All Chapters of Luminous: The Throne: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“Your mother had secrets.” Empress Ariadne’s voice drifted through the garden chamber before Alessia even stepped inside. The air smelled of jasmine and fresh morning rain, the soft rustling of petals echoing in the quiet greenhouse-like space. Vines climbed glass walls, sunlight filtering through in fractured beams. Alessia stopped at the doorway. The Empress stood at the far side of the room, her back turned. Her dark hair—intricately braided and pinned with small moonstones—gleamed under the soft light. She carried an effortless grace, her posture straight, her shoulders elegant beneath a sheer black and silver gown. She didn’t turn. Alessia deeply sighed. “Y-Your Majesty… you asked for me?” Ariadne lifted a hand. “Come here.” Alessia stepped forward slowly, her silver hair brushing her shoulders, heart racing. Eryx remained just inside the door, his presence steady—broad-shouldered, calm-eyed—but he did not move closer. Ariadne finally turned. Her gaze—sharp, dark, assessin

“The first attempt on your life.” Alessia didn’t expect Kael to say those words the moment she entered the training courtyard at dusk. Her breath caught. “The what?!” Kael didn’t turn. He stood in the center of the courtyard, cloak pulled by the evening wind, long dark hair brushing his shoulders, mask glinting faintly under the torchlight. His voice was calm—too calm. “The first attempt,” he repeated. “Not the last.” Seraphine, who had accompanied Alessia, nearly dropped the tray she was holding. “Kael! She hasn’t even eaten since morning—” “She’s standing,” Kael said. “She can hear it.” Alessia gulped hard and stepped closer, the soles of her boots scraping against the stone tiles. “Explain.” Kael finally turned to face her. “When you left the Empress’s garden,” he said, “someone placed a trap here.” Eryx emerged from behind a training post, his expression tight and serious. “I came as soon as I heard. Kael found something.” Seraphine set the tray down cautiously, eyes wide.

“That arrow was meant to end you.” Kael’s voice was ice as he pulled the glowing Lux arrow from the ground. Alessia’s breath came shallow, her hands trembling around Seraphine’s teacup. The arrow shimmered with bright gold energy, humming like a live wire. It was pure Luxz refined and eadly. “That—” Alessia swallowed hard. “That wasn’t an accident?” Eryx didn’t look away from the balcony where the shot came from. His sword was drawn, knuckles white. “No archer in the palace practices with Lux. That shot was deliberate.” Seraphine ran to Alessia, gripping her arms. “Princess, are you harmed? Are you hit?” Alessia shook her head quickly. “N-No. Kael moved me.” Kael tossed the arrow to the ground. It flickered once before going dark. “Your attacker had a clear angle. A clear shot. They fired when your stance weakened.” Alessia’s voice cracked. “They… waited for me to get tired?” “Yes,” Kael said. “They studied you.” Her stomach twisted. She was studied, watched, and calculated.

“We set a trap.” Kael said it before anyone else in the room could speak. Alessia stiffened, the words slicing through the tension like a blade. Eryx straightened sharply. Seraphine nearly dropped the lantern she’d just lit. Alessia whispered, “A… trap? For whom?” Kael turned toward her, cloak shifting with the movement. The dim lantern light reflected off the arcane runes carved into his mask. “For your assassin,” he said. “We stop waiting for them to strike. We strike first.” Eryx frowned. “Kael, she’s sixteen. She’s exhausted. She just survived two attempts—” “And there will be more,” Kael said. “Tonight, tomorrow, the next day. They have multiple methods, multiple skills, and no hesitation.” Seraphine hugged her arms. “But to use the Princess as bait—” “Is precisely what the assassin expects least,” Kael said. Alessia’s heart hammered. “I don’t like the sound of this.” Kael stepped closer—but slowly, deliberately, as if not to startle her. “Alessia,” he said, voice low.

The air cracked. Not with Luminous—but with intention. Kael stepped forward, silent but devastating, every line of his body coiled like a shadow ready to strike. His mask reflected the moonlight pouring through the shattered balcony, turning him into a dark silhouette—half man, half nightmare. The assassin tilted their silver mask toward him. “Impressive,” the cold voice murmured. “Hiding your signature until the last moment.” Kael didn’t respond. Alessia pressed her back against the bedframe, shaking so hard she could barely breathe. The assassin was only a few meters away from her—too close, far too close—but Kael now stood between them, blocking the path with his entire being. Eryx groaned from where he was slumped against the wall. “Kael, be careful—” Kael raised a hand sharply. “Do not move,” he commanded. Eryx fell silent. Seraphine knelt beside the unconscious second guard, pale as a ghost. “Kael, he used both Lux and Caligo. Just like—” “I saw,” Kael said. And with a