The courtyard had fallen into a deathly silence, not a single word muttered, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle afternoon breeze.
All present—students, mages, guards, and onlookers—were frozen in shock, their minds almost unable to process the brutal event that had just transpired.
Nobody had expected such a drastic action, and even more so, that it would be taken by the fourth prince. They could not believe their eyes.
Aric, noticing the tension, broke the silence with a calm, almost casual tone.
"Well then, if no one has anything else to show, you may all tour the courtyard before being on your way."
His demeanor was blatantly unemotional, as though the executions were nothing more than a minor inconvenience in his day.
Upon his words, the students and supervisors began to disperse cautiously, keeping a wide berth around Aric.
"You, come," Aric gestured to Lerai.
Lerai, shaken up by the events, walked towards the prince without wasting a second, his fear evident.
"Yes, your highness," he said, his voice shaking.
’Will he kill me as well because my crossbow was what made them laugh?’ Lerai thought internally, praying to the gods he did not die here.
"You are quite smart, more than people are willing to realize," Aric complimented.
Just then, a small smile crept onto Lerai’s face.
"Thank you, your highness. The others don’t think so, though," Lerai muttered, a tinge of sadness fading his smile.
"Don’t worry, it’s human nature. Most are often blind to the bigger picture until it’s painted in blood." Aric’s voice had taken on a dark edge.
"I don’t think I understand, your highness," Lerai mumbled back.
"You don’t, but you will, and when you do, remember this moment and that I believe in you." Aric offered a warm smile to the boy, handing him back his crossbow.
Lerai’s face lit up, and he almost could not believe this was the same prince he had just seen execute two men for laughing.
"What happened to you, your highness?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.
"I could ask you the same, Serina." Aric replied, staring into the dead grey of her eyes, and he wondered just how many lives she had taken.
"I have an offer you might be interested in. Will I be able to meet you at the banquet to present it?" Serina asked.
"Perhaps."
She nodded, glanced at the severed head propped on the table beside the prince, and walked away.
Soon after, all the mages began to disperse from the garden as they exited the prince’s estate and moved on to the others. Aric sat back in his chair with a sigh.
His mind was occupied with thoughts. All he had known about Serina were things he had heard in his last life, but standing before her, it seemed there was something far darker beneath.
— — —
Night fell, the sun had long retreated, and the moon now ruled the skies, its silver glow reaching each crevice of the empire.
The imperial city was quite alive on this particular night; well, it was every night, but this one was different. This was the annual banquet hosted by the emperor himself. It was a chance for a select few to see the supreme ruler and an even more select few to converse with him while also meeting other powerful individuals.
The princes were usually a part of this annual banquet from a young age, but Aric, however, had always been too sick to attend. The forgotten prince was barely ever seen in public.
Tonight, however, a carriage pulled in front of the door of the imperial palace, and unlike other carriages, this one was late, and by intention.
Aric stepped out, a staff of silver in his hand and a coat hung over his royal attire. He usually wore more casual clothes, but tonight was different.
He walked through the entryway and into the door. Now, normally, his entrance might have gone unnoticed, but Aric was royalty, and it was necessary that his entrance be announced.
Upon seeing him, the imperial palace guard stationed at the large banquet room entrance slammed his sword into the floor, silencing the room.
"In attendance, His Royal Highness, the Fourth Prince: Aric Valerian."
The words of the imperial guard drew the attention of everyone present. All eyes fell on Aric as he walked through the room.
"What a way to arrive at a function," Serina huffed a chuckle.