[House Voss — The Same Night]
The grand estate of House Voss blazed beneath thousands of spirit lanterns, music drifted across the marble courtyards, golden chandeliers illuminated the enormous manor, and every noble house of the Empire of Qashmar had gathered beneath one roof.
Not merely to celebrate but to observe, to judge and to choose allies.
One year had changed the empire; the Imperial Throne still stood empty. Now here in this empire, every smile concealed ambition, every toast hid suspicion, and every greeting measured the worth of a future emperor.
Outside the enormous gates...carriages arrived one after another, each bearing the crest of one of the Great Houses.
At the final announcement of House Vaelric, the entire courtyard fell noticeably quieter, heads turned, and conversations stopped.
The great doors of the black carriage slowly opened; a polished boot touched the marble.
Kael Vaelric stepped out; his crimson-lined robes moved elegantly with the night breeze, and his black hair had been neatly tied behind him.
The ceremonial sword of House Vaelric rested against his waist, despite the exhaustion hidden beneath his eyes... He carried himself exactly as an heir should, calm, disciplined, and untouchable.
The surrounding nobles lowered their voices.
Silence.
"Do you think the rumors are true? That the Shadow King abandoned him? No deity abandons a bonded mate...does he?"
"Well, whatever, it’s clear that House Vaelric can never take the throne."
"I agree..."
They all chuckled, and Kael ignored every word; he neither slowed nor acknowledged the countless eyes following him.
As he reached the entrance...the host himself appeared, a young man with neatly tied grey hair and intelligent blue-grey eyes descended the stairs with an easy smile; he wore the formal robes of House Voss.
"Lord Kael," he bowed respectfully. "Welcome to House Voss."
Kael returned the courtesy. "My congratulations on your coming-of-age ceremony, Lord Rovan."
Rovan Voss smiled. "I feared you might decline."
Kael answered calmly, "House Vaelric does not ignore an invitation from one of the Great Houses."
Rovan laughed softly. "As expected of you. Please...the others have already gathered."
Kael entered the grand hall; the conversations immediately quieted as every heir turned toward him. Some smiled politely, some looked openly hostile, and some studied him like prey.
Kael recognized nearly every face, the future leaders of the empire. Every one of them...a potential rival for the Imperial Throne.
Then a young noble with long golden hair leisurely raised his crystal goblet; his smile was elegant and perfectly practiced.
"So..."
His voice carried effortlessly through the hall.
"...the abandoned mate has finally honored us with his presence."
The hall fell silent; several heirs lowered their glasses, and others merely watched with amusement. Every eye settled upon Kael, then a feminine voice echoed from the rear of the gathering.
"At least he wasn’t abandoned by his own clan."
Silence.
A heartbeat later, laughter rippled through the hall, not loud, just enough. Enough to make the young noble’s smile disappear, his face darkened, and he turned sharply.
"Lady Nora Valtheris."
Nora gracefully stepped forward, a wine glass resting between slender fingers, a teasing smile curved across her lips.
"Young Lord Aeron. Why are you glaring at me?"
Aeron’s jaw tightened. "You dare insult House Fenrith?"
Nora blinked and looked around the gathering and shrugged elegantly. "Did I? I simply pointed out a fact. If facts offend you...perhaps your clan should become less embarrassing."
Several nobles covered their mouths, hiding amused smiles; even a few elders failed to suppress quiet chuckles. Aeron’s ears reddened.
"Y-You—!"
He slammed his goblet upon the banquet table.
CLANG!!
Wine splashed across the white cloth.
"I have no interest wasting words with an insolent woman."
He turned sharply and stormed away; the laughter behind him only grew louder. Nora watched him leave before taking a casual sip of wine; she mumbled, "Such a fragile child."
Then her eyes shifted toward Kael and she smiled. "I believe...I’m owed a thank-you."
Kael calmly picked up another glass from a passing servant. "I don’t recall asking for your assistance."
Nora sighed dramatically and walked beside him. "I defended your honor. I humiliated one of your rivals, and this is how House Vaelric rewards loyalty?"
Kael looked at her without expression. "I wasn’t aware we had become allies."
Nora placed a hand dramatically over her heart, and then she leaned closer. "How cruel. At the very least...pretend to appreciate me."
Kael slowly swirled the wine inside his glass, and then he asked, "Do you wish to dance?"
Nora’s eyes immediately brightened, and a mischievous smile spread across her face. "I thought you’d never ask."
She gracefully extended her hand. "Gladly...my prince."
Kael placed his untouched wine upon a nearby table, then...he bowed with perfect etiquette. "My Lady."
Their hands met, the orchestra began playing once more, soft violins echoed through the grand ballroom, and the surrounding nobles instinctively stepped aside.
Soon... Kael and Nora glided onto the polished marble floor; their movements were flawless as years of noble education showed in every step, every turn, every bow, and every graceful motion.
Nora smiled. "I almost forgot you dance better than you smile."
Kael looked at her flatly. "The standard isn’t particularly high."
She laughed softly. "There, that almost sounded like a joke...my prince."
"Please do not forget I already belong to someone."
"And that someone is not here, that means...you’re still mine," Lady Nora replied.
They continued moving with the music. After a few silent moments...nora’s smile slowly faded as her observant eyes studied his face.
"You’ve become paler."
Kael said nothing. She frowned slightly. "Another Nightmare?"
"Let’s ignore that."
Nora sighed. "I knew you’d say that, but fine, I will not talk about it anymore."
He finally looked back at her as his expression remained perfectly calm. "Thank you, and...please don’t step on my feet."
Nora blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I value them."
She gasped dramatically. "I have stepped on your foot exactly once."
Kael corrected her immediately. "Three times."
She narrowed her eyes. "You’re counting?"
"I will have difficulty walking afterward."
She rolled her eyes. "You are remarkably petty."
"And yet..." He calmly guided her through another turn. "...you continue proving my concern justified."
Nora deliberately pressed slightly harder during the next step. "There...That one was intentional."
Kael let out a quiet sigh. "I noticed."
She laughed, one that, if only for a fleeting moment...allowed Kael to forget everything. The endless nightmares, Ashkarath’s mournful howls, the curse, the mark upon his heart, and the monster who had abandoned him.
For the first time in months...his mind became quiet.
Then—
SLAAAM!!
A crystal goblet shattered against the marble floor; the sharp sound echoed throughout the ballroom, every conversation paused, and every gaze turned. A young attendant immediately dropped to his knees.
"My deepest apologies! I-I lost my grip."
The music resumed, conversations slowly returned, and laughter once again filled the grand hall. As though nothing had happened, the dance reached its final note. Kael gently released Nora’s hand and both bowed with flawless etiquette.
"My Lady."
"My Lord."
Nora smiled warmly. "I’d call that our best dance."
Kael glanced toward the banquet table. "I’ll fetch you a drink."
He inclined his head politely before walking toward the refreshments; crystal goblets shimmered beneath the chandeliers as he reached toward one. His fingers had barely brushed the stem, and he froze completely.
His breathing stopped, and the world around him faded: music, laughter, and voices—everything disappeared. His amber eyes locked onto the enormous moonlit window overlooking the gardens.
There...bathed in silver moonlight stood a figure, leaning casually against the stone archway. Arms folded across his chest, long black hair flowed gently despite the still night, and his golden eyes gleamed like those of an ancient predator, watching only him.
A slow...dangerously familiar smirk curved across his lips. Kael’s fingers began to tremble.
"Lytharion..."
The name escaped as little more than a breath; his heart pounded violently against his ribs. It wasn’t merely beating. It was recognizing him.
The Shadow King tilted his head ever so slightly, and his smile deepened; he never spoke, yet...his lips moved, slowly and clearly.
Kael read every word.
"Having fun?"
The words carried no sound, but somehow...they echoed louder than thunder inside Kael’s mind; his breathing became ragged, and cold sweat formed along his temples. His fingers instinctively reached toward the mark above his heart.
It burned, and his breathing became slow, and his heart pounded loudly.
"My Lord?" Nora’s voice suddenly reached him, like someone pulling him out of deep water.
Kael flinched violently as he turned. Nora stood only a few steps away, holding two glasses of wine; she frowned.
"What happened? You’ve gone pale."
Kael looked back toward the window, and now... Nothing. The window stood exactly as before. Moonlight poured quietly into the ballroom; the gardens beyond swayed gently beneath the night breeze.
Empty.
No black robes, no golden eyes, and no Shadow King.
Nothing.
Kael muttered. "He was..."
Without another thought, he pushed past Nora; his footsteps echoed across the marble floor as he reached the towering window.
BANG!!
He threw it open; cold night air rushed into the ballroom. Kael leaned forward, his eyes frantically searching the gardens, left, right, the rooftop, the trees, and the shadows.
Nothing, not even the faintest trace of black mist, only the silver moon watching silently.
"My Lord..." Nora had followed him; she stood beside him, concern replacing the teasing smile she usually wore. "What happened?"
Kael remained staring into the darkness beyond the gardens; his breathing had yet to steady, and his hand still rested over the burning mark upon his heart.
After a long silence he finally spoke; his voice was barely above a whisper.
"I saw him."
Nora frowned. "Who?"
Kael slowly turned toward her; there was no confusion in his eyes, only certainty.
"Lytharion."
A long silence followed, then...he spoke the name that had haunted him for an entire year.
"...The Shadow King."
The music continued inside the ballroom, the nobles laughed, and the wine continued to flow, and yet beyond the moonlit window...the darkness seemed just a little deeper than before.