The silence in the guard's cubicle was thick and heavy. Axel rolled his eyes at the retreating guard's back, offered a mocking bow to the empty space, and left.
Outside, the guard, Ted, clenched his fists until his knuckles were white. Why had he frozen? Why couldn't he retort when Axel confronted him? "Just wait, Axel," he muttered, his jaw hardening like stone. "I'll make you bow to me soon enough."
---
Before every Royal Conclave, a grand parade through the main axis of the kingdom was held. It was a spectacle that officially marked the beginning of the festivities, a showcase of the monarchy's power and unity.
The parade was mere hours away, and the palace grounds buzzed with frantic energy. The royal palanquin stood adorned in regal splendor, awaiting its occupant. Alongside the King, the princes and high-ranking officials would participate, a moving tapestry of Eleandora's hierarchy.
GUARDS' CUBICLE
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Axel lay motionless on a hard slab—the guards' sorry excuse for a bed—his hands folded behind his head and his eyes closed, a picture of utter indifference.
One guard nudged his companion. "What is it?" the other grumbled.
The first guard pointed a discreet thumb toward Axel. "Isn't he joining the parade?"
His companion merely shrugged and went back to polishing his boots. Frustrated by the lack of interest, the first guard approached the slab and tapped Axel's shoulder.
"Hey."
"What?" Axel grunted, not bothering to open his eyes, his voice laced with irritation at the disturbance.
"Aren't you getting ready? The head guard wants us assembled in thirty minutes."
Before Axel could form a reply, a sneering voice cut through the room from the other side. "He's probably too busy thinking about how he'll look to the people as a lowly guard instead of a prince. Must be a hard fall from grace."
A wave of derisive laughter followed, including from the guard who had just woken him. "Is that it? Too shy to be seen with the rest of us?" he chuckled.
Axel only sighed, the sound heavy with contempt, and turned his back to them, shutting out their childish chatter. His mind was elsewhere, focused on a singular goal. He had only agreed to become a guard for one purpose, and he had yet to achieve it. The parade was the perfect distraction; with most of the palace's officials and guards occupied, security would be focused on the entrances, leaving the inner sanctums more vulnerable. It was the opportunity he needed to search for answers about his own existence.
Yet, he pushed himself off the slab and reached for his uniform. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of more gossip before they left.
One of the guards, emboldened by the earlier mockery, hissed as he passed, "You wouldn't have moved if Zer hadn't spoken up. You keep forgetting that in here, you're not a royal. Stop acting like you're above us. It's pathetic." He stormed out, only to return a moment later, his face pale. "The head guard is on his way!"
A chorus of muttered curses filled the room as the guards scrambled to finish dressing.
Dre, the head guard, entered moments later. His sharp eyes swept over the room, taking in the last-minute chaos. The guards snapped to attention as one, bowing in unison.
"We are moving out earlier than scheduled," Dre announced, his voice cutting through the tension. "You have fifteen minutes to assemble on the palace grounds. Anyone who is late will face severe penalties." With that, he turned and left, his authority lingering in the air.
The guards finished their preparations in a frenzied silence. Axel, who had taken less than ten minutes to dress, stood ready by the door. They filed out of the building and marched toward the palace grounds, arranging themselves in orderly, synchronized rows.
Soon, the officials emerged, taking their positions flanking the royal palanquin. Finally, the King appeared, his regalia resplendent and sharp in the morning sun.
"All Hail the Sun of Eleandora!" a herald's voice boomed, echoing off the palace walls.
"All hail the King!" the crowd chorused, every person dropping to one knee as the King walked solemnly through their midst. He was assisted into the palanquin, and only when he was seated did the assembly rise.
The Queen came forward to see him off, and he offered her a gentle, public smile.
Mounted on a proud steed beside the palanquin was Darius, a smirk plastered on his lips as he surveyed the parade. This was his first official appearance before the people as the undisputed heir of Eleandora. Leon and Zade, deemed too young for such a public display, had remained in the palace with Elsa.
Darius's gaze swept over the guards and landed on Axel. His smirk widened into a gloating grin when their eyes met. Axel returned the look with one of utter disinterest. The parade meant nothing to him. His entire focus was on finding a way to slip away unnoticed and return to the palace. But with so many eyes upon them, the feat seemed impossible. He had to find an opportunity.
A veil was drawn across the palanquin, shielding the King's face from view. A loud horn blast signaled the beginning of the procession, and the palace gates swung open wide. The palanquin was lifted, and the grand parade began its journey.
As the procession moved through the city, crowds lined the streets, falling to their knees in unison. "All hail the royal family!" they cried.
Fiona was among them, standing on her toes, her eyes desperately scanning the procession for a glimpse of Axel. If she didn't see him now, she feared she might not get another chance. Pushing her way to the front, her smile faltered as her gaze settled on Darius. Her brow furrowed in confusion. Where was Axel?
Darius's eyes met hers, and he seemed to read her thoughts instantly. A taunting smile played on his lips as he subtly gestured with his chin toward the line of guards. Fiona's eyes followed the direction, and her mouth fell open in shock. There he was, clad in the uniform of a common guard. Her brows drew together in a worried crease.
What happened?
"Where is the second prince?" someone whispered beside her.
"Yeah, that's true. Aren't there two princes? Why do we only see one?" another voice took up the question.
The murmur spread through the crowd in hushed tones. Why wasn't the second prince participating? Few had ever seen him clearly, so no one recognized him among the ranks of guards.
"Maybe something happened to him. I heard he isn't... normal," a reckless voice muttered from the crowd. Others quickly shushed him, fearful of being overheard.
Axel heard the comment clearly but dismissed it with a quiet sigh. Their gossip was the least of his concerns. His priority was escape.
He was still scanning his surroundings, planning his move, when he felt it—a strange, oppressive presence. The very air grew thick and heavy, becoming difficult to breathe. He glanced around, but no one else seemed affected; the parade continued, and the crowd cheered, oblivious.
But the presence intensified, a dark and ominous aura that felt like a physical weight. His senses screamed in alarm. He scanned the sea of faces, trying to pinpoint the source, when his eyes locked onto a figure shrouded in a black cloak, head bowed.
A frown etched itself onto Axel's face. The aura was undoubtedly emanating from this person. He squinted, trying to discern any features, but the cloak shadowed them completely. He would normally dismiss it, but the presence was too potent, too deliberate, as if it were pulling him in.
"Hey, focus!" a guard behind him hissed.
Axel cleared his throat and looked away. But when he dared a glance back a moment later, the spot was empty. His brows arched in surprise. He scanned the crowd again, but the dark cloak was gone. Yet, he could still feel the presence, fainter now, but lingering. The person was still nearby.
The parade ground to a halt at the city center. This was the designated break where the King would address the people. It was also Axel's only chance.
With practiced subtlety, he melted away from the guard formation, blending seamlessly into the bustling crowd, ensuring no one marked his departure. He had achieved his first objective: he had escaped the parade.
Now for the second: he had to find the source of that presence.
"Looking for me?" a feminine voice asked. The voice was gentle, yet layered with mystery and an ancient quality.
Axel raised his head. There, standing before him, was the figure in the dark cloak.