KINGDOM IN CHAOS

The Passage of Time – Or How Madness Becomes a Daily Routine

Naru sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the ring he was spinning between his fingers.

It had been several days since Akihiro left.

In the human world, it had probably been mere seconds. Maybe a minute.

But here?

Here, the days stretched out like an endless nightmare.

Although he wasn't one to easily show weakness, everyone noticed something had changed.

Gone was the Naru who would laugh, flirt, or cause chaos out of boredom.

Now, there was only the prince – angry, tense, and dangerous.

Servants ran when he passed through the halls.

All the joy in his daily activities had disappeared.

He didn't care about food.

He didn't care about meetings.

They even brought him some report about rebellions on the borders of the kingdom – but he couldn't even force himself to read it.

Because he didn't care.

The only thing that mattered was in the other world.

And he didn't know if it would ever return.

Chaos in the Palace – No One is Safe

First, he broke the table.

Then, a set of teacups.

And then… well, now the entire wall in the main hall had a hole in it.

"Why can't anyone tell me anything?!" he yelled, as the court servants knelt before him, trembling.

"Your Highness, please… we don't know anything…"

Naru just waved his hand and passed them by, leaving them in fear.

It was impossible to breathe near him.

And everyone knew – the only salvation would be if Layla returned as soon as possible.

If she returned at all.

While Naru raged through the palace, Kaito entered through the main doors, carrying some food packages.

"Hey, idiot," he said before he even saw the prince.

The servants scattered, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Am I that terrifying?"

He turned and saw a servant – a young woman with dark hair, her head lowered, but with something unusually strong in the way she stood.

Their eyes met.

Although neither spoke a word, something in the air changed.

Kaito blinked.

She blinked.

She was beautiful, but not in the obvious way that court ladies, always chasing after the prince, were.

No.

She had something else – quiet confidence, something intangible.

"Who are you?" he muttered, but she didn't answer.

She just nodded at him and continued on her way.

But Kaito couldn't tear his gaze from her.

And for the first time that day, something else distracted him from Naru and his madness.

"So… you haven't destroyed the entire palace yet? Impressive."

Kaito entered the prince's chambers and immediately threw the food package onto the table.

"Eat. You look like a ghost."

Naru just stared at him.

"I have no appetite."

"Yeah, I get it. But if you don't eat, you'll be worse – and honestly, no one here wants to see what it means to be 'worse.'"

Naru crossed his arms and looked out the window.

"I don't even know if Akihiro made it there. I don't know if Layla is okay. I don't know… anything."

Kaito shrugged.

"And? How do you plan to find out? You gonna jump into some magical hole and see what happens?"

Naru looked at him.

"Yeah."

Kaito shook his head.

"Gods, you're really crazy."

A silence fell.

Naru stared out the window again.

"If… if she doesn't come back…"

Kaito interrupted him.

"Don't finish that thought. Because she will come back."

Naru smiled – but it wasn't a humorous smile, it was one full of bitterness.

"How are you so sure?"

Kaito just sat in the chair and propped his feet up on the table.

"Because you're crazy. And in love. And people like you always get what they want in the end. Just… the hard way."

Naru sighed and finally sat down.

"I hate waiting."

"I know."

"I hate the feeling of helplessness."

"I know."

"I hate you."

Kaito raised an eyebrow.

"That's not my problem."

Naru sighed, but this time, he didn't throw anything across the room.

And that was progress.

Conclusion – Everyone Prays for Layla's Return

As night fell over the kingdom, the entire palace sunk into tension.

Everyone wanted only one thing – for Layla to return.

But no one knew how.

That evening, for the first time in a long time, Naru prayed.

Not to the gods.

Not to fate.

But to her.

Somewhere, out there in the other world, he hoped she could hear him.