The Third Prince Of Darkness

"Welcome home, little Ethan," Luciana said as she continued to hold me.

"I have a gift for you."

Luciana released me and stepped back slightly, looking at me with the curiosity of a cat eager to see the gift I had brought. I quickly pulled a necklace from my pocket and handed it to her. Luciana looked at the necklace in astonishment. It was a beautiful piece with an elegant design, but that wasn\'t its true significance.

"I hope you like your gift. This necklace contains a highly lethal poison that can paralyze and kill a person just from contact with their skin. Don\'t hesitate to use it to protect yourself," I whispered into her ear.

Luciana looked at the necklace in shock, quickly noticing that it had a small, operable mechanism.

"This poison inside the necklace can even kill someone who has reached Kaizer stage 7. So use it carefully. But remember, there\'s nothing in this world more precious than you, so don\'t hesitate to use it if necessary," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you, little Ethan," Luciana said, gently cradling the necklace in her hand like it was her most precious possession. Her eyes held a mix of astonishment and gratitude, but beneath her thankfulness was a deeper reflection of the danger the gift carried.

Luciana carefully placed the necklace around her neck and then looked at me, speaking softly, "Thank you for giving me something so powerful and special. I just hope I\'ll never have to use it."

Her words carried a mother\'s warmth and cautious concern. Hearing them filled my heart with warmth, reminding me once again how important Luciana was to me.

"Luciana, sometimes we need to make sacrifices to ensure our safety," I said calmly but firmly. "To protect you and everyone we care about, we might have to take dangerous steps."

Luciana remained silent for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she studied me. Then she smiled gently. "If I had known you\'d grow into someone so mature, I used to spoil you more when you were a kid." she said teasingly.

We both smiled, but the echoing footsteps of approaching guards interrupted the moment. One of the guards bowed slightly and informed me that Richard was waiting for me.

"See you later, then," I said, kissing Luciana on the cheek before leaving. Her smile widened as I walked away. I had given her that necklace for her safety. Especially after what Roxanne had said, I realized Luciana might also be in danger, and any doubts I had about giving her the necklace vanished completely.

Now, there was also Marsiel\'s situation. Bringing him to the palace could be risky, as Liam had probably already heard of Markuol\'s disappearance and might try to extract information from Marsiel through blackmail. For now, Marsiel would remain at the headquarters of the servant guild in the capital.

With that resolved, I continued walking with the guards until we reached an extensive set of double doors. The guards stationed there opened them and allowed me to enter. They stayed outside as I walked in alone.

Sitting upright behind a large table was my father, King Richard. As always, Richard exuded authority and determination as he sat behind his desk. His posture conveyed the weight of leadership and the responsibilities of a ruler. The dark blue robe with golden embroidery he wore gave him the aura of both a royal figure and a battle-hardened warrior.

As I entered, Richard turned his gaze toward me, silently observing me. We stood in silence for a while. This was typical of Richard; he used silence as a tactic to test the patience and resolve of the person before him.

"You\'ve finally arrived, Ethan," he said at last, his voice steady and commanding. "There are important matters I need to discuss with you."

"I greet the mighty King Richard, the illustrious ruler of the Sunblaze Kingdom!" I said, kneeling before him.

This was the protocol. Anyone returning to the palace after a long absence was expected to kneel and greet the king, reaffirming their loyalty. Though I found it utterly uncomfortable, now was not the time to cause a scene.

"Enough with the formalities… Stand up, Ethan, and sit across from me," Richard said. I slowly stood up and took a seat in the chair opposite him.

"Two days from now, we will head to the capital of the Tamerid Empire. War strategies will be discussed there, and I want you to come with me," Richard said.

"Of course, Your Majesty," I replied resolutely. However, the seriousness in Richard\'s tone suggested that this meeting was much more than an ordinary diplomatic matter. "Is there another agenda behind these negotiations with the Tamerid Empire?"

Richard nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Yes, Ethan. While the Tamerid Empire may appear to be an ally, they are a power that always prioritizes their own interests. Especially regarding issues along our borders, we need to bring them to our side. But more important..." He paused for a moment, then locked eyes with me. "Before the negotiations, I need you to speak with your fiancée and, if possible, use her to advance our interests. Deceive her if necessary, even lie."

"Your Majesty, I\'m sorry, but Princess Evangeline is unlikely to return from the Dragon Academy. She has contracted a severe and widespread illness. The same illness has also affected Kayle, Violet, and Catherine, the princess of the Tiamat Empire."

A brief flicker of surprise crossed Richard\'s face, but he quickly composed himself, taking a deep breath. "So, the situation is this serious," he said with a stern expression. "Do you know anything about this outbreak? Its cause or a potential cure?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. While we don\'t fully understand how the disease spreads, its symptoms progress rapidly and seem especially prevalent among the nobility. I don\'t think this is a coincidence," I said carefully, choosing my words. "This illness appears to be far more complex than an ordinary epidemic. It might be related to magic or some kind of poison."

Richard quickly skimmed through the papers on his desk, then turned his gaze back to me. "Could there be a conspiracy behind this outbreak? If so, could Alpshar be responsible?"

"My thoughts align with yours, Your Majesty. Among those afflicted, there are particularly influential political figures. This could be the work of an enemy—more specifically, Alpshar—seeking to disrupt the balance between the kingdoms."

Richard stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Let that southern barbarian keep targeting young noble girls… It shows his desperation, doesn\'t it? At the same time…"

His words carried both anger and cold calculation, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. After a moment\'s pause, he gestured toward a map on the table and continued.

"Anyway, back to business… Victory against the southern empire would benefit those pigs in Tamerid the most. Our gains will be minimal, and we might even help birth another monster that could destroy us in the future. I wish this war would never happen. If the Tamerid Empire has no rival of equal strength, they could swallow us whole later… And this is where you come in, Ethan. Your relationship with your fiancée is of critical importance here. You will be the one to protect Asina in the future," Richard said. Then, after taking a sip from his goblet, he continued.

"This mission is not just a personal responsibility; it is also a step that will shape the kingdom\'s future," Richard said, his voice carrying the weight of his words. "Your intelligence and diplomatic skills will be our most valuable assets in this process. Even if we succeed in forming an alliance with Tamerid, the balance of power can always shift. That\'s why we need to engage in diplomacy while simultaneously preparing alternative plans."

"Your Majesty… I believe you shouldn\'t be so certain of the coalition\'s victory," I replied cautiously.

Richard responded with a stern tone in his voice as he tilted his head slightly and looked intently in my direction.

"Ethan, I have no doubt about it. With the Coalition\'s numerical superiority, coupled with our strategic advantages, victory over the South is only a matter of time. Young men like you can sometimes be overly idealistic, but war requires calculation and cold-bloodedness, not heart and emotion. Alpshar\'s army may be strong, but the divisions and weaknesses within it work in our favour. How could they possibly defeat us with less than half the number of troops the coalition is likely to field?"