"Yes," Kaelio nodded, acknowledging the connection. His fear was still evident, but there was a glimmer of something else in his eyes – a hint of hope and opportunity.
Riz observed Kael, sensing there was more to his story than initially met the eye. "Why are you here, Kaelio?" Riz inquired, using the young man's full name.
Kaelio took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before responding politely. Perhaps the kick from Riz had humbled him down. "I am the son of the emperor's favourite concubine," he began.
"Being close to the emperor, I was sent to the war front by my father to gain experience and increase my worth. However, going to battlefield as a prince would expose me as a target for political enemies who sought to eliminate any potential threats to the throne. And as you can see, I had to conceal my identity to reduce the risk of assassination attempts."
