Kyle sat quietly in his room, the edges of his thoughts still frayed by what had happened with Christan.
The divine interference had left a bitter taste in his mouth. He needed a mont of clarity, a chance to gather his thoughts without distraction. And for that, he needed Queen.
"Keep an eye on the hall."
Kyle murmured.
Queen, perched silently at the edge of the window, let out a soft screech before taking flight. Its wings cut through the sky with precision, and in re monts, it was soaring above the grand banquet. Its sharp eyes swept the scene below, cutting through the sea of nobles, laughter, and drink.
That was when it noticed her.
Elia.
She was not alone.
Soone cloaked in grey stood far too close to her, speaking with low, hushed tones. Kyle frowned the mont the image reached his mind.
He stood up.
"The pests have entered."
He said with a sigh as he turned to the Duke, who had just entered the room to discuss the succession once more.
"You should do sothing about your estate’s pest control, Duke Armstrong. It seems a few managed to sneak in."
The Duke paused for a mont, then exhaled sharply.
"If they’ve gotten that far, then they’ve made their choice. Do what you must, Kyle. You won’t be punished for any... incidental damage."
Kyle gave a curt nod, already on his way out.
"If anything happens, hold Elia accountable. Not ."
The Duke did not disagree.
Kyle’s footsteps echoed through the marble corridor as he followed Queen’s senses, each step bringing him closer to the intruder’s location.
His mana was already swirling low in his veins, ready to strike the mont it was required.
He turned a corner.
The corridor had dimd with the evening, torches flickering against the stone. There, just ahead, stood Elia and the cloaked figure.
Queen sat silently above them on the beam, its piercing eyes fixed on the man.
The mont Kyle appeared, both figures froze.
"Kyle!"
Elia gasped, her eyes wide.
"I didn’t—this isn’t what it looks like! I didn’t betray you, I swear! I didn’t accept anything, I haven’t said yes, I—"
"Elia, don’t waste your breath."
Kyle said calmly.
He turned his gaze to the cloaked man.
The figure didn’t hesitate.
In an instant, the man turned and bolted in the opposite direction, robes flaring behind him. He clearly knew that staying would an death—or worse.
"Queen, form two."
Kyle said coldly.
The hawk let out a cry and leapt from the rafters, its body twisting midair in a shimr of mana. Ice and frost spiraled around it, feathers reshaping into silver scales and fur.
Within seconds, Queen had transford into a massive Frozen Armoured Bear, slamming its clawed feet down in front of the escaping figure.
The corridor trembled with the force.
The man skidded to a stop, eyes wide in horror as the frost-breathing beast lood before him.
He tried to turn back, but Kyle was already walking forward, his aura growing heavier by the second.
"You should’ve chosen better prey."
Kyle said, his voice low and steady.
Elia stood rooted in place, her mouth half open.
"I didn’t say yes. He just said he had sothing to offer. I followed him, I got curious—but I didn’t do anything!"
She whispered.
Kyle didn’t look at her.
Instead, he raised his hand, channeling his mana and wrapping the man in a net of invisible threads.
The air thickened, and the intruder was slamd against the wall with enough force to knock the breath out of him.
"I’ll only ask once. Who sent you?"
Kyle said as he approached, mana whirling dangerously around him.
The man trembled, blood running down the side of his face from the impact. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then tried to bite down on sothing hidden under his tongue.
But Kyle had seen that trick before.
With a flick of his finger, a burst of mana exploded from the floor, forcing the man’s mouth open and sending the concealed item flying from his throat before he could crush it. It was a small seed of divine energy, blackened and cracked.
"Queen,"
Kyle ordered.
The Frozen Bear shifted slightly and released a cold breath that froze the air itself. The seed was imdiately encased in a block of enchanted ice, no longer a threat.
Kyle looked at the man again.
"Now. Speak. Or I’ll make sure you’re stuck in the sa block before dawn."
He said, kneeling.
The man’s resistance faltered. His eyes darted between Kyle and the beast, then to the frozen divine fragnt.
"...The sa one who ca to Christan. It... it wanted her too. One heir failed. So it tried the other."
He muttered.
Kyle’s expression didn’t change. He simply knocked the man out cold with a pulse of mana.
He turned to Elia.
"Be careful next ti. I won’t always be this rciful."
Elia, pale and shaking, nodded silently.
Queen growled once, low and threatening, before shifting back into its bird form and returning to Kyle’s shoulder.
They had their answer.
But Kyle knew—this was only the beginning.
___
Inside the party hall, a murmur began to rise as nobles and guests noticed sothing was off.
A few had seen Queen transform, and more were trying to move toward the hallway to see what was going on.
But Kyle acted swiftly.
He raised his hand and signaled to the guards standing near the entrance. The guards imdiately stepped forward and blocked the path, their expressions unreadable as they denied entry to anyone attempting to push through.
"What’s going on out there?"
"Step aside!"
"Who gave you the right to keep us out?!"
Angry nobles shouted, demanding answers, but the guards stood firm.
They offered nothing more than tight-lipped responses about a private matter being handled by the Duke’s family.
Kyle watched the scene from the hallway, his mana laced into his signal, making sure the guards knew they were not to fail in their task. They didn’t.
He turned toward Elia, who looked pale, her eyes darting between the unconscious man and the blocked hallway.
"You need to go back inside. Keep your head down. Act like none of this happened."
Kyle said, his tone firm but calm.
Elia opened her mouth as if to argue, but Kyle cut her off with a glance.
"They’ll co for you again. You were the next obvious target after Christan. Don’t be foolish enough to think this was the last attempt."
Her fists clenched, and for a mont, defiance flickered in her eyes. But it quickly died down.
"I didn’t betray you."
She whispered.
"I know. But if you make one mistake next ti, you won’t get the chance to say that again."
Kyle said.
She bit her lip, nodded, and without another word, turned and disappeared back into the party hall. The guards made way for her without question.
Kyle glanced at Queen, now back in its hawk form on his shoulder, and let out a soft breath.
The trap had been obvious.
What concerned him more was how close Elia had co to falling into it. This ti it had been re curiosity... next ti, it might be desperation.
And next ti, he might not be there to intervene.
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