Golden rays of dawn had just begun to pierce through the palace's stained-glass windows when the maid, having knocked quietly on the door of Prince Yujin's chambers, frowned. No one answered.

"Your Highness?" She cautiously pushed the door open and froze.

The prince lay on the floor, sprawled like a broken doll. Beside him lay an overturned goblet. A shriek of horror tore through the morning silence.

The palace exploded into chaos.

Courtiers came running from all directions, jostling at the doorway. Some shouted that the prince had been poisoned, others called for the guard. Ambassadors and officials who had come for the negotiations whispered in horror, casting glances at Yujin's pale face.

"This is treason!" one of the advisors roared, shaking his fists. "We came in peace, and this is how they treat us!"

Philomena burst into the room, her face paler than the morning snow.

"What happened?!" Her voice trembled, not from grief—but from fury.

She couldn't understand how this had happened. The poison… it was only supposed to paralyze him! She rushed to her brother, grabbing his hand—it was cold, but a pulse still beat.

"Who did this?!" Her cry was so genuine that even the most suspicious guests fell silent for a moment.

At that moment, the royal physician burst into the chambers, breathless, a bag in hand. He knelt beside Yujin, pressed his fingers to his neck, then carefully lifted an eyelid.

"He's alive," he whispered, and the room sighed in relief. "But in a coma. If we try to wake him now—his heart might not withstand it."

Silence. And then—an explosion.

"So it was an attempt on his life!" someone from the delegation cried out.

"Remember the bandits who attacked us on our way here?" another picked up. "Maybe that was staged too!"

Philomena stood, clenching her fists. Everything was going off-plan!

And around them, voices thundered:

"Pack our things! We're going home!"

"If this is how the kingdom treats an alliance—we have no business here!" 

***

The news of Yujin's poisoning struck Errol like a dagger in the back. He stood in the middle of his chambers, fingers convulsively gripping the edge of a table as a breathless servant reported the details.

"Your Highness, Prince Yujin was found unconscious, the physician said…"

Errol was no longer listening.

"No!"

His cry tore through the air. The next moment, he was tearing through the corridors, sweeping everything in his path aside. His heart hammered wildly, a single thought pulsing in his temples: "It's not true. It can't be. Who dared?! Who?!"

Errol stormed into the palace allocated for the delegation like a hurricane, his eyes burning with a savage fire.

"Where is he?!"

But his path was blocked by guards—spears crossed before him, and behind the soldiers, members of the Fitasentian delegation were gathered. Their faces were twisted with anger.

"You!" one of the advisors stepped forward. "You were with him at the banquet yesterday! Maybe it was YOU who poisoned him?!"

Errol froze for a second, then rage contorted his face.

"How dare you?!"

He lunged forward, not thinking of the consequences. His fist connected with the nearest guard's jaw with all his might. The man collapsed, but the others immediately pounced.

"Let me through to him!"

A brawl erupted. Errol fought like a madman. The opponents were too many, but he didn't even think of giving up. Out of the corner of his eye, Errol spotted Moe. Backup!

"Help me!" Errol rasped out. "I need to get to my sprite!"

Moe sighed. Nodded. And with a full swing, punched him in the jaw. At that, Errol lost consciousness.

***

Errol sat up sharply, his head splitting, his jaw burning. His vision swam, but he immediately recognized the place—the changing room by the palace arena where they usually sparred. And standing there was the very cause of his headache.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Errol sprang up, nearly falling from dizziness. "Why did you knock me out?!"

Moe shrugged.

"First, I didn't think you'd go down with one punch. First time for everything, honestly." He flexed his knuckles, as if checking for damage. "Second, if I hadn't stopped you, you'd have beaten that entire delegation to a pulp, and that, by the way, neither brings your marriage closer nor helps the prince wake up."

Errol snarled, clenching his fists.

"But I needed to get to him! Do you understand? To him!"

"I do," Moe said calmly, picking up two training swords from a bench and tossing one at Errol's feet. It clattered dully on the stone floor. "But you were acting like a fool. And fools aren't allowed near the sick. So come on, put on some pants and take your anger out on me."

Errol stilled for a moment, then sharply bent down, grabbed the sword, and hurled it against the wall in fury.

"What kind of pointless bullshit is this?!"

Moe didn't even flinch.

"Well, if you want to keep yelling instead of letting off steam—suit yourself. But personally, I prefer hitting things to whining."

Errol breathed heavily, his eyes blazing. Then he jerked towards the rack of training gear and began tearing off his nightshirt.

"I'll kill you."

Moe smirked, folding his arms across his chest.

"How about not today? I haven't finished my book!.."

A minute later, they stood on the sandy arena. Errol—in simple trousers and a shirt, gripping his sword so tightly his knuckles were white. Moe pretended to be relaxed, though inwardly he was more focused than ever. Errol in this state was far too dangerous. Moe hadn't been joking when he said he could kill the whole delegation. In truth, Errol held the title of the kingdom's strongest warrior quite deservedly. Once, some of their trained men tried to stop him in such a state, and they were all cripples now—Moe didn't want to see that again, so he became the punching bag himself.

Errol attacked without warning. Moe barely managed to parry, staggering back.

A blow. Another. Errol wasn't thinking about tactics—he just rampaged across the arena, slashing with all his might. Moe defended himself, but sweat was already beading on his forehead.

"He could have died!" Errol poured all his fury into the next strike.

"But he didn't!" Moe parried, retreating.

"Someone slipped him poison!"

"If we push now, they'll blame us!"

Blow. Clang. Another blow.

"Impossible!" Errol was outraged. "I trust my people! It's…"

His sword wavered for a fraction of a second. Moe tried to seize the opening, but Errol's defense was, as always, flawless.

"You think his own people poisoned him?!" Errol was stunned. Moe snorted. His cousin was thinking brilliantly, even in the heat of battle.

"But that makes no sense!"

"Hmm," Moe drawled, fending him off and jumping back, tightening his grip on the hilt. "You know, I was reading this romance novel… Is Prince Yuujin an only child?"

"What?" Errol paused for a split second. Then he rushed his cousin again, unleashing a series of quick thrusts. "What nonsense?! It can't be his sister!.."

He suddenly cut himself off. That girl from yesterday. The 'relative'. With the same golden hair and green eyes. And the way she'd thrown herself at his chest… Errol suddenly swore viciously. Moe watched him with interest. Though a second later, he had to sweat—Errol attacked him with renewed force.

"And what are you suggesting?!"

Moe dodged at the last second.

"They're leaving."

"No!"

The training sword whipped across Moe's shoulder. He grimaced but held his ground.

"Let them."

"Then he!.."

Errol breathed heavily, his sword trembling in his hands. Moe didn't look much better.

"This is the best way… I heard they've already summoned the best healer from the Iltalian Empire to Fitasentia, one who… specializes in poisons…"

Errol lowered his sword, leaning on it. He panted heavily, wiping sweat from his brow.

"But what if they…"

He didn't finish the thought. The very idea frightened him to the core.

Catching his breath, Moe smirked.

"They won't dare. Because I've sent an official dispatch."

"What dispatch?" Errol threw the sword towards the rack. Rage still boiled within him, but he no longer felt like beating his cousin. Moe shrugged.

"That if Prince Yujin dies or is harmed in the slightest, we will raze their entire country to the ground."