Axel stormed back into the grand halls of the Northern Empire, his chest tight with anger and frustration. The long ride back from Azro had done little to cool his temper. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about Lila—his wife, the woman he loved—and the man she was now tied to, Kairos. It felt like a betrayal, though he knew deep down that Lila had her reasons for everything.
But still, the rage consumed him.
As he entered the throne room, Emperor Atticus, his father, stood waiting for him, regal and composed as ever. The older man's eyes glimmered with a mixture of concern and authority. Axel's emotions, however, were far from contained. His fury boiled over as soon as their gazes met.
"Father," Axel spat, his voice sharp and brimming with bitterness, "for years, I've fought and won countless wars. I've shed blood for this empire, for you, and now, you expect me to step back and watch as the woman I love—the woman who is still my wife—marries another man?"
His fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. The betrayal from Azro stung, but the knowledge that his father expected him to take on yet another burden—another war—while his personal life crumbled was too much to bear.
Emperor Atticus remained silent for a moment, allowing Axel's words to echo through the throne room. Then, with a calm but firm tone, he spoke.
"This isn't the time for your personal grievances, Axel. The Northern Empire is on the brink of war, and your presence is needed. You're the finest commander this empire has, and I will not allow you to wallow in self-pity over matters of the heart when the survival of our kingdom is at stake."
Axel's face twisted in disbelief. "Self-pity? You think that's what this is?"
"Enough," Atticus cut in, his voice stern. "I understand your pain. But your emotions must be set aside. You have a duty to this empire."
Axel's heart hammered in his chest, fury mixing with sorrow. "Duty? You talk of duty, but where was your concern when Lila, my wife, was about to be bound to another man?" His voice cracked with raw emotion. "It wasn't you who stopped me from intervening—no, it was her father, Noah, who stood in my way, telling me to trust her plan. But where is this plan now, Father? Lila is married to Kairos, and I'm left in the shadows!"
Emperor Atticus's expression softened, but his authority remained firm. "Axel, you know better than anyone that Lila is not a fool. Whatever plan she has in place, it is not your place to interfere. If she wanted you to act, she would have told you."
Axel shook his head, pacing the room, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface. "And while I wait for her 'plan' to unfold, we're to go to war again? What's this news you've been holding onto?"
Atticus straightened, his eyes hardening. "The Eastern territories have launched an attack. They've been waiting for a moment of weakness, and with the instability in Azro, they've seized the opportunity. Their armies are moving fast, and we need to respond immediately. This isn't just any skirmish, Axel. This could turn into a full-scale war, and we cannot afford to lose."
Axel's frustration deepened. He had fought so many battles, led so many victories, but this time, it felt different. His heart wasn't in it. His thoughts were consumed by Lila and the impossible situation they both found themselves in.
"I don't care about Azro's politics," Axel finally muttered, turning his back to his father. "I care about Lila."
"That's exactly why you must fight," Emperor Atticus said sharply. "The more power we lose here in the North, the weaker Lila's position becomes in Azro. If you love her, Axel, then fight for her by securing your empire. We cannot be allies to Azro if we fall. This is bigger than you."
Axel's shoulders slumped. He hated how much sense his father's words made. He knew the logic of it, knew the necessity of war. But it didn't make the pain of watching Lila become someone else's Empress any easier to bear.
"How many men?" Axel asked finally, his voice subdued.
Atticus sighed, relieved that Axel was beginning to accept his role. "Thousands. We'll need to send scouts immediately and gather the full force of our army. You'll lead them, as always."
Axel nodded, though the fire in his heart still smoldered. He knew his duty. He always did. But that didn't make the sacrifice of his personal desires any less painful.
"I'll go," he said, his voice low. "But mark my words, Father—when this war is over, I will return to Azro. I will not lose her, not to Kairos, not to anyone."
With that, Axel turned and left the room, his mind already preparing for the battle ahead, but his heart? His heart remained with Lila, trapped in a marriage neither of them wanted.
As Emperor Atticus watched his son leave, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He knew the burden Axel carried, and though he wanted to offer comfort, there was none to be had. The empire always came first, and love—love was a luxury men like them could seldom afford.
Axel was about to storm out of the palace, his mind set on the impending war, when a sharp, panicked voice cut through the halls. He froze, turning back toward the direction of the voice.
"Theo?" Axel muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing.
His younger brother, Prince Theo, came barreling through the grand corridor, his face ashen and streaked with tears. He was gasping for breath, his chest heaving with every frantic step he took. Axel felt his stomach drop as an ominous chill settled in his chest.
"Father!" Theo screamed, his voice cracking under the weight of his despair. "Father, Mother is dead!"
The words hung in the air, cold and merciless. Axel felt as though the ground beneath him had been ripped away. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched Theo collapse in front of Emperor Atticus, clutching at their father's robes, his sobs raw and uncontainable.
For a moment, Axel stood frozen in place, his mind struggling to process what Theo had just said. Mother is dead. The phrase echoed in his head, a terrible, impossible reality that didn't seem to make sense.
Emperor Atticus, who had been composed moments earlier, now faltered, his face paling as his hand gripped Theo's shoulder tightly. His regal composure cracked, though he held onto his authority like a lifeline.
"What do you mean?" Emperor Atticus demanded, his voice thick with shock, but his tone was urgent. "How—what happened?"
Theo's sobs intensified, his entire body trembling. "It was sudden... I—there was blood—so much blood!" His voice was barely coherent between sobs. "The healer said there was nothing they could do. She... she was already gone when they arrived."