"A woman?"
He repeated the words aloud, stunned.
'What does she mean?'
Though he had some idea, he wanted her to explain herself. Without confirmation, he refused to trust the conclusions forming in his mind.
Lilith's lips curved into a sorrowful smile, the grief in her expression deepening when she saw his disbelief.
"Never underestimate a woman's influence. Have you heard the saying—beauty can ruin even the greatest of heroes?"
She didn't elaborate further. Even recalling that memory filled her with pain so heavy it choked her breath.
"I don't want you to end up like your father. For all his strength, he was hopeless with women—too dense, too easily swayed. In the end, that weakness cost him dearly."
Her sigh carried the weight of old wounds as she continued, "Men have fallen to lust since ancient times. To be king, you must learn to master not only power but also desire. Don't let women become more than ornaments in your life."
Sol frowned. To treat women as nothing but tools for his pleasure left a bitter taste in his mouth. But before he could voice it, Lilith cut him off with chilling calm.
"First, your duty as heir is to secure the royal line. You must sire as many children as possible. Do you understand now why so many beautiful maids serve this palace? They are all for you."
Her words made him cringe, but he couldn't deny their truth. In a world so unstable, his life was the kingdom's last safeguard. Without him, unrest and invasion would surely follow.
"I understand," he said quietly, "but… I still know you're hiding something from me."
Taking a slice of bread, he rose and left the hall, his footsteps echoing.
Once alone, a shadow materialized behind Lilith.
"Your Majesty, was that wise?"
"Yes," she answered calmly. "Hiding everything would kill his trust. He's smart enough to see through lies. Let him discover the truth in time."
The shadow's voice held warning. "You tread close to treason."
A suffocating wave of pressure rolled off Lilith, drowning out the chill.
"Never mistake me. The kingdom itself I can discard—but not Sol. If he fails as king, I'll seize the throne myself and give him a life so abundant that even ancient rulers would envy him."
The oppressive air eased.
"Understood," the shadow conceded, though not without unease.
Lilith's smile bloomed, sweet yet unsettling. "Good. I knew we could understand one another."
She could feel the insult unspoken in the other's mind but ignored it. Relations with the Crown's Shadow were tense at best—most of them loyal to Mars alone.
As her thoughts strayed to her brother, frustration burned. "How could someone so extraordinary fall because of women?"
But before she could lose herself in grief, the operative spoke again.
"The Supreme Daughter of Castitas moves. She's given you an ultimatum about separating her from Sol."
And with that, the shadow vanished.
Lilith's expression hardened. "That woman again…"
Meanwhile, Sol lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, the conversation gnawing at his mind.
'Have I been taking this world too lightly?'
He had every reason to—he was blessed with handsomeness, talent, and royal blood. He was the heir to a kingdom, son of this world's savior, and child of a dragon. Who wouldn't see themselves as chosen, the center of fate's story?
Yet now he realized the truth.
'All this time, I was just playing through the tutorial. The real trials begin now.'
A knock came at his door.
"Your highness, may I enter?"
Recognizing the voice, Sol let a smile creep onto his lips.
"You may."