The Arkan palace stood in silence—but not at peace.
The air felt heavy, as if something unseen had settled over it.
Inside the royal chamber, King Rashnamon stood near the window, gazing at the distant forests. His expression was calm, yet the weight behind it was unmistakable.
Beside him stood Queen Almeh.
Gretchen and Raiken remained still.
Lanchen watched everything.
"They insulted us."
Raiken's voice cut through the silence.
"They insulted you—in their own court," he continued, anger rising. "And we walked away."
Rashnamon did not turn.
Instead, the queen spoke.
"We walked away from chaos," Almeh said quietly.
Raiken stopped.
"No, Mother," he replied. "We walked away from justice."
Gretchen's jaw tightened, but he remained silent.
Rashnamon finally turned to face them.
"And what would you have me do?" he asked. "March an army to their gates because of words?"
Raiken stepped forward.
"Not words," he said sharply. "Disrespect. Do you think they will take this seriously? They will dismiss us."
His voice lowered.
"Gretchen warned him. He was told not to hunt there."
Silence followed.
Queen Almeh spoke again, calm but firm.
"They did not deny it," she said. "They asked for proof."
A brief pause.
"And we have already sent a royal envoy."
Rashnamon nodded slightly.
"And that is their right," he said.
Raiken let out a bitter laugh.
"Their right?" he said. "To hide behind rules while they mock us?"
Rashnamon's expression hardened.
"Justice without proof is no justice."
Raiken shook his head.
"You still want to believe in them."
For a moment, Rashnamon said nothing.
Then, quietly—
"I believe in preventing a conflict that will cost far more than pride," he said.
The room fell silent.
Gretchen finally spoke.
"And if they refuse?" he asked.
Rashnamon met his eyes.
"Then we will decide what comes next," he said. "But not before we try to avoid it."
Raiken turned away, frustration burning through him.
"They will not change," he muttered. "Men like that commander… they already see us as beneath them."
Lanchen's gaze darkened.
"They call themselves righteous," he said softly. "Yet they could not even offer respect."
Queen Almeh stepped forward.
"That is why we must be better," she said.
Raiken looked back at her.
"And if being better makes us weak?"
Rashnamon held his gaze.
"Then we will bear that weakness," he said. "Until it becomes strength."
Raiken said nothing.
But his silence was not agreement.
Lanchen watched them both.
He did not want conflict within his family.
They were his family—ever since he had lost his own.
The king who still believed in peace…
And the brother who had already begun to abandon it.
Something shifted inside him.
Quietly.
Irreversibly.
Outside, the black banner of Arkan moved in the wind—
Unyielding.
Waiting.