Eldoria's splendor masked an undercurrent of tension. The noble factions were in constant struggle for power, their alliances shifting like the tides. My father, a seasoned strategist, taught me that politics was a battlefield as treacherous as any war.
"You must always be vigilant," he warned. "In this city, even a smile can be a blade in disguise."
One evening, while exploring the estate, I overheard a hushed conversation between two visiting nobles. Though they spoke in whispers, I gathered enough to understand that factions were conspiring against the royal family. The realization sent a chill down my spine—danger lurked closer than I had imagined.
That night, I couldn't sleep. The weight of my newfound knowledge pressed heavily on me. If factions were truly plotting against the royal family, how long would it be before the kingdom itself descended into chaos? I needed to grow stronger—not just in battle, but in understanding the intricate web of power that governed the land.