The sun poured golden light over the grand gardens of Serethis Palace, but no warmth reached the cold faces of the two boys standing a few feet apart.
Illyen, the duke's only son, stepped down from the carriage with his long white hair catching the breeze. His red eyes flicked defiantly toward the boy waiting near the fountain - Crown Prince Cael.
Cael's blue eyes narrowed, jaw clenched tight.
His sister Emily lingered just behind him, watching with quiet amusement.
From nearby, two pairs of adult eyes observed the scene. Duke Varys, Illyen's father, stood tall and stern, his gaze fixed on the young prince.
Beside him, Lady Serina, Illyen's mother, held her son's hand, her expression calm but alert.
Opposite them, King Aldric and Queen Marielle, parents of Cael and Emily, watched silently. The king's lips pressed thin; the queen's eyes flickered with a mixture of hope and concern.
Illyen broke the silence first, voice sharp like a whip.
"So, this is the prince," he said with thinly veiled disdain. "I heard you hide behind your guards like a frightened child."
Cael's hands curled into fists at his sides, his voice cold.
"And I heard you're just a spoiled noble boy with more pride than sense."
Emily stepped between them, hands raised.
"Enough! This is a visit, not a duel."
But the boys ignored her.
Illyen's lips curled into a sneer.
"Don't mistake me. I'm not here to play games or be polite. I'm here to prove I'm better than you."
Cael's gaze hardened, icy as winter.
"We'll see about that."
From behind, Duke Varys exchanged a glance with Lady Serina.
"He's too reckless," she whispered. "His pride will get him into trouble."
Varys's eyes darkened. "But strength is necessary. He must be ready to take the duke's place one day."
Across the garden, King Aldric's face was stern.
"Cael must learn to keep his temper," he murmured to Queen Marielle.
The queen nodded softly. "But he must also not underestimate the boy from the duke's house.
Their rivalry will shape more than just their childhood."
The two boys stood apart, hatred and misunderstanding thick between them - unaware that beneath it all lay threads of a bond far older and deeper than either could comprehend.
Emily smiled quietly.
"This is only the beginning "