Chapter Two – "The New Beginning"

  Eilan began to look around… A mirror stood beside him, and he was sitting on the bed, staring at his reflection.

  He had an incredibly beautiful face, striking features, and sapphire-blue eyes, cold as if they recognized no weakness.

  His skin was pale, untouched by anything,

  and his long blond hair fell neatly, shining under the sunlight streaming through the window.

  He slowly lifted his hand and touched his cheek.

  "This… is me?"

  He muttered softly, a mix of shock and confusion.

  From behind him came a calm voice:

  "My lord… do you feel anything?"

  Ylenor’s shadow reflected in the mirror. He stood silently behind him, watching with unwavering eyes.

  Eilan slowly withdrew his hand.

  "No. Continue," he said quietly, almost controlled.

  Ylenor noticed the change in Eilan’s tone but ignored it and continued:

  "As I was saying about the rebellions of certain nobles who were captured…"

  Eilan murmured softly,

  "A noble coup?…"

  His expressions began to change gradually, and he broke eye contact with Ylenor.

  He whispered to himself:

  "Wait… wasn’t this the coup in the story after the war decree between the kingdoms?"

  He swallowed slowly, thinking further:

  "And after a year of fighting… the coup… Eilan dies…"

  He lifted his gaze slowly and stared at Ylenor…

  Then he remembered something worse.

  He slowly reached for his waist and let out a faint groan:

  "I was wounded during the coup…"

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "My lord, don’t push yourself," Ylenor said, approaching with concern.

  He reached out slowly to Eilan’s hand. "May I examine your injury?"

  Eilan looked at him, then smiled faintly.

  "Look at this expression… if only they had been fooled like this," he thought. "But it really hurts!"

  "…Alright…" Eilan said quietly, suppressing a moan.

  Ylenor stepped closer and lifted Eilan’s clothing slightly to examine the injury.

  His eyes were steady as he studied the wound, looking from the outside without removing any bandages.

  "It seems the wound hasn’t reopened…" he said softly.

  After a moment, Ylenor gently withdrew his hand.

  "Alright… I’ll let you rest a little, my lord," he said, giving a calm smile.

  He left the room, leaving Eilan alone on the bed.

  Once Ylenor was gone, the smile disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.

  He slowly raised his hand, the same one that had examined the wound, and said provocatively:

  "Your injuries matter to you… but hurting others… doesn’t, does it?"

  Then he walked out of the room, leaving Eilan alone.

  Eilan thought deeply:

  "I must prevent the coup… and the death of the king… which is me… I have a year."

  "Should I kill Ylenor? He’s the one who killed me and started the coup… no, this knight had an important role in the war."

  A small, sly smile slowly appeared on Eilan’s face.

  "Why not use magic against the magician…?" he muttered quietly.

  Speaking of magic…

  He stretched slightly toward the drawer next to his bed, ignoring the pain.

  He opened it and found a beautiful staff, glittering with a blue gem at its tip.

  "I forgot… the king uses magic… the whole world is magical."

  He slowly picked up the staff, staring at it.

  "But… I don’t remember any spells…"

  Minutes later, he heard the palace doors open, and the royal healer entered.

  Ylenor was behind her.

  When Eilan lifted his gaze toward her, he recognized her:

  "That long sky-blue hair and yellow eyes… isn’t this the royal healer… Aria?" he whispered in his thoughts.

  "She has immense knowledge in healing, spells, and ancient languages… Even though she didn’t directly participate in overthrowing the king, she helped Ylenor and his allies against the coup…"

  He looked at her briefly.

  Aria slightly bowed as she addressed Eilan:

  "My lord, I was summoned to treat you."

  "The stab… it wasn’t a simple strike," Eilan murmured to himself.

  "Right… I remember the book mentioned that during the coup, poisonous magic was used to kill the king…"

  "You are fortunate, my lord.

  The stab was deep, just below the ribs, close to the waist. If it had deviated even slightly… everything would have ended that night," she said calmly.

  Aria stepped closer.

  "May I, my lord?"

  Eilan silently nodded.

  She stepped forward and began to unwrap the bandage.

  Once the wound was revealed, it was clear it was not normal.

  The skin edges were dark, tending to a faint purple.

  Thin black vein-like lines spread slightly around the stab—traces of magical energy not fully gone.

  "This body… is strong enough to survive something like this…" he muttered to himself.

  Aria then moved toward a staff in the room, taking from her bag a small tooth and a tiny butterfly. It was clearly a butterfly, but unlike any Eilan had ever seen—it seemed dead… along with some rainbow-colored cotton.

  She raised her hand, muttering words in an ancient language… Eilan didn’t understand them, but he felt as if he did… a strange, confusing feeling, like his kingly body knew what his mind couldn’t.

  The tooth and colored cotton began to dissolve and swirl around the butterfly… a faint golden light formed, and the butterfly came back to life.

  Eilan’s face reflected astonishment as he watched… The butterfly flew toward him under Aria’s guidance.

  It entered the wound, and pain exploded—not the pain of injury, but as if something was being forcibly pulled from deep inside.

  Eilan gripped the edge of the bed, biting his lip, silent… trying to mimic the king’s strength.

  Aria exhaled slowly, withdrawing her hand, and the butterfly emerged.

  Its color was black… deep black.

  Aria said as she ended the spell:

  "I’ve removed most of the poison’s effect. But there are small remnants. Your body will need days to fully recover."

  "Remnants… or something you left on purpose?" Eilan whispered to himself, the thought lingering.

  He slowly raised his eyes toward Ylenor.

  There was no worry on his face, only a steady, watchful gaze.

  He returned his gaze to Aria, giving a small, controlled smile.

  "Well done, Aria. I trust your skill."

  She bowed again.

  "It is my honor, my lord."

  Her yellow eyes did not waver.

  When she rewrapped the bandage, the pain lessened… but did not disappear.

  Aria left first this time, followed by Ylenor…

  But before Ylenor could leave:

  "Stay," Eilan said, looking at him.

  Ylenor paused, surprise briefly on his face. "Do you need my service, my lord?"

  Eilan: "I want you to stay by my side… for now."