Isaac stood up slowly from the bed, his eyes widened slightly, breath catching as his hands trembled. He walked toward the open window and placed both palms against the wooden frame, staring out into the village.
The weather was perfect, children ran around the well, laughing as their parents drew water. Humans, beastmen even a few demons, living side by side.
Isaac's gaze softened. his place, it was everything the palace had never been, it was quiet, honest and more importantly, it was free, so why would he ever go back to that hell he once called home?
Because if he didn't, they wouldn't just come for him, they would burn this place to the ground. A sharp breath left him, his grip tightened against the wood, he already knew what he had to do.
He turned back toward Dalih, she didn't need words, the moment their eyes met, she understood,bher lips trembled, tears forming along her eyelids, she had seen that look before, the same quiet resolve, the same decision he had no right to make at his age, yet always did.
Dalih loved this life, it wasn't much, but it was theirs, it was peaceful, the complete opposite of the palace. Politics, lies, betrayal and death. All in the name of power. She hated that world. Hated what it had done to him.
Hated that even now, it still had a hold on him, but more than anything, she hated that she couldn't stop what was coming, because this wasn't a request, the letter had made that clear. It was a command.
Refuse, and they would hunt him, relentlessly. The kind of hunt that didn't end until its target, and everything around it, was gone. Accept and he would be walking back into a place that had already tried to erase him once before.
She stepped forward suddenly and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Let's, let's run away." Isaac didn't respond, he already knew. "Let's cross the Black Sea," she said, her voice trembling. "I know it's dangerous, but we've survived worse. We can make it to my homeland."
"They won't accept me," Isaac replied quietly. "I'm human." Her grip tightened, she knew that, her homeland wasn't like Elfien.
It was pure, strict and unforgiving.
"They don't accept humans," he continued. "And their system is even worse."
"But we could still live peacefully," she whispered, biting her lip as tears threatened to fall. "I'll protect you… like I always have." "They still won't let a human"
"Then I'll take my rightful place!" Her voice broke as she pulled back, looking up at him.
"And you'll marry me, and they won't have a choice! They'll have to let you stay, and, and–"
Her words faltered because she knew he was never going to agree
"I won't let you go back to that life," Isaac said gently. "You escaped for a reason. I won't be the reason you suffer again." Her hands clenched against his clothes.
"Instead, I'll go back," he continued. "I'll carry the burden. I'll face the consequences of actions I never even committed."
"But you'll die," she said, her voice breaking as she buried her face into his chest. "They don't want you back, Isaac" her fingers tightened, "they want you gone."
That was the moment, the truth, spoken out loud, and for the first time, Isaac didn't respond immediately, his arms slowly came up, pulling her closer. "I don't think my sister would bring me back from exile just to kill me," he said at last.
But even as he said it, his grip tightened, because deep down, he wasn't completely sure. "They could have done that long ago" he added, quieter this time. pause, then, softer– "I'll be fine, Dalih." "I'm not that little boy anymore."
He rested his chin lightly against her head. "I release you from your promise. Stay here. Live peacefully… live enough for both of us."
Dalih pulled back immediately, shaking her head. "No." He blinked. "If you're going back," she said, wiping her tears, her voice firm despite the tremble, "then I'm going with you." "Dalih–" "No buts."
She straightened, determination burning through her expression. "I'm not letting you go back alone. That's final." Isaac stared at her, for a long moment. Then– he smiled, softly, he turned back toward the window, looking out at the village one last time.
The laughter, the peace, the life they had built. "Running won't save us anymore."
###
Weeks later
Isaac sat by the window of a royal carriage as it rolled toward towering gates, the capital of the human kingdom.
Liophia. A place he once called home. Now, it only filled his chest with a quiet, creeping fear. His gaze lingered on the approaching walls, his reflection faint against the glass.
Why now? Why did she want him back? And more importantly, did the rest of them agree? The royal council, his siblings. His elder brothers. His jaw tightened slightly. Beside him, Dalih sat in silence, watching him, worried.
She hadn't said much since they crossed into the kingdom. Because she already knew, once they passed through those gates, there would be nothing she could do to protect him, and that thought alone terrified her.
The carriage passed through the gates. And just like that, everything changed.
The streets of Liophia stretched wide and grand, lined with stone and gold, filled with people who quickly stepped aside at the sight of the royal carriage.
Eyes followed them, everywhere, some curious, some shocked, some, something else. Isaac didn't need to guess, it had been five years, five years since they last saw him, five years since he was exiled
At fifteen, just weeks before his ascension to the throne, and yet, the throne still remained empty, that part never made sense, he had brothers, more than capable, more than willing. Men who had openly claimed they deserved it more than him, and still, no king.
Isaac's gaze lowered slightly, his father had chosen him, before his death, before everything fell apart.
A faint murmur began outside, then it grew.
"Look!" "That carriage!" "Wait… is that?" "Oh my God… it's the youngest prince of Liophia!"
Isaac exhaled slowly, here it comes, "wasn't he exiled?"
"What is he doing back here?"
"He was accused of conspiring against the throne…" the whispers spread like wildfire.
Eyes sharpened, voices lowered, but not enough. "The traitor prince…" "The one who plotted against his own father…"
"He couldn't even wait for the crown…" Isaac's expression didn't change, but his hand, resting against his knee, tightened.
That was the story they were told, the story they believed, the carriage rolled forward, deeper into the capital, closer to the palace, rhe towering gates of the royal grounds came into view, and for a brief moment, Isaac's eyes darkened, if that was the story they believed, then someone had made sure of it.