Royal Pawn 4 소설 & 이야기

“I don’t want to hear about this, Thayer. You’ll get engaged to the daughter of Lord Laudeau. End of discussion.” “Father!” My voice raised. I was already standing on my feet. “You won’t dare disrespect whether you are my heir or not. I’m still the future King!” I bowed. “Please, accept my apology. I don’t mean to disrespect you. Please, give me a week. That’s all I’m asking.” “You’ve been asking for expansion, Prince Thayer. I won’t give you another.” “Honey, hear him out even for the last time. Even if he failed, at least you won’t regret it, or he wouldn’t have regrets.”

“It was only a mistaken transaction. And now, the transaction is over.” I held out the pen to him. His hand trembled, unwilling to take it. “Those… Stellar Dawn matters—was it you?” His eyes locked on mine, desperate for one last confirmation. I smiled faintly, neither admitting nor denying. “Mr. Caldwell, what matters is this: from now on, the Caldwells won’t have only one opponent named Stellar Dawn. Consider that your warning.” The words landed like a death knell, tacitly confirming everything. All color drained from his face. He staggered, unable to bear the weight of that truth. Finally, he understood what he had truly lost.

Every step was taking them away from her friends, the only ones who might be able to save her from this awful choice of hers. "You didn't think that I lived in that old shack, did you? I live wherever I want, and right now I'm taking you straight to my throne so we can talk." Death smirked. "I hope you don't give me what I want though, it's more fun when I hear screams and begs." "Throne?" Holly frowned. "I don't understand. Why would you have a throne? You're one of the four horsemen," she looked around. "Without a horse."

But you and I both know the truth, right? "What truth?" I spit, gripping the dagger tighter. "That you're still just a pawn." His sneer widened, and his dark eyes glowed. "A stubborn, self-righteous pawn who believes she is superior. But pawns cannot win, Kyara. They are sacrificed. My heart was filled with indignation, while his words stung harder than I wanted to acknowledge. "And yet, here I stand. Tell me, Victor, if I am so unimportant, why do you continually attempt to break me?

His breath was warm against my ear when he leaned in and whispered, “You have until tomorrow, Lexi. After that, the offer is off the table.” And just like that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, breathless, confused, and more than a little terrified. I could barely process what had just happened. Julian Blackwood had just walked into my life, offered me salvation, in exchange for my freedom. I know men like Julian Blackwood, Everyone is a pawn in their game. But I can’t be his.

But Raymond’s collapse is a spark I didn’t expect—a spark that could ignite the Dominion before I’m ready. I lift the black queen again, turning it in my fingers. “Your move, Perez,” I murmur. “But you’re already losing.”

Prince Kayziel raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Prince Ron’s sudden show of defiance. He circled the human Prince slowly, his dark energy swirling around him like a cloak of shadow. "All or nothing?" he repeated, his voice dripping with amusement. "Do you really think you’re in a position to make such demands, Ron? You have nothing to bargain with. You’re just a human—powerless, weak and yet, here you are, thinking you can dictate the terms."

The guard slowly shook his head. "No." "There was only one thing left." He held out a small velvet pouch. Kael opened it. Inside lay a single white chess queen. Its base was stained with fresh blood. Lord Blackwood closed his eyes. "I know that piece." Rowan looked at him. "You've seen it before?" His father nodded once. "The man behind all of this..." "...always leaves a queen before he starts the real game."

The message contained a single, personalized invitation: > From: The King > Subject: The Grand Master’s Game > Body: Lucas. Your mother won the defensive game. But the endgame requires a shared knowledge of the board. I am extending a courtesy: a personal, unsupervised visit at my new, secure location. I am prepared to explain Project Oversight. Come alone. Respond with the word 'Pawn' if you accept the challenge. > Julian was inviting Lucas to a clandestine meeting, bypassing the court order, and challenging his son with the one thing he knew Lucas couldn't resist: a high-stakes secret game of strategy. He was seeking to regain control, not through force, but through intellectual seduction.

Her pawn moved forward, threatening his central dominance. Kai leaned back, a wry smile on his face. "Hostile. Surprising. You're starting to bare your teeth, Omega. Excellent. I was worried this would be a stodgy affair." He took her pawn. "E takes D4." "And you expose your queen," Rhea retorted, capturing with her pawn. "Pawn takes D4." "A temporary exposure for a strategic advantage," Kai said, his eyes sparkling. "Always be prepared to sacrifice a piece in order to gain an even greater advantage. Queen to E7 check." His queen moved across the board, putting her king in check.