The sun blazed over the Kingdom of Ruthenia as nobles and dignitaries from across the continent gathered to celebrate the birthday of the First Prince, Amarendra. In the grandeur of the royal palace, King Henry VI welcomed Duke Arhenius Sureva of the Sureva Duchy with warmth and a friendly tone.
"Arhenius! Welcome to my son Amarendra's birthday."
Arhenius knelt, a symbol of respect despite their old camaraderie. Henry, ever uneasy with formality from his closest friend, sighed. "How many times must I ask you to call me Henry, not 'Your Majesty'?"
"This is the 234th time," Arhenius replied with a faint smile.
Their light banter was interrupted by Duke Liles Siegfried, ever suspicious of the Sureva patriarch. "Where is your gift for the Prince, Count Sureva?"
Arhenius smiled coolly. "How about my son's loyalty?"
Tension crackled for a moment until King Henry steered the topic away. "Where are the children?"
"In the gardens, last I checked," Arhenius answered.
The three nobles made their way through a sea of lords and ladies. The air shimmered with mana-infused perfume, jewels sparkled, and conversation quieted in reverence to the trio.
Meanwhile, outside in the Castle Gardens, children played freely. Luenor Sureva, dressed in black, chased after Princess Amelia of Yunis. "Got you!" he laughed.
Amelia huffed, cheeks puffed. "You always find me first!"
"You're just easy to find," Luenor teased, running off to find the other children.
Then, a shift in the air.
Inside the palace, King Henry's eyes narrowed. "Do you sense it?"
Arhenius and Liles nodded. The mana signature of a dangerous creature rippled through the castle. A Three Star beast.
A black snake with yellow spots had slithered its way into the Gardens.
Chaos erupted.
The snake had coiled itself around Amarendra. The other children—Amelia, her sister Sarah, George Sandow, Lucia Siegfried, and Luenor—either ran or tried to help. But they were only children.
The snake's tail flung Lucia and George aside. Arhenius, Liles, and Henry arrived just in time to witness the horror.
King Henry drew his sword, and in a burst of divine mana, the snake disintegrated into ash. Arhenius caught the limp Amarendra just before he hit the ground.
Questions followed. Why was a Three Star beast in the heart of the capital?
Lucia pointed, still shaken. "It followed Luenor. But it didn't attack him."
"Is that true, Luenor?" Arhenius asked, tone stern.
Luenor, wide-eyed and confused, stammered, "I was just looking for George when it followed me. I didn't summon it!"
When Amarendra finally stirred awake, he echoed Lucia's words. The snake slithered beside Luenor but attacked only after seeing Amarendra.
Liles pounced. "How did it get into the castle? Maybe Duke Sureva helped!"
Arhenius roared. "Liles! You dare question my loyalty after all we've fought for?"
King Henry raised a hand. "Enough. Arhenius, take your son and leave. His punishment will be decided later."
The words stunned Arhenius. He looked at Henry with disbelief.
"Henry—"
"It's Your Majesty. I am the King of Ruthenia. You are a Duke. Remember your place."
With a bowed head and trembling heart, Arhenius left.