“A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well — or ill?” — John Steinbeck, East of Eden

  ???

  Hamilton Nightray stepped through the great double doors of Nightray Manor, his boots trailing traces of dirt and dust across the polished wooden floor. The light scent of rain still clung to his cloak, mingling together with the scents of leather and cloth. With one gloved hand, he brushed the dust from his coat, glancing briefly over his shoulder at the stableboy leading his tired horse away towards the direction of the stables, with the stableboy whispering promises of candied apples to the exhausted animal, much to Hamilton’s quiet amusement.

  The air inside the manor was cooler, tinged with the familiar warmth of home. Hamilton’s mind, however, was still reeling over the message he’d received from Gareth just hours ago while conducting a border inspection in one of the western villages.

  The Crown Prince is in Evershade again, my lord. Without his guards. He’s currently with the young miss. I had him sitting in on her lessons.

  Hamilton had read and reread the note for several moments to ensure he hadn’t misunderstood it. The Crown Prince. In Evershade. Alone.

  Hamilton had no idea whether to sigh in exasperation or laugh.

  It wasn’t the first time Luca had sneaked out of the Imperial Palace to visit Yulia. No matter how many times he was punished, he still made his way to Evershade whenever he wanted, normally after an argument with his twin, a confrontation with his father, or when Luca is feeling angsty whilst cooped up in the Imperial Palace.

  Or sometimes all three.

  Queen Lysandra had given up after the third time. She had only told her older son gently that while she wouldn’t begrudge Luca for sneaking to Evershade to visit his only friend, since Goddess knows that Edric did the same thing when he was about Luca’s age, she would prefer if Luca at least bring his Crownsguard with him.

  Apparently, for whatever reason, Luca had decided this time to leave Jonah Mitchell behind.

  Hamilton sighed, trying to resist the urge to massage his temples, already dreading Edric’s fury the moment he returned the prince to the Imperial Palace like he’d done countless times before.

  Edric’s behaviour and attitude toward Luca had only worsened over the last two years, despite all of Hamilton and Queen Lysandra’s hopes. Hamilton would have preferred Edric’s old indifference towards Luca, to the constant abuse the king is heaping onto the boy.

  At least with Edric’s indifference, Luca wouldn’t be constantly covered in bruises. If not for the fact that Edric is the king, Hamilton is sure that the Child Welfare Offices would have stepped in by now.

  Ever since Luca had gained control over his gift, thanks in large part to Yulia helping him to understand and manage it, Edric’s paranoia had gone through the roof. It was as though the king believed that with Luca now in control of his gift, he could pry deep into Edric’s thoughts at will. When in truth, Luca had worked so hard just to silence the thoughts of others, not listen to them.

  Sometimes, Hamilton wondered if his old friend had taken one too many blows to the head when they were teenagers, that he seemed to have thoroughly lost every bit of common sense he had.

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  He moved swiftly through the hall, his steps steady but silent, having left his boots by the front door for one of the younger servants to polish and clean. One of the House’s older maids was waiting patiently by the base of the stairs, stepping forward to greet him with a bow. Despite her modest apron and demure appearance, Hamilton’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the glint of the hidden dagger tucked behind her sash. In House Nightray, even the maids and servants knew how to kill if necessary.

  “Welcome back, Lord Hamilton,” The maid said. “How was the border inspection?”

  Hamilton shrugged off his damp cloak, handing it to a nearby servant boy. “Nothing too serious,” he replied. “The usual squabbles between the villagers. Mostly about either grain distribution, or some heartbroken girl whose village boy ran off with another.” The maid’s lips twitched with amusement. Ah, the typical teenage angst. “A few scouts reported Nuvelle patrols venturing a little too close to the river, but nothing that we can’t handle.”

  Hamilton frowned with the mention of Nuvelle. He then shook his head, turning his attention back to the maid. “Where is Prince Lucien?”

  “In the study, my lord.” The maid replied politely. “Lord Gareth has both the young miss and Prince Lucien seated in for today’s lesson. They’ve been there for the last two hours.”

  Hamilton raised an incredulous eyebrow at that statement. Two hours?

  Prince Lucien, who is notorious for not sitting still for more than an hour in his lessons, and constantly sneaking away from his tutors at the Imperial Palace, obediently sitting in on his lessons with Gareth longer than he ever did with any tutor in living memory?

  Despite Luca’s tendency to escape lessons, Hamilton knew that the boy was undeniably intelligent. He’d tested him once, mainly out of curiosity. The prince had an excellent grasp of politics, history, and geography. He’s probably well ahead of his age group, which likely explains why the Crown Prince is constantly sneaking out of his lessons. He must have been really bored.

  “I need to see this for myself,” Hamilton murmured, making his way up the stairs to the second level of the central wing, with one of the senior members of the House falling into step behind him.

  As is usual at this time of the day, the manor is silent. Most of the House were either out on patrol, engaged in missions, assisting in the kitchens, or cleaning. The silence, however, didn’t bother Hamilton, even as he took the usual route towards the study room that Gareth used for his daughter’s lessons.

  The heavy oak door to the study was left slightly ajar. Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, the curtains pulled back. Hamilton approached quietly, careful not to step too close. His daughter would sense him if he did. He, however, remained close enough to observe what was happening inside.

  Gareth’s voice floated out from the study with the familiar rhythm of instruction from a seasoned tactician. Today’s lesson seems to be about strategy and battlefield tactics.

  “Observe the slope here,” Gareth said, tapping the chalkboard where battle diagrams were scrawled across it. “This ridge gives you the high ground. But beware the cliffs. This pass is a common ambush point.”

  Yulia is seated upright, her eyes bright and attentive as she took in what Gareth had to say, scribbling notes onto the parchment in front of her. Beside her was Prince Lucien. And for once, his expression was free from shadows. His shoulders weren’t slumped like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, the way he always did in the Imperial Palace.

  Here in Nightray Manor, Luca looked like any normal boy having lessons, his brows furrowed in concentration, and also scribbling down notes with careful penmanship.

  “The prince looks happier here than he ever did in the Imperial Palace, doesn’t he?” The senior House member murmured, his eyes softening when he looked at the prince.

  Hamilton remained silent.

  No one in House Nightray ever said a word. But they all knew what the king is doing to Luca, and it caused the already frayed relationship that House Nightray shared with the Crown to worsen. If Edric’s cruelty toward Luca continued, Hamilton honestly wouldn’t be surprised if half the House takes matters into their own hands.

  Finally, Hamilton sighed. “He does,” he admitted at last, his voice tinged with guilt. “Being away from the Imperial Palace… It probably helped him to feel normal. No eyes watching his every move. No whispers about him. No fear of what Edric would do next.”

  The older man frowned. “The king is letting fear cloud his judgment, my lord,” he said. “Prince Lucien isn’t dangerous. He has his ability under control, thanks to the young miss. He feels more at home here in Evershade than he ever did in the Imperial Palace. All of us can see that. That’s why he’s always sneaking here to visit the young miss. And what the king is doing to the prince…”

  “I know,” Hamilton grew grim. “I don’t agree with it either, and I’ve tried to tell Edric as much. Goddess knows that I’ve been trying for years. But he won’t listen. Not to me. Not to Lord Esmund. And not to the queen either.”

  It seems like it’s only the Finance Minister whom Edric takes counsel from these days, despite the fact that the Finance Minister had no business interfering in matters outside the royal budget.

  Hamilton folded his arms. “And now, there are whispers of a possible war between Alathia and Nuvelle. Edric’s attitude toward them isn’t helping. And if it ever comes to war…” Hamilton sighed. “I can’t blame Nuvelle.”

  “If war comes to our borders, it’ll be because King Edric refused to see it. And refused to heed the counsel of the very people whom were there to advise him,” The House member said. He sighed. “If war comes to Alathia, which is only a matter of time, then we do our duty, like we always have. We’ll protect Alathia.”

  Hamilton’s gaze went towards the children again.

  Luca leaned in and murmured something into Yulia’s ear. She rolled her eyes, but a faint smile graced her lips. The two bent together over the strategy board, with the beginnings of a quiet and unshakeable bond forming between them.

  Hamilton’s expression softened. Looking at them now, he was reminded of how he and Edric had once been. They were best friends once. Brothers-in-arms. Before everything had gone wrong.

  He could only hope that Luca and Yulia’s friendship would endure where his own had failed.

  Because how is he supposed to protect a king who is so determined to burn and destroy everything around him, including himself?