Zion watched everything unfold from his place in the court.
His childhood friend, once known for his unwavering composure, stood on the verge of breaking after discovering his lover's betrayal. The Emperor, who would normally have acted without hesitation in matters involving enemies of the Empire, seemed unusually lenient. And the Crown Prince—who never lacked an opinion and was often the first to voice it—remained silent.
The entire situation felt wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
A growing unease settled in Zion's chest.
The more he observed, the more convinced he became that the man responsible for so much suffering might actually be forgiven.
And that was something he could not allow.
Not after everything that had happened.
Not after the lives that had been lost.
Not after the pain so many families—including his own—had endured.
To the people in this room, Ren might be Zayden's lover.
To Zion, he was the Grim Reaper.
A name tied to grief, bloodshed, and countless funerals.
