The pce hall fell silent as Duke Christoph yed the live feed.


    On the massive screen, Alex''s aircraft was swallowed by blinding white light. The light bomb detonated. The image shook violently, then dissolved into static and fire. Nothing remained. No wreckage. No escape.


    The King stared at the screen, his face draining of color. Sofina felt the blood leave her lips. Her fingers clenched without her noticing.


    Duke Christoph turned, already smiling.


    "Your Majesty,” he said smoothly, "thest heir of Saint-ire is confirmed dead. The obstacle is gone. I request that you revoke Princess Sofina''s five-year promise. With that condition removed, she may be married at once-to a man of your choosing."


    He did not hide his intent. Everyone in the hall knew whose son he meant.


    The King did not answer immediately. He turned to Sofina.


    "Sofina," he asked quietly, "what do you think?"


    She lifted her head. Her eyes were steady, though her chest felt tight.


    "Father," she said, "you are the King. You gave me a five-year promise. I intend to hold you to it. I will discuss marriage only after those five years have passed."


    Duke Christoph stepped forward at once.


    "Your Majesty, this is a waste of time," he said coldly. "The oue is already decided. Alex is dead. A dead man cannot marry Princess Sofina."


    “Father,” Sofina said, turning back to the King, her voice steady but burning with resolve, “I still believe Alex is alive. Until I see his body with my own eyes—until there is undeniable proof-I will not abandon this promise."


    She lifted her chin, eyes unwavering.


    "You gave me your word. And I intend to hold you to it."


    The King fell silent.


    His fingers drummed slowly against the armrest of the throne, each tap heavy with thought.


    The hall seemed to hold its breath.


    Atst, he spoke.


    "Duke Christoph," he said, his tone firm, "I gave my word to Princess Sofina. The agreement stands. Five years."


    "But Your Majesty-" the duke pressed on, his voice tight with frustration. "How am I supposed to prove Alex is dead? A light bomb leaves nothing behind. No wreckage. No remains."


    "And because nothing was left behind," Sofina shot back instantly, "that is exactly why it''s possible he survived."


    "That''s impossible," the duke snapped, his patience finally breaking.


    "Enough," the King cut in coldly. "This audience is over. All of you may leave. I need to rest. Sofina, take me to my room."


    "Yes, Your Majesty," Duke Christoph replied stiffly.


    He bowed and turned away. The moment he stepped out of the hall, his expression twisted with rage.


    "How dare that bastard ruin my n," he muttered through clenched teeth.


    The hall emptied. Only the King and Sofina remained, their footsteps echoing as they walked through the long corridor.


    "Come with me," the King said quietly. "To my study. There is something you need to know."


    Inside the grand study, the King sat behind his desk. He tapped his fingers against the surface, slow and deliberate, weighing how much truth to reveal.


    "Sofina," he began, his voice low, "in politics, there are no eternal enemies—and no eternal friends."


    She listened without interrupting.


    "Duke Christoph was my ally when I fought for the throne," the King continued. “But once I won it, he became something else. Again and again, he tried to control me. To bend my rule to serve his ambition."


    The King leaned back slightly, eyes dark with memory.


    "A hero rides a horse to reach his goal," he said. “But once the goal is reached, he finds himself sitting on a tiger. From that moment on, every day bes a fight. Because the tiger is always trying to devour him."


    He looked straight at Sofina.


    "Do you understand what that means?"


    "Yes, Father," Sofina said.


    Her voice was obedient, but her face was pale, drained of color. The sadness in her eyes was impossible to hide.


    The King watched her for a moment, then smiled—a calm, knowing smile that did not reach his eyes.


    "Don''t look so mournful," he said lightly. "Your man is not dead yet."


    Sofina froze.


    "Really?" she asked, hope and disbelief crashing together in her voice. "How do you know?"


    Wilhelm Augustusughed, deep and confident, as if the answer were obvious.


    "I am the King of Prussia," he said proudly. "The smartest man in this country. Do you truly think something happens in Prussia without my knowledge?"


    He leaned forward slightly and fixed his gaze on her.


    "I know far more about Alex than you ever have."


    Sofina frowned, confusion flickering across her face.


    "Alex," Wilhelm continued slowly, "is not from Xia. He is from Estoria."


    Sofina''s eyes widened.


    "What?" she blurted out. "But Estoria is the poorest ce in the world. And


    criminals run to when they have nowhere else to go."


    The King nodded calmly.


    "Exactly," he said. "Which makes him the king of the poorest—and the criminal— nation."


    "The king?" Sofina repeated, stunned.


    "He is the King of Estoria," Wilhelm said tly.


    He stood and walked toward the window, hands sped behind his back.


    "Four years ago," he went on, “I


    detected every Estorian spy operating inside Prussia. They hide


    under the name Kingswell Ther only goal was to find a path to the Earth Empire, bypassing our borders."


    He scoffed softly.


    "They were insignificant. I didn''t bother dealing with them personally. I merely


    instructed our Mother Al to keep an eye on them."


    Wilhelm turned back toward Sofina.


    "Then, three years ago, he appeared using the identity of Marquis Saint-ire''s heir. He knew that to reach the Earth Empire, he needed legal passage. And that meant bing a Prussian citizen.''


    The King''s lips curled slightly.


    "So he stayed. Three full years. Patient. Calcting. Because he knew it was impossible to reach the Earth Empire without our approval."


    "That man,” Wilhelm said, his tone dark with memory, “learned like a sponge. He devoured our knowledge. And he had no shame about stealing it-sending everything back to Estoria."


    "Then why didn''t you stop him?” Sofina asked, her voice trembling.


    Wilhelmughed again, this time cold and dismissive.


    "Why should I?" he said. “Estoria is poor. Its people are stupid beyond belief. I need nothing from them. A few light bombs would be enough to erase the entire country."


    Sofina stiffened.


    “But,” the King continued casually, “if that clever bastard could educate his people— make them slightly more useful-we could turn them all into excellent ves."


    He gesturedzily with one hand.


    “So I let them study. A farmer lets fruit ripen before harvest. Cutting it too early would be a waste."


    “Then..... Father..." Sofina whispered, horror creeping into her voice. "You''re going to attack Estoria?"


    "That is the n," Wilhelm replied


    calmly. "In the past, they were


    useless. Now they are


    intelligent and that makes them perfect ves They believe they are preparing to attack us, without realizing we have had them in our sights for a very long time."


    He smiled faintly.


    "They think they are smart,” he said coldly. "But we are smarter.”


    Disaster is born in pride, and good fortune in humility.