Kane staggered through the palace halls, his breathing uneven. Another sharp wave of pain tore through him, forcing him to clutch the wall for support. His body trembled as he waited for the pain to subside, his thoughts racing.
"How many times is this going to happen?" he muttered under his breath, pushing himself forward.
When the pain finally eased, he stumbled into his chamber, spotted a small bottle of medicine on the table, and grabbed it without hesitation. The bitter liquid burned as he swallowed it down. Within minutes, his exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he collapsed into a deep sleep.
The sound of cheers and chants woke Kane hours later.
"Royal Guard Vincent! Royal Guard Vincent!"
He groaned, rubbing his temples as the voices grew louder. The pain simmered in his chest, a dull ache waiting to strike again.
His door flew open, and Julia burst in, her eyes wide with excitement. "Where have you been? Come on! Something big happened !" she said, barely pausing before darting back out.
Kane sighed and followed her, still shaking off the sleep. As he reached the balcony, the crowd's deafening chants rang in his ears.
"Royal Guard Vincent! Royal Guard Vincent!"
Kane joined Julia, who stood at the railing with her friends, their faces alight with excitement. Down below, the courtyard was packed with people from all corners of the kingdom. The cheers grew even louder as the king appeared on the platform.
The king raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent instantly. His voice boomed across the square.
"For weeks, our kingdom faced a grave threat. Orcs plagued our forests, causing destruction and loss. But today, I bring you news of victory. Royal Guard Vincent led a mission to eliminate this threat, restoring safety to our lands."
The crowd erupted into cheers again, and Kane noticed Julia clapping furiously, her face glowing with pride.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Kane asked, his brow furrowed.
"I'm not smiling," Julia replied, though the corners of her mouth didn't falter as her hands continued to clap.
The king raised his hand again, and the noise died down.
"That is not all," the king said, his voice growing more serious. "Royal Guard Vincent went above and beyond. Not only did he defeat the orcs, but he also slew two monstrous beings—Bauk and Psoglav—whose power could have brought devastation to our kingdom ."
Kane froze. His heart skipped a beat as the names registered. "What the hell?" he muttered, his mind reeling.
But before he could process the revelation, another sharp wave of pain hit him. His body tensed, and he gripped the railing tightly, but no one noticed. Every eye was fixed on Vincent, who now stepped forward to bow before the king.
The king continued, "For these heroic deeds, I appoint Vincent as Vice Chancellor of our kingdom!"
The crowd erupted into deafening applause, the chants of "Vincent! Vincent! Hail the King! Hail the king!" . Kane gritted his teeth, enduring the pain in silence as he watched the celebration unfold.
He turned and walked away, the cheers and applause fading into the distance. Reaching his chamber, he found the medicine once again and drank it quickly, hoping for relief. He collapsed into bed, exhaustion and frustration mingling in his thoughts.
The next morning, the palace was alive with activity. Kane woke to the sound of trumpets and voices calling orders. He pulled himself to his feet and walked to the window, his eyes narrowing as he saw the arrivals.
Processions of nobles and participants from neighboring kingdoms flooded the palace grounds. Their carriages bore intricate crests, their knights marched in polished armor, and their prodigies strode confidently among the crowds.
The training grounds were soon packed. Kane wandered toward them, blending into the crowd. Groups of participants were already showing off their skills, their displays of magic and swordsmanship intimidating some and filling others with dread. The exams were still a day away, but the mind games had already begun.
That night, the palace hosted a banquet to welcome the foreign guests.The banquet hall was alive with chatter and laughter, the nobles showcasing their best smiles and finest attire. Kane leaned against a pillar, his arms crossed. He kept his head low, observing the room without drawing attention. It was an event meant for alliances and impressions—two things Kane had little interest in.
The lively atmosphere was shattered when a sharp voice rang through the hall.
"You dare to insult my kingdom!"
All eyes turned toward the center of the room. A red-haired boy, his face flushed with anger, stood with his sword half-drawn. Across from him, a tall, smug noble boy from another kingdom stood unfazed, his lips curled into a mocking grin.
"Insult?" the noble said, feigning confusion. "I merely stated facts."
The red-haired boy's hand trembled on his sword. "You'll regret those words!"
The noble chuckled as he slowly unsheathed his blade, the steel gleaming under the light. "Regret? Oh, I doubt that."
Without hesitation, the red-haired boy lunged forward. His movements were driven by anger. The noble easily sidestepped the attack, swinging his sword in a wide arc. A gust of wind followed, slamming into the red-haired boy and sending him sprawling across the marble floor.
The boy groaned as he tried to stand, blood trickling from his nose. His sword lay several feet away.
"Pathetic," the noble sneered. "You call that an attack? This time I not holding back After this, when you open your eyes, you'll find yourself back in your kingdom—crippled or worse, in heaven."
The crowd gasped as the noble took his position to strike again. His blade gleamed, raised high, and ready to cut down his opponent.
"That's enough," Kane's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
The noble froze mid-motion and turned toward the interruption. His eyes landed on Kane, and he raised an eyebrow.
"And who are you supposed to be?" the noble asked, his tone dripping with condescension.
Before Kane could answer, another boy leaned over and whispered something into the noble's ear. The noble's expression shifted, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Oh, I see," the noble said loudly, ensuring everyone could hear. "You're that prince. The infamous loser." He chuckled before adding, "Sorry, I meant the little prince of this kingdom " He gestured around mockingly .
The hall erupted with laughter. Some nobles laughed openly, their eyes darting toward Kane, while others looked away, uncomfortable with the spectacle.
Kane stood firm, ignoring the mockery. His calm gaze met the noble's sneering face.
"As you can see," the noble boy continued, "I didn't start this. The other boy did. I only defended myself."
Kane took a step forward, his voice steady. "But you're the one who provoked him."
The noble laughed again, his eyes gleaming with mock innocence. "I was only telling the truth. Is it my fault he couldn't handle it?"
Kane ignored his words and walked over to the red-haired boy, who was still struggling to stand. Placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, Kane said softly, "Rest. You've done enough."
The boy hesitated, his pride keeping him upright for a moment longer. But his legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees, exhausted and injured.
"What a moron,why only met losers that can't even little entertain me." Noble boy said disappointingly.
Kane picked up the boy's fallen sword and turned to face the noble. He raised the blade, pointing it directly at him.
"If you're so eager for a fight, here I am," Kane said, his tone calm but firm.
The noble's grin widened. "Oh, how noble of you," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But are you sure? I'd hate to embarrass the little prince in front of his people."
Kane didn't flinch. "You talk a lot. Let's see if you can back it up."
The hall grew silent as the two faced each other. The crowd watched with bated breath, the tension thick as the duel was about to begin.