Shadows Over the Throne
POV: Nae Yi / Cheng Dynasty
From the highest tower of the imperial palace, Nae Yi watched the city in silence. Flames from the previous bloodbath still flickered in the distance, smoke curling into the night sky. The chaos had left the palace vulnerable — the perfect opportunity.
Xae Rin had proven to be stronger than she had anticipated, yet the boy still lacked the full cunning to resist her subtle influence. She smiled faintly, her hands tracing the hilt of her ceremonial dagger.
Ambition can be molded. Fear can be exploited. Love can be turned into a weapon.
"Your Highness," she murmured, summoning Xae Rin into her chamber, "you carry the weight of prophecy and power alike. You must act decisively. Otherwise, the boy… your brother… will continue to overshadow you."
Xae Rin stepped in, tension in his posture. "I… I know the boy lives, Giyeok survives, and the people whisper his deeds. But I…" He faltered.
Nae Yi's gaze sharpened, ice cutting through the room. "…You hesitate. You allow sentiment to cloud judgment. If you wish to ascend without obstacles… eliminate him. Secretly. Quietly. Tonight."
Xae Rin's eyes widened. "…My brother… you mean…"
"Yes. He is a threat to everything you are meant to achieve. Obey, and you will rule. Fail, and you will remain a shadow."
Her words were venom wrapped in silk, and Xae Rin, torn between loyalty, fear, and ambition, found himself nodding reluctantly.
The first step has been taken, Nae Yi whispered, watching as the crown prince left her chambers, his mind poisoned with doubt and fear.
POV: Xiao Xing / Cheng Dynasty
Xiao Xing had returned to the palace for the twins' birthday celebrations, unaware of the trap being laid. He had come to honor the Emperor, Giyeok at his side, but a sense of unease tugged at him — a shadow over the festivities.
As they walked through the hallways, whispers reached his ears: loyalists warning of unusual movements, soldiers disappearing mysteriously, and unexplained tension in the corridors. His instincts screamed danger.
"Giyeok," he said softly, "something feels wrong. Stay close."
She nodded, her hand brushing against his. "I feel it too," she whispered. "We must be ready for anything."
POV: Xae Rin / Cheng Dynasty
Inside his chambers, Xae Rin's hand shook as he issued the secret orders to the palace guards loyal to him — those who would follow blindly without question. He instructed them to isolate and eliminate Xiao Xing, ensuring that the threat would vanish without public notice.
Every word he spoke, every signature he placed on the sealed commands, weighed on him like iron chains. Am I betraying my own blood? he thought, anguish twisting his stomach. But… Nae Yi promised power, promised guidance… I cannot falter now.
His heart sank as he imagined the blood he was about to spill, yet he forced himself onward, convinced that ambition demanded sacrifice.
POV: Emperor / Cheng Dynasty
Meanwhile, the Emperor moved through the palace quietly, unaware of the secret betrayal. His eyes, heavy with grief for the fallen loyalists and Bai Li, nonetheless shone with resolve. He felt the tension, a cold pulse in the air, and realized instinctively that danger was near.
He spotted Xiao Xing in the courtyard, unaware of the concealed assassins positioned to strike. Without hesitation, he moved toward the boy, positioning himself between the hidden threat and his grandson.
"Xiao Xing!" he shouted, as the first wave of assassins leapt from the shadows. Steel met steel in a violent explosion of sound.
POV: The Bloodbath / Cheng Dynasty
The palace erupted into chaos. Assassins struck from every corner, elite warriors moving with ruthless precision. Xiao Xing, though trained and prepared, found himself overwhelmed. Giyeok fought beside him, but even she could not prevent the first fatal strike aimed at the boy.
The Emperor lunged, taking the blow intended for Xiao Xing. A dagger plunged into his chest, crimson blooming across his robes. He gasped, collapsing to the ground, blood spilling over marble floors.
"Your Majesty!" Xiao Xing cried, rushing to his side. "No! Stay with me!"
The Emperor coughed, a faint smile crossing his lips. "Protect… them… my children… my grandchildren…" He pressed a hand weakly against Xiao Xing's shoulder. "Live… survive… lead…"
With a final shudder, the Emperor fell, life slipping away as his body shielded Xiao Xing from a fatal blow.
Xiao Xing's vision blurred with rage, grief, and guilt. The world had tilted on its axis — his beloved Giyeok wounded, his mentor Bai Li dead, and now his grandfather sacrificed himself to save him.
POV: Xiao Xing / Revenge and Rage
Grief ignited fury. With a roar, Xiao Xing surged through the assassins, every strike precise and deadly. The corridors ran with blood; screams echoed off marble walls. His dagger found its mark again and again. Giyeok, though injured, followed, her movements fluid and lethal.
No one else will die tonight, Xiao Xing thought, his heart pounding. I will not lose anyone else.
The assassins' elite skill could not match the fury and desperation of a son of destiny, fueled by vengeance and love.
POV: Nae Yi / Shadow Manipulation
From the upper tower, Nae Yi observed the carnage, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. The first wave of chaos was complete — the Emperor dead, Xae Rin's orders partially executed, and Xiao Xing bleeding but alive.
Everything unfolds as planned, she mused. Soon, the boy will face the twin shadows: his brother's betrayal and my final trial.
She clenched her dagger, already planning the next phase — a game of shadows that would determine who would survive, who would rule, and who would be destroyed.
Closing Scene: The Aftermath
The palace lay in ruin: bloodied floors, shattered furniture, and the echo of screams. Xiao Xing knelt beside the fallen Emperor, holding Giyeok as she trembled. The grief was suffocating, but so was the fire within him — the fire of vengeance, love, and destiny.
Above, Nae Yi's shadow lingered, unseen but omnipresent. Xae Rin's secret betrayal had set the stage, yet the twins — united in blood and grief — were far from defeated.
The storm had only begun.