ETHAN'S POVAs I made my way back to the border, Maxwell awaited my return, his demeanour instantly deferential upon catching sight of me."Your Highness, what kept you so long?" he inquired, a hint of concern in his voice."I had pressing matters to attend to," I replied tersely. "Let's proceed."With a nod, Maxwell opened the portal, and I stepped through, arriving at the gates of the empire."Your Highness, they remain unaware of our expedition beyond the empire's borders," Maxwell assured me, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I've ensured all traces have been erased.""Excellent," I remarked, a faint smile playing on my lips. "And my mother?""She is safe, Your Highness," Maxwell reported promptly. "Under Nivian Natalie's watchful eye, she is well protected.""And the antidote?" I inquired, my gaze unwavering."It's prepared," Maxwell confirmed, producing a dagger laced with the life-saving substance. "A single stab to the heart, and he will be revived instantly."I accepted t

As I made my way back to my quarters, my mind buzzed with the events of the day. The taste of victory still lingered on my lips, mingling with the metallic tang of blood that coated my skin. Beneath the surface, a storm raged—a tempest of emotions and desires that threatened to consume me.As I entered the dimly lit corridor leading to my chambers, I sensed a presence waiting for me. My mother stood there, her expression unreadable, with Natalie, the Vivian dancer, by her side."Mother," I called out to her, my voice cool and composed.She rushed to me, her concern palpable as she took in my blood-stained appearance. "Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper."Not at all, Mother," I assured her, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. "This blood is not mine."Her relief was palpable, but beneath it lay a mother's worry, a fear for the safety of her son. "Ethan, I know you have your reasons for your actions today," she began, her words measured yet tinged with reproach.

As I left the training ground, my mind wandered to the peaceful serenity of Serene Lake. Its tranquil waters beckoned to me, promising a brief respite from the chaos of the day. Making my way to the water's edge, I spotted the familiar sight of a massive rock nestled among the shoreline.Beneath that rock lay a secret that only I and Claudio knew—a pair of twin swords, gifted to me by my father when I was just five years old. I had hidden them away, away from prying eyes, for I was determined to master their use before revealing my skills to him.The swords were no ordinary blades; Father had told me they were forged by a great sage, using the finest meteorite he had won in battle. According to him, the sage had crafted the swords specifically for me before I was even born.As I approached the rock, a rush of memories flooded my mind. I remembered the excitement I had felt when Father first presented me with the swords and the weight of responsibility that came with wielding such powe

As the evening descended, the grand hall of the palace came alive with the flickering glow of torches and the sound of merry chatter. Nobles and dignitaries from far and wide had gathered to celebrate my newfound ascension from a nobody to the crown prince.With a forced smile plastered on my lips, I mingled amongst the crowd, exchanging pleasantries and feigning interest in their trivial conversations. But beneath the facade of camaraderie, a simmering tension lingered in the air, a silent reminder of the power struggles that lay beneath the surface.At my side, Natalie, a trusted subordinate and friend, offered a reassuring smile, her presence a welcome distraction from the political machinations that surrounded me. Her loyalty and support were valuable assets in the treacherous world of palace politics. I have agreed to her requests I bought her from Lyria, and now she has nothing to do with the Nivian clan again.As the feast commenced, I watched with detached interest as the nobl

The next day, the meeting hall was a cavernous space filled with the murmurs of whispered conversations. Despite sitting beside Father, I felt as though I inhabited a world of my own, a realm where the weight of my thoughts eclipsed the proceedings unfolding before me.My eyes, swollen and heavy with exhaustion, betrayed the sleepless night I had endured. The stress etched upon my face was a testament to the torment that had plagued my dreams.Father's voice, a distant echo in the sea of noise, blended seamlessly with the drone of conversation as he engaged in diplomatic discourse with the envoys. His measured words fell upon deaf ears, my attention stolen by the ghostly apparitions that haunted the recesses of my mind. Arthur's appearance only served to worsen my inner turmoil.Last night I couldn't sleep a wink, my head was a mess, a journey through the twisted corridors of my mind where reality intertwined with the surreal. I saw her, the woman I met in my dreams before I regained