In another place, in another room, unknown to me.
The room was lavish and somehow disturbed, a work of splendor shot through with jarring dissonance. Gilded vines clambered along the black marble walls, their leaves pulsating like veins under some malign illumination, casting writhing shadows that slid about the space. Where windows should have been, narrow slits of mirrored glass distorted reflections as if reality itself were being warped within the room. The above hang, suspended from the ceiling in an odd configuration, mismatched chandeliers hosting a single floating orb on each. The light was alternate crimson and indigo and flickered in an irregular fashion.
Incense swelled through the air, both a sweet and a bitter invitation and repulsion.
Upon a sleek, dark stone bench etched with ancient runes sat two figures seated in the center of the room. He was a young man, with skin so pale that it looked almost translucent. It seemed as if moonlight reflected off the white of ice under the light, and his hair was like the moon itself-white hair that brushed against his shoulders. Blood-red eyes starkly stood out amidst the soft waves of his long hair, which framed his face. A thin red stroke of paint around the eyelids gave his gaze an unnatural sharpness, making it seem as if he could see right through the person. His gloved hands lay upon his thighs. Though relaxed, he's tense; his eyes shoot glances toward the mirror slits, which warp the images that darted through, like brief and breathing apparitions.
Beside him sat a figure in dark, midnight-blue robes embroidered with twisting silver symbols. A fantastic mask covered their face-molded into a serene expression, its intricate markings glimmering like liquid mercury in the flickering light. Behind the mask, their eyes were hidden, though every so often a glint of gold caught the light, as if watching him with unblinking scrutiny.
The young man was Prince Kaelen of Lumoria. He tapped gloved fingers on the cold stone bench. It was the only sound that had breached the oppressive silence within the room. He barely seemed to be paying any mind to his companion because lost in thought as he was, he looked not at him. "Do you think," he started slowly, almost whispering, "that the other contestants suspect something?" He did not seem to try for much of a measured sound as he spoke, for underneath it lay a blade keenly hidden just beyond a person's sight.
It leaned its head to one side, the movement almost animal in its deliberation. "Not yet," came the reply, smooth as silk and tinged with amusement. "The other royals have their own ambitions and schemes to tend to, and with the introduction of the outsider they might as well be blind to the strings you're pulling."
The masked figure shifted and stepped forward. "Do you think everything will go according to the plan? Or do you think someone will see through your little scam?"
A flicker of irritation crossed Kaelen's face, and he narrowed his gaze. "I do not fear discovery," he replied sharply. "I fear that even though I had thought of many different possibilities and scenarios at the end of the day even the best plans are prone to fail in the face of reality.".
The masked figure laughed, "And now you bring him here into this game, Kaelen? Why tempt everything on the vagary of a loose end?"
"Because," Kaelen said softly, "in this Contest of Sovereign Court, tradition counts less than it used to be. For the seat of Lumoria's throne and ruthless competitors.". My brother has the favor of the council, my sister the adoration of the people, and I… I have only myself, and I am even willing to sacrifice this precious resource because no matter how strong or valuable the queen bishop or rook no one will hesitate to sacrifice them if it means saving the king"
Prince Kaelen shifted on the cold stone bench, his gaze slipping from the warped mirror slits back to the masked figure beside him. A wry smile played on his lips as he toyed with a strand of his white hair, deep in thought.
The masked figure looked back at Kaelen before speaking once again "So how did you even put your plane into motion without others getting suspicious?"
Prince Kaelen without changing his expression and still playing with his hair began explaining "So as you may already know I was informed about the existence of the outsider by my intelligence before anyone else, at first I wanted to use him as a way to gain the admiration and the support of the council and the people but after some careful consideration I decide to scrape that idea since in the short term it might boost my chances of winning the Sovereign Court, but in the long term it would bring out the jealousy of some unwanted individuals and it might also motive the other contestants to joins forces and bring me down, so I decided it would be more favorable if I used this valuable treasure in Luring out the greed of the other contestants so that I might catch them unprepared and be the ultimate winner" Kaelen stop for a while before continuing "But you already know of this that why you had decided to betray my sister and secretly join my camp and to make that blood pact with me"
The room went silent for a while before the masked figure began to chuckle at a low and lingering voice, "Hahaha you aren't wrong Kaelen but you also knew that no matter the outcome I would still be a winner since I would be able to benefit from the situation but even after knowing that you still came up to me and proposed a deal... that is the reason I like you Kaelen and that is the only reason why I decided to make a blood pact"
Prince Kaelen's gaze and facial expression was unmoving as if he was a rock before continuing his explanation "You are curious about how I am planning to execute my plan without arousing the suspicion of the other so I tell you..." He stopped before continuing once more "I have already revealed the existence of the outsider to some high-ranking politicians to make them think that I want to make alliances but I know that secretly these politicians have already picked a camp but have publicly made it appear as if they are neutral, and after I reveal bits and pieces of this information they will naturally reveal this information to my siblings and to make sure my siblings don't get suspicious I will active act clueless as to the true motives of the politicians and will only reveal different pieces of information to a few other and within those few people I will tell the path that will be used to transport the outsider"
The masked figure cocked his head to one side, with interest. "And you're sure they'll take the hook?
Kaelen snorted. "My siblings are ambitious. But they're without restraint. They'll turn on each other as easily for the promise of a new advantage. And with the outsider loose, they will scramble to control him, each thinking he could be the key to securing victory. They'll be too busy plotting against each other that they won't even realize I'm making my move.".
The masked figure stepped closer, voice a near whisper. "You're turning them into pawns in their own game. Clever, Kaelen. Ruthless, but clever."
"Necessity demands ruthlessness," he replied, his voice soft yet resolute. "It's not enough to play well in this contest. One must play to win—absolutely, without compromise."
The masked figure's veiled look stayed on Kaelen, thinking and watching. "And yet, you risk much by introducing this stranger. Even when they turn on each other, no guarantee but one of them might realize your hand behind it all. The stranger, after all, is unpredictable.".
Kaelen waved a gloved hand dismissively. "They won't," Kaelen said. "They'll think that I simply erred in my judgment-this being the fault of having become slack and letting something slip through my fingers. They see me as. far too cautious for an act of true daring. But that's exactly why this will be successful. Let them underestimate me.
He leaned back, letting his head fall back, and from his mouth came a faint, almost weary sigh. "Each one of them thinks he can take over: my brother with his might and his pride, my sister with her sweetness and her loyalty. I don't get the favored part or the love. But I'll play the long game, the more desperate game.".
He looked at the masked confidant's face. "And by the time they realize their mistake, the outsider will have served his purpose. Their concentration will be broken, their friendships weakened. And I will stand."
The masked person nodded at Kaelen's resolve. "It is a dance of subtlety, Kaelen. That is why you have been willing to risk this even if it would cost you a blood oath.".
Kaelen's smile grew, but his eyes stayed hard as stone. "I've run the numbers on every risk, forecast every possible outcome. And I've realized something important about this game: fortune favors not only the bold, but those willing to stake everything, on a toss of a coin, without hesitation."
The man laughed low in his chest, his mirth reverberating through the cramped and altered space of the room. "Aye. And when the hour arrives, I pray you won't hesitate.".
Kaelen's eyes returned to the dancing flames above. "I won't."
In the heavy silence of his words, the masked man nodded his head forward, a gesture of finality perhaps, even of respect. For in that room, surrounded by the tortured signs of Lumoria, it was clear: Prince Kaelen was willing to turn the game itself against its players. And he'll win-not because he is the greatest, not because he's favored, but because he knew the difference between ambition and desperation, and he knew how to exploit it.