Morning arrived quietly. For once, the palace felt calmer than expected. Atheline knew this was nothing but a temporary peace.

He had learned to appreciate those moments since they never lasted.

He was currently seated on one of the palace terraces overlooking the Court below. The city stretched further down beneath the pale morning sun, its countless buildings and bridges catching the light like silver.

Across from him, Lilith was reading reports.

Again.

At this point, he was beginning to suspect she secretly enjoyed paperwork. This was the first time she had brought too much paperwork into their room though the current situation made it understandable.

A teapot rested between them.

The morning breeze carried the scent of flowering silverleaf trees from the royal gardens.

For several precious minutes, neither spoke.

Atheline was halfway through his second cup when the pressure in the room reduced and became slightly colder.

Lilith looked down immediately.

Atheline sighed.

’There goes the peace’

A shadow emerged from her shadow, stretching in different directions before it became whole and immediately dropped to one knee.

His eyebrow raised, he had never seen that kind of shadow. It looked alive instead of puppet-like especially the red glowing eyes.

"Your Majesty."

His eyes widened. He was surprised that it could speak though no part of its body moved. Lilith must have let it do that on purpose.

She lowered her report.

"Speak."

"We found him."

Silence filled the room.

Atheline set down his cup in interest.

Lilith remained motionless.

"Which one?"

"The second prince."

For the first time all morning, genuine interest appeared in her eyes.

The shadow continued.

"He remained inside the kingdom."

That surprised nobody. Cowardice and ambition often occupied the same room. Especially with the death of the much more talented first prince.

The shadow bowed lower.

"He was located two hours ago."

Lilith folded her hands.

"Alive?"

"Yes."

The shadow hesitated.

Atheline immediately knew there was more and it seems Lilith did so as well.

"Continue."

The shadow nodded.

"He was found beneath the capital," it calmly said," in an underground brothel."

The terrace became very quiet. Atheline stared in shock. Then slowly looked toward Lilith. She stared back just as shocked.

Neither spoke for several seconds. Finally, she spoke.

"...An underground brothel."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Atheline rubbed his forehead. Of all the places, all the plans, and possible hiding locations. The second prince of an entire kingdom had apparently decided to hide beneath a brothel. The choice was both part genius and stupid, it just depended on how it was used.

Lilith looked mildly disappointed.

"I expected better."

Atheline laughed.

"You sound both disappointed and offended."

"He is a prince after all, a brothel was not what I was expecting at all."

"It’s clear he doesn’t trust the Kingdom’s nobles to hide him."

"Of course, only a fool would do something like that."

He agreed with that.

Lilith suddenly stood. The movement alone changed the atmosphere. And the shadow immediately straightened.

"Details."

It obeyed instantly.

The story emerged quickly. After the royal family fled, the second prince had made a decision.

A very stupid decision at that.

Instead of escaping with them, he remained behind. Initially, it sounds courageous to anyone who cares to know. Patriotic even.

But the full truth appeared after capture and a little scare. The second prince had believed his family’s capture inevitable, especially after learning the real reason behind their sudden escape.

How could he not? His older brother was dead and his family was suddenly running away like criminals. He knew they would most definitely get a target on their back which would mean he would be invisible through the chaos.

Eventually, they would be found or maybe surrendered. In the worst-case scenario, they would die.

And when that happened the throne would be vacant. A prince hidden safely inside the kingdom could emerge.

He would claim innocence and legitimacy getting the opening to claim the crown.

Atheline almost admired the ambition. Then the shadow explained how the prince spent the day. The admiration vanished immediately.

Lilith listened quietly.

He watched her expression.

The more details she learned, the less impressed she became.

Apparently, the prince had spent most of his time drinking. He had also started gathering and repeatedly assuring various criminals that his future reign would reward their loyalty.

A strategy that might have worked, if he hadn’t been discovered so early too.

Lilith finally interrupted.

"How was he found?"

The shadow hesitated.

"He bragged."

Atheline closed his eyes since he could physically see the stupidity.

’Of course he did’

The shadow continued.

"One of the women reported him after recognizing his face from the wanted notices."

Silence prevailed.

She looked away.

Atheline knew that expression. She was trying very hard not to say something insulting. He got her pain at the moment. Eventually, she succeeded.

"Where is he now?"

"Secured, locked in the palace’s underground prisons. The other shadows are guarding him tightly."

"Good."

The shadow waited motionlessly for the next instruction. Atheline could practically feel what came next.

Lilith turned toward the Court below.

For several moments she remained silent, thinking and calculating on the next profitable plan.

"Prepare an announcement."

The shadow immediately lowered its head.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Atheline already knew where this was going. Lilith’s gaze remained in the Court below and spoke as though it wasn’t something important.

"The second prince has been found," she started slowly but firmly.

The shadow nodded.

"He will be publicly executed on the seventh day."

There wasn’t any emotion in the words just stating facts flatly.

Atheline slowly exhaled.

Lilith continued emotionlessly.

"Inform the human continent."

The shadow nodded. Atheline finally spoke.

"What about the soldiers?"

"They’ll arrive and take over from the shadow."

He nodded then continued. " So, is this a warning or...?"

Lilith looked towards him.

"A deadline. I need them to know I’m not joking at all."

Atheline chuckled. He was sure everyone took her first warning seriously.

The shadow departed immediately and the terrace fell silent once more. Except now the silence felt heavier.

Atheline leaned back in his chair.

"Isn’t this just going to cause more panic?"

"Isn’t that the goal?"

"The human kingdoms will hate."

"They already do."

He didn’t have anything to say against that since it was fair.

Atheline stared toward the horizon. There were five more days. The countdown was already ticking for everyone.

Lilith wasn’t executing the prince because she needed information since she already had it.

She wasn’t doing it because she enjoyed cruelty despite popular belief, she rarely wasted effort. This was a very specific message aimed at the runaway royal family and anyone who understood the undertones.

Atheline wondered how many kingdoms would sleep peacefully after receiving that announcement.

The answer was probably none.