The first light of dawn crept slowly across the Levicious Palace.
Soft rays of sunlight spilled over the rooftops, warming the quiet stone walls and silent gardens.
But inside Prince Kyle's residence…
The scene looked like a battlefield.
Broken furniture scattered across the floor.
The shattered window still allowed the cold morning breeze to drift into the room.
Sword marks scarred the walls.
And pieces of glass glittered across the carpet like tiny stars.
Kyle sat in the middle of the chaos, staring at everything with tired eyes.
Joshua stood nearby, carefully sweeping broken glass into a small pile.
Luis Stark stood by the window again, watching the palace grounds outside.
Marcus leaned against the wall, his arms crossed.
No one had slept.
Finally, Kyle spoke.
"Well."
He gestured around the destroyed room.
"This is not great for my interior decoration."
Joshua sighed softly.
"At least you're alive."
Kyle nodded slowly.
"True."
He leaned back in his chair.
"That fight was terrifying."
Marcus spoke quietly.
"They were testing you."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Testing?"
Marcus nodded.
"The Shadow Court rarely sends their strongest killers first."
Luis's expression darkened slightly.
"So stronger ones will come."
Marcus answered simply.
"Yes."
Kyle sighed.
"That's very encouraging."
Joshua placed the broom aside and walked over.
"Your Highness…"
Kyle looked at him.
"Yes?"
Joshua hesitated.
"You fought bravely."
Kyle blinked.
"…I swung a chair."
Joshua smiled.
"You still protected yourself."
Kyle chuckled.
"Barely."
Luis stepped away from the window.
"The palace guards will arrive soon."
Kyle frowned.
"To investigate?"
Luis nodded.
"The attack cannot remain secret."
Kyle scratched his head.
"Wonderful."
Joshua looked nervous.
"Will the emperor hear about this?"
Luis answered calmly.
"He already has."
Kyle froze.
"…Already?"
Luis nodded.
"The palace has many eyes."
Kyle sighed dramatically.
"I feel very popular lately."
Marcus pushed away from the wall.
"The Shadow Court will not attack again immediately."
Kyle looked at him.
"You're sure?"
Marcus nodded.
"They prefer patience."
Luis added quietly.
"But that does not mean we relax."
Kyle stood up slowly.
His muscles ached from the night's battle.
And from the training the day before.
"I'm beginning to feel like a soldier."
Joshua smiled softly.
"You're a prince."
Kyle shrugged.
"Right now I feel like bait."
Luis didn't disagree.
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed outside the residence.
Several palace guards entered the hall.
Behind them walked a tall man wearing elegant imperial robes.
Kyle's eyes widened slightly.
The Emperor.
Emperor Alexander Gray.
The ruler of the Levicious Empire.
And the father of the three princes.
The guards bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
Kyle quickly straightened his posture.
"…Father."
The emperor walked slowly into the destroyed room.
His sharp silver eyes examined everything carefully.
Broken glass.
Sword marks.
Shattered furniture.
Then his gaze finally settled on Kyle.
"You survived."
Kyle nodded.
"Apparently."
The emperor stepped closer.
"Explain."
Kyle glanced at Luis.
Luis stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, three assassins from the Shadow Court attacked the prince last night."
The emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Shadow Court."
His voice carried quiet authority.
Joshua lowered his head nervously.
Marcus remained silent.
The emperor looked toward Kyle again.
"You fought them."
Kyle scratched the back of his neck.
"Technically I ran from them."
Luis corrected calmly.
"The prince defended himself."
The emperor studied Kyle carefully.
His expression remained unreadable.
Then he spoke again.
"You have changed."
Kyle blinked.
"…Everyone keeps saying that."
The emperor didn't smile.
"Before this week, you would have fainted."
Joshua almost laughed but quickly covered his mouth.
Kyle sighed.
"People grow."
The emperor looked toward Luis.
"You protected him."
Luis bowed slightly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor nodded once.
"Good."
Then his gaze shifted toward Marcus.
"And who is this?"
The room grew quiet.
Marcus stepped forward slowly.
"My name is Marcus."
The emperor's eyes sharpened.
"You are not palace staff."
Marcus lowered his head slightly.
"I was once part of the Shadow Court."
The guards immediately tensed.
Luis remained calm.
Kyle raised his hands quickly.
"He defected."
The emperor watched Marcus silently for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"Why betray your organization?"
Marcus answered honestly.
"Because the contract changed."
The emperor's voice grew colder.
"Explain."
Marcus lifted his gaze.
"The prince became a priority target."
The emperor looked at Kyle again.
Then back at Marcus.
"Interesting."
Kyle crossed his arms.
"That's one way to describe it."
The emperor walked slowly across the damaged room.
His boots crunched lightly on broken glass.
"Prince Kyle."
Kyle stood straight.
"Yes?"
The emperor stopped directly in front of him.
"You will move to the inner palace."
Kyle blinked.
"…The inner palace?"
Joshua looked surprised.
Luis's eyes flickered slightly.
The inner palace was the most secure part of the imperial residence.
Only royal family members and the most trusted servants lived there.
Kyle frowned slightly.
"That sounds serious."
The emperor answered calmly.
"It is."
Kyle scratched his head.
"Does that mean the assassins scared you?"
Joshua gasped softly.
Luis closed his eyes briefly.
The guards froze in horror.
No one spoke to the emperor like that.
But Alexander Gray simply stared at his son.
Then—
He laughed quietly.
The entire room went silent.
The emperor rarely laughed.
"You truly have changed."
Kyle shrugged.
"Life is exciting now."
The emperor's expression softened slightly.
"For once… you sound like a prince."
Kyle blinked.
"…Is that a compliment?"
The emperor turned toward the guards.
"Repair this residence."
The guards immediately bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Then the emperor looked back at Kyle one final time.
"Prepare yourself."
Kyle tilted his head.
"For what?"
The emperor's voice turned serious.
"Because if the Shadow Court is involved…"
His silver eyes hardened.
"…then the enemy behind them is far more powerful than you realize."
Kyle sighed.
"I suspected that."
The emperor began walking toward the door.
But before leaving—
He paused.
Without turning around, he said something quietly.
"Do not die."
Then he left.
The guards followed him out of the residence.
The hall fell silent again.
Joshua exhaled slowly.
"That was terrifying."
Kyle nodded.
"My family really knows how to motivate people."
Luis crossed his arms.
"The emperor rarely shows concern."
Kyle blinked.
"That was a concern?"
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Kyle scratched his head.
"Well."
He looked at the destroyed room again.
"I guess I'm moving."
Joshua smiled softly.
"To the inner palace."
Kyle sighed.
"My life just keeps getting more complicated."
Luis nodded.
"Yes."
But far beyond the palace walls—
Inside a hidden underground chamber—
The spear assassin knelt before a cloaked figure.
"The prince survived again."
The cloaked figure's voice echoed coldly.
"Then the next phase begins."
The assassin lowered his head.
"Yes."
The figure slowly raised a hand.
Dark energy flickered around his fingers.
"This time…"
His voice became a whisper filled with menace.
"…we will not send assassins."
The spear warrior looked up slightly.
"Then what?"
The cloaked figure smiled beneath the hood.
"We send something far worse."
And somewhere deep within the empire…
Something ancient had already begun to awaken.