The sun hung high above the palace training grounds, bathing the field in warm golden light.
Kyle wiped the sweat from his forehead for the tenth time.
His arms trembled slightly from exhaustion, but he was still standing.
Which, according to Luis Stark, counted as progress.
"Again," Luis said calmly.
Kyle groaned loudly.
"I feel like you enjoy saying that word."
Luis raised his wooden training sword.
"It builds character."
Kyle sighed.
"Then I must be full of character by now."
Joshua giggled from the pavilion.
The omega had brought fruit and water today, placing them neatly on a small table nearby.
Kyle pointed toward him dramatically.
"You're supposed to support me, not laugh."
Joshua raised his hands innocently.
"I am supporting you."
Kyle squinted.
"Emotionally?"
Joshua nodded.
"Yes."
Luis didn't wait for the conversation to continue.
His wooden sword struck forward suddenly.
Kyle barely raised his weapon in time.
CLACK.
The impact echoed across the field.
Kyle stumbled backward slightly.
Luis moved again.
Kyle blocked again.
The rhythm continued.
Attack.
Block.
Attack.
Block.
Each time Kyle moved slightly faster.
Each time he held his ground a little longer.
After several minutes, Luis finally stepped back.
Kyle dropped his sword and collapsed onto the grass.
"I'm dead."
Luis looked down at him.
"You are alive."
Kyle stared at the sky.
"Barely."
Joshua walked over and handed him a cup of water.
"You lasted much longer today."
Kyle drank gratefully.
"That's because my arms are too numb to feel pain anymore."
Luis nodded.
"That is also part of training."
Kyle looked at him suspiciously.
"I'm beginning to think knights are secretly insane."
Joshua laughed again.
Luis's lips twitched.
But before anyone could say more—
A palace guard hurried toward them.
"Your Highness!"
Kyle slowly sat up.
"What now?"
The guard bowed quickly.
"There is a visitor requesting to meet you."
Kyle frowned.
"A visitor?"
The guard nodded.
"He claims it is urgent."
Luis stepped forward slightly.
"Name?"
The guard hesitated.
"He refused to give one."
Luis's eyes narrowed immediately.
Joshua looked nervous.
Kyle stood up slowly.
"Where is he?"
The guard answered.
"At the outer courtyard."
Luis placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Be cautious."
Kyle stretched his sore arms.
"At this point, I expect every day to include at least one suspicious event."
Joshua followed closely behind as they walked toward the palace entrance.
The outer courtyard was quiet when they arrived.
Only a single figure stood near the fountain.
A man dressed in simple travel clothing.
His hood covered most of his face.
Luis stepped slightly in front of Kyle.
"State your business."
The stranger slowly lowered his hood.
Kyle blinked in surprise.
The man looked young.
Maybe twenty.
His hair was dark brown and messy.
But his eyes were sharp.
Very sharp.
The stranger bowed slightly toward Kyle.
"Prince Kyle Gray."
Kyle crossed his arms.
"That's me."
The man looked around carefully before speaking again.
"I came to warn you."
Luis's gaze hardened.
"About what?"
The stranger's voice lowered.
"They are coming again."
Kyle felt a chill run down his spine.
"Who?"
The man answered quietly.
"The people who sent the assassin last night."
Joshua gasped softly.
Luis stepped closer.
"How do you know about that?"
The stranger looked directly at Kyle.
"Because I was one of them."
Silence exploded across the courtyard.
Joshua's eyes widened.
Luis's sword slid halfway from its sheath.
"Explain yourself."
The stranger raised his hands slowly.
"I defected."
Kyle blinked.
"…That was fast."
The man looked serious.
"They will not stop until you are dead."
Luis studied him carefully.
"What organization do you belong to?"
The stranger hesitated.
Then he spoke.
"The Shadow Court."
Kyle frowned.
"That sounds extremely villainous."
Joshua whispered.
"I've heard that name before…"
Luis nodded slowly.
"It is a secret assassin organization."
Kyle sighed.
"Of course it is."
Joshua looked at the stranger.
"Why betray them?"
The man's expression darkened slightly.
"Because their target changed."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Changed?"
The stranger nodded.
"At first, we were hired to kill the lazy prince."
Kyle pointed at himself.
"Hey."
The stranger continued.
"But after the cathedral visit…"
His eyes hardened.
"The order became absolute."
Luis finished the thought.
"Kill him at any cost."
The stranger nodded.
Kyle rubbed his temples.
"I'm becoming very popular."
Joshua looked worried.
"How many assassins are coming?"
The stranger answered quietly.
"…Three."
Luis's eyes sharpened.
"Elite assassins."
Kyle sighed again.
"Of course they are."
Luis turned toward him.
"We should move you to a secure location."
Kyle shook his head.
"No."
Luis frowned.
"Your Highness—"
Kyle raised his hand.
"If we hide, they'll just wait for another opportunity."
Joshua looked nervous.
"So what do we do?"
Kyle smiled faintly.
"We prepare."
Luis studied him carefully.
"You intend to fight them?"
Kyle shrugged.
"I intend to survive them."
The stranger stepped forward slightly.
"I can help."
Luis immediately blocked his path.
"Why should we trust you?"
The man met Kyle's eyes.
"Because if they succeed…"
His voice turned grim.
"…I'm next."
Kyle considered him for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
"Well."
He looked toward Luis.
"I guess we have a new temporary ally."
Luis didn't look convinced.
Joshua whispered.
"What is your name?"
The stranger hesitated.
Then answered.
"Marcus."
Kyle nodded.
"Alright, Marcus."
He pointed toward the palace.
"Let's go inside before someone else tries to kill me."
Joshua followed nervously.
Luis walked beside Kyle, still watching Marcus carefully.
The group entered the residence.
Kyle immediately sat down in the main hall.
"Okay."
He looked at Marcus.
"Tell me everything."
Marcus nodded.
"The Shadow Court operates through contracts."
Luis listened carefully.
"Who issued the contract for the prince?"
Marcus shook his head.
"That information is hidden."
Joshua asked softly.
"But you know when they will attack?"
Marcus nodded again.
"Tonight."
Kyle leaned back in his chair.
"Fantastic."
Luis crossed his arms.
"We will prepare defenses."
Kyle looked at him.
"And train."
Luis nodded.
Joshua blinked.
"…Train?"
Kyle grinned.
"If three elite assassins are coming…"
He picked up the wooden training sword leaning against the wall.
"…then I should probably practice a little more."
Marcus looked surprised.
"You're serious?"
Kyle shrugged.
"Hey."
He pointed toward the bandage on his arm.
"I already survived one assassination attempt."
Joshua smiled softly.
Luis nodded.
"And you will survive the next."
But outside the palace walls—
Three shadowy figures stood on the rooftops of the capital.
Their eyes watched the distant palace towers.
One of them spoke quietly.
"The traitor reached the prince."
Another replied calmly.
"It doesn't matter."
The third assassin unsheathed a thin black blade.
"Tonight…"
The blade glinted in the fading sunlight.
"…we finish the mission."
And as night slowly approached—
Prince Kyle Gray unknowingly prepared for the most dangerous battle of his life.