Later in the Garden
After the celebration ended, William chose to spend some time alone in the garden. The atmosphere was quiet, and the stars were twinkling in the sky. He sat on one of the benches, holding the white rose Fiona had given him, his thoughts swimming in what he had gone through during the journey.
Despite the celebration and smiles, scenes of the revolution and the poor neighborhoods were stuck in his mind. He continued to meditate in silence, determined to find a way to achieve the justice he believed in, whatever the cost.
In the Throne Room
The Emperor sat on his throne, staring at the advisor who stood before him with a slight bow, and said in a voice carrying a tone of suppressed anger: "I am certain now of William's treason. That hypocrite tried to prevent the army from crushing the rebellion. He has never been anything but a stumbling block in the path of the Empire."
The advisor smiled a cunning smile and said: "I always knew William's loyalty was not solid, my Lord. He showed his sympathy for the rabble from the beginning."
The Emperor said with disdain: "William... what an unripe fruit. He thinks he can fix the world with his delusions. But I will show him that the world is merciless."
The Emperor pointed to the advisor and said: "I have sent people to end him."
The advisor raised his eyebrow and said with light irony: "People? And do you think, my Lord, that a few men are enough to deal with someone like William?"
The Emperor smiled maliciously and said: "And do you think I leave anything to chance? One person is not enough, so I sent a group of the most skilled assassins. I don't want them to leave him room to breathe. Those like him are the ones who ignite chaos with their ridiculous ideas."
The advisor laughed maliciously and said: "Certainly, my Lord. But we must admit that getting rid of him will increase your prestige among your men. A clear message to anyone who dares to challenge your authority."
The Emperor replied: "That is exactly what I want. William was just a tool, and tools like these are broken when their usefulness ends."
The advisor replied: "Yes, my Lord, but I have a better plan to get rid of William."
The Emperor replied maliciously: "I am listening."
One day after graduation day, William and I were wandering in the Fiore garden among the trees where no one could see us.
William said: "You know, I will tell Adrian that I am taking you with me tomorrow to meet Eugene. I will also introduce you to some young people who might benefit you in the future if you want help; I have spoken to them about you. Also, Kayden, take this book; it will benefit you greatly in every way. I wrote it specifically for you."
Kayden replied with spontaneous joy: "Really? Wonderful! Thank you, Master, I will keep it well."
William said: "It's good to hear that. You can go now to put it in the house, then we will continue after that."
Kayden replied quickly: "Alright, Master."
At that moment, after Kayden left, William stood up, drew his sword, and said: "Come out, you cowards, you who hide behind the trees!"
Suddenly, a group of the Emperor's professional secret assassins attacked, but the scales were in William's favor after all that, and by a large margin.
I was in the palace at that time, looking for a place to put the book William gave me, as if I were hiding a precious treasure. Then I placed it at the top of the library in my room among the books, and I told Margaret not to let anyone in.
Margaret answered: "As you command, young master."
While I was heading out, returning to William, Olivia wanted to come with me, but I said to her: "No, I will go alone." She was a little sad, but I said to her while patting her head: "Maybe later."
Her features changed, and she said to me: "Return safely, my brother."
My mother added: "Do not be late so you can eat with us."
I answered as I was leaving the palace: "Alright, mother."
I was going to that garden through the passage beside the palace.
Kayden decided to take a rest in the garden full of flowers that was in the passage. The moon illuminated the paths, and the leaves of the trees shook gently with the breeze.
Kayden began to walk slowly in the main passage, holding a red rose he had picked from one of the flowers he planted himself. As he walked, he began to sing in a quiet voice a song of his own composition that he liked to sing sometimes:
I planted a rose along my way,
To keep my weary heart alive,
I stood when bleeding winds would sway,
Refused to let my hope survive.
When every road was closed to me,
I carved new paths inside my chest,
If all the light turned cold on me,
I became my promise… and my test.
His voice was soft and warm, filled with the feeling of someone who puts his heart into every word. He stopped at a small fountain in the middle of the garden, where his image was reflected on the water, and said to himself with a smile: "It seems gardens never stop inspiring me."
While he was singing, Fiona passed near him, carrying a small basket full of flowers she had gathered from the corners of the garden. She stopped a few steps from him, listening silently to his sweet voice.
When he finished the song, she approached him and said: "Kayden, your voice is very beautiful. I didn't know you sang."
Kayden smiled shyly and said: "It's a song I sing sometimes. Sometimes I find myself singing without realizing it."
Fiona laughed gently and said: "The song is beautiful, just like the flowers we tend to. You must sing to me more next time."
He answered her as he put the rose back in its place: "I certainly will. But you must choose the song next time."
Then he added: "I will continue on my way then."
Fiona replied: "Return safely; I will see you tomorrow then."
Kayden continued on his way, heading toward the garden to meet William again, but he soon felt something strange. It was as if a large rock had crushed his heart when he saw a long sword piercing William's chest while he was lying on the ground. His famous long, snow-white sword with the dragon symbol was covered in blood. Kayden's eyes could not contain themselves; tears were falling against his will as he cried with all his might. Suddenly, he heard the voices of many people screaming: "Catch the killer!"
Kayden grabbed William's sword and ran after the crowd, searching for his master's killer to avenge William. He reached the end of the crowd to see Maxwell killing the assassin, saying:
"How could you do such a heinous thing?"
After several days, Maxwell sent the assassin's lifeless body before the Emperor. The Emperor rewarded him by making him the first in the Empire in the art of swordsmanship, and the Emperor gave Eugene and his mother a palace in their honor.
As for Kayden, he returned home in extreme grief. He entered his room, threw himself on the bed, threw his sword on the ground, and began crying until he fell asleep.
He wanted to go with William outside the Empire tomorrow, but that tomorrow never came.
When Kayden woke up in the middle of the night, he took the sword, the books, and everything related to William, and entered an abandoned room in the palace, where he placed those things—weapons and otherwise—and then locked it with a padlock.
Kayden began to paint a portrait of his master with his own hand, to see him always even if he was no longer alive.
Fiona came to console Kayden after hearing the news, also in deep grief, but the surprise was that Kayden did not want to meet anyone or leave his room except when he went to that room.
Since then, Kayden did not leave the palace for an entire year.
Kayden stopped the narration at that moment, tears falling from his eyes as if he were living that atmosphere again.
Rin said quickly after seeing Kayden in that state: "Sorry for reminding you of that; it was just curiosity on my part. I'm sorry."
Kayden stood on his feet, wiped his tears, and said: "It doesn't matter. Get ready, we are close to the kingdom."
In the Capital's Court...
While everyone waited for Albert's response, some cared for Kayden's sake, and others wanted Albert's safety for their personal interests.
Albert stood before the judge who was trying him, a table in front of him, and he was bound in chains.
Here, at this exact location, Albert sighed, then remained silent for a moment. After that, he said in a loud voice, speaking about his son: "My answer is that Kayden is from the Bryan family through and through, and those he fathers will carry the Bryan family name. He is the son I sired, loved, and raised, and he will remain that person who possesses noble morals and qualities."
The judge issued a sentence to imprison Count Albert, stripped of his noble status. He would have left all that laughing, without doubting his decision, until he saw the tears of his daughter, who was heaping insults and curses on Kayden, which was what made her father's state this way. Albert went to her, then patted her head and said to her: "I know you are sad now, but please, Olivia, never hate your brother."
Returning to the ship heading to the Kingdom of Swords, it docked on the kingdom's shore. The three descended from the ship, heading inside the kingdom, with Kayden saying: "The dangerous part of the journey begins now.