A cold wind drifted through the open balcony of the young prince's chamber.
The moonlight spilled softly across the room, illuminating shelves of books, a wooden training sword leaning against the wall, and a neatly folded cloak resting on a chair.
On the bed, thirteen-year-old Aurelian slept peacefully.
His silver-tinted dark hair rested messily across his forehead, and his breathing was calm, completely unaware of the chaos slowly unfolding within the palace.
Then—
Knock.
A quiet sound came from the door.
Moments later, the door slowly opened.
The queen stepped inside.
Behind her stood Sir Valerian.
The queen walked quietly toward the bed.
For a moment she simply looked at her son.
Her eyes softened.
He still looked so young.
Too young to understand betrayal.
She gently touched his shoulder.
"Aurelian…"
The boy stirred slightly.
"…Mother?"
He slowly opened his eyes, blinking sleepily at the candlelight in the room.
"Why are you here so late?"
Then he noticed the man standing behind her.
"Sir Valerian?"
Aurelian sat up, confused.
"What's going on?"
The queen hesitated.
How could she explain this?
How could she tell a child that his own father wanted him dead?
But there was no time for gentle explanations.
"Aurelian," she said softly, "I need you to listen carefully."
The boy frowned slightly.
"Is something wrong?"
The queen forced herself to remain calm.
"You need to leave the palace tonight."
Aurelian blinked.
"Leave…?"
"With Sir Valerian."
His confusion deepened.
"Why?"
For a moment the queen couldn't speak.
Then she finally said the words that shattered the quiet night.
"Your father has ordered your execution."
Silence filled the room.
Aurelian stared at her.
"…What?"
"The king has ordered soldiers to kill you before dawn."
The boy's mind refused to process what he had just heard.
"My… father?"
"Yes."
Aurelian shook his head.
"That doesn't make any sense."
Valerian stepped forward.
"Prince Aurelian," the battle mage said calmly, "I have confirmed the order myself."
The boy looked between them, disbelief written across his face.
"But… I didn't do anything."
The queen knelt in front of him and held his shoulders.
"I know."
"Then why—"
"I don't know."
The words left her mouth in a whisper.
Aurelian's chest tightened.
His father had always been distant.
But he had never imagined this.
"Listen to me," the queen said firmly.
"You must leave the palace right now."
"With Sir Valerian."
"You will travel to the Holy Kingdom."
Aurelian looked down at the floor.
"But… what about you?"
A faint smile appeared on the queen's face.
"I must stay here."
"Why?"
"Because if both of us disappear, your father will send the entire army to hunt you."
Her voice softened.
"But if I remain… he may believe you never escaped."
Aurelian clenched his fists.
"So you're staying here alone?"
"Yes."
Valerian interrupted.
"We don't have much time."
He looked toward the door.
"The execution squad will arrive soon."
The queen stood and picked up a cloak from the chair.
She placed it over Aurelian's shoulders.
Then she handed him a small silver pendant.
"Keep this with you."
"What is it?"
"It belonged to my family."
She gently closed his hand around it.
"No matter what happens… don't lose it."
Aurelian looked at the pendant quietly.
Then he nodded.
Valerian turned toward the balcony.
"We'll leave through there."
Aurelian stood and walked beside him.
Before stepping outside, he looked back one last time.
His mother was still standing in the center of the room.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the queen said softly:
"Live."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"No matter what happens… you must live."
Aurelian nodded slowly.
"I will."
Valerian placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Stay close to me."
With a flash of faint blue light, magical runes formed beneath his feet.
Wind swirled around the balcony.
And in the next moment—
They vanished into the night.
Inside the palace corridors, soldiers were already approaching the prince's chamber.
They had come to carry out the king's order.
But when they burst through the door…
The room was empty.
And the prince they were meant to kill had already begun his escape.
The next chapter will become much more intense: