Silens stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of disbelief and terror. Every single day for years, he had envisioned how he would kill William, the prince who had stolen his spotlight and humiliated him in front of the world. The hatred had festered and grown within him like a venomous beast, consuming his every thought. But now, seeing William in front of him—so calm, so unbothered by his presence—the fury that had once driven him melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of fear.
William wasn't even fighting, not even trying. He was just standing there, smiling with a casual, almost friendly expression. To Silens, it was far more terrifying than any violent confrontation could have been. He felt like a mouse cornered by a lion, powerless and insignificant.
"William," William said slowly, extending his hand as if to shake it, his tone light and nonchalant.
