Morning in Kollar did not rise gently.
It announced itself.
Trumpets echoed across the capital city. Golden banners bearing the sigil of a coiled dragon fluttered from the palace towers. Servants moved like silent streams through marble corridors.
Prince James Hader stood alone in his chamber.
He had not slept.
Not because he couldn't.
But because he didn't trust it.
His fingers rested lightly over his chest.
There.
That faint warmth again.
The Infinite Vault.
"Explain it," he muttered internally.
The voice responded immediately.
"Desire is the foundation of this world. Every living being possesses a Desire Core. It governs their strength, talent, and potential."
James walked toward the window.
Below him, knights trained in formation.
Their movements were sharp. Disciplined.
"Most people are born with small cores," the voice continued. "Some are born with greater ambition. Nobles often inherit stronger cores."
"And me?"
"You are an anomaly."
He expected that.
"What does the Infinite Vault do exactly?"
"It consumes."
His lips twitched slightly.
"Consumes what?"
"Desire."
He was silent for a moment.
"And if I consume too much?"
"You will no longer be human."
That didn't scare him.
It intrigued him.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
Three gentle taps.
"Your Highness?"
A soft voice.
Young.
Careful.
James turned.
"Enter."
The doors opened slowly.
And then—
Light.
A girl stepped inside.
Small frame. Long silver-blonde hair tied loosely behind her back. Pale blue eyes that seemed too innocent for the world she lived in.
She wore a simple white dress despite her noble status.
She looked at him.
And smiled.
"Brother."
The word hit something inside him.
Not Ashmond.
James.
Brother.
His throat tightened unexpectedly.
The voice inside him remained silent.
This emotion was not from it.
It was from him.
"Good morning, Elia," he said carefully.
Princess Elia Hader beamed.
She hurried toward him and stopped just short, as if remembering palace etiquette.
But then she ignored it and hugged him anyway.
"You scared me yesterday," she mumbled into his chest. "They said you collapsed."
Ah.
So that explains the statue incident.
"I'm fine," he replied.
She leaned back and studied his face.
"You look… different."
His heart skipped.
Different how?
But she only tilted her head.
"More awake."
He almost laughed.
If only she knew.
She grabbed his sleeve gently.
"Father is holding court today. You're supposed to attend."
Father.
The King of Kollar.
His first political obstacle.
"Will you be there?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"They don't let me. They say I'm too soft."
There was no bitterness in her voice.
Just honesty.
James studied her.
She radiated something.
Warm.
Pure.
He could almost see it—
A faint glow in her chest.
He blinked.
And there it was.
A soft golden light pulsing gently within her.
"Your Desire Core," the voice whispered.
James' breath stilled.
"What about it?"
"It is… unusually pure."
Elia tilted her head.
"Brother?"
He forced a smile.
"Nothing."
But inside—
He felt it.
A pull.
A whisper.
The Vault stirred.
Hungry.
It wanted that light.
Just a little.
Just a taste.
His fingers twitched.
And for a split second—
The golden glow inside Elia flickered.
She gasped softly.
James immediately stepped back.
The pull stopped.
Her glow stabilized.
The Vault quieted.
"What just happened?" he asked internally.
"You attempted to draw from her."
"I didn't mean to."
"Intent is not required."
Cold realization settled in.
So even without wanting to…
He could take.
Elia blinked a few times.
"Brother… for a second I felt cold."
His stomach tightened.
Guilt?
Or calculation?
He wasn't sure.
"I'm sorry," he said.
And this time, it was genuine.
She smiled again, brushing it off.
"It's okay. You're always warm."
The irony almost made him laugh.
Warm?
If she only knew what sat inside him.
A servant appeared at the doorway.
"Your Highness, the King awaits."
Elia squeezed his hand.
"Don't fight with him today, okay?"
Fight?
Interesting.
So the previous James had tension with the King.
"I'll behave," he replied calmly.
She smiled one last time before skipping out of the room.
James stood alone again.
The warmth in his chest shifted.
Not hunger.
Something else.
Possibility.
"If I can see Desire Cores…"
"Yes," the voice confirmed.
"You can measure worth."
He looked toward the palace doors.
"And steal it."
Silence.
But silence was confirmation enough.
He adjusted his royal coat.
First Prince of Kollar.
Political heir.
Possessor of the Infinite Vault.
As he stepped into the corridor, servants bowed.
Guards lowered their heads.
But some—
Some looked at him differently.
Resentment.
Jealousy.
Fear.
He could see faint glows in each of them now.
Red.
Blue.
Gold.
Different intensities.
Different ambitions.
The world looked… edible.
He walked toward the throne hall.
Each step steady.
Measured.
Controlled.
"I will not rush," he thought.
"I will not be reckless."
The massive doors to the throne room opened.
And at the end of a long crimson carpet—
Sat the King.
Crown of black iron.
Eyes sharp as blades.
Beside him stood ministers, generals, nobles.
And one man whose gaze lingered too long.
Calculating.
Dangerous.
James felt it immediately.
That man's Desire Core burned dark crimson.
Ambition.
Violent ambition.
The voice inside him whispered:
"That one will try to kill you."
James smiled faintly.
Good.
He was getting bored already.