Chapter 29 : The Enemy That Rose in His Absence
When Rudravaan and Lukas stepped out onto the palace terrace, raised voices met them at once.
At the gates below, Zade stood in open argument with the guards—
and beside him was Henry.
Lukas recognized Zade immediately.
"What is happening here?" he asked, his voice carrying easily across the stone.
"And who is the one with you?"
Zade turned at once and bowed.
"Your Majesty."
Then he noticed Rudravaan standing beside Lukas.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Did I not tell you to wait?" Zade said.
Rudravaan regarded him calmly.
"And why should I?"
Lukas lifted a hand.
"I was asking the question," he said.
Zade steadied himself and spoke carefully.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I came because I feared he might cause trouble."
Lukas's gaze shifted to Henry.
"And this child?" he asked.
Rudravaan answered before Zade could speak.
"He is Henry. He travels with me."
Lukas looked back at Rudravaan, one brow lifting faintly.
"Oh?" he said.
"Since when did you begin keeping children at your side?"
Rudravaan turned his gaze toward Lukas.
"To think you would speak to me in such a manner," he said calmly.
"Have you learned nothing from those days?"
For a brief moment, Lukas stiffened.
A bead of sweat traced down his temple.
Then he let out a short breath and forced a thin smile.
"…I was only jesting," he said lightly.
But the air between them had already changed.
And Zade, watching from below, felt it.
Lukas led them away from the noise of the palace and into a quiet courtyard.
He took a seat on the wooden bench there, and Rudravaan sat beside him. Zade and Henry were directed to sit across from them.
Rudravaan's gaze shifted to Zade.
"Did I not tell you to keep watch over the boy?" he asked evenly.
"Why did you bring him here?"
Henry answered before Zade could.
"Did you forget?" he said, meeting Rudravaan's gaze. "Morvyn ordered me to watch over you."
Lukas let out a quiet laugh.
"To think Morvyn would send a child to guard you," he said. "He has grown bold."
Zade looked at Lukas sharply.
"Your Majesty…" he said. "You know him?"
Rudravaan glanced at Lukas.
"So it was true."
Lukas nodded once.
"Yes."
Zade hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"If I may ask… how did you come to know one another?"
Before Lukas could answer, Rudravaan spoke, his voice low.
"…Even thinking of it stirs memories I would rather leave untouched."
Lukas raised a hand to his brow, a shadow crossing his face.
"How could I forget?" he said quietly.
"When we first met, the ground was drowned in blood. Even now… I would rather not recall it."
Silence followed.
And even without ceremony, it was clear—
these two men shared a past that had never truly ended.
Lukas led them away from the noise of the palace and into a quiet courtyard.
He took a seat on the wooden bench there, and Rudravaan sat beside him. Zade and Henry were directed to sit across from them.
Rudravaan's gaze shifted to Zade.
"Did I not tell you to keep watch over the boy?" he asked calmly.
"Why did you bring him here?"
Henry answered without hesitation.
"Morvyn ordered me to watch over you," he said. "I am only doing as I was told."
Lukas let out a small laugh.
"To think Morvyn would entrust even a child with your safety," he said. "He has not lost his nerve."
Zade glanced sharply at Lukas.
"Your Majesty… you know him?"
Rudravaan looked at Lukas.
"So it is true."
Lukas nodded. "It is."
Zade hesitated, then asked, carefully,
"If it is not too forward… how did you come to know one another?"
Rudravaan spoke first, his voice low.
"…That memory is not one I care to revisit."
Lukas rubbed his brow.
"When we first met," he said quietly, "there was blood everywhere. I would rather not remember it."
Silence followed.
And even without ceremony, it was clear—
these two men shared a past that had never truly ended.
Then rudravaan look at said " ahh more importantly i have one question for you " Lukas said " what is that " rudravaan said " well it's about Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect " zade said " hey are you talking about Valerius. Don't you beat him you're self what more do you want " Rudravaan looked zade his aura changed said " hey iam talking to Lukas " Lukas asked " so what about them " rudravaan said " one of the discipline said that they are trading forbidden powder and people's to other kingdom did know about this " Lukas said " I know but hear me out I tried to stop that but even I can't easly touch all kingdoms " rudravaan said " ahh you're just a coward " Lukas said " thing become even more complicated ever since you fall " rudravaan said " why what happened "
Here's a stronger, cleaner, more engaging version of that exchange, keeping the tone of your novel:
Rudravaan lifted his gaze.
"More importantly," he said, "I have a question for you."
Lukas looked at him.
"And what would that be?"
Rudravaan's eyes sharpened.
"The Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect."
Zade stiffened.
"Valerius?" he blurted out. "Didn't you already defeat him yourself? What more do you want?"
Rudravaan turned slowly toward Zade.
The air shifted.
A heavy pressure rolled outward from him, forcing even Lukas to feel it.
"I am speaking to Lukas," Rudravaan said quietly.
Zade fell silent.
Lukas exhaled and faced him again.
"So… what about the sect?"
"One of their disciples revealed something," Rudravaan said.
"They have been trafficking forbidden powder… and even people to other kingdoms."
Lukas's expression darkened.
"I know," he admitted. "And I tried to stop it. But the moment their dealings crossed into other realms, it stopped being something I could crush with a single order. Even an emperor has limits."
Rudravaan gave a cold laugh.
"So you did nothing," he said. "How disappointing. You've become a coward."
Lukas's eyes hardened.
"Things were never the same after you fell," he replied.
"The world did not stay still."
Rudravaan narrowed his eyes.
"…Explain."
"Because after you vanished," Lukas said,
"something far worse began to move."