The next day, Dada set out for the Central Kingdom.
The journey took two days.
When he finally reached the palace, he slipped in through a hidden passage known only to him and the Emperor. The narrow stone corridor wound through the palace walls and led directly to the Emperor's private chamber.
Dada stopped outside the door.
He listened.
Silence.
After confirming the Emperor was alone, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The Emperor lifted his head from the table and smiled slowly, as if he had been expecting him all along.
"Dada," he said warmly. "You're back."
If Dada hadn't known better, he might have believed the warmth in his voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Dada replied calmly.
The Emperor rose from his chair and walked toward him slowly, studying his face with quiet interest.
"I trust you've carried out the mission."
The room fell silent.
Dada did not answer immediately. His jaw tightened and his fist slowly clenched at his side.
For years he had stood in this room.
For years he had obeyed this man.
For years he had believed him.
"I'm here to carry it out," Dada said at last, his voice hard.
A slight frown creased the Emperor's forehead.
"What do you mean?"
Dada inhaled slowly.
"I mean-"
His words stopped abruptly.
The Emperor had stepped closer.
Too close.
Then suddenly the Emperor's hands reached up and brushed gently against Dada's cheeks.
"I've missed you," the Emperor said softly. "The palace has been terribly dull without you."
Dada's teeth clenched.
'How dare he pretend to care?'
Slowly, Dada raised his hands and placed them on the Emperor's face.
The Emperor's eyes widened in surprise.
Then a pleased smile appeared.
"I knew you would come around one day."
Dada's hands slid slowly down the Emperor's cheeks.
Past his jaw.
Down the sides of his neck.
Slowly.
Gradually.
Then his fingers tightened.
The Emperor's smile vanished instantly.
Dada's hand closed around his throat.
Hard.
A rough cough escaped the Emperor as his body jerked in shock. His hands grabbed at Dada's wrist, trying to pry it away.
"Wh-what... are... you doing?" he choked.
Dada shoved him backward.
The Emperor's body slammed against the wall.
Dada's grip tightened around his throat.
"You said your days have been boring," Dada said coldly. "Let me end it so they won't be anymore."
"H-how... da... dare... you..."
"You," Dada hissed. His voice trembled with rage. "It was you behind it. My home. My village."
His grip tightened again.
"Why?"
The Emperor's eyes widened in shock.
"You... found out?" he coughed.
Dada's eyes burned.
"I shouldn't have?"
Dada loosened his grip just enough for him to breathe.
The Emperor gasped desperately for air.
Then he laughed weakly.
"So what?" he rasped. "I brought you here... fed you... trained you."
His eyes hardened.
"I made you into something greater."
Dada searched his face.
Just for a second.
Looking for guilt.
Regret.
Anything.
But there was none.
"My people," Dada whispered.
The Emperor scoffed weakly.
"They got what they deserved."
Dada froze.
"You shouldn't let the past control your future, Dada."
Something inside Dada snapped.
"How dare you!?" His voice shook.
"How dare you!?"
The Emperor struggled against him, his face reddening.
"I- I can... explain... let... let go..."
Dada tightened his grip again.
"I'm not interested in your excuses."
With his free hand, he reached into the small pouch at his waist and pulled out a thin needle.
The Emperor's eyes locked onto it.
Instant terror flooded his face.
A trembling gasp escaped him.
A colourless stain slowly spread beneath him.
He had lost control.
He knew exactly what that needle did.
He had sent Dada on enough assassinations to recognize it.
The poison was silent.
Invisible.
Once it entered the bloodstream, the heart would stop within minutes.
No wound.
No trace.
The victim would simply... die.
"Wa-wait..." the Emperor begged weakly.
"Hold... on... don't-"
"You made me what I am today," Dada said quietly.
His voice had become frighteningly calm.
"You sent me on those bloody missions."
He raised the needle slowly.
"How does it feel," he whispered, "knowing you're about to taste your own medicine?"
The Emperor's eyes were wide and wet now.
Tears mixed with sweat as he struggled weakly.
"Da... da..."
Dada stared at him.
This man.
The man he once trusted.
The man who destroyed everything.
Without hesitation, Dada drove the needle into the side of the Emperor's neck.
The Emperor's body jerked violently.
His hands clawed weakly at Dada's arm.
Seconds passed.
Then the strength slowly drained from his limbs.
His breathing grew shallow.
His body trembled.
Dada watched the emotions flash across his face.
Fear.
Horror.
Disbelief.
The Emperor's lips trembled as he tried to speak.
"You... be... be...trayer..."
His head sagged.
His eyes dimmed.
And the life slowly left his body.
Dada released him.
The Emperor's body slid down the wall and collapsed to the floor.
Silence filled the room.
Dada looked down at him.
The man who had shaped his life.
The man who had destroyed it.
"I should at least thank you," Dada said quietly.
"Because of you, I learned the truth about my past."
He carried the body to the bed and laid it down carefully, arranging it so it looked as if the Emperor had simply fallen asleep.
He turned toward the door.
"And because of you... I found the man I love."
He glanced back at the lifeless body one last time.
"Rest well, Emperor."
Then he walked out of the chamber.
By morning, the palace would discover their ruler dead.
No wounds.
No blood.
Just a man who had gone to sleep...
and never woke up.
TWO WEEKS LATER
"Drink it all." the old man instructed.
Adrian closed his eyes and forced the bitter liquid down his throat. His face twisted slightly at the taste.
The old man nodded in satisfaction before leaving the room.
Adrian sighed softly and leaned back against the bed.
Outside the window, the night was quiet. The moon hung full in the dark sky.
He stared at it for a moment.
"Where did you go?" he murmured quietly.
The door suddenly opened.
Adrian's face immediately brightened.
William stepped inside.
"En enh! Temi! I miss you," William said dramatically as he flopped onto the bed beside him.
Adrian laughed and wrapped his arms around him.
"What took you so long?"
William looked down at Adrian, who was pouting slightly.
He chuckled.
"Whose cute boyfriend is this?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Boyfriend? I don't remember making it official."
William's smile softened.
"Let's fix that then."
He leaned forward and kissed him gently.
When he pulled back, he stared at Adrian for a moment, his eyes warm.
"Would you be my boyfriend?" he asked, his voice low and sincere.
Adrian swallowed.
A man this handsome... this caring.
He had no reason to refuse.
He leaned forward and kissed him again.
"Yes."
William's smile widened instantly, lighting up his entire face.
He opened his mouth to say something-
But the door suddenly opened.
Both men quickly shifted apart.
Adrian cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Sorry, sorry," the old man said quickly as he stepped in with another man.
"It's fine," Adrian said. "Who is-?"
"I... I don't know myself," the old man said nervously. "He just said he needed to deliver something to you."
He quickly excused himself and left the room.
The stranger immediately dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
Both princes looked at each other in confusion before turning back to him.
"Great princes of our land," the man said respectfully, his head still lowered. "I bring a message from the Central Kingdom."
Both men stiffened.
William stepped forward slightly.
"Rise," he commanded. "State your business."
The messenger stood but kept his eyes lowered.
Sweat had begun forming on his forehead. He was in front of two of the princes.
He felt the pressure.
"I have been sent to inform the princes of an urgent matter."
He hesitated.
"The Emperor... is dead."
Silence fell heavily over the room.
Adrian's lips parted in shock.
"The Emperor... dead?"
William took a few seconds to process the words.
Then he asked calmly,
"Cause of death?"
"Undisclosed."
"Right," William replied quietly.
He turned to Adrian and gently helped him sit back down on the bed, supporting him by the waist.
Then he faced the messenger again.
"I assume that's not all."
The man swallowed nervously.
"Yes... Your Highness."
"Because of the Emperor's death and the vacant throne, the Central Court has summoned all three princes."
Adrian's grip tightened on the bed.
"One of the princes," the messenger continued, "will become the next Emperor."
William stared at him.
Adrian stared at the floor.
It is time.
Both men thought the same thing.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Dada slowly opened his eyes.
He had returned to Idowu after carrying out his plan.
The room was quiet.
Idowu was still asleep beside him.
Dada leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
Idowu stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
"It's time to leave." Dada said gently.
Idowu sighed.
"I still can't convince you to stay behind?"
Dada shook his head.
"I'm not leaving you," he said. "Not after what you said you plan to do."
He paused.
"The First Prince is no ordinary man. I can't leave you alone to face him."
Idowu studied his face for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Alright," he said finally. "Let's go."
He stood up and stretched.
"We should leave now if we want to get ahead of them."
Dada hesitated.
He didn't know what to do.
"Can't I talk you out of this?" he asked quietly. "You don't need to harm-"
"Drop it, Dada!"
Idowu cut him off sharply, a frown on his face.
"Nothing is changing my mind."
Dada fell silent.
He took a slow breath.
Deep down, he already knew.
If Idowu continued like this... he would hurt people.
Maybe even himself.
And Dada couldn't allow that.
Not again.
So he began preparing for the journey ahead.
Because one way or another-
He would try to stop him.