In a side hall inside the palace, the door was tightly closed. There were no guards or ministers, only Melos, the leader of the provisional government, and Alexios, a young man who bore the features of the deceased king and claimed to be his heir.
Melos stood in front of the window, staring out into the palace courtyard, then said without turning around:
"So… you are Alexios."
Alexios replied calmly:
"And you are Melos, the king's nephew, and regent of the kingdom."
Melos turned slowly, looked at him, and then said:
"Why now? Why have you appeared after all this time?"
"Because the time has never been right. And now… the kingdom is looking for a face that resembles the past."
"You do not resemble the past. The past was Silius… a man who fought, ruled, and sacrificed."
"And I am that man's son. I do not seek the throne, but rather that my voice be heard."
Melos approached, looked into his eyes, and then said:
"Are you really his son? Or are you just a card in Madaus's hand?"
"I am not a card. I am real. Madaus didn't create me… he just exposed me."
"And do you think people will believe it?"
"People don't need proof. It's enough for them to see me… to hear my name."
Melos sat down on the chair and motioned for him to sit down:
"Sit down. Let's talk as men, not as adversaries."
"I am not your adversary, Melos. I am part of this kingdom… like you."
"But I am the one who leads it now. I am the one who protects it from the pirates, from the De Moret, and from chaos."
"And I am the one who can give it a symbol… not just a temporary leader."
Melos stared at him.
"Do you know how much we've lost? How much blood has been shed? How much we've been let down?"
"I know. I was watching from afar. I wasn't absent… I was hidden."
"And who hid you?"
"Silios himself. He told me: Only appear when the kingdom needs you… not when politics needs you."
Madus entered suddenly and said:
"Have you started talking?"
"We're not negotiating," Melus replied sharply. "We're testing the truth."
"The truth is clear," Madus said, approaching. "Alexios is the king's son. I have the documents, the witnesses, and even Silius's seal."
"But I don't need papers… I need certainty."
Alexios said:
"Then test me. Ask me about my father, about my childhood, about the days that no one knew."
"What was the first lesson Silius taught you?"
"He told me: Don't trust anyone who smiles too much… A smile hides a knife."
"And when did he say that?"
"On the day one of his advisors was assassinated. I was ten years old, and his face held no sadness… only calm anger."
There was silence. Milos looked at Mados, then at Alexios, and said:
"That's what he was really saying. He told me once… when I was young."
Mados replied:
"So, do you believe it now?"
"No. But I've started listening."
Alexios said:
"I don't want to exclude you, Milos. But I don't accept being excluded either."
"And what do you want?"
"To be part of the decision. To be consulted, to be heard, to be seen."
"And would you accept remaining in the shadows?"
"For a while. Until the time comes."
Milos stood up, approached him, and then said:
"If you betray me… I will show you no mercy."
"And if you fail me… I won't follow you."
"So we're in a truce?"
– "We're in a test."
The three of them left the hall, each carrying an unasked question in their hearts.
"Are you going to tell the council?" Mados said, walking beside Milos.
– "Not now. Let them think I'm still alone."
– "But you're not alone anymore."
– "And that's what scares me."