ARTIFACT

The palace was silent that morning. Quieter than ever.

Sunlight filtered gently through the large windows, illuminating Naru's motionless body on the massive bed. His long gray hair was spread across the pillow, and his face looked almost peaceful—as if he were merely asleep.

But he wasn't waking up.

Kaito stood at one end of the room, arms crossed over his chest, while Akihiro sat in a chair beside the bed, leaning tiredly on one hand.

"How long has it been?" Kaito asked, shifting his gaze from Naru's face to Akihiro.

Akihiro sighed. "All night. No movement, no twitching, nothing."

The servant who had been checking on Naru's condition bowed slightly. "His wounds are healed, but… it's as if something is keeping him asleep. We don't know when he'll wake up."

Kaito ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "This isn't good. We need him awake."

"Why don't we call another healer?" someone among the gathered servants suggested.

"And then what?" Akihiro interjected, clearly exhausted. "This isn't something ordinary healers can fix. If he's not waking up, it's either because he doesn't want to… or because he can't."

Silence settled over the room.

Then another thought emerged.

"Leyla hasn't come down," one of the lower advisors noted with a frown. "She hasn't left her room since last night."

"Let her be," Kaito waved dismissively. "She was too shaken. She needs time."

Akihiro gave him a skeptical look. "Leyla has never been one to run away when things get tough. It's strange that she hasn't even peeked in to check on him."

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "And what do you suggest? Dragging her down the halls until she decides to come?"

"No. But something doesn't sit right with me."

Once again, all eyes turned to Naru's face.

The silence was suffocating.

"What if she did something?" someone finally voiced the thought lingering in the air.

Kaito shook his head. "She wouldn't abandon Naru."

"Wouldn't she…?"

The question remained unanswered.

Leyla was furious.

She stood in the middle of Raizen's chamber, fists clenched, her eyes blazing with anger. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to contain the wave of emotions overwhelming her.

"You don't know anything!" she shouted, shoving Raizen away. "You don't know how I feel! You don't know what I'm going through! You can tell me all you want about the past, but I don't care! I don't care about that girl, those memories, or whatever you think is supposed to come back to me!"

Raizen watched her with a faint smile, clearly enjoying her fire.

"You'll feel it eventually, princess," he said calmly, folding his arms. "You can't run from what you are."

"Oh, shut up!" she snapped, turning away angrily. "You know what? There's no point wasting my time here. I can see you're useless!"

She strode toward the door, but before she could reach the handle, Raizen was suddenly in front of her, blocking her path. His red eyes gleamed under the torchlight.

"Slow down, Leyla," he said quietly. "You're not going anywhere."

She stared at him, her eyes filled with fury.

"Move."

Raizen leaned against the door, showing no intention of letting her pass.

"We have much to discuss," he said smoothly. "And besides…" He caught a strand of her hair between his fingers, letting it slide through his hand. "I have something to show you."

Leyla jerked her head back, pulling away from his touch.

"I don't care!" she snapped. "I don't care what you have to say, what you have to show me! I'm going back to Naru!"

Raizen merely chuckled.

"You're returning to someone who's unconscious? Someone who might never open his eyes again?"

Leyla clenched her jaw.

"He will wake up. I know he will."

Raizen leaned in just enough to whisper in her ear.

"What if I told you there's a way to help him?"

Her eyes widened instantly. Her heart skipped a beat.

Raizen smirked at her reaction and took a step back.

"Come with me, Leyla. I think you'll find this… very interesting."

Leyla followed Raizen through the dark but majestic corridors of his palace. The walls were adorned with red banners displaying symbols she didn't recognize, and the floors were made of black marble, polished to perfection, reflecting their silhouettes as they walked.

However, what confused her the most was the behavior of the servants. Every yokai they passed, regardless of rank or type, would immediately stop, bow deeply to her, and step aside.

"Okay, what's going on?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Why is everyone reacting like I'm some kind of queen?"

Raizen arched an eyebrow slightly, smiling in a way she did not like at all.

"Because you are."

Leyla rolled her eyes.

"Spare me the poetic nonsense and give me a real answer."

Raizen paused for a moment, studying her before his smile widened.

"You have always been someone very important to the yokai world, Leyla. Your past isn't just known by the most powerful—it's known by everyone. You're not just a guest here. In my castle, you'll be treated with the highest honor."

Leyla scoffed.

"Great. Maybe I'll even get a free breakfast?"

Raizen chuckled.

"If you want, I can order a feast unlike anything you've ever seen."

"Oh, yeah? And what's on the menu? My own blood soup? Or maybe roasted human flesh on the side?"

Raizen laughed again, but this time, there was something warm in his eyes—something almost… proud.

"You are truly remarkable. No one has ever spoken to me this boldly before."

Leyla shrugged.

"Well, maybe that's because you're surrounded by spineless lackeys who tremble at the sight of you?"

Raizen looked at her in surprise.

"You just insulted all my subjects."

"Oh no, how terrible," she said sarcastically. "I hope they forgive me."

Raizen shook his head, but the amusement never left his face.

"You know, Leyla…" he said quietly as they continued walking. "You're the only person I'd allow to speak to me like this."

Leyla eyed him warily.

"That doesn't say much about your character, you know that, right?"

Raizen merely laughed, as if he enjoyed the fact that she didn't take him seriously.

Soon, they reached a set of massive black doors, engraved with intricate silver symbols. Raizen pushed them open and led her inside.

The room was enormous but dimly lit. The walls were covered with ancient scrolls, swords, and strange objects that seemed to belong to different eras. One table held masks that looked like they were worn by demonic warriors. Another—glass bottles filled with liquids of unknown colors. And on a third—a small black wooden box with peculiar engravings.

"Welcome to my private collection," Raizen said proudly. "The place where I keep the most valuable artifacts I've ever acquired."

Leyla scanned the room skeptically.

"I collect things too. But usually books and shoes. You, on the other hand, collect… well, demonic relics."

Raizen smirked.

"Some of these relics hold power beyond imagination."

"Yeah, sure," she said mockingly. "I'd love to know which of these can help me wake Naru up."

Raizen turned and ran his fingers over a symbol on the wall. With a soft mechanical sound, a hidden compartment slid open, revealing a concealed space.

Leyla raised an eyebrow.

"Of course, you have secret passages in your own castle. How original."

Raizen ignored her comment. He retrieved something from the hidden compartment, then turned to her, holding a small object in his hand.

It was the size of a palm, black and glossy like obsidian, with golden symbols faintly glowing.

He handed it to Leyla.

"Here," he said softly.

Leyla took it, feeling an unfamiliar sensation as her fingers touched its cold surface.

She looked at Raizen with suspicion.

"What is this?"

Raizen's fingers brushed her wrist gently.

"An artifact."

Leyla's eyes widened."What?"

Raizen watched her reaction calmly."This is what you're looking for, princess."

Leyla stood frozen, gripping the artifact in her hands, fingers pressing against its cold, smooth surface. She felt her blood boil as anger slowly rose from her chest."You had it this whole time?" Her voice was cold, but her eyes burned.

Raizen sighed but remained composed."Not the whole time."

"Since when?"

"Since the last time we all met."

Leyla clenched her jaw."You…" Her fingers tightened around the artifact. "YOU FOUND IT IN THE MINE AND SAID NOTHING?!"

Raizen tilted his head slightly, as if entertained by her reaction."I just… skipped a part of the truth."

Leyla took a step toward him, then another."You knew! You knew how much I needed this! I knew you were a bastard, but this… this is beyond anything!"

Raizen let her say everything she needed to, then replied calmly,"I wanted to keep it for myself. To use its power and destroy everything tied to your prince and his palace."

Leyla stared at him in shock, her fury pulsing in her temples."Of course you did! You're insane! And I— I almost died for this! I almost lost him! I almost…"

She stopped, and Raizen watched her in silence."But you're here now," he said slowly.

Leyla stiffened."What is that supposed to mean?"

Raizen's gaze dropped to her hands, to the artifact she was clutching."It means I can no longer afford to keep it. Because now, you're here."

Leyla blinked."And what now? You're just going to give it to me?"

Raizen stepped closer, so close that she could smell him—a mix of something warm and something deadly."Yes. But you need to know one thing."

Leyla swallowed hard but didn't look away."Naru will only wake up when I decide."

The weight of his words hit her, but she refused to let him see that she was shaken."What?"

Raizen gave her a small, knowing smile."I cast a spell on him. You can bring him back. You can give him the artifact. Break the marriage contract. But then… you will have to return here. To me."

Leyla felt her heart clench."You…" Her breath was shallow. "You are the worst kind of manipulator."

Raizen leaned in slightly, his voice low, deep, almost seductive."I am pragmatic."

Leyla gripped the artifact as a storm raged inside her chest. She could feel his gaze on her, his cold determination—but also something else.

Something that made it hard to breathe.