Chapter: The Queen of Silk and Knives
The corridors leading to Queen Isolde's wing were quieter than the rest of the palace.
Not empty—never empty—but hushed in a way that felt deliberate. The walls here were carved from pale sunstone instead of black obsidian, etched with flowing patterns that resembled water caught mid-motion. Soft blue crystals floated near the ceiling, casting a cool, calming glow that made the air feel lighter, easier to breathe.
Daniel walked in silence behind the mage escort.
Sensei: "This wing prioritizes psychological dominance over force. Expect verbal probing, layered threats, and conditional kindness."
Daniel: "So… politics."
Sensei: "Precisely."
The mage stopped before a pair of tall doors inlaid with silver vines.
Mage: "Her Majesty will see you now."
The doors opened without a sound.
---
Queen Isolde sat by a wide arched window, sunlight spilling across polished marble floors. She wore a gown of deep sapphire blue, elegant but understated, her silver hair braided loosely over one shoulder ..Her Red eyes is looks like they are on fire ..Unlike Queen Althea's rigid authority, Isolde radiated calm—dangerous calm.
She did not turn when Daniel entered.
Isolde: "You may leave us."
The mage bowed and withdrew.
For several seconds, Isolde remained silent, gazing out at the floating platforms of Helioscrest drifting lazily beyond the glass.
Then she spoke.
Isolde: "You know, Prince Daniel… most boys your age would still be trembling after a duel like that."
Daniel stood straight, hands at his sides.
Daniel: "I'm not most boys."
Isolde turned.
Her eyes were sharp. Measuring. Amused.
Isolde: "No. You're not."
She gestured to a chair.
Isolde: "Sit."
Daniel did.
Isolde studied him openly now, without pretense.
Isolde: "No magic. No catalyst. No staff. And yet you dismantled a trained fire–air mage in front of the entire capital."
She smiled faintly.
Isolde: "Impressive doesn't begin to cover it."
Daniel: "Thank you."
Isolde: "Flattery isn't why you're here."
Daniel: "I assumed as much."
Her smile widened slightly.
Isolde: "Good. I dislike wasting time."
She folded her hands.
Isolde: "Let me be direct. What happened today was not just a duel. It was a message."
Daniel said nothing.
Isolde: "The First Queen tried to break you. Publicly. She failed."
Her eyes hardened.
Isolde: "And failure has consequences."
Daniel: "For her?"
Isolde: "For anyone associated with her."
She leaned forward.
Isolde: "Which brings us to you."
---
Isolde: "Prince Daniel, I would like you to join my faction."
The words landed softly—but their weight was enormous.
Sensei: "Proposal detected. High political value. Hidden conditions likely."
Daniel remained calm.
Daniel: "And if I refuse?"
Isolde: "Then you remain exposed."
She raised a finger.
Isolde: "Let me finish."
Daniel nodded.
Isolde: "You see, Althea's mistake was arrogance. She assumed blood alone made you weak."
A pause.
Isolde: "I do not."
She rose and walked slowly around him.
Isolde: "I have twin sons—Corin and Finn. They are intelligent, disciplined… but politics is a battlefield, not a classroom."
She stopped behind him.
Isolde: "I need a blade in the dark. A shadow no one expects."
Daniel felt her gaze like a knife between his shoulders.
Isolde: "Help me elevate one of my twins to Crown Prince."
Daniel: "And in return?"
Isolde moved back into his view.
Isolde: "Protection."
Her voice hardened.
Isolde: "No more bullying. No more public humiliation. No one touches you or your mother."
She tapped the armrest.
Isolde: "You will live under my umbrella. Untouchable."
Sensei: "Offer is substantial. Risk level: extreme."
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Daniel: "You think I want the throne."
Isolde blinked.
Daniel: "You think my mother and I came here for power. For Rudraksh."
Her expression shifted—subtly, but unmistakably.
Daniel stood.
Daniel: "You're wrong."
Silence filled the room.
Daniel: "We didn't want to come to the palace. We said no."
Isolde: "…Excuse me?"
Daniel: "My father didn't listen."
His voice was steady. Honest.
Daniel: "We are here because we were dragged here."
Isolde stared at him.
Daniel: "I don't care who becomes Crown Prince."
Isolde: "Every prince cares."
Daniel: "I don't."
She searched his face for deception.
Found none.
Daniel: "We're leaving soon. Living separately. Away from the palace."
Isolde's composure cracked—for the first time.
Isolde: "You… plan to leave?"
Daniel: "Yes."
Isolde: "You would abandon influence? Safety? Power?"
Daniel: "I want a normal life for my mother."
A beat.
Daniel: "No politics. No power struggles."
He met her gaze.
Daniel: "Thank you for thinking so highly of me. But you don't need to worry."
Isolde: "And if the throne comes to you?"
Daniel: "I'll step away from it."
The words echoed.
Isolde slowly leaned back.
For the first time since the meeting began—she looked uncertain.
Isolde: "You're… different."
Daniel: "So I've been told."
She closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them—sharp again.
Isolde: "Very well."
She stood.
Isolde: "You may go."
Daniel bowed slightly.
Isolde: "But remember this, Prince Daniel."
Daniel paused.
Isolde: "You promised me you have no interest in the throne."
Daniel: "I did."
Isolde: "If I ever find that promise broken…"
Her smile was thin.
Isolde: "I will act as though you never entered this palace."
Daniel met her eyes.
Daniel: "That's fair."
He turned and left.
---
From the shadows of the corridor, unseen eyes watched.
---
Queen Althea received the report an hour later.
Agent: "He met Queen Isolde alone. Stayed for twenty-seven minutes."
Althea's fingers tightened around her goblet.
Althea: "What did they discuss?"
Agent: "Unknown. No magic detected. Heavy sound wards."
Althea's lips curled.
Althea: "Find out."
Agent: "Yes, Your Majesty."
---
That night, Daniel sat in his temporary room, staring at the ceiling.
Sensei: "Second Queen's reaction suggests genuine surprise. Probability she will honor her promise: high."
Daniel: "Good."
Sensei: "First Queen will escalate."
Daniel: "Let her."
He closed his eyes.
---
Morning came quietly.
A knock echoed through the room.
Daniel opened the door.
A young girl stood there.
She wore a simple royal dress, dark violet trimmed with silver. Her Red hair was tied neatly, her black eyes cautious—but kind.
Daniel froze.
Daniel: "Princess… Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth nodded.
Elizabeth: "Good morning, Prince Daniel."
Sensei: "Third Queen's daughter. Political status: isolated. Emotional profile: empathy dominant."
Elizabeth hesitated.
Elizabeth: "May I… come in?"
Daniel stepped aside.
Daniel: "Of course."
She entered, glancing around the modest room.
Elizabeth: "This place… it's small."
Daniel smiled faintly.
Daniel: "I like it that way."
She clasped her hands.
Elizabeth: "I heard what happened yesterday."
Daniel: "Most people did."
Elizabeth: "Not the duel."
She looked up.
Elizabeth: "The way everyone is trying to pull you apart."
Daniel said nothing.
Elizabeth: "They did the same to my mother."
His chest tightened.
Elizabeth: "And after she died… they forgot me."
Her voice wavered—but she held it together.
Elizabeth: "I thought… maybe we're the same."
Daniel studied her.
Not a pawn.
Not a threat.
Just a lonely princess.
Daniel: "You're not alone."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Elizabeth: "I wanted to say that."
A pause.
Elizabeth: "And… maybe we could talk again?"
Daniel nodded.
Daniel: "Anytime."
She smiled—small, genuine.
Elizabeth: "Then… I'll leave you to rest."
She bowed lightly and left.
Daniel closed the door.
Sensei: "New variable detected."
Daniel: "Yeah."
He stared at his hand.
Daniel: "This palace is a battlefield."
Sensei: "And you're standing at the center."
Daniel exhaled.
Daniel: "Then I'll survive it."
Outside, the sun rose higher over Helioscrest.
And unseen gears began to turn.