The Prince Behind The Mask
1107 Words
The palace of Elarion had never been quiet.
Not even at midnight.
Guards patrolled the marble corridors. Servants moved silently between rooms. Somewhere in the eastern wing, fountains whispered beneath the moonlight.
But tonight, something felt different.
Prince Kael had returned.
After years away from the kingdom, the youngest prince was finally back in the palace.
And nobody seemed happy about it.
Kael stood before the enormous windows of his suite, one hand resting against the glass.
Beyond it stretched the royal gardens, though he could barely make out their shapes.
His vision was fading again.
He blinked.
The garden became a blur.
He blinked once more.
Nothing.
Kael's jaw tightened.
He hated this.
He hated the uncertainty.
He hated never knowing when darkness would swallow the world.
Most of all, he hated the pity that followed him whenever someone noticed.
Behind him, his assistant, Kieran, placed a glass of water on the table.
"Your medication, Your Highness."
Kael didn't turn.
"Leave it."
"You haven't taken it since yesterday."
"I said leave it."
Kieran hesitated.
"Your mother asked me to make sure you take it."
Kael finally turned.
His pale blue eyes caught what little light entered the room.
"Then tell my mother you failed."
Kieran sighed.
"You know I can't do that."
A faint smile touched Kael's lips.
"That's why I keep you."
Kieran shook his head but remained silent.
Kael reached for his black mask and slipped it over his face.
The world knew the mask.
The world didn't know what was beneath it.
And Kael intended to keep it that way.
"Is everyone already at dinner?" he asked.
"Your father is in the western hall. Prince Charles arrived earlier. Prince Adrian is there too."
Kael's jaw tensed at the mention of his brothers.
"And my mother?"
"With the king."
Of course.
His father would never allow a family gathering without turning it into a reminder of who belonged above whom.
Kael picked up his cane.
"I'll go."
Kieran immediately stepped forward.
"I'll accompany you."
"No."
"Your Highness—"
"I know this palace better than you do."
That was true.
Kael had memorized every corridor, every staircase, every doorway.
He had learned to navigate the palace because trusting his eyes had become impossible.
Kieran reluctantly stepped aside.
Kael walked out.
---
The dining hall was already full when he arrived.
Conversation stopped.
Kael felt it immediately.
The silence.
The staring.
The judgment.
He hated it.
He walked toward his chair with measured steps, refusing to show uncertainty.
"You're late," King Alden said.
Kael pulled out his chair.
"I wasn't aware dinner required permission."
His father's eyes narrowed.
"Watch your tongue."
Kael sat.
Across the table, Charles smiled.
"Still arrogant."
Kael recognized his voice immediately.
"Still jealous."
Adrian laughed under his breath.
Charles's smile disappeared.
Queen Elira quickly intervened.
"Enough."
Kael felt his mother's hand touch his.
He squeezed it gently.
For a moment, he felt safe.
Then the king spoke.
"The royal council meets tomorrow."
Kael's fingers stilled.
"I expect all three of my sons to attend."
Charles leaned back.
"I suppose this means you're finally choosing an heir."
The king said nothing.
But the silence answered him.
Kael looked toward his father.
"Why am I required to attend?"
His father's expression became cold.
"Because you are my son."
The words sounded more like an accusation than affection.
Kael smiled bitterly.
"How fortunate."
Queen Elira looked at him with concern.
"Kael."
He stood.
"I've lost my appetite."
"Sit down," the king ordered.
Kael ignored him.
He walked out.
He didn't see Charles watching him.
Didn't see the smile slowly forming on his brother's face.
---
That night, Kael couldn't sleep.
He lay on his bed, staring into darkness.
Or what passed for darkness.
He removed his mask.
His eyes were open, but the room remained almost completely invisible.
He reached for the medicine on his bedside table.
Then stopped.
A strange pressure suddenly filled his head.
His breathing changed.
Not again.
He closed his eyes.
The nightmare came instantly.
Fire.
A woman screaming.
A baby crying.
A tiger standing beneath a blood-red moon.
And a voice.
"He must never see."
Kael gasped and opened his eyes.
His heart pounded.
The room spun.
He reached for his phone and called Nora.
She answered after several rings.
"Kael?"
His voice trembled.
"I had it again."
"The nightmare?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"Can you come here?"
There was silence.
Kael frowned.
"Nora?"
"I'm... busy."
Something in him went still.
"At this hour?"
"Kael, I can't come tonight."
He swallowed.
"I need you."
"I'm tired. We'll talk tomorrow."
The call ended.
Kael stared at the phone.
For the first time that night, the nightmare didn't hurt as much as the silence that followed it.
He placed the phone down.
Then he heard something.
A muffled sound.
A man's voice.
He froze.
The sound was coming from the hallway outside his room.
Kael moved toward the door.
He opened it.
His vision was almost useless, but he could hear.
Nora's voice.
And another voice.
A man's.
Kael's blood ran cold.
He didn't need to see what was happening.
He understood.
His hand tightened around the door.
"Nora?"
Silence.
Then hurried footsteps.
Kael stepped back.
Something inside him cracked.
Not because he loved her.
But because, once again, someone had chosen to lie to him because they believed his blindness made him incapable of discovering the truth.
He shut the door.
He wouldn't cry.
Not tonight.
He reached for his mask and put it back on.
Then he heard footsteps approaching.
"Kael?"
It was Charles.
Kael opened the door.
"What?"
"Father wants you."
Kael frowned.
"Now?"
"Now."
Kael stepped into the corridor.
Charles walked ahead.
Kael followed.
They reached the staircase.
Kael stopped.
"I need help."
Charles looked back at him.
A strange smile appeared on his face.
"Of course."
He offered his hand.
Kael took it.
For one brief moment, he trusted his brother.
Then Charles let go.
A hard shove struck Kael's shoulder.
His body lurched forward.
His foot missed the step.
And suddenly—
He was falling.
His head struck the marble.
Pain exploded through his skull.
He rolled down the staircase, each impact stealing another piece of consciousness.
Blood spread beneath him.
At the top of the stairs, Charles stood watching.
Kael's eyes opened.
For one impossible second...
He could see.
Clearly.
Not the staircase.
Not the palace.
Not his brother.
Something else.
A pair of golden eyes stared back at him from somewhere deep within a dark forest.
Then a voice whispered inside his head.
"Find the healer."
Kael's eyes closed.
And the world went black.
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