The royal procession returned to the palace at sunset, while the city still buzzed with the shock of the day's duel. Crowds lined the streets, some chanting Gray's name in disbelief, others waving as if still uncertain of what they had witnessed.
Rumors spread like wildfire:
"The fourth prince meddled—without his help, the boy would be dead!"
Yet others countered:
"But no one can deny Gray stood against Kota. No one else ever has."
Inside the Royal Carriage
The atmosphere was a world apart from the cheering streets. The king sat in silence, his stern face unmoving. His four sons were equally quiet, each drowning in his own thoughts.
– Adrian, the eldest, sat with rigid posture, gazing sharply through the window, unreadable.
– Leon, the second, leaned back with folded arms, eyes glimmering with mockery.
– Darius, the third, clenched his fists, his breathing heavier than usual.
– Kin, the fourth, reclined with half-lidded eyes and a faint, unshakable smile.
Not a single word was spoken until they reached the palace gates.
Darius – The Brewing Storm
Back in his chambers, Darius flung his gloves to the floor, the sound like gunshots in the silence. He strode to the window, voice low and ragged with anger:
"I'll deal with him later… Kin will not dare mock me again."
He rang a brass bell beside his bed. A maid hurried in, bowing deeply.
— "Your orders, my lord?"
— "Prepare a hot bath. Now."
He didn't wait for her reply. His aide entered moments later, and Darius snapped:
— "I want the full report on this month's revenues. And the nobles' letters—every response to my military proposals. Tonight."
The aide bowed and left at once. Darius sank onto his heavy chair, drumming his fingers against the table, his voice sharpening to a whisper:
"Everything will bend to my will… everything."
Kin – The Unfading Smile
In another wing, Kin entered his quarters, his loyal retainer Marvin at his side. The aide finally dared to ask, his voice tight with concern:
— "Why did you do it, my lord? In front of everyone? You threw your sword into the duel as if you were… taking sides."
Kin lounged on a leather couch, smiling coldly. His reply was effortless, almost casual:
— "I saw a spark, Marvin. And do you know what I do with sparks? I fan them until they become fire. That boy will be my fuel if I shape him well. If I bind him now, he's mine. If I let him go… he may become my enemy."
Marvin fell silent, realizing the prince's vision stretched far beyond the surface.
The Capital – The Noise of the Crowd
Outside, the city was restless. Markets throbbed with debate:
— "Gray beat Kota! Impossible… did you see the blood pouring from Kota?"
— "Nonsense! The fourth prince interfered. Without him, the boy wouldn't have stood a chance!"
— "Interference or not, the result stands. Gray made it to the finals—like it or not."
And among the noise, a new rumor began to spread quickly:
"The final will be Gray… against Halmez."
The Taverns – Bets of the Night
In smoky taverns and dim-lit alleys, the wagers began.
A bald man slammed his fist against the table:
— "Five aur on Halmez! That beast cannot be beaten."
A wiry youth laughed:
— "Fool! I'll put three aur on Gray—anyone who fells Kota cannot be dismissed."
A third, with a long gray beard, interjected:
— "Listen. The finals are not the same. Halmez is no mercenary like Kota. He's a warrior tested in dozens of battles."
The fourth grinned slyly:
— "Then I'll double my wager on Halmez."
The fifth shook his head:
— "You don't understand… every tournament births a surprise. And I say Gray is that surprise."
Laughter and curses filled the tavern, each man shouting louder than the last, as if trying to convince himself more than his companions.
Epilogue – The Silence of Kings
Meanwhile, under the blanket of night, the palace carried a different weight.
Darius brooded over his reports, eyes aflame with ambition and fury.
Kin stood at his window, moonlight cutting across his sly smile.
— "The fire has begun… and no one will stop it."
Elsewhere, Adrian sat in solitude, eyes closed, his voice barely audible:
— "Every step is calculated… but who will burn first?"
And the city itself… drifted into uneasy sleep, waiting for morning—
the final duel, the wagers, and the hearts dangling by a single thread of fate.