PRINCE OR PUPPET?

Naru stormed through the palace corridors, each step echoing like a thunderclap. His chest rose and fell with anger, his fingers clenched the fabric of his kimono, and his mind was boiling with thoughts that haunted him.

He had tried. He had given her time to calm down. But Leyla refused to even look at him, let alone listen. She rejected him coldly, calmly, as if she had already made up her mind. As if she had sentenced him.

It was driving him mad.

If she had screamed, thrown things, yelled at him—it would have been easier. But no. Instead, she had just closed the door, leaving him drowning in guilt. As if she was done with him. As if she would never give him another chance to explain, to fix things, to pull her back into his arms and prove to her that he belonged to her.

And it was all his fault.

Raizen.

Naru couldn't stand it. He couldn't stay here, rotting in silence. He had to act.

With one swift motion, he threw on a long black kimono, fastened his sword to his waist, and vanished into the night without a word.

Raizen might have thought he could toy with him, that he could take Leyla from him, that he could poison his mind with venomous words. But this time, Naru was coming for him.

And he wasn't coming to talk.

The wind was cold, but Naru didn't feel it. He moved forward, unwavering, through the dark alleys of the Yokai world, ignoring the glances of those who noticed him. When he reached the large, ancient building, he didn't slow down—he kicked the massive doors open, sending them crashing against the walls.

It was dark inside, but he knew Raizen was there. He felt his presence, that irritating, self-assured aura that sickened him.

"Come out." Naru's voice was as cold as ice. "Come out before I come in and tear everything apart."

A few seconds of silence passed before slow, deliberate footsteps echoed in the darkness.

Raizen stepped out of the shadows, leaning casually against the wall, a smirk on his lips, as if all of this amused him endlessly.

"Well, well, well… If it isn't my favorite prince. What brings you here? Shouldn't you be busy with your lovely wife?"

Naru clenched his fists. "You know damn well why I'm here."

Raizen chuckled. "Oh, of course. You've come to blame me because you're too incompetent to keep your woman."

Before he could say another word, Naru was already upon him, his fist colliding with Raizen's jaw. Raizen staggered back but didn't defend himself—he simply wiped the blood from his lip and continued to smirk.

"Hit a nerve, didn't I?" he taunted, his gaze narrowing dangerously. "But you know what's best, Naru? Everything I said is true. Leyla isn't ordinary. And she isn't yours. She never was."

Naru fought against the explosion of rage building inside him. "She is MINE."

"Are you sure about that?" Raizen leaned in closer. "Because she's sleeping in another room, isn't she?"

That was the last straw. Naru grabbed Raizen by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

"She's angry at me because of YOU!" he snarled. "Because of YOU, she doubts everything! Because of YOU, she's pushing me away!"

Raizen didn't flinch. His smirk remained, but there was something darker, something more dangerous in his eyes now.

"I only speak the truth. It's not my fault you're too much of a coward to tell her yourself."

Naru gritted his teeth. His hands burned with fury, his entire body was on fire. He wanted to break him, to destroy him, to make him disappear from Leyla's life forever.

But deep down, he knew Raizen wasn't finished yet.

And what he had to say… was only just beginning.

Naru didn't hesitate. The rage boiling inside him was stronger than reason, stronger than the inner voice whispering warnings in his mind. He drew his sword and slashed, but Raizen was already out of reach, smiling with complete confidence.

"Jumping to violence so soon?" he mocked, tilting his head. "I expected at least a few more insults before you tried to cut me to pieces."

"No more talking," Naru growled, charging forward.

His blade flashed in the darkness, but Raizen was faster than he expected. He dodged effortlessly, and in the next moment, the entire room filled with thick, dark magic. The walls echoed with an invisible force, and shadows began to move.

And he wasn't alone.

Three figures emerged from the darkness—tall, gaunt beings wrapped in black cloaks. Their eyes glowed red, and their fingers were long, almost claw-like.

They were Raizen's.

"I told you, prince," Raizen said calmly as his men stepped between them. "I'm not someone you can simply erase."

Naru had no time for words. One of Raizen's men was already lunging at him, claws glowing with poisonous magic. Naru dodged swiftly, countered, and sliced off the creature's arm in a single, precise strike. The beast screeched, but didn't fall.

The other two reacted instantly—one sent a wave of black fire toward him while the other appeared behind him, ready to stab him with a magical dagger.

Naru stepped aside, avoiding the flames, then blocked the attack with his sword—but he didn't see the third one.

The one whose arm he had cut off.

He felt the cold sting in his ribs before he even realized what had happened.

He paused.

Looked down.

A thin, dark blade protruded from his side, blood soaking his kimono.

Weakness flooded through him.

No… not now…

He was still standing, but his vision blurred. His hands felt heavier, his movements slower. Raizen remained where he was, watching everything unfold with a smirk that had turned far colder.

"What a shame," he murmured. "I thought you'd last longer."

Before Naru could retaliate, Raizen was in front of him in a blink, delivering a single, precise punch to his chest that sent him flying across the room. Naru crashed into the wall and collapsed to the floor. His lungs burned, his vision wavered, and his body refused to move.

Raizen slowly approached, kneeling beside him.

"You're always too emotional, Naru," he said quietly. "Let her go. She was never yours to keep."

Naru tried to move, but his strength failed him. Blood dripped down his ribs, his body trembled.

Raizen simply shook his head and raised a hand. "Take him away."

His men obeyed immediately. Naru barely registered the moment they lifted him, carried him out of Raizen's hideout, and eventually tossed him in front of the palace gates like a discarded puppet.

The night was cold.

The rain had begun to fall.

And as Naru lay there on the wet ground, he felt only one thing—powerlessness.

The palace was silent until a single servant ran into the courtyard, screaming. His voice shattered the night, sending guards and staff rushing in all directions.

"The prince! I found the prince!"

Kaito and Akihiro were the first to arrive, their hearts pounding as they ran to where Naru lay on the cold stone ground. The rain was heavier now, droplets running down his pale face, his kimono soaked in blood.

"Naru!" Kaito knelt beside him, pressing his fingers to his neck. The pulse was weak, but it was there.

"Who did this?" Akihiro cursed, fists clenched. "Who would dare—?" He stopped. He knew the answer. He knew exactly who.

Kaito stood. "Get him inside! Now!"

The servant who had found him was shaking, but the others moved swiftly. Naru's lifeless body was carefully lifted and carried into his chambers.

Soon, everyone in the palace knew what had happened. Panic spread like wildfire, and as rumors whispered through the halls, one name was spoken over and over—Raizen.

But when the news reached Leyla, her world stopped.

She wasn't sure how she got there. She didn't remember running. All she knew was that her legs felt weak as she entered the room.

And there he was.

Naru lay on the bed, pale as a ghost, breathing shallowly.

Kaito and Akihiro stood beside Naru, their expressions grim, while the elder healer examined his wounds with a practiced eye.

"Will he…?" Leyla's voice broke before she could finish the question.

"We've cleaned the wound," the healer responded calmly but seriously. "But I don't know when he'll wake up. This isn't just a physical injury. He was attacked with magic—powerful magic."

Leyla stood frozen, struggling to breathe.

"This… this can't be how it ends…" she whispered.

"Leyla." Akihiro stepped toward her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know this is hard, but he's strong. He'll pull through."

"Because he's strong?!" she snapped. "You don't understand! This is my fault! If I hadn't left… If I hadn't said those things… He wouldn't have—"

Her voice choked on a sob.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Kaito cut in sharply. "This isn't your fault! The bastard who did this to him is the one to blame!"

But she wasn't listening.

She stared at Naru—at his still face, at his fingers that were usually restless, always playing with that damn ring, now lifeless.

And she felt something she couldn't ignore.

She was furious. At him, at herself. At everything.

And she knew exactly what she had to do.

Without a word, she turned sharply, storming out of the room.

"Leyla?" Akihiro called after her, but she didn't stop.

"Let her go," Kaito shook his head. "She just needs some time."

But they had no idea where she was actually going.

While everyone assumed she had retreated to her chambers, Leyla was already far from the palace. She didn't stop, she didn't hesitate. She had no plan—only a single goal.

Raizen.

She didn't know exactly where she was headed, but her anger guided her. And when she finally arrived at the doors of his lair, she didn't wait.

She pounded her fist against the heavy wood.

No answer.

She hit again, harder.

The doors slowly creaked open.

And there he was.

Raizen looked at her, his smirk spreading lazily across his lips.

"Leyla," he said smoothly. "I didn't expect you to come so soon."