Kabul didn't.
"You asked for this."
In an instant, Abenator moved.
His hand shot forward—grabbing Kabul by the throat.
SLAM!
Kabul's body crashed against the floor, the force sending pieces of his knight armor scattering across the chamber with a deafening clatter.
Abenator loomed over him, gripping tighter.
His eyes burned.
Wild.
Unhinged.
"You want to play the hero, right?" he snarled. "Just like always."
His grip tightened.
"Fine… I'll grant your wish…"
His voice twisted into something darker.
"BROTHER!"
"He's going to kill him—!"
Nancy's voice trembled with fear.
"Mother, do something!"
In a flash, Lady Elora stepped forward, pulling Nancy behind her.
Then—
She struck.
Her kick landed with force, knocking Abenator away from Kabul.
"He is your brother, Abenator!" she shouted, her voice filled with fury. "Have you sold your humanity to dark forces?!"
Abenator rose slowly.
Too slowly.
His breathing steadied.
But his fury deepened.
And then—
Something changed.
His eyes.
They shifted.
Darkness swirled within them—alive, unnatural, moving like shadows beneath the surface.
Lady Elora froze.
Nancy's breath caught.
"By the gods…" Elora whispered.
"His eyes…" Nancy trembled. "Mother… does the King know?"
Abenator chuckled.
Low.
Bitter.
"Does the King know…?"
He tilted his head slightly, as though considering the thought.
"I don't think so."
A slow smile spread across his face.
"And he never will."
He stepped forward.
Closer.
Closer.
Toward Nancy.
Each step deliberate.
Predatory.
"Tell me, princess…"
His voice dropped to a chilling whisper.
"Do you want a taste of this?"
A soft, twisted giggle escaped him.
And in that moment—
The darkness was no longer hiding.
Nancy stumbled backward, her breath uneven, her hands trembling.
"No…" she whispered, fear gripping her voice. "Stay away from me…"
Her eyes locked onto Abenator.
"You monster."
Behind her, Lady Elora rushed to Kabul's side, helping him to his feet.
Kabul clutched his throat, his face flushed red as he struggled to breathe. Each inhale felt like fire.
No…
His thoughts came in fragments.
What I've tried to hide…
It's finally surfacing…
Abenator took another step forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Dangerous.
And then—
The doors opened.
King Liam entered.
Calm.
Composed.
As though he had heard nothing.
As though nothing had happened.
"This day…" he began quietly, his voice heavy with something deeper, "may be one of the worst nightmares I've ever lived… as a King."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Liam's gaze swept across the room.
Sharp.
Calculating.
"Why the long faces?" he asked.
No one answered.
"Is something wrong?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, reading them—every movement, every breath, every hidden truth.
"Kabul…" he said slowly. "Why are you struggling to breathe?"
A pause.
"And Abenator…"
His voice dropped.
"Why are you standing so close to Miss Nancy?"
The tension thickened.
Like a storm about to break.
"Should I consult the witches for the truth?" Liam continued, his patience thinning.
His voice rose.
"Lady Elora… Kabul… Abenator—"
He stepped forward.
"WILL ANYONE SPEAK?!"
Abenator's eyes flickered.
The darkness faded.
Gone.
Hidden.
As though it had never been there.
He clicked his tongue softly.
"How could you ruin the fun so soon… Dad," he muttered under his breath.
Before the silence could betray them—
Lady Elora stepped forward.
Quick.
Composed.
Smiling.
"He was… complimenting Nancy's looks, Your Majesty," she said, her tone light but carefully controlled.
Her hand rested gently against Nancy's back.
A silent signal.
Nancy hesitated.
Confusion flickered across her face.
Then she understood.
"Oh—yes," she said, forcing a small smile. "Abenator was only… looking out for me."
Abenator's lips curved into a faint smirk.
"See?" he said. "Nothing to worry about."
He stepped closer to Kabul, throwing an arm over his shoulder.
"Kabul and I are like the wind," he added lightly. "We move together."
He gave Kabul a playful shake.
Kabul winced.
Pain shot through his body.
But he smiled anyway.
Was it convincing?
Or was it survival?
It was impossible to tell.
And so, the question remained—
Was Abenator truly walking the path of redemption…
Or was something far darker growing beneath that smile?
The seed had been planted.
And now—
It was beginning to grow.