The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when the curtains of the room were flung open.
"It's daytime, Prince-sama," Ashiya announced, his formal tone accompanied by a slight smile. Ren groaned from the bed, burying his face in the pillow before sitting up lazily. "Good morning, Ashiya… And I told you to call me Ren," he muttered with a slight pout.
"Understood, Ren," Ashiya replied with a barely teasing smile. Still half-asleep, the prince stretched before heading to his dressing room. "What do I have today?" he asked from the other side of the door as he got dressed.
"A meeting with the empress and Marquis Andilet," Ashiya answered, arranging the formal jacket Ren was to wear.
The prince sighed in annoyance but said nothing more. He was preparing to leave when a firm knock on the door broke the calm. Ashiya, ever attentive, opened it with elegance and found a castle soldier standing there.
"Your Highness, all the princes have been summoned to the Royal Castle this afternoon by order of His Majesty, Emperor Louvel Dussier."
Ren frowned. His father rarely summoned them all without prior notice.
"Understood. I confirm my attendance."
The soldier bowed and withdrew. Ren, however, fell silent, his thoughts fixed on what might have happened.
A few hours later, at the Royal Castle…