The Emperor slowly swept his gaze across those gathered in the throne hall, allowing silence to settle beneath its vaulted ceiling.
His gray eyes moved unhurriedly over the faces of nobles, vassals, and representatives of neighboring nations, as though carefully measuring each of their reactions.
Only when the hall had grown so quiet that even the rustle of fabric and the muted breathing of those present could be heard did he finally speak.
“According to the ancient treaty, all heirs who passed today’s examination for magical affinity will be sent to the Academy of the Kingdom of Arkin for further education and the development of their potential.” His voice rang out clearly and calmly, without hesitation and without leaving room for dispute.
This was not a question.
Not a request.
Merely the declaration of a decision already made.
“You are all dismissed.” After a brief pause, the Emperor shifted his gaze toward us.
“Except for those who underwent the examination today.” Father’s words echoed throughout the hall.
Almost at once, the assembled guests rose from their seats.
A wave of bows swept through the chamber, accompanied by the soft rustling of expensive fabrics, the faint chime of jewelry, and the muted scrape of shoes against the stone floor.
The nobles, vassals, and representatives of neighboring nations gradually began to leave the throne hall.
Some departed quickly, unwilling to remain any longer than necessary, while others cast lingering, curious glances in our direction, as though trying to memorize the expressions on our faces before they left.
The massive doors opened and closed again and again, releasing the last of the guests.
With each departing person, the hall grew quieter, and the vast space that had only moments ago been filled with voices, whispers, and movement slowly emptied, leaving behind an unfamiliar, oppressive silence.
The enormous throne hall suddenly felt even larger.
Colder.
Alien.
Soon, only the three of us remained before the thrones.
Me, Nreu, and Heia.
We stepped forward slowly, stopped before our parents, and almost simultaneously lowered ourselves onto one knee.
No one broke the silence.
Even Heia, who was usually far more lively and emotional, now looked unusually composed.
Nreu, as always, maintained his outward calm, as though everything unfolding concerned him least of all.
As for me, I could feel the tension inside me only growing stronger.
It seemed that the fewer people remained in the hall, the heavier the air became, as though the disappearance of witnesses made the coming conversation far more dangerous.
I could hear my own breathing and feel my heart beating steadily, yet far too loudly, somewhere in my chest.
The Emperor and Empress silently observed us.
Their gazes passed over Nreu first, then settled on Heia, and finally both of them turned their attention to me.
At that moment, everything inside me tensed.
I wanted to lower my head, avert my eyes, and hide from that silent pressure, if only for a moment.
Instead, I clenched my teeth and forced myself to remain still.
My palms had begun to sweat, and my fingers trembled faintly despite all my efforts to appear calm.
I was nervous.
Very nervous.
And yet I forced myself to keep looking forward, refusing to let either fear or shame overpower me.
The Emperor remained silent for a while longer before his gaze settled on Nreu and Heia.
“As announced earlier, Nreu, Sixth Prince of the Kray Empire, and Heia, Eighth Princess of the Kray Empire, will be sent to the Academy of the Kingdom of Arkin for further education and the development of their talents.” His voice remained even and calm, almost routine, as though he were speaking of a matter long since decided.
After a short pause, Father turned his gaze to me.
In that instant, I felt everything inside me turn completely cold.
“As for you, Aluric, Seventh Prince of the Kray Empire.” For several seconds, he looked directly into my eyes.
“You will also be sent to the Academy of the Kingdom of Arkin.” For one brief moment, a faint spark of hope flared inside me.
His next words extinguished it instantly.
“However, you will not arrive there as a prince of the Kray Empire.” The Emperor’s voice remained just as even, just as emotionless.
“From this day forward, you shall travel under a different name.
Your rights to the throne are hereby annulled.
You are no longer an heir of the Kray Empire.” I felt as though my entire body had gone numb.
Each following word struck like a blow.
“From this moment onward, you are forbidden from maintaining any contact with Nreu and Heia, whether within the walls of the Academy or beyond them.” “After completing your education, you are forbidden from returning to the territory of the Kray Empire without my personal decree.” Absolute silence filled the hall.
It felt as though even the air had frozen.
“From this day forward, the name Aluric no longer belongs to you.” The Emperor paused briefly, as though giving me time to fully comprehend the meaning of his words.
“Your new name is Trey.” “The One Who Renounced the Throne.” Those words struck harder than everything that had come before.
It was not merely exile, not merely the loss of title or inheritance.
They were taking my name, my past, my place in this family, and my right to belong here.
“The three of you have until sunset to gather your necessary belongings and prepare for departure.” After speaking those words, the Emperor struck his sword against the stone floor three times.
The dull clangs echoed through the empty throne hall.
Then he rose from his throne and slowly descended the steps toward me.
Each of his footsteps sounded unnaturally loud in the dead silence.
Stopping before me, Father lowered his gaze to the crest of the Kray Empire embroidered onto my chest.
For one brief moment, his hand hovered there, as though granting me one final second to understand what was happening.
Then he seized the fabric sharply.
A dry tearing sound split the silence.
With a single motion, the Emperor ripped the crest from my clothing.
For several seconds, he stared at the embroidery in his palm, at the symbol of the Kray Empire, the mark of bloodline, authority, and the right to the throne.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he tossed the crest onto the cold stone floor before me.
The small piece of fabric fell soundlessly onto the stone.
So easily.
So simply.
As though everything that had tied me to this empire had been worth nothing at all.
Breathing became harder and harder.
Every inhale seemed to catch somewhere in my chest, never fully reaching its end.
There was enough air.
I understood that rationally.
But my body refused to believe it.
One moment, heat washed over my hands as though my skin were being slowly brought toward an open flame.
The next, a biting cold pierced through me so sharply that my fingers began to tremble almost imperceptibly.
I did not remember leaving the throne hall.
I did not remember walking through the castle corridors.
Only the looks remained in my memory.
Curious, contemptuous, observant.
As though I was no longer a person, but some rare curiosity.
A mistake now permitted to be stared at openly.
When I finally reached my room, my legs carried me toward the bed on their own.
I did not even remove my ceremonial clothes.
I simply collapsed onto the mattress and closed my eyes.
Some part of me still hoped that all I had to do was open them again, and everything that had happened would prove to be a nightmare.
One of those dreams after which you wake drenched in cold sweat, only to feel relief when you realize reality is still intact.
But time passed.
And I never woke up.
After a while, someone knocked cautiously on the door.
After I allowed him in, a servant entered.
Without a word, he placed a neatly folded set of clothes and a small travel bag on the table, then left the room just as silently as he had entered.
Slowly, I rose and walked closer.
The clothes were simple.
No crest, no embroidery, no adornments.
Ordinary black trousers, a shirt, and a dark coat.
Nothing that reminded me of my former status.
Only practical clothing for travel.
Beside them lay a travel bag, small and barely large enough for the essentials.
For a while, I simply stared at it.
Gradually, another detail dawned on me.
No one had been sent to help me.
No servants.
No attendants.
No one.
Even here, the Emperor had made it clear that my position had changed completely.
Letting out a heavy breath, I opened the bag and looked over my belongings.
Only then did I realize one simple, almost absurd thing.
I had absolutely no idea what I was supposed to bring with me.
What do people even pack when they are exiled from their own lives?
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