOM!" The battlefield trembled with their voices, echoing into the distance. Even the villagers, hiding in their homes, heard the battle cry and knew¡ªthe war had begun. The army moved out like an unstoppable storm. The war council had devised a strategy, splitting the forces into eight divisions. ?? Four attack groups¡ªeach advancing from different directions to surround the enemy.?? Two reinforcement units¡ªready to push in when needed.?? One defensive team¡ªstationed at the camp, in case of an ambush.?? One supply unit¡ªresponsible for delivering weapons, food, and medicine. The Duke commanded the main force, with Novel at his side. Lucian was assigned to the supply unit. He should have been relieved. But something gnawed at his gut. Something felt wrong. The war erupted like a storm of steel. For two days, the battlefield was drenched in blood. Steel clashed. Arrows rained. The air was thick with the scent of iron and death. The Astria army had pushed forward aggressively¡ªonly to realize, too late, they had walked into a trap. The Velkan forces had lured them in, pretending to retreat, only to slam them from all sides. Casualties mounted. Wounded soldiers filled the medic tents. Inside the war camp, the Duke and Crown Prince poured over maps, their brows furrowed. "We¡¯ve been too reckless," the Duke muttered. "They let us push forward just so they could encircle us." "We need to break their formation," Novel said, his eyes burning with strategy. The council debated their next move. But in the distance¡ªsomething even more dangerous was already unfolding. Lucian had been with the supply unit, far from the battlefield. But the war had found him nonetheless. The supply caravan had been ambushed. The enemy knew their route. The soldiers fought fiercely, defending the wagons carrying precious food, medicine, and weapons. The enemy had tried to burn the supplies, but Astria¡¯s men held strong. Still¡ªthe question lingered. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. How did Velkan know? When Lucian returned to camp, his uniform torn and streaked with dirt, he found the Crown Prince already waiting for him. "Lucian," Novel said calmly. "What happened?" Lucian swallowed hard. He recounted everything¡ªthe ambush, the fire, the enemy¡¯s strange certainty of their location. The war council fell silent. Then, Novel¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°There¡¯s a traitor.¡± The words hung in the air like a death sentence. The Duke¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Someone in our camp is feeding Velkan information.¡± Silence. Tension tightened in the room like a noose. "How do we find him?" the Duke asked. Novel turned to the supply officer. "How much do we have left?" The soldier saluted. "Enough for ten days, Your Highness." A cold, calculating look flickered in Novel¡¯s eyes. "Then we will not request more supplies for seven days." The room stilled. The Duke tilted his head. "You¡¯re setting a trap." "If we have a traitor, he will report that we are running out of supplies," Novel said. "Velkan will expect us to make another supply run. But we won¡¯t." The council exchanged glances. It was dangerous. It was risky. But it was brilliant. "Seven days," Novel repeated. "Then we find out who the traitor is." Lucian didn¡¯t speak. But something in his chest twisted. Seven days. Seven days until the noose tightened. Seven days until someone was exposed. And yet¡ªa sick feeling in his gut whispered¡­ What if he didn¡¯t want to know the answer? The camp was restless. Tension hung in the air like a blade waiting to drop. Lucian sat in his tent, his back against the cold wall, staring at his trembling hands. The voice slithered into his thoughts. "You know who the traitor is." Lucian clenched his fists. No. It couldn''t be. The voice laughed. "You¡¯ve always known." Lucian shook his head violently. No. No. That¡¯s not true. Then¡ªa scream. A soldier came stumbling into the camp, blood dripping from his shoulder. ¡°They¡­ they knew everything!¡± he gasped, falling to his knees. The commander rushed forward. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°They were waiting for us. The enemy¡­ they knew our movements. It was an ambush.¡± Silence crushed the camp. Lucian''s chest tightened. It¡¯s happening. ¡°The others¡­¡± the soldier continued, his voice cracking, ¡°they¡­ they¡¯re surrounded.¡± The commander¡¯s face darkened. Someone had betrayed them. And Lucian knew exactly who it was. Later that night, Lucian watched as soldiers dragged a man toward the commander¡¯s tent. ¡°We found the traitor,¡± one soldier announced. Lucian followed them, his stomach twisting. The accused soldier struggled, his wrists bound. ¡°No! I don¡¯t know where that letter came from! I swear it¡¯s not mine!¡± The commander took the letter and handed it to the Crown Prince. Novel¡¯s gaze scanned the paper, his expression unreadable. Then, he looked up. ¡°No,¡± he said calmly. ¡°He¡¯s not the traitor.¡± Silence. Lucian exhaled sharply. He knew it. But then¡ªmovement. Just beyond the firelight, standing in the shadows, watching the scene with cold amusement¡ªwas James. Lucian¡¯s breath caught. James smirked. A sickening realization slithered through Lucian¡¯s spine. It was James. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. No. No. Not him. James met his gaze¡ªand held it. There was no hesitation. No remorse. Only quiet, simmering hatred. Then¡ªhe turned and walked away. Lucian felt the ground beneath him vanish. Lucian followed James, his mind racing. He needed proof. He needed to be wrong. James disappeared into the woods, and Lucian kept his distance. Then¡ªhe stopped. A second figure emerged from the darkness. Lucian¡¯s stomach twisted into knots. A Velkan soldier. He watched as James handed over a letter. And in return¡ªthe soldier handed him a pouch of gold. Lucian¡¯s hands clenched into fists. His worst fear had come true. He took a step forward¡ªbut the second his foot hit the ground¡ª SNAP! The world spun. A wire coiled around his ankle¡ªyanked him into the air. Lucian barely had time to process his mistake before¡ª Torches flared to life. A dozen Velkan soldiers stepped out from the trees, surrounding him. A deep chuckle. ¡°Well, well. Look at what we caught,¡± one soldier sneered. ¡°A little rat.¡± Lucian twisted, trying to break free. Then¡ªJames stepped forward. Lucian¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°James¡­¡± James looked down at him. Expressionless. Empty. Lucian¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Why¡­?¡± James tilted his head slightly. Then, in the coldest voice Lucian had ever heard¡ª ¡°Did you really think we were friends?¡± Lucian¡¯s body froze. Something inside him cracked. The soldiers laughed. ¡°Damn, even I felt that one.¡± Lucian barely registered it. His mind was spiraling. Everything¡ªthe memories, the trust, the laughter¡ªit was all a lie. James turned his back to him¡ªand walked away. Lucian didn¡¯t have time to process the pain before a boot slammed into his ribs. Pain exploded through his body. ¡°Get him up,¡± the Velkan soldier ordered. Lucian was dragged through the dirt, his mind still stuck on James'' words. Did you really think we were friends? The words echoed¡ªover and over¡ª Until his mind finally shattered. Lucian was tossed onto the frozen ground. Boots stomped toward him. Slow. Heavy. Purposeful. He lifted his head just in time to see him. Chapter 31 The Velkan Commander. He was a towering man, clad in black armor, his face marred by an ugly burn scar. His eyes¡ªsharp, predatory¡ªbore into Lucian like he was something less than human. He knelt down, gripping Lucian¡¯s jaw with an iron grip. Lucian barely flinched. He felt nothing. Then¡ªthe commander smiled. "So¡­ it was you." Lucian didn¡¯t understand. The commander¡¯s grip tightened. ¡°The one who slaughtered my men.¡± Lucian¡¯s breath caught. What? The commander leaned in close. ¡°You think we didn¡¯t see what you did?¡± he whispered. ¡°We saw everything.¡± Lucian¡¯s blood turned to ice. The commander¡¯s smile widened. ¡°You weren¡¯t fighting,¡± he said softly. ¡°You were hunting.¡± Lucian¡¯s mind screamed. No. No, that¡¯s not true. But the commander¡¯s next words nearly stopped his heart. ¡°I saw the way you smiled when you tore them apart.¡± Lucian¡¯s stomach twisted. Then¡ªhe was thrown to the ground. The commander stepped on his chest, pinning him down. Lucian met his gaze, and for the first time¡ª He saw fear in the commander¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­You¡¯re not human, are you?¡± the commander murmured. Lucian stopped breathing. The commander stood. ¡°Lock him up,¡± he ordered. ¡°He¡¯s not a prisoner¡ªhe¡¯s a monster we need to contain.¡± Lucian was dragged away. His mind was fracturing. His hands trembled. Not from fear. Not from pain. But because¡­ he couldn¡¯t remember. He couldn¡¯t remember what happened that night. And that was the worst part of all. Lucian lay in the cold, damp cell, his hands and legs bound. The silence around him felt suffocating, yet his mind was anything but quiet. The betrayal, the pain, the voices¡ªthey all clawed at him, whispering, gnawing, breaking him apart piece by piece. Then¡ª "Hey... do you remember me?" Lucian stirred, his head tilting slightly toward the voice. The cell was dimly lit, the torchlight flickering against the stone walls. A figure stepped closer, his boots scraping against the ground. "No?" The voice sneered. "Then let me remind you." The soldier moved into the dim light, and recognition hit Lucian like a blade to the chest. He was one of them. One of the soldiers from that night. The night of the massacre. Lucian¡¯s expression remained blank, but the soldier¡¯s face twisted with rage. "Do you remember how you killed my comrades? They begged you. They cried. And you¡ª" his voice shook, "¡ªyou slaughtered them like animals." The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Lucian said nothing. The soldier¡¯s anger snapped. With a guttural roar, he drove his boot into Lucian¡¯s stomach. Pain exploded through his ribs, but Lucian barely reacted. Furious at his silence, the soldier struck again. And again. Each kick is more violent, more unhinged. Blood dripped from Lucian¡¯s lips onto the floor. "Feel that?!" the soldier screamed. "This is for them! This is for¡ª" "Enough!" Another soldier pulled him back, gripping his arms. "You¡¯ll kill him before the commander gets his turn." The enraged soldier spat at Lucian before storming out. The others followed, leaving him alone in the suffocating dark. Lucian lay still, bleeding. His body screamed in agony, but his mind was elsewhere. "Did you really think we were friends?" James¡¯s voice echoed in his head. Lucian clenched his fists. Back at the camp, a soldier burst into the commander¡¯s tent, gasping for breath. "Sir! I saw those¡ª Velkan soldiers! They captured one of our men!" The commander¡¯s eyes darkened. "Who?" "I... I don¡¯t know." The soldier hesitated. "But they dragged him into their camp." A chilling silence filled the room. Then¡ªa voice. "We have a traitor." The soldiers turned as Alexzander De Cerci stepped forward. His emerald-green eyes burned with certainty. "They knew our every move. Someone leaked our plan." He looked around. "And I intend to find out who." The tension in the camp thickened. Soldiers glanced at each other, suspicion creeping in. The commander stepped outside and ordered a headcount. No one seemed missing¡ªuntil the Crown Prince¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto a single figure. James. James¡¯s hands fidgeted. He took an uneasy step back, his eyes darting for an escape. His fingers clenched around something in his pocket. Too late. A soldier moved toward him. James turned to run¡ª His foot caught on a rock. He crashed onto the ground, and gold coins spilled from his pocket, glinting under the torchlight. Silence. The Crown Prince approached slowly, picking up a coin. His face remained unreadable as he turned it over in his palm. The royal emblem of Velkan. His voice was quiet. Dangerous. "So you are the traitor." James trembled. "No¡ªit¡¯s not mine! It¡¯s¡ª" His breath hitched. "Lucian! Yes! Lucian gave it to me! He said to hold onto it!" James¡¯ heartbeat pounded in his ears as the Crown Prince¡¯s blade pressed against his throat. ¡°Where. Is. He?¡± Novel¡¯s voice was ice, sharp and unforgiving. James swallowed hard. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t¡ª¡± The blade pressed deeper. A single drop of blood trickled down his neck. The Duke¡¯s voice was low. Dangerous. ¡°You sold him out, didn¡¯t you?¡± James stammered, eyes darting around, desperate for an escape. ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡ªIt was Lucian! He¡¯s the traitor, not me!¡± Silence. Then¡ª The unmistakable sound of a sword unsheathing. Novel¡¯s voice was a whisper. ¡°Liar.¡± James let out a choked sob. "I-It was them! The Velkan soldiers took him! I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing to him!" The Crown Prince exhaled sharply, lowering his sword. "Lock him up." James was dragged away, screaming. Lucian was thrown into the cell, his hands and legs bound in thick chains. The cold, damp floor beneath him was stained with old blood¡ªhis or someone else¡¯s, he didn¡¯t know. His body ached from the relentless beating, but the pain in his chest was far worse. James. Lucian¡¯s mind kept replaying the moment. The look in James¡¯ eyes¡ªvoid of warmth, void of guilt. The words that shattered something inside him: ¡°Did you really think we were friends?¡± His breath hitched. His fingers curled into the dirt. Betrayal. Again. His heart pounded so violently he thought it might burst. Then¡ª A voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± Lucian¡¯s entire body stiffened. No. Not now. Not this. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block it out. ¡°They never cared. They never will.¡± His breathing grew ragged. No, no, no¡ª ¡°Your ¡®friends¡¯¡ªthey were never yours to begin with.¡± His head throbbed as a pressure built inside his skull. The air around him felt thicker, suffocating. ¡°Look at where you are. Look at what you¡¯ve become.¡± Lucian opened his eyes, and his blood ran cold. The cells around him had changed. It was no longer just a prison¡ªit was a graveyard. Corpses littered the ground, their dead eyes staring right at him. The walls dripped with fresh blood, the stench of rot thick in the air. Hands, twisted and broken, reached for him, clawing at his legs. And then¡ª He saw himself. Standing amidst the carnage, drenched in blood. His face twisted into something monstrous, a jagged smile stretching across his lips. His eyes¡ªblack voids with rings of burning crimson¡ªbore into him, unrelenting. ¡°You did this.¡± Lucian trembled. ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± Images flooded his mind¡ªflashes of the massacre. Of him standing in the moonlight, surrounded by dismembered bodies. He saw their faces¡ªterror-stricken, pleading, broken. He heard their screams. And worst of all¡ª He saw himself laughing. ¡°No,¡± he whispered, voice cracking. ¡°That wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°Then who was it?¡± Lucian clutched his head, nails digging into his scalp, trying to drown out the voice. But it wouldn¡¯t stop. ¡°Take my hand.¡± The chains rattled as he flinched. In the darkness, a pale, ghostly hand emerged, reaching toward him. It was long, clawed, unnatural. ¡°I can take the pain away.¡± Lucian panted, chest rising and falling erratically. His hands twitched. A terrifying stillness filled the air. A part of him wanted to reach out. No more suffering. No more betrayal. No more pain. But then¡ª A memory. A woman¡¯s voice. Soft. Fragile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ this is the only way to protect you.¡± His breath hitched. The voice¡ªthe blurry figures¡ªwho were they? The voice in his head snarled, furious. ¡°They abandoned you. They left you to rot. Why do you still hesitate?¡± Lucian gritted his teeth. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°You have no one.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You are alone.¡± Lucian¡¯s eyes snapped open, fire igniting in his veins. His breathing steadied. His fingers twitched¡ªbut not to reach out. Instead, they clenched into fists. A slow, sharp grin formed on his lips. ¡°I will never be yours.¡± The voice screeched, enraged. The hand lunged for him, shadows curling around him, trying to consume him whole¡ª But Lucian did not move. Instead¡ª He smiled wider. And the darkness shattered. He gasped, back in the cell, his heart racing. "What¡­ was that?" he whispered. The shadow loomed over him. "The truth." Lucian¡¯s breathing was uneven. "Who¡­ are you?" The shadow¡¯s voice was calm. "The first ruler of Astria." Lucian froze. "That¡¯s impossible." The shadow chuckled. "Shall I tell you a story?" The flames in Lucian¡¯s mind flickered again. The soldiers came again to check on Lucian, Lucian was unconscious, and they saw and left. The voice started its game again, dragging hidden memories from Lucian¡¯s mind. He felt himself slipping¡ªpieces of his past unravelling, forcing him to confront what had been buried for so long. A vision. He was ten years old again, standing in the darkness of his childhood room. But he was not alone. A shadow loomed before him¡ªshapeless, featureless, yet undeniably there. It pulsed with an unnatural presence, tendrils of darkness curling at the edges of Lucian¡¯s perception. Lucian swallowed hard. ¡°Who are you?¡± The shadow chuckled, a deep, distorted sound that made his skin crawl. ¡°I am the ruler of this land.¡± Chapter 32 Astria¡¯s forces had launched a counterattack. The enemy, believing they had the upper hand, had walked straight into a trap. Panic spread through Velkan¡¯s ranks. The commander received the news. His face twisted in rage. ¡°RETREAT!¡± Fury burned in his eyes as he turned toward the cell where Lucian was held. Someone had to pay for this. He stormed inside. Lucian hung in the center of the room, his body a ruin of blood and bruises. His head lolled forward, strands of sweat-drenched hair sticking to his pale face. The commander¡¯s lips curled into a wicked grin. "Not dead yet?" Lucian barely moved. "Good." The commander gestured. His men obeyed. Lucian was hauled up, suspended in the air. His arms bound so tightly above him that his shoulders threatened to dislocate. Then¡ªthe commander brought out a knife. A cruel, gleaming thing. He dragged it lightly over Lucian¡¯s skin. Not deep. Just enough to sting. Just enough to draw blood. A slow, steady drip, drip, drip into a metal bucket beneath him. Lucian¡¯s body trembled. The commander smiled. Then¡ªhe brought out the hot iron rods. The tips glowed red. Lucian¡¯s breath hitched. The moment before contact was always the worst. Then¡ªsearing agony. The iron burned into his fresh wounds. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air. Lucian¡¯s screams ripped through the camp. The sound was inhuman. The kind of scream that shattered souls. The kind of scream that haunted nightmares. Even the enemy soldiers shuddered. But the commander? He laughed. ¡°Oh¡­ now that¡¯s the sound I wanted to hear.¡± Lucian¡¯s body shook violently, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. His vision blurred. His mind wavered. Somewhere deep inside¡ªsomething stirred. The voice slithered back. "Give in¡­ let me take over." Lucian gritted his teeth. "I won¡¯t." But his resolve was slipping. And the commander? If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The commander wasn¡¯t finished yet. The commander leaned in, his breath thick with bloodlust. The tip of his sword pressed against Lucian¡¯s bare chest, digging in just enough to draw a thin line of blood. ¡°I could let you go¡­ if you beg.¡± Lucian¡¯s eyes¡ªhazy and unfocused¡ªbarely registered the words. The commander smirked. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± Then, he drove the hot iron deeper into Lucian¡¯s shoulder. The sickening sizzle of burning flesh filled the air. Lucian¡¯s screams ripped through the night, raw and agonized. The scent of charred skin clung to the damp prison walls. Some soldiers flinched. They had seen prisoners break before. They had heard screams before. But this was different. Lucian should have passed out. He should have died already. Yet¡ªhe still breathed. One soldier hesitated. ¡°How is he still alive¡­?¡± Another gulped. ¡°That¡­ that isn¡¯t normal.¡± Then¡ªLucian¡¯s body convulsed. His fingers twitched¡ªthen clenched into fists. But not of his own will. His pain was so unbearable, so overwhelming, that his mind started breaking. His breath became erratic. His vision blurred. His surroundings twisted. A figure stood at the edge of the cell. Lucian¡¯s bloodied gaze shifted toward it. His father. The hallucination stepped forward, his regal robes flowing like liquid shadow. His expression was cold. Detached. ¡°You deserve this.¡± Lucian¡¯s breath hitched. The commander moved again¡ªbut for a split second, it wasn¡¯t him anymore. It was his brother. Novel¡¯s smirk was sharp, cruel. ¡°Did you really think you were anything more than a curse?¡± Lucian¡¯s body jerked violently. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Then¡ªeverything shattered. Lucian drifted. The pain faded, and he was somewhere else. A man stood before him, his hand extended. ¡°Come. It¡¯s time.¡± Lucian¡¯s gaze flickered past him¡ªthere were people behind him. Familiar faces. They were waiting and calling to him. Lucian stepped forward¡ª Chains erupted from the ground. They coiled around his wrists, his ankles, his throat. Lucian gasped, struggling, but two more appeared for every chain he broke. ¡°No¡­¡± He gritted his teeth. ¡°LET ME GO!¡± The figures ahead were still waiting. Watching. Then¡ªsomething appeared behind them. A shadow. Lucian¡¯s eyes widened. The shadow ripped through them. One by one. Screams filled the void. Lucian fought, desperation clawing at him. ¡°NO! RUN!¡± But none of them moved. They fell. Lifeless. The shadow turned to him. It had no face¡ªonly red, burning eyes. Lucian froze. The shadow stepped closer. Closer. Until¡ª It merged with him. A tsunami of memories crashed into his skull. Pain. Blood. Death. A voice slithered into his mind. ¡°Control it¡­ and make it yours.¡± Lucian¡¯s breath stuttered. His hands trembled. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know how.¡± The voice chuckled, dark and amused. ¡°Then your body will break.¡± Lucian¡¯s eyes burned. The chains around him shattered. Lucian never woke up. The Velkan soldiers assumed he was dead. They tossed his body into the pit of corpses. The News spread- the death of Lucian The camp was silent. A single message had shattered them all. The captured soldier is dead. The moment the words reached the Crown Prince, the world stopped. Novel¡¯s breath caught in his throat. His hands shook. He could not speak. His mind refused to accept it. Then¡ªhe staggered back, his knees buckling. Tears fell silently. The pain was unbearable. Lucian was gone. A hollow emptiness swallowed him whole. He turned sharply, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. He stormed toward the prisoner¡¯s cell. James sat alone. He had no remorse. He was waiting for the war to end, for his freedom. Then¡ªthe Crown Prince entered. His voice was sharp. Cold. Unforgiving. ¡°Are you happy now?¡± James looked up. Novel¡¯s eyes burned with quiet rage. Before James could even react¡ª Lucy, Kane, Del, and Joe entered the cell. Lucy¡¯s eyes were red with tears. ¡°Lucian is dead,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°No¡­ no, tell me you¡¯re wrong. He can¡¯t die¡ª¡± Del caught her before she collapsed. Joe and Kane¡¯s fury boiled over. Joe¡¯s hands shook as he pulled out a knife. His grip was unsteady¡ªhis knuckles white with rage. He lunged. Kane grabbed him just in time. ¡°Not like this.¡± Kane¡¯s voice was raw. ¡°Lucian wouldn¡¯t want this.¡± Joe¡¯s breathing was ragged, his shoulders trembling. The Crown Prince turned back to James. For the first time¡ªhe saw it. Lucian wasn¡¯t alone. There were people who loved him. People who would cry for him. Novel gritted his teeth. He wiped his tears before anyone could see. Then, his voice hardened. ¡°Lock him away.¡± The soldiers obeyed. As they left, Novel paused¡ªjust once. James sat motionless. At first, he thought he didn¡¯t care. But then¡ª Tears slid down his face. He clenched his fists, the weight of his mistake crushing him. He had betrayed the only real friend he ever had. And now¡ª Lucian was gone. Chapter 33 The next day, Astrian Camp The sun barely peeked through the clouds, casting a dull, eerie glow over the battlefield. The air was thick with the scent of steel, sweat, and something far worse¡ªanticipation. The Crown Prince stood before his soldiers, his voice firm but filled with an unshakable resolve. "Till now, we have lost many of our brothers in this war. But we will not stop here. We will not break. We will win this battle and return home victorious!" The soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the ground beneath them. "Yeah!" Their spirits burned like fire. But none of them knew what awaited them on the battlefield. At first, the Astrian army surged forward, cutting through enemy ranks with terrifying efficiency. Their path was clear. The enemy was retreating. But something was wrong. The Crown Prince, along with the Duke and Alexzander, led the charge, their blades stained crimson. The enemy soldiers fell back as if luring them forward. Then¡ªthe world opened up. As they pushed past the forest and into the vast plains, they saw it. The enemy army. Their numbers stretched beyond the horizon, a sea of black and silver armor standing in eerie silence. The Crown Prince raised his hand. "Halt!" Something felt... wrong. Alexzander¡¯s breath hitched. His sharp gaze locked onto a particular banner fluttering in the wind¡ªa golden dragon on a field of blood-red silk. He went pale. "The King has come." The Crown Prince stiffened. The enemy soldiers parted, making way for a single man. A figure rode forth on horseback. He wore a dark red uniform, embroidered with a golden dragon. His long hair cascaded down his shoulders, framing a face carved in steel¡ªmerciless, unreadable, inhuman. In each of his hands, he held a sword¡ªnot as weapons, but as extensions of himself. The sheer aura that surrounded him made the battlefield suffocating. Some soldiers shivered. The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. "Who is he?" Alexzander swallowed hard. Ferdinand V Velkan. The Tyrant King." Silence. Even the wind refused to move. Then¡ªthe first move. The last war begins The two armies faced each other in deadly stillness. The Crown Prince turned to his men. "The gods have answered our prayers and sent their king to the battlefield. This is our moment. We strike now, and we end this war." He raised his sword high. "War is never won by numbers! It is won by strength¡ªby those who refuse to break!" The soldiers roared. "LONG LIVE ASTRIA!" An arrow pierced the Crown Prince¡¯s shoulder. Blood sprayed into the air. The Astrian army exploded forward like a vengeful storm, charging with a fury unlike anything before. The battle erupted. Blades clashed. Screams tore through the sky. Steel met flesh. Blood rained down in rivers. No one knew who was winning. No one cared. It was a slaughter. Far from the battlefield, in the pits of the forgotten dead, Lucian¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Pain. His body ached. His wounds had long since dried, but something inside him had changed. He pushed himself up, his fingers scraping against bone. Corpses surrounded him. He staggered forward. Then¡ªhe heard it. The battlefield. The clashing steel. The distant screams. Lucian¡¯s mind raced. He didn¡¯t remember where he was¡ªwho he was. Then¡ªa soldier appeared. The man saw him. His face twisted in terror. "H-HOW¡­?! YOU''RE DEAD!" The soldier lunged. Lucian saw everything. The movement of the blade. The weak points in the soldier¡¯s stance. The openings. The mistakes. His body moved without thinking. CRACK! Lucian caught the soldier¡¯s wrist, twisting until the bone snapped. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. A scream. Then¡ªmore came. Five men rushed him. One aimed for his throat. Lucian ducked. Two swung their swords together. Lucian slid beneath them. Another grabbed him from behind. Lucian¡¯s head hit the ground. Something inside him awoke. The memories rushed in. The war. The betrayal. The truth. He remembered. Everything. His name. His pain. His rage. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of a fallen blade. He didn¡¯t hesitate. The first soldier fell. The second¡ªcut down in a single strike. The third¡ªslaughtered. The voice returned. "Did you enjoy it?" Lucian¡¯s lips curled. "It''s amazing." The voice laughed. "Don¡¯t overdo it. Your body still needs time." Lucian wiped the blood from his face, his smile widening. "I¡¯m free." The voice purred. "Go hunt them. Show them who the King of Monsters is." Lucian tilted his head. Then¡ªhe ran. Straight for the battlefield. Straight toward his next hunt. And as he ran¡ª He laughed. The Velkan King stood atop the battlefield, his dark red cloak billowing like a shadow swallowing the sun. His golden dragon insignia gleamed, but his expression was one of pure disgust. His piercing gaze swept over his army¡ªhis butchers, his warriors¡ªand yet, they trembled like frightened insects. At his side, his commander stood, head bowed, beads of sweat rolling down his temple. The King¡¯s voice came like a growl of thunder."So... you are all afraid of them?" The commander flinched but forced himself to answer. ¡°N-No, Your Majesty! We were merely... playing with them.¡± The moment the word left his mouth, the King moved. His hand shot forward, gripping the commander¡¯s throat. A sharp, choked gasp¡ªthen silence. The King¡¯s fingers tightened around the man¡¯s windpipe, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. The commander¡¯s face turned red¡ªhis eyes bulging, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish. His hands clawed desperately at the King¡¯s iron grip, but it was useless. The Velkan soldiers watched in frozen terror. The King¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. "Playing, huh?" His grip tightened. "And because of your games¡­ you lost me an army?" The commander¡¯s body spasmed violently. The sound of bones creaking filled the air, his veins bulging under the pressure. The King leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Win¡­ or die." Then¡ªhe hurled the commander onto the ground. A violent thud. The man landed hard, gasping, wheezing, desperately trying to drag air back into his crushed throat. No one moved. The Velkan soldiers stood paralyzed, watching as their leader barely managed to crawl away, his dignity shattered. The King turned to his army, his dark gaze burning through them. "Listen well." His voice was cold, sharp as a blade. "Either you return with victory¡­" He stepped forward, his towering presence making them shrink. "Or don¡¯t return at all." The wind howled. No one questioned him. The soldiers had no choice. They ran toward the battlefield, not with courage¡­ but with the terror of death snapping at their heels. Lucian moved like the wind, his breath steady, his feet barely touching the ground as he ran toward the enemy¡¯s camp. His mind pulsed with a rhythm¡ªa violent, pounding melody. It started slow. Then¡ª Faster. Faster. Faster. The night air was cold, yet his blood burned. Then¡ª A flash of steel. Lucian twisted mid-run, a sword narrowly missing his throat. Two Velkan soldiers blocked his path. Their mistake. Lucian didn¡¯t stop. His blade was already moving. The first soldier barely had time to blink before steel slashed across his throat. Blood sprayed. Lucian had already ducked low, spinning behind the second soldier, grabbing his wrist, and forcing his blade through his gut. A wet squelch. A dying gasp. Two bodies fell. Lucian stood, his breath slow, his pulse steady. The rhythm in his head roared louder. He kept running. The enemy camp loomed ahead, flickering torches casting long, jagged shadows. Lucian¡¯s lips curled into a grin. "Time to begin." He burst through the first tent, his blade flashing like a silver fang. A soldier barely had time to rise before Lucian¡¯s dagger slammed into his neck. Another soldier lunged. Lucian dodged left, grabbed the man¡¯s arm, and twisted¡ª CRACK. The bone snapped. A scream tore through the air. Lucian didn¡¯t let go. He used the broken limb as a shield, blocking an incoming attack¡ªthen yanked the soldier forward, plunging his sword through both of them at once. A sharp whistle. Lucian¡¯s head snapped up. More soldiers. Five. No¡­ ten. Lucian exhaled slowly. The real hunt had begun. The first soldier charged¡ªLucian sidestepped, dragging his dagger across the man¡¯s ribs. The soldier stumbled, his guts spilling onto the dirt. Another came from behind¡ªLucian ducked, grabbing the man¡¯s wrist, flipping him over his shoulder, and stabbing him through the chest before he hit the ground. Three soldiers attacked at once. Lucian¡¯s mind slowed. He saw everything. The sword angles. The foot placements. The weaknesses. He moved. A spin. A slash. A dodge. A kill. Bodies dropped like flies. The last soldier standing trembled. Lucian tilted his head, his red eyes glowing like dying embers. The soldier dropped his sword. "M-Monster¡­" Lucian took a step forward. The soldier turned¡ªand ran. Lucian let him. For a few seconds. Then¡ªhe gave chase. The poor man barely got five steps before Lucian was on him. He didn¡¯t kill him instantly. He dragged him to the ground¡ªpressed his blade against his throat. Then¡ªhe whispered. "Who¡¯s next?" The soldier whimpered. Begged. Lucian smiled. Then¡ªthe blade sank in. His hunt was only just beginning. The night air was thick with the scent of blood and burning flesh. Screams echoed through the enemy camp¡ªtwisted, dying screams. The Velkan King sat on his black warhorse, gazing at the battlefield with cold indifference. His blood-red cloak rustled in the wind as he listened to the distant chaos. Something was wrong. A soldier ran up, panting, his face pale. ¡°Your Majesty! There''s¡ª¡± The King raised a hand, silencing him. His golden dragon insignia shimmered under the moonlight as he turned to his commander. ¡°Go. Find out what¡¯s happening.¡± Chapter 34 The Velkan Commander, still recovering from the King¡¯s earlier wrath, gritted his teeth and nodded. With his sword drawn, he marched toward the disturbance. As the commander approached the camp, the first thing he noticed was the silence. The usual chatter, the sound of metal against metal, the flickering torches¡ªall gone. Then¡ªhe saw them. Bodies. Everywhere. His soldiers, his men, lay in the dirt¡ªsome missing limbs, others with their throats torn open. Some were still twitching, their last breaths gurgling in agony. And in the middle of it all¡ªstood him. Lucian. The Commander¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°Well, well. Look who decided to come back from the dead.¡± Lucian slowly turned, his bloodstained face illuminated by the moon. His crimson eyes glowed in the dark. He stood among the corpses like a god of war, soaked in the blood of his enemies. Their gazes locked. For a second, neither of them moved. Then¡ªthe Commander¡¯s grin widened. "I''ve been waiting for this." He lunged forward, sword flashing under the pale light. The battle began. Swords clashed. Sparks flew. Lucian moved like a shadow, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The Commander met him strike for strike, his strength undeniable. At first¡ªthey were evenly matched. Lucian dodged left, blade singing through the air. The Commander blocked¡ªcountered with a downward slash. Lucian twisted away¡ªnarrowly avoiding his ribs being split open. A grin stretched across the Commander¡¯s face. He loved this. The thrill. The blood. The fight. Then¡ªhe pushed forward. Lucian parried¡ªbut barely. The Commander¡¯s attacks grew faster. More brutal. Lucian blocked a strike¡ªbut his wrist buckled under the force. Then¡ªa sharp pain. His blood splattered onto the dirt. A cut¡ªdeep, across his arm. The Commander laughed¡ªa crazed, unhinged laugh. "YES! MORE!" He attacked relentlessly, his blade crashing against Lucian¡¯s defenses. Lucian staggered. Then¡ªthe Commander¡¯s sword found his side. Lucian coughed¡ªblood trickled from his lips. The Commander licked his lips, grinning like a madman. His blade dripped with Lucian¡¯s blood. ¡°Not so strong now, are you?¡± Lucian took a step back. His breathing was ragged. His vision blurred. He was losing. The Velkan King frowned. His commander had not returned. He exhaled sharply, gripping the reins of his horse. ¡°Useless.¡± With a single motion, he dismounted and strode toward the battlefield. As he neared¡ªhe saw them. Two figures locked in a deadly duel. At first, it was clear¡ªthe Commander was winning. The King smirked. How boring. But then¡ªsomething shifted. Lucian staggered¡ªbut his eyes did not waver. A voice echoed in his head. "You can¡¯t win like this." Lucian clenched his fists. "Then give me power." The voice chuckled. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "There will be a price." Lucian hesitated. Then¡ªhe grinned. "I don¡¯t care." The voice whispered¡ª"Then take it." Power flooded into Lucian¡¯s body. His veins burned like fire. His wounds stopped bleeding. His eyes darkened, glowing with an unholy red. The King narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. The Commander noticed it too. Lucian should have collapsed. He should have been dead. Instead¡ªhe was smiling. Lucian moved. No hesitation. No fear. His blade clashed against the Commander¡¯s with monstrous force. The Commander staggered backward. Lucian didn¡¯t let him breathe. Strike. Counter. Dodge. Slash. Faster. Stronger. Unstoppable. The Commander¡¯s smirk faded. Lucian ducked under an attack¡ªhis knee slammed into the Commander¡¯s gut. A loud CRACK. The Commander coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. Lucian grabbed him by the throat¡ªlifted him. The Commander¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "This¡­ this isn¡¯t possible¡ª" Lucian drove his knee into his ribs. Once. Twice. Bones snapped like dry twigs. He threw him to the ground. The Commander gasped, coughing violently. Lucian loomed over him, blade ready. The King¡ªfor the first time¡ªlooked intrigued. He took a step forward, watching closely. Would this boy win? Would he defeat one of Velkan¡¯s strongest warriors? His lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Interesting.¡± Lucian raised his sword¡ªready to end it. The Commander, still coughing, started laughing. "Do it¡­ monster." Lucian froze. Monster. Something inside him hesitated. The Commander took the chance¡ªgrabbed a hidden dagger¡ªand SLASHED. Blood sprayed. Lucian staggered backward. The Commander scrambled to his feet, clutching his side. His grin returned. "That¡¯s right. You¡¯re nothing but a beast." Lucian¡¯s vision blurred. His mind screamed. The voice inside him laughed. "You should¡¯ve finished it, boy." Lucian gritted his teeth. Then¡ªhe stepped forward. The battle wasn¡¯t over. The Velkan King watched, smiling. "Let¡¯s see how far you can go." The battlefield fell silent. Lucian and the Velkan Commander stood face to face. Their bodies were scarred, bloodied, and barely holding on. Their swords dripped with crimson, reflecting the moon¡¯s pale light. Neither of them was willing to stop. The Velkan King, watching from his throne atop the mountain, leaned forward, his golden eyes gleaming with intrigue. "This fight is getting more and more interesting," he murmured. He watched closely. No one knew who would win. Then¡ª The final battle began. Both warriors charged toward each other. Swords clashed. A bright spark ignited from the impact¡ªa sight both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The soldiers held their breath. This was a battle of will. A fight where only the one left standing would be declared the victor. Lucian sidestepped an overhead slash, countering with a low strike. The Commander blocked¡ªjust barely. They moved like shadows, blades flashing under the night sky. Every strike was meant to kill. Every movement was calculated. Lucian darted to the left¡ªthe Commander spun, delivering a brutal kick to his ribs. Lucian staggered but didn''t fall. The Commander lunged forward¡ªa deadly upper slash. Lucian raised his sword to block¡ª It was a feint. Lucian¡¯s eyes narrowed¡ª Too late. The Commander¡¯s real attack came from below¡ªa dagger aimed straight for Lucian¡¯s heart. But¡ª Lucian moved. At the last second, he grabbed the Commander¡¯s wrist, twisted it¡ª STAB. Lucian¡¯s stolen dagger sank deep into the Commander¡¯s abdomen. The Commander¡¯s body froze. A choking gasp escaped his lips. Blood dripped from his mouth. His fingers twitched, gripping onto Lucian¡¯s shoulder. Then¡ªhe smiled. A crazed, bloodied grin. ¡°Good fight,¡± he whispered. His body collapsed onto the ground. Lucian stood alone. Victorious. His chest rose and fell sharply, his body covered in deep wounds¡ªsome fresh, some old. His once-white clothes were soaked in blood. With his bloodied fingers, he pushed his hair back, his piercing red eyes locking onto the King. Then¡ªhe raised his sword. A silent declaration of war. The Velkan King smirked. From his high vantage point on the mountain, he gazed down at Lucian. A mere soldier had defeated his best commander. The wind howled. The King raised his hand. A single command. ¡°Kill him.¡± The final battle began. Lucian¡¯s breath was ragged, but his body moved on instinct. Velkan soldiers poured down the mountain like a tidal wave of steel. Lucian ran toward them, like a predator chasing prey after days of starvation. The first soldier swung a halberd. Lucian sidestepped, sliced across the man¡¯s throat, and moved before his body even hit the ground. Another soldier lunged with a spear. Lucian grabbed the shaft, spun around, and drove the spear through the soldier¡¯s chest. Blood sprayed. He ripped the weapon out and used it to stab another attacker behind him. The soldiers hesitated. Something wasn¡¯t right. Lucian wasn¡¯t just fighting¡ªhe was slaughtering. Then¡ªthe voice whispered in his head. "You¡¯re using too much power." Lucian barely heard it. He was too lost in the fight. He didn¡¯t notice the burning sensation in his veins. Didn¡¯t notice his fingertips trembling slightly. Didn¡¯t notice his heartbeat growing weaker. Didn¡¯t notice¡ªthat his very life force was being drained. The voice whispered again¡ª"The more you fight, the more it takes from you." Lucian ignored it. Another soldier attacked. Lucian twisted, slicing his blade upward¡ªcutting the man in half. Another rushed in¡ª Lucian grabbed his head, twisted¡ª SNAP. The soldier collapsed, lifeless. The battlefield became a nightmare. Soldiers screamed. Some tried to run. Some dropped their weapons, falling to their knees in surrender. But Lucian did not stop. His vision blurred. His breath came out ragged. The voice grew louder. "You are killing yourself." Lucian stabbed another enemy through the stomach¡ª His body suddenly staggered. He blinked. His fingers trembled. His breathing slowed. Something¡­ was wrong. His body felt heavier. He looked down¡ªhis hands were shaking. His legs wobbled. The voice whispered, "Now you understand." Lucian¡¯s eyes widened. The power¡­ it was taking his life. His own strength was killing him. The Velkan King watched from above, his smirk widening. He saw it. Lucian was slowing down. He was burning out. "Not bad," the King mused. "But let''s see if you can last much longer." Chapter 35 Lucian took another step forward. Then¡ª His legs buckled. The battlefield blurred. His heart pounded erratically. Lucian collapsed to one knee. The Velkan soldiers stopped. Then¡ªthe King stood. It was his turn now. The battle was over. At least¡ªthat''s what they thought. But beyond the mountain, in the shadowed battlefield littered with corpses, one fight remained. The Velkan King stepped forward, his heavy boots crushing the blood-soaked earth beneath him. His piercing golden eyes stared down at Lucian with amusement. His lips curled into a cruel smirk. ¡°So, this is the infamous monster?¡± he scoffed. Lucian, barely able to keep himself upright, gasped for breath. His body trembled¡ªhis strength had left him. His vision blurred. He couldn''t move. His body no longer obeyed him. He tried to stand¡ªbut his knees buckled. The King let out a deep, booming laugh. "Is that all?" He grabbed Lucian by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. Lucian tried to fight back, but his body refused to move. The King simply threw him down like a discarded rag. Lucian hit the ground hard, coughing violently. The King¡¯s sword pressed against his chest. ¡°Stand up, or is that all you have?¡± Lucian¡¯s fingers twitched. His mind screamed MOVE! But his body was unresponsive. He forced himself to look up. The King''s eyes. They weren¡¯t just looking at him. They were looking down on him. Mocking him. Something snapped. Lucian gritted his teeth. With all the strength he had left, he pushed himself up onto his feet, gripping his sword tightly. He charged. Too slow. The King effortlessly dodged his strike, laughing. Again, Lucian swung¡ªbut it was weak. Again¡ªeasily countered. The King shook his head, chuckling. "Pathetic." Lucian fell to one knee, his breath ragged. The King didn''t even take him seriously. Then¡ª Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lucian¡¯s fingers wrapped around something hidden beneath his belt. A dagger. The King stepped forward, raising his sword to end it. Lucian lunged. The dagger plunged into the King¡¯s stomach. The King''s body stiffened. His eyes widened in shock. Before he could react¡ªLucian slashed. A clean cut. The King''s head fell. Silence. Blood dripped from Lucian¡¯s blade. For a moment, no one moved. Then¡ª The sun began to rise. The Crown Prince and his army had arrived just in time to witness it. He saw a single figure standing, drenched in blood, holding a severed head. Lucian. The Velkan soldiers, who once fought against Astria, stared in stunned silence. Then¡ªcheers erupted. For the first time, they were free. The tyrant was dead. Alexzander, the rightful heir, stood among his people. Their new King. But the Crown Prince wasn¡¯t celebrating. He was running. Running toward Lucian. As he reached him¡ª Lucian collapsed. The Crown Prince caught him before he hit the ground. "Lucian!" Lucian¡¯s breathing was shallow. His body was cold. The Crown Prince turned to the soldiers. "Get him to the medical camp! Now!" Lucian was taken to the Velkan capital, where his treatment began. The war was finally over. Alexzander stood before his people, taking the oath to become the new King of Velkan. As he raised his sword in the air, the people roared in celebration. But inside the palace, Lucian lay unconscious, his body barely clinging to life. The Crown Prince sat beside him. ¡°You did it.¡± His voice was soft. He reached out, gripping Lucian¡¯s cold hand. "Now, you have to wake up. I didn''t come all this way to lose you again." The room was silent. Lucian didn¡¯t move. But somewhere¡ªdeep in his mind¡ª A whisper echoed. "Wake up." Days later, Lucian awoke in a grand chamber of the Velkan Empire. The war was over. Alexzander De Cerci had reclaimed his throne, and peace had been restored. Lucian sat up, his body aching but alive. A familiar voice spoke beside him. ¡°You finally woke up,¡± the voice said. He turned to see Novel sitting by his bed, relief evident in his eyes. Lucian swallowed; his throat felt dry. ¡°Did we... win?¡± Novel smirked. ¡°Of course.¡± Then, after a pause, his voice softened. ¡°You scared the hell out of me.¡± Lucian looked away, his chest tightening. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I would make it.¡± Novel reached forward, gripping Lucian¡¯s hand. ¡°But you did.¡± For the first time in years, Lucian felt warmth¡ªa home, a place where he belonged. And perhaps, just perhaps, his war was finally over. A new era had begun The war had finally ended. The Crown Prince of Astria, Novel, and the newly crowned King of Velkan, Alexzander, signed a treaty, sealing the peace between the two nations. With their wounds tended and their spirits high, the Astrian soldiers began packing their belongings, ready to return home. As they set off, Novel made a historic announcement: "Lucian is not just a soldier of Astria¡ªhe is my brother, the Third Prince of Astria, Lucian Al Pestelio." The revelation sent ripples through the army. Many were shocked, others whispered amongst themselves, but no one dared question the Crown Prince. Lucian, however, remained silent, his emotions hidden beneath a stoic exterior. The army moved towards the northern border, where the Duke bid his farewell. From there, the remaining soldiers journeyed home under Novel¡¯s command. 25 Days Later- The Capital of Astria The capital had been buzzing with anticipation. News of victory had spread like wildfire, and the people rejoiced, decorating the streets in preparation for the grand return of their warriors. It was to be a day of celebration¡ªa day to honor those who had fought and fallen for the kingdom. But for one man, this homecoming was anything but joyful. Lucian. The war hero. The man who had slain the tyrant king of Velkan. The one who had suffered the most¡­ and yet, the one whose name was nowhere to be found in the royal proclamation of honor. The night before their arrival, Novel and Lucian sat together in a quiet tent. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, their relationship a tangled web of lost years and painful memories. Novel knew this was his chance. ¡°Lucian¡­ there¡¯s something you should know,¡± Novel finally said. ¡°The truth behind everything that happened to you.¡± Lucian¡¯s gaze snapped to his brother, his expression unreadable. Novel took a deep breath. ¡°I found an old record in the royal library. It tells the story of the first King of Astria and the tragedy that led to the kingdom¡¯s darkest secret.¡± Lucian said nothing, but his fingers curled into fists. Novel continued, ¡°After losing his family in a fire, the First King was consumed by grief. He blamed his only surviving son¡ªthe second prince¡ªfor the tragedy. In his madness, he sought forbidden ways to bring his family back.¡± Lucian¡¯s breathing became shallow. ¡°He met a man who promised him a way to resurrect them. A ritual. Sacrifices were made¡ªten people at first. But nothing happened. Again and again, the ritual failed. In his desperation, the King sacrificed his own son.¡± A cold chill ran down Lucian¡¯s spine. ¡°The moment the blade pierced the prince¡¯s heart¡­ something awakened. A shadow emerged, but it was no spirit of the King¡¯s family. It was something else¡ªsomething ancient.¡± Novel¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°The prince¡¯s body moved. His once-blue eyes turned crimson. The first thing he did was kill one of the royal guards and consume him.¡± Lucian stiffened. ¡°The King, realizing his mistake, begged the temple for help. The battle between the temple and the possessed prince lasted for days. In the end, they destroyed his body, but the shadow¡­ it escaped. Before vanishing, it spoke.¡± Novel met Lucian¡¯s eyes. ¡°It said, ¡®This is only the beginning.¡¯¡± Lucian¡¯s mind swirled with questions, but he forced them down. He was tired¡ªtoo tired to think about a past that was no longer his. The next day, they reached the capital. The streets were filled with people, cheering for the victorious army. Flowers rained down from the balconies. Flags waved high in the air. But as they passed through the grand plaza, Lucian noticed something. The cheers were not for him. They were for Novel. Chapter 36 When they reached the palace gates, the King and Queen stood at the entrance, waiting to greet them. Novel dismounted his horse and stepped forward, kneeling before the King. ¡°Greetings to the sun and moon of Astria, Your Majesty,¡± he said. ¡°The war has ended. We are victorious.¡± The King smiled in approval. ¡°Rise, my son.¡± The ministers showered Novel with praise, commending his triumph. Lucian, who had fought the hardest, who had suffered the most, was not even acknowledged. He had expected it. But it still burned. The Queen¡¯s eyes searched the crowd. Novel saw her longing gaze and spoke, ¡°Everyone has returned safely.¡± Lucian saw the moment she found him. Her lips parted slightly, but she said nothing. She turned away. Lucian smiled to himself. Nothing had changed. Outside, Lucian remained with the soldiers. He made no effort to step forward, unwilling to claim a place he was cast away from long ago. ¡°Lucian!¡± Lucy and the others ran to him, throwing their arms around him. Kane, Joe, and Del joined in, their eyes filled with relief. ¡°You idiot! Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were a prince?!¡± Lucy demanded, squeezing him tighter. Lucian chuckled, patting her back. ¡°I didn¡¯t know either.¡± The captain approached. ¡°You all deserve rest. Go home.¡± Lucian turned to his friends. ¡°Lucy, stay with me for a few days before heading back to the countryside.¡± Joe and Kane declined. ¡°We¡¯ll take Del home. His family must be worried.¡± With that, they parted ways. In Southern Palace Lucian knocked on the heavy doors. A moment later, they creaked open, revealing Chloe. Her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Lucian¡­?¡± Her voice trembled before she collapsed into his arms, sobbing. ¡°You came back.¡± Lucian held her, his heart twisting at the sheer relief in her voice. Later that night, after dinner, Lucy found Chloe sitting alone in the palace garden. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± Lucy asked, sitting beside her. Chloe nodded. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe he¡¯s here.¡± Lucy sighed, glancing up at the night sky. ¡°After spending so much time on the battlefield, it¡¯s hard to just¡­ go back to normal.¡± Silence stretched between them. Words hung in the air, unspoken. Both had questions but no idea how to ask them. And so, they simply sat there, staring at the stars, waiting for the answers to come on their own. After staying for a few days, Lucy finally left for her home. Meanwhile, the entire palace buzzed with one name¡ªLucian. Everyone knew he was the one who had slain the enemy king. The news spread like wildfire, yet his name was never spoken in the halls of power. Then, King Karl of Astria made an announcement. A grand celebration was to be held in honor of the war¡¯s victory. Kings from other nations were invited, nobles from all over Astria prepared for the grandest feast in years, and Alexzander, the new King of Velkan, was personally invited. But no invitation was sent for Lucian. The Palace Prepare for Celebration The palace bustled with activity. Servants ran back and forth, decorating every corridor with extravagant banners. Gold-trimmed fabrics were draped over the banquet halls, and the scent of fresh roses and spiced wine filled the air. Five days later, the guests began arriving. By evening, Alexzander arrived. The Crown Prince, Novel, was there to receive him. As Alexzander stepped off his horse, his first question was not about the celebration. "Where is Lucian?" The nearby servants froze. A heavy silence fell over them. Alexzander''s sharp eyes scanned their reactions, and his jaw tightened. Something was wrong. Inside his chamber, Novel finally revealed the truth. The next day, the grand celebration commenced. The palace was filled with high-ranking officials, noble families, and foreign delegations. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. King Karl took center stage. With a proud smile, he praised the Crown Prince Novel, recounting his role in ending the war and forging peace between Astria and Velkan. The room erupted in cheers. Novel stood silently, but his hands clenched at his sides. Something inside him felt wrong. No one questioned Karl. No one even asked about Lucian. Lucy was among the attendees, standing with her family. Joe, Kane, Del¡ªeveryone was there. Everyone except Lucian. Something wasn¡¯t right. Lucy¡¯s heart pounded as she scanned the crowd. Where is he? She turned to Joe and Del. "We need to find him." The three of them left the celebration unnoticed, heading straight for the southern palace. The Southern Palace- The place of ruin The southern palace was nothing more than a decayed ruin. Cracked walls, a collapsed ceiling, and an eerie silence surrounded them. Lucy knocked on the door. Chloe opened it. The moment she saw them, her eyes filled with sadness. But she said nothing¡ªjust stepped aside, silently allowing them inside. The moment they entered, Joe and Del were speechless. The palace was in ruins. Dark, cold, and lifeless. Joe exhaled sharply. "Lucy¡­ why did you bring us here?" Lucy didn¡¯t answer. She simply waited. Footsteps echoed from the hall. Lucian appeared, drenched in sweat from his sword training. He stopped when he saw them, surprised. "If you had told me you were coming, I would have come to receive you," Lucian said with a tired smile. Joe and Del felt a deep unease. The contrast between the extravagant palace they had just left and this abandoned ruin was too much. They realized¡ªall the rumors about the royal palace were true. Chloe brought tea and cookies, and they all sat together. For a moment, no one spoke. Then¡ªLucy stood up abruptly. "Lucian, get up." Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Get ready." Lucian¡¯s lips curled into a small smile. "Where are we going?" "To the palace," Lucy said firmly. "To the celebration." Lucian stared at her for a long moment. Then, he laughed. "Why are you laughing?" Lucy demanded. Joe and Del exchanged glances. They understood now. Lucian wasn''t allowed to attend. After Joe and Del left, Lucy remained. She wasn¡¯t leaving without an answer. Lucian sighed and took her to the garden. They sat beneath an old tree. "Lucy¡­ I can¡¯t enter the palace." "Why?" Lucian exhaled. "It¡¯s an order." Lucy¡¯s hands clenched into fists. "But it was you who fought the hardest. It was you who sacrificed everything. And yet¡­ no one speaks your name?" Her voice cracked with emotion. Lucian smiled softly. Someone still cared. Lucy continued, her voice trembling. "You deserve to stand there. You deserve to be recognized." Lucian gently patted her head. "Lucy¡­ you should go. If you receive a reward, that would make me happy." Lucy¡¯s heart twisted painfully. She wanted to argue¡ªbut she saw the exhaustion in his eyes. Without another word, she turned and left for the ceremony. A Celebration without a True Hero started The ceremony proceeded. One by one, soldiers received medals. The king himself was absent¡ªthe captains were awarding them in his place. Lucy stepped onto the stage. She received her medal¡ªbut her heart felt empty. As she stepped down, her eyes met Novel¡¯s. She glared. And Novel knew exactly why. The families of fallen soldiers received medals on their behalf. Financial support was promised. And then¡ªone medal remained. The hall fell into silence. The noble families whispered. "Whose medal is that?" "Who is missing?" "Who didn¡¯t attend?" King Karl¡¯s expression remained unreadable. He simply gestured to a soldier. "Take it inside," he ordered. And the celebration continued. As if Lucian Al Pestelio had never existed. Novel¡¯s eyes scanned the hall. Laughter. Celebration. False smiles. Everyone was enjoying the moment¡ªignoring the truth. His hands clenched into fists. No one questioned it. No one asked. Then, his gaze met Alexzander¡¯s. A silent nod. Taking a deep breath, Novel stepped forward. His voice rang through the hall. "I want everyone to look at me." The chatter died instantly. All eyes turned toward him. Novel¡¯s heart pounded against his ribs, but he didn¡¯t stop. "This war¡­ was not easy." His voice was steady, but his hands trembled slightly. ¡°We fought against a merciless king. A tyrant who ruled with fear. A monster that seemed unstoppable." His eyes flickered toward King Karl. Karl¡¯s expression darkened. But Novel did not waver. "Yet¡ªwe won." A ripple of cheers erupted. But Novel¡¯s next words silenced them. "And you believe it was my victory?" The room fell into stunned silence. Novel exhaled sharply and looked directly at his father. Karl¡¯s jaw tightened. His grip on the armrest of his throne whitened with fury. Novel¡¯s voice wavered slightly, but he forced himself to continue. "You think I am the one who killed the King of Velkan. You think I led this battle alone. But the truth is¡ª" Karl¡¯s stare burned into him. A silent warning. Don¡¯t say it. Novel¡¯s breath hitched, but he pushed through. "It wasn¡¯t just me. Many soldiers fought. Many gave their lives. Some endured horrors beyond imagination. Some¡ª" He swallowed hard. "Some were tortured to the brink of death. "We thought we lost them¡ªbut they came back alive" His voice broke slightly. The hall remained dead silent. The truth hung on the edge of his lips. He could say it. He could finally speak Lucian¡¯s name. But Karl¡¯s eyes bore into him like daggers. A single word¡ªand everything would collapse. So Novel hesitated. Just for a second. And then¡ªhe looked at the soldiers. The men who had fought. The ones who deserved to be honored. "I would like to offer my deepest gratitude to each and every soldier who fought for this kingdom." The hall exploded with cheers. "LONG LIVE THE ASTRIA KINGDOM!" "LONG LIVE THE CROWN PRINCE!" Novel stood frozen. He had said it for them. For all of them. But as the cheers thundered around him¡ªhe felt hollow. Because he knew whose name should have been spoken? And yet¡ªit never was. Lucy heard him, her anger softening. Novel had not said Lucian¡¯s name. But deep down, she knew who he had been speaking for.