Daniel entered the prison cell, casting a glance around at the cracked walls worn down by time, the rats emerging from their holes to greet the new intruder who disturbed their solitude, and the small, ancient pit in the ground meant for one's private needs. In the upper corners, spider webs cradled flying insects and other pests.
He sat down, leaning against one of the walls, closed his eyes, and reflected on what had transpired. Two revelations had dawned on him.
The first was that Max was the one who had pushed Elena to throw herself at him. But wait—this couldn't have been Max's idea alone. There had to be someone pulling the strings from beneath the surface. The question was: who? Who stood to benefit from the chaos erupting within the heart of House Cryos? The answer was simple, at least in Daniel's mind—Ashur. All that remained was to uncover the spy—someone close to the royal family, trusted beyond reproach, and still undetected even after such a bold move. To Daniel, only one name came to mind: the man commanding the front lines in the border war, the one holding the initiative. Daniel spoke to himself:
"How ironic fate can be."
The second matter occupying his thoughts was the tremor in King Karis' hand when he struck him. That tremor was proof—the king couldn't bring himself to kill Daniel directly. If he truly wanted him dead, he would have to find another means, perhaps have someone else carry out the deed. Daniel would merely need to provide the right circumstances...
Night settled over Uruk, blanketing the kingdom in stillness. Streets and alleys fell quiet, even the drunkards surrendered to sleep on stone sidewalks. Above it all, a full moon shimmered, casting silver light that pierced the shadows.
In the royal chamber, King Karis lay on his bed when Lina entered, wearing a short, alluring gown that revealed far more than her usual dignified attire. Her radiant skin glowed under the moonlight, and her silvery hair melted into the darkness, while her emerald eyes sparkled with the brilliance of jewels. She slipped into bed beside him, her presence unmistakable.
To break the silence, Lina asked,
"Do you truly intend to punish Daniel tomorrow?"
Karis turned toward her and replied,
"Yes. I will order the soldiers to whip him tomorrow in the city square, before the public, to set an example for others like him."
Lina fell into deep thought and responded,
"I don't think that's wise—not for Daniel's sake, but for Elena's. How do you expect her to face the world after everyone learns what happened to her? Do you want her to be driven to take her own life? How can she ever leave the palace again and look others in the eye? And think about her future—about marrying into another kingdom to secure an alliance. If war with Ashur drags on, we'll need strong allies to bolster our forces."
Karis sank into deeper reflection. Her words carried heavy weight, and he was not one to change his mind easily. He replied, frustrated,
"So you want me to let him go unpunished?"
Lina sensed the tension thickening the air, so she answered with calming softness,
"Who said anything about letting him go? You know Daniel has lost his virginity, and the danger he posed has significantly diminished. In your place, I'd be relieved. But understand—punishment cannot come at the cost of Elena."
With the heavy mood lifting, Lina continued while the iron was hot,
"He must be punished—but not publicly. For the sake of keeping what happened a secret. And you know how much I've poured into raising Elena. More than her brothers. I trained her to be strong, to hold control like you do. Because of Daniel, my plans failed. My anger hasn't yet cooled. So I propose this—let him be imprisoned in my private wing... the torture chamber. I won't make him wish for death. I'll make him wish he was never born."
Karis was stunned by her words. He saw the restrained fury in her eyes—and knew that Daniel was perhaps the only one capable of quelling it. After a few moments of thought, he nodded in agreement.
Lina, overjoyed, kissed his cheeks, then his forehead. Karis was caught off guard by her affection—but more so by her lips pressing against his, kindling a fire within. Their eyes met, filled with unspoken desire, and so began a long night, filled with warmth and sighs echoing through the chamber.
When the sun rose, its light spilled across the buildings, breaking the night's stillness and waking the people to a new day. Within the palace, ministers and advisors filled the main hall, filling the space with energy and anticipation. King Karis entered alongside Queen Lina, who wore a crimson royal gown that made her appear youthful, like a teenage girl, though her mature figure left mouths agape.
Once seated, the king ordered that Daniel be brought for sentencing. Minutes later, Daniel entered, shackled in chains, like a condemned man. Silence and astonishment rippled through the room.
Whispers stirred in everyone's minds—what crime had Daniel committed this time?
Finally, King Karis spoke:
"Prince Daniel, for repeatedly disobeying the king's orders to train, you shall be imprisoned in Queen Lina's wing until further notice."
Everyone's faces filled with confusion and tension. Karis continued:
"When you're ready to fight, you'll be sent to the front lines—if we require it."
A figurative bombshell shook the palace. Queen Lina's wing was infamous—it housed all the instruments of torture. Being from a military family, such tools were natural to her. What was unnatural, however, was that no one had ever set foot inside it except her two lifelong maids. Not even the king himself was allowed entry.