Damian couldn't believe his eyes.
It was impossible.
No… this was bad.
He was alive.
He was actually alive.
How?
How was that even possible?
And yet… it made no sense. He had been certain it was impossible to end him back then.
"You…"
Damian's voice shook.
What exactly had he gotten himself into?
"A royal… now this is interesting."
The man rose slowly.
He stepped closer to the barrier, studying Damian like something unfamiliar yet familiar at the same time.
"I haven't seen one of your kind in a long time… a very long time."
His head tilted slightly.
"Do you know me?"
Damian swallowed.
"You look like you do," the man said, almost amused.
"You're alive," Damian said again, firmer this time.
"You thought I was dead?" the man asked, genuinely intrigued. "That's what you believed?"
"It was a foolish wish," Damian muttered. "But yes… I did."
"How thoughtful."
The man's lips curved slightly.
"So who are you? Which of the foolish cousins are you?"
His eyes flickered—deep blue, sharp like burning glass.
Damian felt it immediately and stiffened.
"I'm no one," Damian said quickly. "I don't even know how I got here. I'll take my leave now."
He turned.
And stopped.
His body refused to move.
"…what?" Damian whispered.
Too late.
An invisible force seized him and dragged him forward with impossible speed.
The man watched calmly, expression unchanged.
"No one leaves after seeing me," he said softly. "That is not permitted."
He pulled Damian closer.
"Let me remind you why I've had no visitors for a long time."
Heat surged through Damian's body.
Not warmth—pain.
Something was being pulled from him.
Ripped.
Torn.
He screamed.
"What are you doing?!" Damian shouted.
Then—
Silence.
He was released.
Damian collapsed, gasping.
"You're weak," the man said flatly. "Far too weak. And you are meant to be a royal?"
A faint pause.
"Disappointing."
Damian struggled to breathe.
"I don't care who you are—"
"Clearly," the man interrupted calmly.
He stepped closer again.
"And yet you're still here."
He seized Damian once more.
"Do you understand what I am asking you?"
"Do I need to?" the man replied, unfazed, continuing his pull.
"Answer me properly!" Damian snapped.
A brief pause.
"If you are strong, you survive," the man said simply. "If not… then you were never meant to."
The pressure increased.
And then—
Something changed.
The energy inside Damian reacted violently, as if answering to something older, deeper.
The barrier shattered instantly.
The man stepped out.
Damian fell back, breathless.
This was worse.
This was far worse than anything he had imagined.
Even at full strength, he would not have stood a chance.
The man tilted his head slightly.
One of the feared figures even royals avoided speaking about too openly.
Prince Dylan.
The king's first son.
The one who had once wiped out an entire region of Althreaze and forced even their history to be rewritten.
Dylan looked down at him.
"You're still here," he said quietly.
A pause.
"Unfortunate."
Kathy stood in the throne room.
Waiting.
Still waiting.
The silence stretched until—
"Dad," Paulina finally spoke, breaking it. "You're making her sound important. Let's be honest, we're in trouble. We need a solution. Kathy marries the Althreaze prince, and it's over. Simple."
"Paulina is right," King Ethan said quickly. "This is not a big issue. You will marry Prince Damian. When you arrive there, you will be safe… untouchable."
Kathy let out a slow breath.
"I see."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"So as usual… you chose her."
A faint, cold smile formed.
"I can't believe I ever thought otherwise. That you might actually care. That you might feel even a shred of guilt."
Her voice sharpened.
"But you're still the same."
The Queen moved instantly.
SLAP.
"How dare you speak to the king like that!"
Kathy didn't flinch.
Instead, she slowly turned her head.
"I spoke to him like a daughter speaks to a man who stopped being a father long ago."
The Queen raised her hand again—
"Enough."
Williams stepped forward, stopping her.
"She has suffered enough," he said coldly. "Even you are sending her to her death."
Silence.
The King's expression shifted—uncertain for the first time.
Williams turned to Kathy.
"This meeting is over."
Later, in her room, Kathy stood as her maids hurried around her.
"My princess… what happened?" Sara asked softly.
"I am getting married," Kathy said.
"Are you insane?" Williams snapped. "To who?"
"You were there," she replied. "You already know."
Williams clenched his jaw.
"They will kill you."
"Then let them," Kathy said quietly. "Let him live with it. Let my father carry it."
"Kathe—"
"I am not running," she interrupted firmly.
Williams exhaled sharply.
"This is not bravery. This is suicide."
"I will survive," she said.
"That is not your choice," he replied. "No one sees death coming. And this time… it is already waiting for you."
"Stop," she said sharply. "You're shaking my confidence."
"It is the truth."
Silence.
Then softer—
"I cannot run," Kathy said. "My mother would not forgive me."
Williams frowned.
"She is gone, Kathe."
"I know," Kathy said. "But I still feel her watching."
Her expression steadied.
"I will survive this."
Williams looked at her for a long moment.
"…sure."
But he didn't believe it.
Gilbert was nervous.
The prince had to be found.
The wedding could not be delayed.
And yet—
Damian appeared.
Relief flooded him.
"Prince Damian! There you are. We must go immediately."
Damian said nothing.
He only stared.
Something about him felt different.
Wrong, even.
But Gilbert dismissed it.
"There is no time. Let's go."
He turned.
And led the way.
Behind him—
Dylan followed silently.
A faint smile on his lips.