Morning arrived with deceptive calm.
Golden sunlight spilled across the vast imperial palace, illuminating its towering spires and marble courtyards. Servants moved about as usual, nobles prepared for their daily routines, and the guards stood in disciplined formation.
To the outside world—
Everything was normal.
But inside the palace…
Tension simmered beneath the surface.
Because today—
The royal court would convene.
Inside his chamber, Arian stood before the mirror.
The same frail body stared back at him.
Pale skin.
Thin frame.
Weak.
But his eyes—
Were no longer the same.
They were sharp.
Cold.
Awake.
"This body is still a problem," he murmured.
He clenched his fist.
A faint strength surged through him—the result of the system's enhancement.
Better than before.
But not enough.
"Not yet," he said quietly.
"Soon."
Behind him, Kael stood in silence.
A shadow among shadows.
Seraphiel, on the other hand, stood near the window, bathed in soft golden light.
Two beings.
Opposites.
Both terrifying.
Both his.
A knock came at the door.
"Your Highness, the royal court is about to begin," a servant announced.
Arian's lips curved slightly.
"Perfect timing."
Moments later—
The grand doors of the royal court opened.
The hall was enormous.
Towering pillars lined both sides, each engraved with ancient runes and symbols of the empire's long history. Nobles stood in ordered rows, dressed in luxurious garments, their expressions ranging from bored to curious.
At the far end—
The throne.
Empty.
Because the Emperor was absent.
Which meant—
Today's session would be controlled by the princes.
As Arian entered—
The hall fell silent.
Then—
Whispers erupted.
"The Third Prince…?"
"Why is he here?"
"I heard he was on the verge of death…"
"He looks even worse today…"
Mockery.
Disdain.
Indifference.
Arian heard it all.
And ignored it.
"Demonic Insight."
The world shifted.
He could feel them.
Their emotions.
Arrogance.
Greed.
Fear.
And something else—
Tension.
Yes.
Something had already spread.
Rumors.
About last night.
"Interesting," Arian thought.
"So it's begun."
"Announcing the Second Prince, His Highness Lucien Valemont!"
The voice echoed through the hall.
And then—
He appeared.
Lucien.
Dressed in royal crimson, his presence commanded attention instantly. His posture was confident, his expression calm, and his eyes—
Sharp.
Dangerous.
The nobles bowed slightly.
Respect.
Fear.
Both.
Lucien's gaze swept across the hall.
Then—
It stopped.
On Arian.
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
The two brothers locked eyes.
For a brief moment—
Time seemed to stop.
Then—
Lucien smiled.
Warm.
Friendly.
Deceptive.
"Brother," he said, walking forward. "I'm glad to see you've recovered."
Arian smiled back.
Just as warm.
Just as fake.
"Thanks to your concern," he replied.
The nobles exchanged glances.
Something felt off.
Lucien stepped closer.
Lowered his voice slightly.
"You shouldn't be here," he said softly.
Arian tilted his head.
"And why not?"
Lucien's smile didn't change.
"Because this place…"
"…is dangerous."
Arian's eyes darkened.
"Only for the weak."
A flicker.
Just for a second—
Lucien's smile tightened.
Then it returned.
"Let's begin," he said, turning away.
The court session started.
Nobles presented reports.
Trade issues.
Border disputes.
Tax concerns.
The usual.
Arian remained silent.
Watching.
Listening.
Learning.
Then—
A voice spoke.
"Your Highness, there is a matter that requires immediate attention."
All eyes turned.
It was—
Steward Halric.
Arian's gaze sharpened.
"Finally," he thought.
Halric stepped forward with a calm expression.
"Last night, an unfortunate incident occurred within the palace," he said.
Murmurs spread instantly.
"Yes, we heard something…"
"An attack?"
"Inside the palace?"
Halric continued:
"Five guards assigned to the Third Prince's protection were found dead."
Gasps echoed.
Shock.
Confusion.
Lucien frowned.
"This is serious," he said. "How could something like this happen?"
Halric bowed his head slightly.
"We are still investigating."
Then—
He turned.
And looked directly at Arian.
Arian felt it.
Through Demonic Insight.
Hidden intent.
Subtle.
Careful.
But there.
"Your Highness," Halric said, "you were present at the scene. Did you notice anything unusual?"
The trap was set.
Carefully crafted.
If Arian spoke incorrectly—
He could be blamed.
Accused.
Even removed.
The entire court watched.
Waiting.
Arian stepped forward slowly.
His movements were weak.
Measured.
But his eyes—
Were steady.
"I did," he said.
Silence fell instantly.
Halric's expression didn't change.
But inside—
Arian could feel it.
A flicker of tension.
"Oh?" Halric said. "Please enlighten us, Your Highness."
Arian looked around the hall.
At the nobles.
At Lucien.
At Halric.
Then—
He spoke.
"They weren't my guards."
The words hit like thunder.
"What?"
"What does he mean?"
Halric frowned slightly.
"I don't understand—"
"They wore the uniforms," Arian continued calmly. "But they weren't assigned to me."
The atmosphere shifted.
Dangerously.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
Halric's fingers twitched.
Just slightly.
"And how would Your Highness know that?" Halric asked.
Arian smiled faintly.
"Because I remember their faces."
A lie.
But a convincing one.
"They were strangers," Arian said. "And they tried to kill me."
Gasps erupted across the hall.
"An assassination attempt?!"
"Inside the palace?!"
Lucien's expression turned serious.
"Are you certain?" he asked.
Arian looked directly at him.
"Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Halric stepped forward.
"This is a grave accusation," he said. "Do you have any proof?"
Arian tilted his head.
"Do you?"
Halric froze.
Just for a moment.
Arian continued:
"You said they were my guards."
"But you weren't there."
"So how do you know?"
The court erupted again.
Whispers.
Doubt.
Suspicion.
Halric's calm facade cracked.
Just slightly.
"I was informed—" he began.
"By whom?" Arian interrupted.
Silence.
Dead silence.
Arian took another step forward.
His presence—
Subtle.
But growing.
"You're very well informed, Steward Halric," he said softly.
"Almost as if…"
"You were involved."
The entire court froze.
Lucien's gaze snapped toward Halric.
For the first time—
There was tension between them.
Halric immediately dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding!" he said.
Arian smiled.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Of course it is."
He turned away.
As if he had lost interest.
But the damage—
Was done.
Doubt had been planted.
Deep.
Dangerous.
Lucien spoke after a long pause.
"This matter will be investigated thoroughly," he said.
His tone—
Controlled.
But heavy.
Arian nodded slightly.
"Of course."
Their eyes met again.
This time—
There was no pretense.
Lucien knew.
Something had changed.
And Arian—
Knew that Lucien knew.
The game had begun.
As the court session ended—
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Did you see that?"
"The Third Prince…"
"He's different…"
Arian walked out calmly.
Unhurried.
Unbothered.
But inside—
His mind was racing.
"That was just the beginning," he thought.
Behind him—
Kael whispered:
"You've sown chaos."
Seraphiel added softly:
"But chaos alone is not victory."
Arian smiled.
"I know."
He looked ahead.
His eyes burning with ambition.
"Next…"
"I destroy him."
Far behind—
Lucien stood alone in the court.
His expression unreadable.
"Brother…" he murmured.
Then—
Slowly—
He smiled.
"Interesting."