?Micheal was getting a bit impatient at this point, seated beside Jasmine in the great hall. The dull murmur of voices buzzed around them—nobles perched comfortably at the front in velvet-cushioned chairs, while commoners with cursed blood were tucked behind in the garden on rigid wooden seats. The unblessed, however, had the worst of it—forced to sit cross-legged on a thin cloth stretched across the cold marble floor.
?
?“So much for ‘the peaceful kingdom of Valedor,’” Jasmine muttered bitterly. Thanks to Aki’s status, they’d been seated with the nobility. Aki himself was nowhere in sight, having disappeared with Knox a while ago to “re-check the perimeters,” or something equally vague.
?
?“Yeah… I guess not everyone’s treated fairly here,” Micheal mumbled back, his voice caught somewhere between embarrassment and guilt.
?
?“I bet you like seeing that, don’t you?” Jasmine said, arching a brow.
?
?“Jasmine—”
?
?“I’m only joking. Don’t worry.”
?But her smile, tight-lipped and bitter, gave her away. The inequality stung her, even if she tried to play it off.
?
?Micheal didn’t know what to say to that. A part of him—a small, shameful part—still harbored resentment toward the unblessed. Even if he cared for Jasmine, that didn’t mean he’d forgotten what her kind had done to people like him.
?
?Jasmine sighed, tapping her wristwatch impatiently. “What’s the hold-up? The coronation was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago.”
?
?“Well… you know how these things go. A lot of planning, a lot of people. I guess they’re running behind schedule.”
?
?“Damn royalty,” she scoffed under her breath. “They think they’re so high and mighty. Of course, they wouldn’t care about wasting anyone else’s time.”
?
?Micheal exhaled slowly. He couldn’t blame her. The kingdom didn’t exactly go out of its way to protect or respect its less fortunate citizens.
?
?“Maybe… but not all of them are bad. My friend Lily—”
?
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
?“Oh yeah. She’s the one getting crowned, right?”
?
?“Yeah. And married...”
?
?“To some prince from up north?” Jasmine’s tone curdled with disdain. “Brilliant. Get the guy who hates the unblessed more than anyone and give him a throne. Genius move.”
?
?“I don’t think he’ll have much autho—”
?
?His words cut off as murmurs rippled through the front rows. A man burst into the hall, panting and red-faced, sprinting toward the foreign king and queen seated beside Lily’s parents. The whispers grew louder, frantic, like the rising tide of a storm.
?
?Then, Micheal heard the words that froze the air in his lungs:
?
?“Prince Mark has been killed.”
?
?For a moment, everything stilled. The very walls of the grand hall seemed to hold their breath. Micheal turned to Jasmine, her expression mirroring his shock.
?
?And then—
?Like a switch being thrown—
?Chaos.
?
? ***************************
?
?
?
?Lily stood frozen, staring at her brother.
?
?Axel looked unrecognizable—his chest heaving, his hands slick with blood, and the remains of Mark's face barely distinguishable beneath the gore. Shock numbed her at first… then realization hit like a stone in her gut. Axel had killed someone. Murdered. Even if it was justified, the sight made her stomach turn.
?
?Blood was pooling toward her feet.
?
?She lurched forward, grabbing onto the iron bars of a cell just in time as her stomach twisted violently. Vomit splattered across the floor.
?
?Axel blinked, his rage snapping into something more fragile—guilt. He took a step toward her, trying to help steady her, but Lily flinched away at the sight of his crimson-slicked hands. Her eyes widened in fear.
?
?And that—that—hurt more than any wound he'd ever taken.
?
?“L-Lily, I—”
?
?She saw the pain in his eyes and her own guilt flared. “N-no, Axel, I—I didn’t mean to—”
?
?They both stopped at the sound of heavy panting.
?
?A guard stood frozen at the entrance of the dungeon. His ice-blue armor marked him as one of the northern delegation. His face had gone ghostly pale. Sweat beaded at his temples as he took in the gruesome scene… and without a word, he turned and bolted up the stairs.
?
?“Shit…” Lily gasped. “Axel! Shouldn’t we stop him?!”
?
?Axel shook his head, his jaw clenched as he stared down at the mangled corpse of the prince. “No use. We need to get you out of here—fast.”
?
?Lily nodded, stumbling after him. The echo of celebration from the great hall still carried through the palace, now faintly warped by the rising panic in her chest.
?
?“Crap,” Axel muttered. “We don’t have much time.”
?
?They reached his room. Lily was out of breath, heart pounding with fear and confusion.
?
?“A-Axel... Mom and Dad... what if—”
?
?“They’ll be fine. We don’t have time for that right now. Right now, I need to get you to safety.” He raised his hand and pulled off a heavy ring. Lily watched, puzzled, as he popped open the large red emerald on top, revealing a tiny button beneath it.
?
?“Axel… what are you—?”
?
?“It’s an emergency signal. You stay here. A few people will arrive—military squad. They’re my most trusted. Follow them, no questions.”
?
?Lily’s breathing grew shallower. “W-What friends, Axel?! Don’t leave me alone!”
?
?“I have to, okay?” He cupped her face gently, tilting her chin until her eyes met his. “Lily, you’ve got to trust me, sweetheart.”
?
?From the hall below came raised voices—screaming, arguing, panic unfolding in real time.
?
?“Crap… listen to me.” He yanked up a few loose floorboards, revealing a narrow, dirt-lined tunnel. “These people don’t serve Dad. Or Mom. Or the kingdom’s forces. They’re loyal to me. You’re safe with them.”
?
?He helped her down into the tunnel.
?
?Her dress and hands smeared against the drying blood on his palms. She stared up at him, wide-eyed and shaking. “Axel… I’m sorry.”
?
?His face softened.
?
?“I’m sorry too, sweetheart. Don’t worry. Now go. Quick.”
?
?She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, forcing her body to move. She ducked into the narrow tunnel, trembling as the sounds of screaming grew louder above.
?
?
?
