The heavy silence of the manor lingered long after Sion and Duke John had left for the royal capital. The corridors felt emptier, the air more tense. Inside one of the quieter drawing rooms, Mary, Janet, and Sara sat together. The early morning light trickled through the glass windows, casting delicate patterns across their worried faces.
"I can't stop thinking about it…" Mary's voice trembled. "The way he stood after waking up. He wasn't my quiet boy anymore."
Sara, seated beside Janet, nodded thoughtfully. "He's different. You feel it too, right? His presence—it's like he's always watching… always ready."
Janet hugged her knees closer. "It's more than that. He saved me. The pain from all those years... I had given up. But when I looked into his eyes after he changed, it wasn't just Sion—it was like... something ancient. Powerful. I saw a beast ready to annihilate anyone who touched me."
Sara glanced at her, then looked to Mary. "We need answers. Let's call Jerin."
Mary nodded. "He's known Sion longer than any of us. Maybe he can help us understand what's happening."
A maid was summoned, and within minutes, Jerin, the head butler, entered the room. He bowed politely, standing tall in his crisp uniform.
"Lady Sara, Lady Janet, Lady Mary," he greeted, voice calm but steady.
"Jerin," Sara said without hesitation, "what do you think about Sion? About how he's changed?"
The room fell into a deep silence. Jerin remained still for a moment, eyes shadowed with thoughts too heavy to share lightly. Then he exhaled slowly.
"He's… no longer the same young master I once served. After waking from the coma, it was like something ancient stirred within him." His voice was firm, yet edged with unease. "He's calm as still water… but there's a storm underneath. A walking disaster that does not fear death—only the loss of those he holds dear. He'll do anything to protect them. Even burn this world down."
Sara, Janet, and Mary sat in stunned silence. Jerin's words cut through the air like steel.
Mary finally spoke, voice low. "You may know him better than we do."
"I know what I see," Jerin replied softly, bowing. "That's all." He turned and left without another word.
For a moment, the room remained motionless, filled with quiet reflection.
Janet broke the silence, her voice trembling. "He saved me… like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. He didn't speak. He just... moved. Like a force of nature. And then… he hugged me. Like I was something precious."
Sara smiled slightly, a soft blush on her cheeks. "Now I'm really curious about the man I'm going to marry. I'll be waiting, eagerly."
Meanwhile - Royal capital , king's secret chamber
The carriage stopped beneath the shadow of the palace walls. Guards wearing black-and-gold armor saluted and opened a hidden gate. Duke John and Sion stepped out, their faces unreadable as they followed silently through a narrow passage lit by enchanted crystals.
Soon, they stood before a massive iron door etched with the royal crest. A knight nodded and opened it, revealing a grand yet secluded chamber. A long, oval table sat in the center, surrounded by crimson drapes and protective runes.
Inside waited King Nathan George, tall and regal in dark robes, flanked by Queen Elizabeth, Crown Princess Katherine, and Prince Leonard. The air was heavy, the silence almost sacred.
"Sion. John." King Nathan's voice echoed with authority. "You came."
Duke John bowed respectfully. Sion followed, his posture composed yet alert.
"There's much we must discuss," the king said, motioning for them to sit. "But first, tell me what danger now threatens my kingdom."
Sion's eyes locked with the king's. There was no fear. No hesitation. Only determination and fire.
"The truth," he said, voice unwavering, "is darker than you think."