Dawn pooled softly over the small house, warm light touching the sleeping twins first. They clung to each other as usual, but today they woke earlier than normal—because Alaric was leaving.
Rin stood by the doorway, arms crossed, trying (and failing) to hide how tense he was. Alaric strapped his satchel, checked his cloak, and finally turned toward the twins.
Riven and Rhen shuffled forward, heads bowed shyly.
"Um…" Rhen murmured.
Riven nudged his brother, then swallowed and looked up at Alaric.
"D-Daddy… when you come back… can we celebrate our birthday together?"
Rin's eyes widened in surprise.
Alaric froze at the word.
Daddy.
Slowly, a breath escaped his chest—part disbelief, part warmth blooming behind his ribs.
"Yes," Alaric said softly, kneeling before them. "I will come back before your birthday. And we'll celebrate it together. All four of us."
The twins' faces brightened, relieved by the promise.
Then they both turned—almost in perfect sync—to stare at Rin.
Rin stiffened. "What? What are you two—? No. Absolutely not. I—"
But the twins continued staring.
Rin sighed heavily, cheeks flushing, and gave a stiff, awkward hug to Alaric.
"There," he muttered. "Are you happy now?"
Alaric chuckled quietly, leaning down to whisper against Rin's ear.
"I'll be back, Rin. And I'll settle everything."
Rin's breath hitched—but he didn't pull away.
________________________________________
Alaric's boots echoed through the palace halls the moment he arrived. Shadows trailed behind him—his aide, and Darius, who bowed the moment Alaric stopped walking.
"Prepare the Shadow Knights," Alaric ordered.
His aide blinked at him in disbelief. "Your Highness… are you predicting an attack? If you know something will happen, why not avoid the danger entirely? With your skill, you could—"
Alaric cut him off, tone even.
"Because they need to believe they've succeeded. Especially her."
The aide swallowed. "Her… meaning the queen consort?"
"And the puppets she controls," Alaric confirmed. "Let them taste false victory. It will make their fall more satisfying—and easier to expose."
Darius exhaled sharply, half impressed, half worried. But before either could speak again, a palace servant rushed over.
"Prince Alaric. His Majesty is asking for you."
As expected.
Alaric nodded once.
______________________________________
The king lay pale on the bed, chest rising faintly. Alaric approached calmly, retrieving the small vial—the "medicine" he had administered countless times.
He already knew the truth.
He already knew this was the queen consort's final gambit.
He still uncorked the vial and held it to the king's lips.
The king drank.
And within seconds—
He coughed blood.
Just then, the chamber doors slammed open.
Prince Caelum burst in with the queen consort at his side, guards flooding the room like a tide of steel.
"Capture the traitor!" the queen consort shouted triumphantly.
Alaric didn't resist as the guards grabbed him—yet.
Caelum rushed to the king's bedside. "Physician! Examine him!"
The physician checked the king's pulse, then paled.
"…Your Highness… the king is… gone."
"What?" Caelum grabbed the king's wrist, searching for any sign of life. "But he's supposed to only be—!"
He stopped.
He stared at Alaric.
And Alaric… smirked.
So the queen altered Caelum's plan without his knowledge.
Interesting.
While the guards tightened their grip, Alaric suddenly twisted, snatched a sword from one of them, and in one swift move, pulled Caelum close, blade at his throat.
The guards froze instantly.
The queen consort stiffened. "Alaric! By doing this, you openly declare yourself a rebel!"
Alaric backed toward the window, dragging Caelum with him.
Caelum whispered, trembling. "What are you doing…?"
Alaric leaned close enough that only Caelum could hear:
"Don't trust your mother."
Then he released him—pushing him safely toward the guards—and leapt through the window.
"After him!" the queen consort roared.
_______________________________________
Outside the palace walls, chaos waited.
Shadow Knights cleared a path, his aide leading him onto a hidden route. Darius met him halfway with two horses and several loyal men already mounted.
"My prince!" the aide called out. "Are we retreating to Vareth?"
"No," Alaric said immediately. "Going there would endanger them. The queen may try to hunt them down."
One Shadow Knight bowed. "Then what are your orders?"
"Protect them," Alaric instructed. "Especially the twins and Rin. The queen must never touch them."
He turned to Darius next.
"You stay in the capital."
Darius stiffened. "Me? Why? I should go with you—"
"No." Alaric's voice was firm. "Stay hidden. Protect Caelum."
Darius hesitated. "…Because he is your brother?"
"Yes," Alaric said quietly. "And because I know exactly who is the mastermind… and who is merely being used."
.."And I know that you have feelings for him."
Darius looked down, ashamed.
"…I apologize. I—"
Alaric placed a hand on his shoulder.
"There's no need. I have a feeling Caelum will switch sides soon."
Then he mounted his horse.
"ha!" he commanded.
And the shadowy figures vanished into the forest—
the beginning of a storm far darker than the one that came before.