In the heart of the night, the small cottage was engulfed in silence, yet Serina's mind was preoccupied with a strange dream. She saw in her dream a man emerging from the darkness, his features familiar, but she couldn’t clearly recall them. He approached her and said in a calm voice: "This boy, my daughter, keep him safe. One day, you will cherish this." In the dream, she tried to recognize this man, and suddenly, she realized who he was. She exclaimed in astonishment, "Father?!" But before she could approach him, he vanished, leaving his words echoing in her mind.

  Serina awoke from the dream to the sound of heavy footsteps and the door of the cottage being opened. When she lifted her head, she saw Saif entering with another young man, unfamiliar in face and appearance. As soon as she noticed his bloodstained clothes, panic surged within her. She rushed toward them, placing her hand on Saif's shoulder with clear concern, asking, "What is this blood? And who is this you brought with you?"

  Within her, Serina felt something unusual about the other young man. She examined his clothes for a moment, then whispered to herself, "I know these clothes; they’re southern." Her anxiety grew heavier in her chest. She didn’t know how to act, but her worried gaze betrayed her.

  Saif responded, attempting to calm her: "Calm down, Mother. This person was kidnapped, and I helped him. We will know his story soon."

  The young man raised his head and looked at Serina with a calm smile, saying proudly, "Don’t worry. I am Loris, son of the south. The next ruler after my father."

  Hearing these words, the shock was evident on Serina and Saif's faces. Serina stepped back, trying to process what she had just heard, while Saif stood beside her, calmly trying to reassure her: "Mother, stay calm. We cannot be exposed; we are survivors of the war. We must be careful."

  Then Saif turned to Loris and gestured toward the simple bed, saying, "Please, rest here tonight. You can leave in the morning."

  Loris took a deep breath, glancing around the cottage. He observed its wooden walls, simple yet elegant furniture, and the small window overlooking the serene nature outside. With admiration, he said, "What a beautiful place. Its design is charming and organized. The tranquility here… I feel as if I’m in another world." He smiled softly and added, "I hope I’m not a burden to you. I’ll spend the night here and leave early in the morning."

  The cottage fell into a quiet stillness, but inside each of them, thoughts were racing. Serina and Saif hid their truths from the southern heir, and Loris was entirely unaware that he was in the heart of enemy territory.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  The soldiers returned to the castle, their faces grim and eyes filled with concern. They approached Laloris, who was anxiously waiting in the hall of dominion. One of them spoke in a low voice: "My lord, we found a cottage in the woods… it was filled with corpses, but we did not find Master Loris. The only clear thing was the cut ropes inside the cottage."

  Laloris's face darkened, and his confusion and worry deepened. Khalid, the head merchant, who was present in the hall, intervened, saying, "I wonder, Lord Laloris, if the kidnappers truly sought money, or…" He didn’t finish his sentence, as Laloris interrupted him angrily: "Whether the kidnapper was northern or southern… they will be killed without mercy!"

  At dawn, Saif and Loris were walking together toward the southern kingdom. The air was filled with the scent of nature, but their conversation was laden with questions. Loris, with a curious tone, asked, "How do you live in such a desolate place in the middle of the woods? It looks beautiful, but it’s also extremely dangerous."

  Saif replied with a faint smile: "Just as you live in your kingdom… though I’ve never visited it. I’ve only seen it from afar, and all I’ve heard about it are tales of traitors and oppressors."

  As the two young men advanced on their journey, they arrived at a grand gate, which once belonged to the northern kingdom. However, after the south occupied the area, they restored it. A guard on the walls noticed them and immediately called out for Laloris. Laloris hurried to meet them at the gate.

  As Saif approached the kingdom, he looked at it thoughtfully, feeling something stir within him. He said to himself, "Is this truly our home?" But he couldn’t dwell on the thought, as he saw Laloris before him—the man he had heard so much about, the man who destroyed the northern kingdom and killed his people. Saif's veins boiled with anger, like a volcano about to erupt within him, but he remained silent; he had no choice.

  Laloris welcomed his son Loris warmly, saying, "Where have you been, my son? We were worried about you." Then Loris began recounting the story, narrating how he was kidnapped and how Saif saved him. Laloris listened intently, then said sharply: "We have found out who did this. It is one of the northern slaves’ conspiracies. What scum they are!"

  He then ordered that Saif accompany Loris into the kingdom as a guest. As they walked, Laloris pointed to a man tied up in the square, his body showing signs of torture. He said to Loris, "Do you see this man? He was among the group that kidnapped you. Now, take this sword and execute him before everyone."

  Loris approached the bound man, looked into his eyes, and asked, "Why did you do this?"

  The man replied in a broken but determined voice: "You are oppressors. You slaughtered us without mercy. But we will rise against you… someday."

  Loris reflected on those words, the echo of his father’s anger ringing in his mind. Deep down, he knew the man’s words were true, for he had witnessed his father’s injustice against the north and the slaughter of innocents without proof. Yet, Loris also knew he had to act before the people, to prove his position as heir to the throne and to maintain his father’s respect.

  He gripped the sword firmly in his strong hand and severed the man’s head. Blood poured heavily, and silence spread across the square. At that moment, Saif stood watching, his eyes steady and gaze fixed. But inside, a fire of rage was rising like a volcano about to erupt. He whispered inaudibly, "Your sacrifice will not be in vain. I will reclaim the kingdom. But you should have been patient… rest in peace."

  As Loris held the bloodied sword, he looked at Saif, then up at the sky. In that moment, everything appeared calm on the surface, but a storm was brewing inside—inside each of them.