The night at the Shadow Castle was always deeper than anywhere else. The dark corridors, where cold air carried the scent of old decay, exuded a solemn silence broken only by the heavy footsteps of guards. Yet tonight, the darkness pulsed with something different—the beginning of a new game between Prince Kaelin and Princess Eliara.
In her royal chamber, Eliara stood before a large mirror framed with golden borders, gazing at her reflection. Her white gown with sun-themed embroidery lay carelessly on the nearby chair, replaced by a simple linen robe, as if she wished to shed her image as a princess, even for a moment.
"They're not what I expected..." she whispered to herself, clutching a small golden pendant bearing the symbol of the sun.
At that moment, a soft knock echoed on the door—steady, neither rushed nor hesitant.
"Come in."
Kaelin entered, leaning casually against the door after closing it. His eyes swept the room as if taking stock of every detail.
"I trust you're comfortable here?"
"It's suitable enough for someone your family sees as nothing more than a political tool," she replied.
Kaelin smirked coolly, stepping further into the room. "I won't deny it. We in the Shadows excel at using tools. But don't mistake me, Princess. Even tools can turn the tide."
Eliara raised an eyebrow as though challenging him. "And you? Are you the tool or the hand that moves it?"
He stepped closer until he stood near enough for her to hear the faint rhythm of his breath. "A clever question. But the answer, Eliara, depends on the game itself."
While the conversation in Eliara's chamber was brief but laden with tension, another meeting was taking place deep within the castle. In a small room hidden behind the castle library, the king sat with one of his senior advisors, an aged man with a wrinkled face and eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"What do you make of her?" the king asked quietly as he sipped a goblet of dark red wine.
"The princess? She is clever, no doubt, and perhaps more dangerous than she appears. But the real question, Your Majesty, is whether she can be trusted."
"Trust is irrelevant here. This marriage is nothing but a façade. If she refuses to cooperate, we have other means of controlling her."
The advisor nodded silently, then cautiously added, "And what about Kaelin?"
The king's expression tightened for a moment. "Kaelin... is complicated. But he will do what is required of him. He cannot escape his destiny."
Kaelin left Eliara's chamber, leaving words hanging in the air. He walked through the long corridors, heading toward one of the castle's older wings. This section had been abandoned for years, filled with dust and torn memories.
He arrived at a worn wooden door and pushed it open slowly. The room beyond was small, containing a simple bed, an old wooden table, and a window overlooking the dense forest surrounding the castle.
"What are you doing here?"
The familiar voice came from the corner. A young woman with dark, messy hair and sharp eyes stepped into view, her gaze fixed on Kaelin.
"Reva…" Kaelin said softly. "I just wanted to see the place again."
Reva, one of his closest allies and a former servant of the castle, stepped toward him. "This place holds nothing but bad memories."
Kaelin sat on the edge of the bed, gesturing toward the window. "Here, where we used to dream of escaping all this. Do you remember?"
Reva smiled faintly. "You always said we'd live somewhere no one knew your family name."
"Maybe I was a foolish child."
"Or maybe you were the smartest of us all."
The next day, an official meeting was held between the delegations of the Sun Kingdom and the Shadow Kingdom. The grand hall was adorned with banners and insignias symbolizing a fragile alliance more than a genuine celebration.
Kaelin sat beside his father, while Eliara sat across from them, surrounded by her advisors.
"The terms are clear," the king declared firmly, his gaze fixed on the princess. "The marriage will secure peace, but there must be assurances of your kingdom's commitment."
Eliara remained composed. "Peace isn't something imposed through threats, Your Majesty. If you want loyalty, you must prove this alliance is equal."
A faint whisper from one of the Shadow advisors reached the king's ear, prompting a subtle nod. "If that's the case, let us begin with the first step: blood oaths."
Those words were enough to send a ripple of unease through the hall. Blood oaths were an ancient practice requiring the sharing of blood between two parties to seal their loyalty, but they came with risks and side effects.
"They are an old and dangerous ritual," Eliara said sharply.
"But necessary," the king replied.
Kaelin, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke. "If this is the first step, so be it. But we must ensure both sides adhere to the terms, mustn't we?"
His father gave him an inscrutable look before nodding. "Of course."
As night fell, Kaelin and Eliara gathered in a chamber filled with ancient symbols and carvings. At its center lay a magical circle etched into the floor, glowing faintly red.
"Are you sure about this?" Eliara asked as she stood beside him.
"I don't have a choice," Kaelin replied quietly, while the sorcerer overseeing the ritual prepared the circle.
The two of them stepped into the circle and were each handed a small dagger.
"You must cut your palms and let your blood flow into the circle," the sorcerer instructed, his eyes fixed intently on the glowing markings.
Kaelin didn't hesitate, taking the dagger and slicing his palm lightly. Drops of blood fell onto the carvings, which began to glow more intensely.
Eliara hesitated for a moment, then followed suit. As their blood mixed within the circle, the red glow erupted into a brilliant light, filling the chamber with a strange energy.
Kaelin felt something flow into him, as though the circle were speaking directly to his soul. Eliara, on the other hand, felt a strange weight pressing on her chest, as if the blood carried secrets she wasn't ready to bear.
When the light finally dimmed, the sorcerer spoke solemnly, "Now, you are bound. Any betrayal will cost you more than either of you can bear."
Kaelin glanced at Eliara, his eyes a mix of caution and challenge. "Let's see who bears this burden better."
Eliara smiled faintly but said nothing. The game had begun.