Chapter 66: Failed Assassination Attempt on Kaelian

The atmosphere in the palace was thick, almost electric—as if the very air was charged with static. Since Kaelian's return, the court had been simmering with barely concealed tensions. Nobles whispered behind closed doors, servants exchanged wary glances, and even Queen Virella's usual serene composure was giving way to an impatience that grew more pronounced by the day.

Kaeilan sat in his chamber, a narrow, dimly lit room with slender windows overlooking the royal gardens. He was meticulously reviewing his notes, preparing the strategy he would present at the upcoming Royal Council session. Every word he planned to utter, every gesture he might make, had to be measured and calculated. The recent near-death of the king had unleashed a brutal game of power struggles, and Kaelian—an illegitimate child reborn with a modern mind and a strategic genius—had become a prime target for countless conspiracies.

Yet, despite all his careful planning, he had not anticipated that the threat would come so directly, so close: a barely veiled assassination attempt.

**

A Shadow in the Night

That night, as the palace sank deeper into a heavy, muffled silence, Kaelian had retired early, his face etched with exhaustion. Lyssa, his loyal ally and longtime friend, kept vigil nearby, her mind troubled by the increasingly persistent rumors of betrayal within their own ranks.

Suddenly, a subtle but unusual noise shattered the stillness: the faint clang of metal coming from the balcony adjoining Kaelian's chamber. The palace alarm had not yet sounded, but the barely audible sound was enough to awaken Kaelian's instincts. Within seconds, he was on his feet, eyes sharp and piercing as they scanned the darkness.

A hooded figure moved stealthily across the shadowed balcony. Without hesitation, Kaelian unleashed a magical barrier he had secretly perfected—a shield designed to halt intruders silently without alerting the entire palace. The impact was brutal: the assailant collided with the invisible wall with a muffled cry and fell backward.

But it was far from over.

**

Combat in the Darkness

The figure hit the cold stone floor heavily, but Kaelian gave no quarter. His forbidden and potent blood magic flared to life within him. The protective circle glowed a deep crimson as he intoned a binding spell, freezing the intruder in place.

"Who are you?" Kaelian demanded coldly.

The attacker, gasping for breath, pulled back his hood. Under the flickering moonlight, Kaelian recognized a familiar face: a young noble from House Valex, a rival clan often hostile to his rise.

"You… you don't understand," the noble stammered, voice trembling. "It was the Queen's order..."

Kaeilan's breath chilled further. He knew Queen Virella spared no method in crushing any threat to her legitimate children.

"You will talk, Valex. Everything," Kaelian commanded.

**

Burning Revelations

Trapped by magic, the man broke quickly. He revealed how the Queen, fearful of Kaelian's growing influence, had commissioned a secret faction to eliminate the bastard heir before the king officially passed away.

This was no longer a mere power game—it was open war.

Kaeilan smiled, but there was no joy in it.

"So, the Queen will stop at nothing," he said grimly. "Very well. We shall show her that she's playing with fire."

Yet deep inside, Kaelian knew this attack was only a prelude, a display of force intended to intimidate him. The real threat lurked deeper, in the palace's innermost circles.

**

Maneuvers in the Shadows

No sooner had the attacker been handed over to the guards than Kaelian summoned Lyssa.

"We must tighten security," he whispered. "But more importantly, we need to find out who else is involved."

Lyssa nodded. Since meeting Kaelian, she had learned to read beyond appearances. This move was far too well-orchestrated to be the work of one man alone.

"I have sources among the kitchen staff and servants," she said quietly. "I'll start a discreet investigation."

Kaeilan understood that his enemies were many, and that each step forward risked unleashing a storm.

**

The Royal Council in Turmoil

The next day, the Royal Council convened under a heavy silence. News of the assassination attempt spread quickly, amplifying fear and suspicion.

Prince Théor, Kaelian's half-brother, fixed him with a cold, triumphant glare. Their rivalry had never felt so sharp.

"An attack on you?" Théor sneered. "Perhaps it's a sign you're finally seen as a threat."

Kaeilan responded with chilling calm.

"A threat I intend to eliminate before it turns me to ashes."

The nobles exchanged loaded looks, knowing full well that the heirs' war had taken a deadly turn.

**

Fragile Alliances

In the shadows of a secluded alcove, Kaelian met in secret with Dorn Valek, an influential advisor who had so far observed the palace's power struggles from behind the scenes.

"One failed assassination isn't enough," Dorn said. "The Queen is playing for keeps—and so are you."

"I know," Kaelian replied. "But I intend to turn the game to my favor."

Dorn's enigmatic smile appeared.

"Then let us form a temporary pact. But beware those who betray."

This uncertain alliance was a step toward survival—or downfall.

**

The Weight of the Past

Later, Kaelian withdrew to his chambers, reflecting on his rebirth, the rare chance of a second life in a body once destined for slow death and oblivion.

He had mastered forbidden magics and navigated the darkest intrigues, but this attempt on his life felt only like the opening move in a series of deadly strikes.

He must not only survive—he must become master of the game.

**

Final Cliffhanger

As Kaelian closed his eyes for a brief moment, a black raven landed silently on his windowsill, clutching a sealed letter in its claw.

The seal bore a symbol he had never seen before: a broken circle surrounded by stars.

Carefully, Kaelian broke the seal and opened the letter.

"You are not alone. But the enemy is closer than you think. — An ally in the shadows."

A chill ran down his spine. This mysterious message promised new games, new betrayals—and above all, a fight for survival that had only just begun.

**

End of Chapter 66.

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