The Crown

The grand hall was a cacophony of screams and panicked whispers. People scrambled to make sense of the chaos unfolding around them, their eyes darting between the blood-stained floor, the fallen royals, and the looming figure of Kairos. Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd as they whispered to one another, piecing together the truth that was dawning upon them.

"The missing crown prince… could it be?" a noblewoman gasped, clutching her pearls as her gaze fixed on Kairos.

"Prince Kairos of Azro," someone else muttered. "I thought he was dead. How is he here?"

"He was always good with a bow," one man whispered in awe. "They say he could hit a target from miles away… and look at him now."

"But why return now?" another voice chimed in, laced with fear. "He's avenged his family, hasn't he? Does he want the throne?"

As the rumors swirled like wildfire, Kairos stood tall beside Axel, unbothered by the rising tide of gossip. His eyes still flickered with the remnants of anger and grief, but his focus was now fixed on the future. He turned to Axel, his face hardening into a mask of determination.

"The Northern Empire has agreed to my request," Kairos said, his voice calm but laced with the gravity of their alliance. "The Emperor himself has given his word. I have their support."

Axel nodded, understanding the weight of those words.

Lila stood amidst the chaos, her heart racing as her mind processed the turn of events. She had planned every step meticulously. She had heard the whispers, the gasps from the crowd, but it wasn't until the high priest's voice cut through the noise that she truly understood what was happening.

"Kairos…" the high priest muttered, his voice trembling in disbelief. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the missing crown prince of Azro, who now stood in the grand hall, alive and very real.

The entire room fell silent, the gravity of the moment sinking into everyone present. Kairos—the rightful heir to the Azro throne—had returned. And with his arrival, the power structure of the empire was about to shift dramatically.

Lila turned slowly, her gaze finally landing on Kairos, who was approaching her with a determined stride. He exuded power, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. Axel lingered in the background, watching the scene unfold, his expression unreadable as he observed the interaction between Kairos and Lila.

The high priest, regaining some composure, bowed his head slightly. "Prince Kairos, by the grace of the gods… it cannot be…"

Lila's sharp eyes flickered between the high priest and Kairos, her mind racing. She had just cemented her place as Empress by law, but now, with Kairos' sudden reappearance, everything hung in the balance.

"Who will rule the kingdom now?" Lila's voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade. Her eyes fixed on the high priest, demanding answers. 

The high priest hesitated, visibly nervous as he glanced between Lila and Kairos. "According to the law," he began carefully, "an empress cannot rule the kingdom alone. As it stands, the empire requires a ruler of royal blood."

Lila's breath caught, but she remained poised, her mind working quickly. She knew what the law dictated. Despite her title as Empress, she would be expected to marry someone of royal lineage to maintain her rule.

The high priest continued, his voice faltering under the weight of the moment. "By custom and law, should the rightful heir to the throne return, it is ordained that he assumes the position of emperor."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. The crowd murmured again, eyes darting between Kairos and Lila, their curiosity palpable.

Lila's gaze shifted to Kairos, her heart pounding in her chest. 

The high priest swallowed hard, clearly uncomfortable with the implications. "According to the law, an empress involuntarily marry a man of royal blood to continue her reign. And now that Prince Kairos has returned, it is expected that…" He trailed off, his eyes darting nervously toward Kairos.

Kairos' eyes met Lila's, his expression unreadable. "It seems," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of irony, "that by law, you are my wife, Empress."

Axel, still watching from the background, remained silent. His eyes were locked on Kairos and Lila, understanding the weight of what had just been proposed. This alliance, though unexpected, was the only way for Lila to keep her crown. But what would it mean for her future—and for the empire?

Lila clenched her fists, her mind racing. She had fought her way out of one cage, only to be forced into another. But this time, she swore to herself, she wouldn't be a pawn. If she was to become Kairos' wife, then she would ensure she maintained her power.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous resolve as she met Kairos' gaze once more. "If this is the way it must be," she said slowly, her voice steady, "then I will rule at your side."

Kairos smirked, his expression hard to read. 

The tension in the hall remained thick as the high priest stepped forward, his voice solemn and commanding. "Before any declaration can be made, we must adhere to the sacred traditions," he announced. His eyes fell on Kairos, the weight of the moment clear in his gaze. "The divine water ritual will confirm whether or not you are truly the missing Prince of Azro."

Kairos stood tall, unfazed by the challenge. His blonde hair gleamed under the dim light of the hall, and his piercing blue eyes locked with the high priest's. He had nothing to fear—he knew his lineage, and now was the time to claim what had been stolen from him.

The high priest turned to a ceremonial table, where a small, ornate chalice filled with shimmering divine water awaited. The liquid was clear as crystal, blessed by the gods to reveal truth from falsehood. "We will mix the blood of Mateo of Azro," the priest continued, gesturing toward the lifeless form of the traitorous prince on the floor, "with the blood of Kairos. If the blood combines seamlessly in the divine water, then you, Kairos, are the rightful heir to the throne. If not, then you are an imposter."

The guards retrieved a small vial of blood from Mateo's wound, and Kairos extended his hand without hesitation, allowing a thin cut to be made across his palm. The high priest collected a drop of Kairos' blood in a silver spoon and brought it over to the chalice.

The entire room held its breath.

The high priest slowly poured the blood from both men into the divine water. The liquid shimmered for a moment, swirling with a faint, ethereal light. There was a tense pause as everyone waited to see what would happen.

Then, the blood began to blend, merging seamlessly with the water, no trace of separation visible.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The proof was undeniable. The divine water had confirmed the truth.

The high priest stepped back, his voice filled with awe and finality. "The blood has combined. The gods have spoken. You are Kairos, the rightful heir to the throne of Azro."