The clock in the palace tower chimed the hour.
It's loud chimes rang through the silent halls of the king's castle.
Within the queen's room, the air was thick with tension.
The queen stood near the window, gazing at the dark courtyard outside. Torches flickered along the palace walls, guards patrolled quietly on their beats.
Tonight, they looked like funeral pyres.
Footsteps approached outside the chamber.
The door opened after a moment.
A tall man entered.
He was wearing a dark robe embroidered with faint silver symbols. His hair was streaked with grey, his sharp eyes glinting with the cool confidence of a veteran.
This was Sir Valerian, one of the Human Kingdom's most potent battle mages.
He bowed gracefully.
"Your Majesty summoned me."
The queen turned.
"Thank you for coming so quickly."
Valerian straighted himself.
"Your message spoke of great urgency."
He hesitated, and then whispered,
"What has happened?"
The queen looked down for only a second.
"The king has commanded the execution of Prince Aurelian."
Valerian froze.
For an instant, even the powerful mage looked stunned.
"The Prince...?"
"Yes."
The queen's voice was steady, but her fingers were twitching.
"He ordered his execution squad to kill him before dawn."
Valerian's eyes narrowed.
"That is impossible."
"I wish that it were not."
A silence settled.
Valerian walked toward the window slowly and looked out at the castle courtyard below. The guards were truly assembling by the execution grounds.
His eyes hardened.
"So, the rumors were true..."
The queen looked at him, startled.
"What rumors?"
Valerian hesitated.
"The king has feared the prince for many years."
The queen frowned.
"Feared his own son?"
Valerian nodded slowly.
"The rumors were whispered among the advisors of the palace. Some people believed that the Prince was born under a dark prophecy."
The queen's heart clenched.
"A prophecy?"
"Yes."
But Valerian quickly shook his head.
"I know no more about it. The king kept that information close to himself."
The queen closed her eyes briefly.
So it was true.
Her husband did not command this out of madness.
He truly believed that their son was a danger.
When she opened her eyes, her face had changed.
Gone was the shock.
Only determination remained.
"Valerian."
The mage looked up at her.
"There is something I need you to do."
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
The queen took a step closer.
"Take Aurelian."
Valerian's eyes widened slightly.
"Take him away from this kingdom."
The queen continued.
"To the Holy Kingdom."
A stunned silence followed her declaration.
"You want me to... Sneak the prince out of the palace?"
"Yes."
Valerian's voice became serious.
"If the king finds out, I shall be committing treason."
"I am aware."
"And I will make myself an enemy of the crown."
"I am aware of that too."
The queen looked him straight in the eye.
"But I will not have my son murdered."
Valerian studied her face.
Then he let out a soft sigh.
"You truly are your father's daughter."
The queen blinked.
"My father?"
Valerian nodded.
"The former archduke saved my life once during a great battle. I pledged my allegiance to your bloodline then and there."
He moved forward and dropped onto one knee.
"If that means that I must betray the king to protect the prince..."
His voice rang with conviction.
"Then that is what I shall do."
The queen finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you."
Valerian got to his feet.
"There is not much time. Where is the prince?"
"In his chambers. He is still asleep."
Valerian turned his gaze towards the door.
"Then we must act quickly."
Outside, the king's guards were already preparing to carry out the order.
They didn't know that the boy they were about to kill...
Would disappear into the night.