The light of dawn filtered through the curtains.

  Max opened his eyes. For a few seconds, he didn’t move.

  He stared at the ceiling. The stone moldings. The curtains. The dark rug. Moon’s sword resting against the wall.

  He turned his head slightly toward the nightstand. The collar rested there, its dull crystal catching a thin ray of sunlight.

  Harmless. Ridiculous. A fairground toy.

  Max exhaled slowly.

  “I hope this goes the way I’m planning…” he murmured to himself.

  He closed his eyes for a second.

  He reviewed his plan.

  The timing. The distances. The skill activation. The margin of error.

  Too many variables.

  Too many things could go wrong.

  The enhancement could fail.

  He forced himself to stop that thought right there.

  He looked back at the ceiling.

  ‘There’s no turning back now.’

  A faint sound pulled him from his focus.

  The lid of the chest beside the bed opened with dramatic slowness.

  First, a small hand appeared.

  Then a messy lock of hair.

  And finally, Moon.

  She crawled out as if emerging from a cave, stood on top of the chest… and let out an enormous yawn.

  “Gooood morniiing, Daddy…”

  Max turned his head toward her.

  And then he saw it.

  Her eyes were shining with excitement.

  Moon jumped from the chest to the floor with excessive energy.

  “It’s today, right? The duel? Are we going to fight hard? Are we going to win? Is it going to be spectacular?”

  Max watched her silently for a few seconds.

  She didn’t look afraid. She looked… proud.

  He smiled faintly.

  “Good morning, Moon.”

  She puffed out her chest.

  “I’m already ready!”

  Max sat up in bed.

  “I’m glad someone is.”

  Moon frowned.

  “Are you nervous?”

  He looked at her. He considered lying. Considered pretending to be confident. But Moon’s eyes were too direct.

  “A little.”

  Moon nodded with complete seriousness.

  “That’s good.”

  Max raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yes. Because if you’re not nervous, it means you’re not taking it seriously. And you always take things seriously when they matter.”

  Max blinked.

  He hadn’t expected that answer.

  A small, genuine smile appeared on his face.

  “Thanks for the tactical analysis.”

  Moon gave a proud nod.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  At that moment, someone knocked at the door.

  Three soft knocks.

  “Max,” Sophie’s voice sounded from the other side. “Breakfast is ready.”

  Max finally got out of bed.

  “We’re coming.”

  There was a brief pause before Sophie added:

  “The princess will be having breakfast in her room this morning.”

  The silence inside the room shifted slightly.

  Moon tilted her head.

  Max looked toward the door.

  “Understood,” he replied calmly.

  They heard Sophie’s footsteps fade down the hallway.

  Moon lowered her voice.

  “She’s nervous.”

  Max didn’t answer immediately.

  He looked at the collar on the table again.

  Then he walked over and picked it up between his fingers.

  “Probably.”

  He placed it around his neck.

  Cold against his skin.

  “Let’s go,” he finally said.

  Moon smiled with renewed enthusiasm.

  “Today everything’s going to go great!”

  Max walked toward the door.

  His expression was calm.

  But deep in his mind, one question kept repeating.

  ‘And what if it doesn’t…?’

  ***

  The smaller dining room in the east wing was nearly empty at that hour.

  Morning light streamed through the tall windows, bathing the long table where only three places were set. Cups of steaming tea. Freshly baked bread. Some fruit.

  Max took a seat with little appetite.

  Moon settled across from him and started eating with excessive energy, as if the duel were a party.

  “Don’t choke before the fight,” Max muttered.

  “Energy is important!” she replied, mouth half full.

  A deep voice interrupted the scene.

  “I see at least someone understands the importance of preparation.”

  Max looked up.

  Gawain was approaching from the back of the hall, his usual straight posture and hands clasped behind his back.

  Max narrowed his eyes.

  “Did something happen?”

  Gawain didn’t answer immediately. He stopped in front of the table.

  “I want to ask you something first,” he said in a serious tone. “How important is the ring Frida is making to your plan?”

  Max didn’t hesitate.

  “Very.”

  His voice was direct. No hesitation.

  “My plan revolves around that ring’s effect.”

  Gawain studied him silently for a few seconds.

  “Why do you ask?” Max added, noticing the weight in the noble’s gaze.

  Gawain exhaled through his nose.

  “I stopped by the workshop just now to pick it up.”

  Max went still.

  “And Frida told me it’s not ready yet.”

  A second of silence.

  “The gem is… unstable,” Gawain continued. “She says if she hands it over like this, it could fail at the worst possible moment.”

  Max closed his eyes.

  “Damn.”

  He gripped his cup a little harder than necessary.

  “I had a feeling something would happen…”

  Moon stopped eating.

  “Is that bad?”

  Max let out a slow breath.

  “It’s… problematic.”

  He ran a hand through his hair.

  “Then we’ll have to stall until Frida stabilizes it and brings it to us.”

  Gawain watched him carefully.

  “Without that ring, you can’t execute your plan?”

  Max shook his head.

  “Without that ring, it’s like you and Moon would be fighting alone.”

  The silence that followed was heavy.

  Gawain took a step forward.

  “Don’t say nonsense.”

  Max looked up.

  The birdman stared at him firmly.

  “You’ve done impressive things for a simple ‘royal pet.’”

  Moon puffed out her cheeks.

  “He’s not a pet!”

  Gawain ignored the protest.

  “If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have agreed to fight for you in this duel,” he continued. “Though I admit I wouldn’t mind breaking that idiot Taniel’s face on my own initiative.”

  Moon nodded enthusiastically.

  “Yes! That!”

  Max couldn’t help letting out a small laugh.

  Gawain lowered his tone slightly.

  “You’re not alone, boy. Don’t forget that.”

  Moon looked at Max with a serious expression.

  “You saved me.”

  Max blinked.

  “You were weak when you found me… and you still fought,” she continued. “You’re strong. You just don’t realize it sometimes.”

  The silence returned, but this time it wasn’t heavy.

  Max lowered his gaze to the tea.

  He picked up the cup.

  And took a long sip.

  The warmth traveled down his throat, steadying something he hadn’t realized was shaking.

  “Thank you,” he finally said.

  Firm footsteps echoed at the entrance of the hall.

  Don appeared, checking a small list in his hands.

  “Ah, here you are.”

  Max set down the cup.

  “Is it time already?”

  “The closing of the suitors’ event is about to begin,” Don replied. “You’re expected in the royal hall.”

  Moon jumped to her feet.

  “Let’s go!”

  Gawain simply nodded.

  Max also stood, but before Don could turn away, he called out to him.

  “Don.”

  The butler stopped.

  “Yes?”

  “If you see Frida… tell her to bring the ring when she can. We’ll be at the event.”

  Don studied him for a few seconds, evaluating him.

  “I don’t know what you have in mind, young Max.”

  His eyes softened slightly.

  “But take care.”

  Max held his gaze.

  “I will.”

  Don nodded and left the hall.

  Max adjusted the collar of his jacket.

  He took a deep breath.

  “Well,” he muttered. “Time to act like everything’s under control.”

  Moon smiled.

  “It is!”

  Gawain walked toward the exit.

  “Let’s try to keep it that way.”

  And together, they headed toward the royal hall.