The hall was already waiting.
Eyes followed them the moment the doors opened.The big wooden door closed behind them, blocking everything out."The sound filled the hall. Something bad was coming.
Inside, the air was thick. Old walls. Cold intent. Something dark inside.
Whispers died before they could form. The nobles stood along the walls like painted statues, dressed in silk and gold, but their faces betrayed them.
They were afraid. Not of the King. Not anymore. Everyone knew why they were here.
To break the Prince. To drag him back under the king's control. To remind the kingdom who still ruled.
Alaric walked forward without slowing. Each step was steady. Controlled. Final.
Each step was slow and loud in the quiet room.
He didn't look at the nobles. He didn't acknowledge the guards. "He didn't care."
Silas walked beside him. Not behind. Never behind.
Silas move slowly but very dangerous inside. Calm. Quiet. Deadly. "He filled the room with a feeling that was hard to ignore."
. Every eye followed him. Every instinct screamed danger. He did not hide it.
Sean followed one step behind. Silent. Watching.
His gaze never stayed still. He checked shadows. Hands. Movements. Every shift in the air. He wasn't here as a witness. He was here as protection.
At the end of the hall, the King sat on the throne. Unmoving. Untouched. He wore his crown like it belonged to him. Like it always would.
"You took your time," the King said. His voice was cold. Low. But very strong."
Alaric stopped in the center of the hall. He didn't bow. Didn't lower his head. Didn't even blink.
"I came when I was called."
The King's eyes moved slowly. From Alaric. To Silas. And stayed there."For a second, something scary showed in their eyes."
Hate. Curiosity. Possession. Silas didn't react.
Bring him forward, the King said. The words fell quietly. But the effect was heavy.
Suddenly the room felt very uneasy.
The guards shifted. A step. Then another. They moved toward Silas. Carefully.
Because they knew. Everyone knew. Silas was not a man you touched and walked away from.
Silas didn't move. His face stayed calm. Too calm. Like none of this mattered. Like they were already dead and just didn't know it yet.
He stayed calm and did not touch anything."
Didn't step back. Didn't speak. He chose not to.The guard stood right next to him. Very close. His hand was shaking. He felt the danger around him, quiet but strong. He could not move."
He Looked back. The King didn't repeat the order. He didn't need to. The guard swallowed.
Then lifted his hand. Slow. Careful. Reaching. Toward Silas's shoulder.
The whole room went completely quiet. Almost. Just a little
A quick flash. Too fast to see. A blade cut the air. A terrible sound. A scream. The guard dropped to the floor. His hand beside him, separated. Blood poured out fast across the stone. Everyone froze. Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. The silence felt like a heavy weight."
The nobles froze. Some turned away. Some stared in horror. The other guards stepped back without thinking.
Fear.
Pure. Instinct.
Alaric stood in front of Silas. He hadn't been there before. Now he was.
Blade low. Eyes cold. Blood slowly dropped off the sword.
"I said."
Alaric's voice was low.
Controlled.
Deadly.
"don't touch him."
The guard cried out again, grabbing his cut arm.His body shook. His voice broke. No one helped him. No one dared move.
Alaric stepped forward. One step. The sound echoed. His boot pressed into the blood. He didn't look down.
"Next time," he said, voice quiet, I won't stop at the hand.
His words hit everyone in the room.
Deep. Permanent. The guards retreated further. The nobles lowered their eyes. Something had broken.
The King did not move. But his gaze sharpened.
"You draw blood in my court." It wasn't anger. It was calculation.
Alaric didn't look away. "You ordered it."
Silence again. Thicker now.
"You sent them to touch him," Alaric continued. "You knew what would happen."
His hand squeezed the sword a bit more.
"I will not let you touch him."
Not loud. Not dramatic. Certain.
The King leaned back. His fingers tapped once against the throne.
"Disobedience."
"Protection."
The word hit harder than the blade. Because it wasn't just a reply. It was a claim. Silas was his. And everyone heard it.
The King's hand stilled. "You forget your place."
Alaric stepped closer. Closer to the throne. Closer to the line that should not be crossed.
"No," he said. "You do."
Something changed. Small. But true.
The guards no longer looked sure. The nobles no longer looked safe. The throne no longer looked untouchable.
Alaric's voice dropped. "If anyone here "
He looked across the room. Every face. Every man. Every weapon. "touches him again"
Pause. Breath held.
"I will burn everything."
Not a threat. A promise. No one laughed. No one doubted. Because they saw it. In his eyes. In the blood. In the silence.
Silas moved then. Just a step. Coming back to his side. Equal. Not behind.
His eyes lifted to Alaric. And for a moment there was something there. Sharp. Quiet. Approval.
Silas understood. This was not protection anymore. This was war.
Sean saw it too. Felt it. Understood it. Years of loyalty. Years of silence. Gone.
Sean stepped forward. Stopped. Then bowed. Deep. Clear. Not to the King.
But to Alaric.
Everyone felt it. Right then. A choice. The King's own guard was switching sides."
The King saw it. And something in him cracked. Just slightly.
"Interesting," he said. But it wasn't. Not to him.
Alaric didn't answer. Didn't need to.
The King stood slowly. His presence filled the room.
You think this is power? he asked. One guard? One bow?
He spread his hands I own this hall. I own these people.
Alaric stayed still. He did not stop or think twice. 'No.' He took one step forward. His voice was calm. Cold. Sure. '…this is jus t the beginning
The words settled. Heavy. Unavoidable. No one moved. No one spoke.
Because they understood. This was not rebellion anymore. This was a shift. Power had moved. And it wasn't going back.
The King stared at him. Rage behind control. But control was slipping.
Alaric didn't care. He didn't look at the throne. He didn't look at the crown. He only looked at one thing. Silas.
And that was enough.
The war had already started. And now there was no stopping it.