Resolving Conflicts
1253 Words
Chapter One:
The conflict between the kingdoms of Gallus and Cristallo had stretched on for decades, until it became part of their history, passed down through generations just as the names of kings were.
The war was not merely a series of battles along the borders; it was a chain of betrayals, broken agreements, and blood that had yet to dry. As the losses mounted and both sides became exhausted, the councils of the two kingdoms gathered to negotiate a temporary truce that would halt the fighting, if only for a limited time.
The agreement appeared simple on the surface, yet it was extremely dangerous in reality: both sides would exchange their crown princes, with each prince residing in the other kingdom as both an honored guest and a guarantee of peace.
Thus, the Kingdom of Cristallo sent its Crown Prince, Prince Leon Matinarz II, to Gallus, while Gallus announced that it would send its own Crown Prince to Cristallo in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
But the truth did not take long to come to light.
After the prince arrived in Cristallo, the royal family discovered that Gallus had not sent its true Crown Prince. Instead, it had sent the king's illegitimate son, a young man named Kylian, who possessed no right whatsoever to inherit the throne.
It was a humiliating insult, a clear message that the Kingdom of Gallus regarded the agreement with nothing but contempt and did not consider Cristallo an equal worthy of honoring its treaties.
Rage spread throughout the palace, and many nobles demanded that the prince be executed immediately in retaliation for such an insult. In the end, however, the Emperor refused. It was not out of mercy, but because everyone understood the bitter truth: despite its prestige, Cristallo could not afford a direct war against Gallus, the strongest kingdom on the continent, homeland of the werewolves and warriors renowned for their overwhelming strength and ferocity.
As a result, Prince Kylian ceased to be merely a political hostage and instead became an outlet for their anger, forced to endure humiliation and torment every single day instead of a swift death.
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That night, the royal dining hall was immersed in a heavy silence.
The long table, crafted from polished dark wood, stretched beneath enormous crystal chandeliers whose light reflected across silver dishes and intricately decorated goblets.
The servants stood silently along both sides of the hall. The only sounds were their quiet footsteps as they replaced plates or refilled goblets. Even the faint clinking of knives against porcelain seemed loud amid the suffocating silence.
Emperor Charles Matinarz I of Cristallo sat at the head of the table, maintaining his usual commanding presence, while the Empress sat to his right and Queen Isabella to his left. The princes and princesses were seated according to their rank, each observing silence out of respect for the royal council.
At the far end of the table, away from the center of attention, Princess Matilda sat quietly, trying to appear calm despite the turmoil within her.
Seated directly across from her was Prince Kylian.
Nothing about his appearance any longer suggested that he belonged to Gallus's royal family. His clothes were torn and worn, stained with blood and dirt. Bruises and wounds covered his face, arms, and neck until it seemed as though his body had never known a single day of rest.
Although he was a werewolf capable of recovering his strength rapidly, a black magical collar was fastened tightly around his neck, while his hands were bound in shackles forged from metal engraved with enchantments that prevented him from transforming or using any part of his power.
He sat in silence, his expression completely devoid of emotion, as though he had grown so accustomed to pain that it had become an inseparable part of his life.
As for Matilda, she could not stop herself from glancing at him from time to time. A painful ache pierced her heart whenever she saw the state he was in, but she knew all too well that showing even the slightest hint of sympathy might arouse suspicion, so she lowered her gaze whenever his eyes met hers.
Suddenly, Princess Tenarin broke the silence.
She rose gracefully from her seat, bowed slightly, and said in a calm voice that concealed great confidence behind it,
"Excuse me, Your Majesty... May I ask you for something?"
The Emperor raised his head toward her, and a gentle fatherly smile appeared on his lips.
"Of course, Tenarin. Tell me what you want."
The princess smiled with feigned sweetness before saying,
"I would like to have a servant accompany me during my lessons."
No one needed an explanation of what she meant.
Everyone knew that a servant who accompanied members of the royal family during their studies did far more than carry books or carry out orders. If their master made a mistake during a lesson, it was the servant who received the physical punishment in their place.
Silence filled the hall for a few moments.
Then Tenarin raised her hand and pointed directly at Kylian.
"I want... him."
Every eye turned toward him.
His expression did not change, nor did he even raise his head. He remained seated exactly as he was, as though the decision had nothing to do with him.
As for Matilda, her fingers clenched beneath the table until her knuckles turned white. She felt something heavy settle upon her chest, but she did not dare object.
The Emperor wiped his hands with a white napkin before saying coldly,
"Very well. If you want him as your servant, then from this moment onward, he is under your command."
Tenarin bowed with a satisfied smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Emperor then rose and left the hall, followed by the Empress and the rest of the royal family one after another, until the dining hall gradually emptied. Only Matilda and Kylian remained, while the servants continued standing silently by the doors.
A long silence settled between them.
Matilda stared at the plate before her as though searching for the right words. She hesitated over and over before finally gathering the courage to speak.
She raised her head toward him and said in a trembling voice that was barely audible,
"I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't do anything. The truth is, I wanted to..."
But she could not finish.
Kylian suddenly rose from his chair, and the chair scraped across the marble floor with a sharp sound that echoed throughout the hall.
He turned to face her with cold eyes and said in a harsh voice devoid of any warmth,
"And who told you to do anything?"
The words froze in her throat.
He took just one step closer before continuing in a tone carrying bitterness deeper than anger,
"Don't look at me with that pity... I don't need it."
He shot her one sharp glance before turning his back and walking out of the hall with steady steps, leaving behind the echo of his metal chains clinking together with every stride.
Matilda remained where she was, unable to move.
She stared at the doorway through which he had disappeared, while her hands trembled silently in her lap without her even realizing it. A crushing weight tightened around her chest, as though her rejected apology had hurt far more than any harsh words ever could.
Throughout the royal hall, silence returned once again... a silence that, this time, felt colder and lonelier than ever before.
- Writer
