It was night in the Human Kingdom.
The vast, white palace with its tall columns stood eerily under the dim moonlight. Torches flickered on the walls and the sound of heavy boots echoed in the corridors with the footsteps of the guards.
Inside the throne room the atmosphere seemed even colder than outside.
The king sat on his throne.
His sharp eyes looked down at the knight, who had kneeled at his feet. The knight kept his head down, and waited for the order he had been called for.
The king was quiet for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"Summon the execution squad."
The knight looked up, but quickly dropped his head again.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The king slightly leaned forward, his fingers gripping the arm of his throne.
"There is someone here that needs to be executed tonight."
The knight hesitated.
"Who, Your Majesty?"
The room went silent.
The torches seemed to blink slower too.
Then, the king finally replied.
"Aurelian."
The knight froze.
Everybody in the kingdom knew the name Aurelian.
Prince Aurelian.
The king's one and only son.
The knight's voice stuttered.
"Y-Your Majesty... The prince?"
The king's gaze became as cold as ice.
"Yes."
For a short moment the knight thought he was dreaming.
But the king continued without changing his tone.
"The boy has to die before dawn."
A cold shiver went down the knight's spine.
"But... Your Majesty... The prince did nothing wrong."
The king slowly rose up from the throne.
His voice was quiet, yet full of absolute authority.
"There are threats that need to be taken down before they are realized."
The knight swallowed hard.
"Summon the execution squad," the king commanded. "And bring the boy to the courtyard."
He paused, before adding another sentence.
"The queen should not know about this."
The knight bowed.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The knight left the throne room and his heart was pounding against his chest.
Behind him, the king stood alone in the hall, staring out at the night sky, into the darkness of the world.
And far away in another corner of the palace...
A 13-year-old boy slept peacefully, without knowing that he was already sentenced to death by his own father.