Morning broke over Stonehead Palace to the cheerful chirping of birds in the sprawling gardens. Their sweet calls mingled with the distant laughter of children somewhere beyond the palace grounds, creating a peaceful rhythm across the quiet town.
The climate was pleasantly mild, carrying just enough coolness to make the morning air refreshing.
Outside, Morisa was already in the garden, her bright laughter occasionally mixing with the deeper chuckle of the man playing with her.
Meanwhile, inside the luxurious guest chamber, Jai remained fast asleep.
A beam of golden sunlight slipped through the tall window and landed directly across his face. The warmth was strangely comforting, and for a few moments, his half-conscious mind convinced him that he was back home.
Safe.
Familiar.
Then memory returned.
Jai's eyes opened.
He stared at the ceiling for several seconds before sitting upright.
Right.
I'm in the Dwarf Kingdom.
His gaze moved around the large guest room.
Something about the space gave him an odd sense of familiarity. It reminded him slightly of his own home, though everything here was larger, heavier, and clearly designed in the strong architectural style of Khazadcoher.
A gentle knock sounded from the heavy black wooden door.
Jai glanced toward it.
For some reason, his first thought was Morisa.
Maybe she's here to check on us.
"Who is it?" he called, his voice still rough from sleep.
An elderly woman's voice answered from the other side.
"My name is Venessa, young master. I am one of the palace maids. I've brought you some coffee."
Jai got out of bed and opened the door.
Standing outside was an elderly Dwarf woman dressed in a neat blue maid uniform. Age had left soft lines across her face, giving her a warm, almost grandmotherly appearance.
She carefully handed him a cup.
Jai accepted it.
"Thank you."
Then he noticed something.
Only one cup.
"Did my brother Clement already wake up?"
Venessa bowed slightly.
"Yes, young master. He woke earlier and went outside to practice his magic."
Jai blinked.
"Already?"
"Yes."
He thanked her again, quickly drank some of the coffee, and headed downstairs.
Jai had barely reached the bottom of the grand staircase when a familiar small figure appeared in front of him.
"Big Brother Arthur!"
Morisa looked up at him.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
Jai smiled.
"Just to the garden."
Morisa tilted her head.
"The garden?"
"I like flowers."
He shrugged.
"Planting and taking care of them is one of my favorite habits."
Morisa immediately brightened.
"Really?"
James stood a short distance behind her.
Jai looked at him.
"So that's where you disappeared to."
James shrugged.
"I woke up early."
Morisa grabbed Jai's hand.
"Come! Zayn is already there."
The three of them headed toward the back of the palace.
The moment Jai stepped into the garden, he slowed down.
It was magnificent.
Rows of flowers covered the grounds in bright shades of red, white, violet, and gold. Carefully shaped stone paths wound between trees, fountains, and small areas filled with medicinal plants.
Near one of the flower beds, a man was kneeling on the ground.
White hair caught the sunlight like polished silver.
His build was tall and muscular, but he wore only a simple white shirt and shorts, looking completely different from the intimidating prince Jai had met the previous day.
Zayn Stonehead.
He was watering a row of flowers.
Jai approached him.
"Zayn?"
The prince turned.
Jai gestured toward the garden.
"Did you take care of all this?"
Zayn looked around before giving a faint smile.
"Some of it."
Jai stepped closer.
"You like gardening?"
Zayn's smile changed.
"Honestly?"
He looked down at the soil.
"Not really."
Jai raised an eyebrow.
"Then why do it every day?"
For a moment, Zayn said nothing.
Then he answered quietly.
"My mother."
Jai's expression softened.
"When I was little, she used to bring me here."
Zayn carefully poured water around the roots of another plant.
"She loved gardening."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"We would spend hours digging holes, planting flowers, and arguing about which ones looked better."
He paused.
"After she died, I kept doing it."
Jai remained silent.
"It reminds me of her."
Zayn looked toward Morisa.
"And after this little troublemaker was born..."
Morisa frowned.
"I'm not a troublemaker."
Zayn ignored her.
"...I started bringing her here too."
He smiled.
"She reminds me of my mother sometimes."
Morisa crossed her arms.
"Only sometimes?"
Zayn laughed.
Then, without warning, he lifted Morisa into his arms.
She immediately screamed with laughter as he spun her around.
"Zayn!"
"Put me down!"
"Never."
Her laughter filled the garden.
Jai and James watched them.
For a few moments, neither said anything.
Then Jai smiled.
It was a simple scene.
An older brother.
A younger sister.
Nothing royal about it.
Nothing political.
Just family.
A butler eventually approached and bowed respectfully.
"Masters, breakfast is ready."
Morisa immediately looked toward Jai and James.
"Big Brother Arthur, Brother Clement, eat with us!"
Jai hesitated.
He didn't want to impose.
He glanced toward Zayn, prepared to politely refuse.
Zayn noticed immediately.
"Don't worry."
He laughed.
"You can eat with us."
Jai opened his mouth.
Zayn held up a hand.
"I promise I won't put poison in your food."
James coughed.
Jai gave a small smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zayn immediately frowned.
"Don't call me that."
Jai looked confused.
"Then what should I call you?"
"Zayn."
He shrugged.
"You and I are around the same age."
Then his gaze shifted toward James.
"But Clement..."
A mischievous smile appeared.
"...has to call me Big Brother."
James stared at him.
"What?"
Jai immediately turned toward James with the most irritating grin he could manage.
James narrowed his eyes.
We're practically the same age, his expression seemed to scream.
Zayn laughed.
"Come on. Get ready first."
Everyone returned to their rooms to prepare.
When Jai came back downstairs, he looked far more formal.
He wore a grey suit with matching trousers and polished black shoes. Around his neck was a necklace, and a bracelet rested on his right wrist.
They were not merely accessories.
Both helped conceal the marks associated with Emperor Dominatrix's power beneath the layers of his disguise.
James appeared next.
His clothes were much simpler: a brown shirt, brown trousers, and matching shoes.
Jai stared at him.
"Why are you completely brown?"
James looked down at himself.
"What's wrong with it?"
"You look like a walking piece of wood."
James glared at him.
Morisa arrived before the argument could continue.
She wore a beautiful green-and-white gown decorated with subtle green ornaments.
Then Zayn entered.
He wore a clean white shirt with matching trousers.
His clothes were simple, but the prince carried himself naturally enough that even plain clothing looked elegant.
Jai noticed the necklace around his neck.
Zayn's fingers briefly touched the chain as he walked.
The pendant was small.
Old.
Clearly valuable for reasons unrelated to money.
Inside was a tiny picture.
Zayn and his mother.
Jai looked away without commenting.
Some things didn't need questions.
They gathered around the dining table.
The maids arrived soon after, serving fresh bread, cooked vegetables, eggs, fruit, and several dishes Jai didn't recognize.
For a while, everyone simply ate.
Then James's curiosity finally became too strong.
"If you don't mind me asking..."
Zayn looked toward him.
"Where are the rest of your family members?"
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Morisa's smile faded.
Zayn lowered his fork.
James instantly realized he had touched something sensitive.
"You don't have to answer if—"
"No."
Zayn sighed.
"It's fine."
He leaned back slightly.
"They left."
Jai looked toward him.
"All of them?"
Zayn nodded.
"After my father became King, things changed."
His expression darkened.
"Many of our relatives became jealous."
James frowned.
"Because he became King?"
"Partly."
Zayn stared down at the table.
"My father always cared more about the common people than royal privilege."
"He used royal resources to improve villages."
"Help poor families."
"Strengthen schools."
"Support craftsmen."
Zayn gave a bitter smile.
"Our relatives believed those resources should have gone to them."
Jai remained silent.
"The jealousy grew."
Zayn continued.
"And eventually..."
His voice became heavier.
"...some of them began discussing ways to remove him."
James's expression sharpened.
"Kill him?"
Zayn nodded.
Morisa looked down.
"My father found out."
Jai asked, "What did he do?"
"Nothing violent."
Zayn gave a sad laugh.
"That's the kind of man he is."
"He could have imprisoned them."
"Executed them."
"Stripped them of everything."
"But he didn't."
Zayn looked toward the window.
"He told them to leave the kingdom."
Jai frowned.
"All of them?"
"Every relative involved."
"And they agreed?"
"They didn't have much choice."
Zayn's expression became distant.
"My father didn't want bloodshed between relatives."
"So he gave them money, protection for the journey, and enough resources to start new lives elsewhere."
He paused.
"Then they left."
Morisa spoke quietly.
"And they never came back."
The dining hall fell silent.
Jai had not expected that.
"I'm surprised."
Zayn looked at him.
Jai continued.
"Everywhere I've traveled, people speak highly of Dwarf families."
He chose his words carefully.
"They say family bonds here are stronger than stone."
Zayn smiled sadly.
"Usually, they are."
He looked toward Morisa.
"But being a Dwarf doesn't make us immune to jealousy."
His gaze returned to Jai.
"Blood can create powerful bonds."
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"But jealousy can turn those same bonds into hatred."
Jai nodded slowly.
That was something he understood more than Zayn could possibly know.
For a while, no one spoke.
Morisa eventually broke the silence by reaching across the table and stealing food from Zayn's plate.
Zayn stared at her.
"Did you just take my food?"
Morisa immediately ate it.
"No."
James laughed.
The heaviness around the table slowly disappeared.
But Jai remained thoughtful.
The Stonehead family looked powerful from the outside.
A respected King.
A gifted heir.
A beloved princess.
A kingdom famous for loyalty.
Yet beneath that image was the same thing that existed everywhere else.
Jealousy.
Loss.
Broken families.
Power had never protected anyone from those things.