In the Winter Kingdom, a messenger delivered an urgent communiqué to King Hayden. After reading it, the monarch crumpled the paper with a grunt of disgust and ordered his horse prepared. He departed immediately for Queen Risny's castle.
Upon entering the imposing main hall, Hayden saw Risny seated with her usual expression of indifference, but also the clear disapproval in the gaze of Commander Eisen, who observed him with contempt.
Aware that he needed to hide his true intentions, Hayden kept his mind clear, knowing that Risny possessed the ability to read thoughts. What he didn't know was that her ability went beyond that—Risny perceived the nuances, the hidden layers, the thoughts he struggled to suppress. Risny knew Hayden's true intentions, but for now, considered them irrelevant.
Kneeling before Risny, ignoring the inquisitive glances of the elite knights present, Hayden pleaded:
"Supreme Queen Risny, I didn't know! I was unaware of Leticia's powers! I had no idea she was hiding these powers."
Commander Eisen, however, was unwilling to hear his excuses.
"You are incompetent! The prey was right under your nose, and you didn't notice."
"Regardless, I was following orders, even if indirectly," Hayden retorted, rising and facing the Commander with a defiant look.
His aversion to Eisen was no secret; to him, Eisen was an obstacle that needed to be removed, a feared warrior who held Risny's admiration. This only fueled Hayden's hatred, increasing his ambition to take his place.
"I will fulfill Queen Risny's will," Hayden declared, his eyes fixed on Eisen. "I will prove my loyalty and efficiency. And I will take your position as First Elite Knight."
"But he's not the First Elite Knight anymore," interjected Vyza, an elite warrior from the second division, known for her long violet hair, extravagant dresses, and her vast knowledge of poisons and potions.
Upon hearing her comment, Eisen's gaze snapped to her, and Vyza felt a wave of tension in the air, a clear warning of the danger he represented. Realizing the mistake of exposing a secret, she teleported instantly, avoiding a possible confrontation.
Hayden was momentarily confused. "So, if he's not the First Elite Knight anymore, who is?" he thought, intrigued.
Risny, who had read his thought, gave a subtle smile.
"Why don't you try to find out?" Risny asked, with an enigmatic smile. "And if you are able, defeat him," she said, observing the growing rivalry with curiosity.
This small provocation made it clear that she enjoyed the conflict, encouraging the internal dispute among her knights. For Risny, competition wasn't a problem; it was a means of revealing the true potential of those who served by her side.
…
Meanwhile, in the Winter Kingdom, Laurenn was in the library meticulously examining the royal documents, determined to prepare a complete and accurate report for the next council meeting. Despite the resistance of some officials, who questioned his authority and competence, they couldn't refuse to provide the requested documentation.
While examining the kingdom's budget, Laurenn noticed alarming discrepancies. The funds received by the kingdom weren't being properly allocated to the population. Intrigued, he began to review other documents, but the more he investigated, the less he understood how the financial situation had deteriorated so much. With the gathered material, he decided to report directly to King Hayden.
Hayden, humiliated by Risny and Eisen, had returned to the castle thanks to a portal opened by Latifa, an elite knight who at that moment possessed a portal key. Arriving at the castle, Hayden ignored everyone around him and went straight to his chambers, rage burning with each step. The humiliation he had suffered consumed him.
Moments later, Laurenn knocked on the door, asking permission to enter, announcing his presence.
"Your Majesty, I need to speak with you. It's important," he said respectfully.
Hayden, however, was not willing to be bothered.
"Get out!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the room. "A useless person like you can't help me with anything!"
In a fit of rage, he hurled a glass towards Laurenn, which shattered against the door just behind him. A small shard struck his face, causing a superficial cut.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Laurenn said softly, bowing in apology and leaving the report on the table before exiting.
One of the ladies-in-waiting, who was waiting in the corridor, rushed to Laurenn's aid.
"Your Highness! Are you alright? Your face… it's bleeding!"
"It's just a superficial cut. It will heal soon," Laurenn replied, downplaying the injury. "You should rest; it's late."
In his room, Hayden clenched his fists so tightly that his palms began to bleed. He spotted the report left by Laurenn, glanced over the pages, and without hesitation, threw it into the fireplace, watching the flames consume the paper until it turned to ash.
"I need to eliminate Leticia… and Laurenn… permanently," he murmured to himself, his tone laden with a dark determination.