The Lion’s Mane children, a group of 21 orphans ranging from ages 9 to 12. They were Sun’s special project, trained and educated to serve as his loyal servants and future protectors.

  They lived in the servants’ quarters next to the palace, where they attended classes on combat, literature, and kingdom affairs. The children adored Sun, seeing him as both a king and a father figure.

  ---

  Lumina dragged me to the Lion’s Mane courtyard, where the children were gathered. As we approached, I could hear the sound of shouting—*"Stop it!" "It’s mine!"*—and the occasional growl from Goldmane, who had followed us. The other two lions, Shadowclaw and Stormheart, stayed close behind, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

  When I entered the courtyard, everyone froze. The children, the maids, even the lions turned to look at me. My distinct red hair and the presence of the lions made it clear who I was. But what surprised me most was seeing Princess Sixhonia in the midst of the chaos, her face pale and her eyes filled with tears.

  "Sun," she said, her voice trembling. "I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen."

  I stared at her, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. The disgust I felt earlier was still there, but so was a flicker of something else—regret, perhaps. *What have I done?* I thought.

  ---

  The children had been in the middle of a heated argument when we arrived. Mustard Leo, the youngest at 9 years old, was clutching a wooden sword, his face red with anger. "It’s mine!" he shouted, his voice cracking.

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  Another child, a girl named Ruby, glared at him. "You stole it from me!" she snapped, her hands on her hips.

  The maids tried to intervene, but the children were too worked up. Goldmane let out a low growl—*GRRR*—and the children immediately fell silent, their eyes wide with fear.

  "Enough," I said, my voice firm but calm. "What’s going on here?"

  Mustard Leo stepped forward, his lower lip trembling. "Your Majesty, Ruby took my sword. It’s mine!"

  Ruby crossed her arms. "I did not! He’s lying!"

  I sighed, kneeling down to their level. "Listen, both of you. Fighting like this won’t solve anything. You’re part of the Lion’s Mane now. That means you’re family. And family doesn’t fight over petty things."

  The children nodded, their faces filled with guilt. "We’re sorry, Your Majesty," they said in unison.

  ---

  Princess Sixhonia stepped forward, her eyes filled with tears. "Sun," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I know I’ve made mistakes. But I never meant to betray you. I… I just wanted to explain."

  I looked at her, my heart torn. The disgust I felt earlier was still there, but so was a flicker of the affection I once had for her. "Sixhonia," I said, my voice heavy with emotion. "I don’t know what to think anymore."

  Before I could say more, Lumina tugged at my sleeve. "Sun, don’t be like Father," she said, her voice pleading. "Don’t push people away."

  I looked down at her, then at Sixhonia, and finally at the children. *What am I doing?* I thought. *I’m the king. I need to be better than this.*

  ---

  I took a deep breath and turned to Sixhonia. "We’ll talk," I said, my voice firm but gentle. "But not here. Not now."

  She nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Sun."

  I turned to the children, who were watching the exchange with wide eyes. "As for you," I said, my tone lighter, "no more fighting. Understood?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty!" they chorused, their faces breaking into smiles.