The carriage wheels rolled slowly across the stone roads of the capital.
Kyle sat inside, staring blankly at the glowing pendant resting against his chest.
Across from him, Joshua was nervously fiddling with his sleeve.
Luis sat beside the window, silently observing the passing streets.
The cathedral towers slowly disappeared behind them.
Kyle exhaled.
A long, heavy sigh.
Joshua immediately looked worried.
"Your Highness… are you alright?"
Kyle rubbed his temples.
"Let's review today's events."
Luis remained silent.
Kyle raised a finger.
"First, I wake up in another world."
Joshua blinked.
Kyle raised a second finger.
"Second, I discover I'm inside a useless prince's body."
Luis glanced at him slightly.
Kyle raised a third finger.
"Third, a mysterious pope tells me I was summoned by unknown forces."
Joshua nodded slowly.
Kyle raised a fourth finger.
"And finally, I might be connected to a future war."
He leaned back dramatically.
"I want a refund."
Joshua tilted his head.
"…Refund?"
Luis actually chuckled.
Kyle pointed at him.
"Don't laugh."
Luis replied calmly.
"You are handling this surprisingly well."
Kyle shrugged.
"What's the alternative?"
He gestured at the sky.
"Cry dramatically and curse the heavens?"
Joshua whispered.
"That would be understandable…"
Kyle sighed again.
"No thanks."
He glanced at Luis.
"So."
Luis raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
Kyle leaned forward.
"You believe the pope?"
Luis answered immediately.
"Yes."
Kyle blinked.
"That was fast."
Luis crossed his arms.
"Tony Carter never lies about matters concerning the soul."
Joshua nodded slightly.
"The church records say the same."
Kyle muttered.
"Of course they do."
The carriage turned into the palace courtyard.
Guards immediately saluted when they saw the prince's carriage.
Kyle stepped down first.
The moment his boots touched the ground—
A loud voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Well, well."
Kyle froze.
He knew that voice.
Slowly…
He turned around.
Standing at the top of the palace stairs was a tall man wearing elegant royal attire.
Dark red hair.
Sharp golden eyes.
Prince Edward Gray.
The first prince.
And the older brother of Kyle.
Edward slowly walked down the steps with calm confidence.
Behind him stood several knights.
His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
Joshua instinctively stepped closer to Kyle.
Luis straightened slightly.
Edward stopped in front of them.
His golden eyes swept across Kyle carefully.
"Well."
His lips curved slightly.
"The prodigal prince returns."
Kyle forced a polite smile.
"Brother."
Edward raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
His gaze sharpened.
"You called me brother."
Kyle's smile froze slightly.
"…Is that strange?"
Edward studied him carefully.
"Yes."
He leaned slightly closer.
"Usually you call me a tyrant."
Joshua's eyes widened.
Luis remained silent.
Kyle cleared his throat.
"Maybe I'm feeling polite today."
Edward stared at him for several seconds.
Then he chuckled softly.
"That would be a first."
His gaze shifted toward Luis.
"Commander Stark."
Luis bowed slightly.
"Your Highness."
Edward nodded.
"You have been spending a great deal of time with my younger brother recently."
Luis answered calmly.
"I am protecting him."
Edward's eyes flickered slightly.
"Protecting him from what?"
Luis did not hesitate.
"Potential threats."
Edward smiled faintly.
"How loyal."
His gaze shifted again.
This time landing on Joshua.
The young omega stiffened.
Edward's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A slave."
Kyle stepped forward immediately.
"He belongs to me."
Edward looked amused.
"That is obvious."
Joshua lowered his head.
Edward studied him briefly before looking back at Kyle.
"You seem different today."
Kyle forced a casual tone.
"People say that a lot lately."
Edward stepped closer.
Their heights were almost identical.
But Edward's presence felt heavier.
More dangerous.
"Tell me something, Kyle."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Edward's golden eyes gleamed slightly.
"What were you doing at the Lumina Cathedral?"
The courtyard fell silent.
Kyle's mind immediately began racing.
Of course he knows.
Edward watched him carefully.
Kyle shrugged.
"I received an invitation."
Edward smiled slightly.
"From the pope."
It wasn't a question.
Kyle nodded.
"Yes."
Edward's gaze sharpened.
"And?"
Kyle leaned casually against the carriage.
"And we talked."
Edward crossed his arms.
"About what?"
Kyle grinned.
"Religion."
Luis coughed quietly.
Joshua tried not to laugh.
Edward stared at Kyle.
"…You?"
Kyle spread his hands.
"I know. Shocking."
Edward studied him again.
Longer this time.
Then slowly…
His smile widened.
"Interesting."
Kyle frowned.
"What?"
Edward turned around.
"Nothing."
He began walking back toward the palace stairs.
But before leaving—
He paused.
Without turning around, he spoke.
"Be careful, little brother."
Kyle's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Edward's voice was calm.
"Because the moment you change…"
He glanced over his shoulder.
"…people start paying attention."
Then he continued walking away.
The knights followed him silently.
The courtyard returned to normal.
Joshua exhaled slowly.
"That was terrifying."
Kyle nodded.
"Agreed."
Luis looked toward the palace entrance thoughtfully.
"The first prince is very perceptive."
Kyle rubbed his neck.
"Yeah."
Joshua looked at him nervously.
"Your Highness… do you think he suspects something?"
Kyle shrugged.
"Probably."
Luis added calmly.
"He has suspected something about everyone since childhood."
Kyle sighed.
"Well that's comforting."
They began walking toward Kyle's residence.
Joshua stayed close behind him.
After a few moments, Joshua spoke softly.
"…Your Highness."
Kyle looked at him.
"Yes?"
Joshua hesitated.
"The first prince… is he your enemy?"
Kyle thought about it.
In the original novel…
Edward Gray eventually became emperor.
And during his reign…
Prince Kyle Gray died mysteriously.
No one ever confirmed whether Edward ordered the assassination.
Kyle scratched his head.
"…I honestly don't know yet."
Luis glanced at him.
"You do not trust him."
Kyle answered honestly.
"Not completely."
Joshua nodded quietly.
"That makes sense."
They finally reached the prince's residence.
Servants bowed as Kyle entered.
The moment he stepped inside—
Kyle collapsed dramatically onto the couch.
"I'm exhausted."
Joshua hurried over.
"Your Highness!"
Kyle waved lazily.
"I'm fine."
Luis remained standing nearby.
Kyle looked at the ceiling.
"Today was too much."
Joshua sat beside him carefully.
"You met the pope… and the first prince."
Kyle nodded.
"And discovered I might be some kind of chosen catalyst."
Luis spoke calmly.
"You are handling it well."
Kyle snorted.
"That's because I refuse to panic."
Joshua asked softly.
"…What will you do now?"
Kyle closed his eyes.
"Survive."
Luis crossed his arms.
"That is a vague plan."
Kyle opened one eye.
"Do you have a better one?"
Luis actually paused.
Then shook his head.
"…No."
Kyle grinned.
"See?"
Joshua smiled faintly.
Kyle sat up slowly.
"But seriously."
His voice became more thoughtful.
"If someone summoned me here…"
Luis listened carefully.
"…then there must be a reason."
Joshua nodded.
"That seems likely."
Kyle stood up.
"Well."
He stretched his arms.
"Until we figure that out…"
He looked at Luis and Joshua.
"…we should probably get stronger."
Luis raised an eyebrow.
"You intend to train?"
Kyle pointed at himself.
"I'm an alpha prince."
Luis nodded.
"That is correct."
Kyle shrugged.
"So I should at least learn how to fight."
Joshua looked impressed.
"That sounds responsible."
Kyle grinned.
"Don't get used to it."
Luis's lips twitched slightly.
For the first time…
The lazy prince looked almost motivated.
But far away—
Inside the Lumina Cathedral—
Tony Carter stood alone before an ancient stone altar.
The glowing artifact Kyle had worn earlier floated in the air.
Its light had grown stronger.
Tony's blue eyes reflected the glow.
"…So it begins."
Behind him, a shadowy figure stepped forward from the darkness.
"Is he truly the one?"
Tony nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The figure spoke again.
"And the empire?"
Tony's voice became quiet.
"The empire's fate has already begun shifting."
He looked toward the distant palace visible through the cathedral window.
"The prodigal prince…"
The artifact pulsed brightly.
"…has finally awakened."
And whether he liked it or not—
Kyle Gray was now standing at the center of a destiny that was far larger than himself.