The wind did not calm after that night.
It slipped through the palace walls, whispering through cracks and corridors like something searching.
Hweeeee…
Rudura stood still behind the curtain, eyes fixed on the empty corridor where the shadow had vanished.
His breathing had slowed.
But his mind hadn't.
That wasn't a servant…
The palace had a rhythm, even at night. Guards moved in patterns. Servants kept to quiet routes. Doors opened and closed in familiar ways.
But this
This was different.
A faint sound came again.
…tik…
Rudura's eyes sharpened.
Not random.
Not wind.
Deliberate.
He stepped away from the curtain
Then stopped.
The corridor outside was dim. Only faint light from distant braziers and wall lamps stretched weakly across the stone floor.
Too dark.
Too risky.
He turned back quickly and slipped inside his room.
His hand reached for the small brass lantern placed beside his bed. The metal felt cold against his fingers.
He lit it carefully.
tchh
A small flame came alive.
Soft.
Unsteady.
Just enough.
Rudura stepped out again.
The lantern glow swayed with his movement, stretching shadows along the walls. Pillars twisted in shape as the light moved, making the empty corridor feel less empty.
tap… …tap…
Barefoot steps.
Cold stone bit into his feet, but he ignored it.
His pace slowed.
Controlled.
Quiet.
The air felt heavier now. Still. Pressing.
No guards.
That alone was wrong.
He moved forward.
Closer to the private library.
Then
scrrrk…
A faint scraping sound.
Rudura froze.
Raised the lantern slightly.
The light brushed against the library door.
He stepped closer.
Something was off.
The wooden surface… wasn't clean anymore.
He crouched slowly.
The lantern flame flickered as he lowered it near the lock.
His fingers touched the metal.
Cold.
But not as cold as the door itself.
His eyes narrowed.
Recent.
He leaned closer.
A faint scratch marked the edge of the lock plate. Thin. Clean.
Not wear.
Tool work.
His gaze dropped.
Something reflected the lantern light.
He picked it up.
A thin piece of metal.
Sharp.
Broken.
He turned it in the light.
"…A lockpick."
His voice stayed low.
This wasn't palace equipment.
Too precise.
Too fine.
Someone skilled had used this.
Rudura's grip tightened slightly.
Someone tried to break into the library.
A soft sound came from behind.
tap…
Rudura turned instantly.
The lantern swung with his movement.
Shadows stretched violently across the wall.
Nothing.
But
A flicker.
A shadow moved across the far wall.
Fast.
Gone in a second.
Rudura stood up slowly.
Every instinct in his body sharpened.
There.
He moved.
Faster now.
Still quiet.
tap… tap… tap…
The lantern light bounced with each step.
He reached the corner where the shadow had disappeared.
Turned
Empty.
Only a curtain near a side window swayed slightly.
shhh…
The cloth moved like something had just brushed past it.
Rudura stepped closer.
Raised the lantern.
The fabric was still shifting.
Slowly settling.
He pushed it aside.
Nothing behind.
Just an opening to the outer edge.
Cold air flowed in.
No footsteps.
No climbing sounds.
No presence.
His chest tightened.
Then where
A voice spoke.
Low.
Close.
Right behind him.
"You shouldn't be here."
Rudura spun.
Fast.
The lantern light swung wide
But no one stood there.
Empty corridor.
Only stretched shadows and cold air.
His grip tightened around the lantern handle.
That voice…
It wasn't distant.
It wasn't echo.
It was close.
Too close.
For a moment, Rudura didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Then
CLANG!
Metal struck stone somewhere behind him.
Heavy footsteps followed.
"Your Highness?!"
Rudura turned.
Two palace guards rushed into the corridor, armor clinking faintly.
They stopped immediately when they saw him.
One dropped to a knee.
"My Prince! What are you doing here?"
The other scanned the corridor, tense.
"Did you see someone?"
Rudura straightened slowly.
"I heard something."
The guards exchanged a quick glance.
"So did we," one replied. "We were called away from this section then we heard movement here."
Rudura's eyes narrowed slightly.
Called away…
Not coincidence.
He closed his palm subtly, hiding the broken lockpick piece.
"No one was here when I arrived," he said calmly.
The guards looked uneasy.
"We will increase patrols immediately."
Rudura nodded once.
"Do that."
They bowed.
He turned and walked back.
The lantern light dimmed slightly as he moved away.
But his thoughts burned brighter.
Morning came.
But something had changed.
The palace was quieter.
Not peaceful.
Restricted.
More guards stood at intersections.
Servants spoke in lower voices.
Conversations stopped when Rudura passed.
Even the air felt tighter.
tap… tap… tap…
His footsteps echoed clearly as he walked through the corridor.
He passed the private library.
Five guards stood there now.
Two at the door.
Three positioned nearby.
All alert.
All tense.
Rudura slowed slightly.
"Everything secure?" he asked.
"Yes, Your Highness," one guard replied quickly.
Too quickly.
Rudura nodded and walked on.
But his eyes lingered for a moment longer.
Later, in the training courtyard, Malavatas stood waiting.
Arms crossed.
Still.
Watching.
Rudura approached.
Malavatas spoke first.
"You did not sleep well."
Not a question.
Rudura said nothing.
Malavatas stepped closer.
"…Did something disturb your rest?"
Rudura met his gaze.
Silence stretched.
Then
"I heard movement near the library."
Malavatas didn't react immediately.
But something in his eyes shifted.
"And did you approach it?"
Rudura didn't answer.
That was enough.
Malavatas exhaled slowly.
"…You are either brave or foolish."
Rudura's lips moved slightly.
"Or both."
A faint smirk touched Malavatas's face.
Then vanished.
"Listen carefully," he said, voice lower now. "There are things in this palace that do not concern you yet."
"Yet?" Rudura repeated.
Malavatas ignored that.
"Do not go near that door again without me."
Rudura's eyes narrowed.
"…Someone tried to break in."
This time, Malavatas didn't hide it.
"Yes."
The answer was simple.
Heavy.
Rudura's fingers tightened around the metal piece hidden in his hand.
"…Why?"
Malavatas looked toward the palace.
Toward the direction of the library.
"…Because knowledge is more dangerous than any sword."
Silence settled between them.
Cold.
Sharp.
Then Malavatas turned away.
"Train."
Conversation ended.
Night came again.
Rudura sat by his window.
The lantern rested beside him, its flame steady now.
In his hand
The broken lockpick piece.
He turned it slowly.
Thin.
Precise.
Foreign.
Not palace-made.
Not random.
Planned.
His eyes lifted toward the distant corridor.
Where the private library stood hidden behind stone and guards.
His voice was quiet.
"…You weren't after gold."
His grip tightened.
"You were after something inside."
A pause.
Then
"…Échecs Humains."
The wind rose again outside.
Hweeeeeeee…
For a brief second
A shadow moved across the far wall.
Distant.
Watching.
Then gone.
Rudura didn't react.
Didn't move.
His gaze remained fixed.
"…So you're still here."
The silence deepened.
And somewhere within it
A game had begun.
One he didn't understand yet.
But one he had already stepped into.
(Continued in Chapter 47)