The moment the doors closed
Adrain stepped forward first...
And deliberately bumped shoulders with Devan.
He didn't apologize.
Devan tilted his head slightly, watching him.
Then smiled.
"You don't have to be on edge, Adrain," he said calmly. "I promise I'll go easy on you."
Adrain scoffed.
"On edge?" He straightened his robe. "You mistake caution for fear."
His eyes darkened.
"Tomorrow, I'll remind you exactly where you belong. "
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then Devan leaned in slightly.
His voice dropped.
"You don't even know what the test is yet…"
A cold smile touched his lips.
"Watch your back big brother..."
He straightened and walked away.
Adrian remained still.
But his jaw tightened.
For the first time… fear flickered in his gaze.
Meanwhile…
In a quiet corner of the kingdom, within the modest walls of Elena's home, warmth filled the air.
Elena sat between her parents, a soft smile on her lips as they enjoyed the meal she had prepared. The flicker of candlelight danced gently across their faces, wrapping the small family in comfort.
"Elena," Mrs. Blackwood called, her voice gentle, her eyes glowing with warmth as she looked at her daughter. "How is Kevin?"
Her smile widened knowingly.
Kevin, the carpenter's son, had lost his parents at a young age. Since then, Elena's family had taken him in as one of their own. Over the years, what started as childhood companionship had quietly blossomed into something deeper.
Her parents had seen it long before Elena did.
And so, they had made their decision.
The two would be married once Elena came of age.
"Mama…" Elena murmured, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "He's fine. I… I just gave him lunch."
"Oh, stop teasing her," Luke said with a soft chuckle, glancing at his daughter. "You've made her as red as a tomato."
Rosaline burst into laughter.
"Mama, Papa—please!" Elena cried, embarrassed, as she quickly stood and ran off toward her room.
Her footsteps faded into silence.
Rosaline's laughter softened, her expression shifting as tears welled in her eyes.
"Look at her… she's grown so much," she whispered. "I still remember holding her for the first time… and now she's about to become a woman."
Luke pulled her gently into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
"She won't stay little forever," he murmured. "All we can do is pray she finds happiness."
Within the quiet walls of her room, Elena lay on her bed, a soft, dreamy smile resting on her lips.
Her parents really knew how to tease her.
In her hand, she held a worn out white rose , one Kevin had given her weeks ago. Though its fragrance had long faded, she lifted it to her nose, as if the memory alone was enough.
And to her, it was.
Her thoughts drifted back to the night Kevin confessed his feelings. He hadn't had much to offer, but he was kind… gentle… always listening.
Kevin was twenty now. She was only seventeen.
Yet, he had always cared for her in the smallest ways bringing her chocolates after work, speaking to her with patience, treating her like she was something precious.
"I can't wait to be eighteen…" she whispered to herself, her smile deepening.
Meanwhile…
In a small, dimly lit room across the village, Kevin knelt beside a wooden box.
Carefully, he dropped in a handful of coins ,his earnings for the day.
A quiet smile spread across his face.
"I can't wait to marry Elena."
For years, he had been saving every spare coin, determined to give her a wedding worthy of her smile.
He closed the box gently, almost reverently, as if it held not money but his future.
Standing up, he stretched slightly before heading toward the small table where the food Elena had brought him rested.
Even something as simple as that…
Meant everything to him.
Unbeknownst to them…
their peaceful world was already being watched.