Their objective was clear: The Golden State—
richest of the seven kingdoms.
A land ruled by trade… and doomed by numbers.
Seth put it plainly:
> "We won't fight it with swords—
we'll bring it down with an empty purse."
Under cover of night,
Vann, Kaiden, and Seth rode out disguised as merchant caravans,
on a mission to steal a massive gold shipment bound for the capital.
But on the outskirts of Durell Forest,
a faint cry broke through the silence—
more like a whimper… trembling.
Vann halted.
He dismounted and searched through the trees,
until he found a thin boy running in terror—
three black wolves closing in on him.
Vann didn't hesitate.
He leapt forward, drew his blade,
and took down the wolves with swift, practiced strikes.
Then he carried the shivering, rain-soaked boy back to the fire.
> "What's your name?" Vann asked.
The boy whispered:
> "Leil."
Kaiden glanced at Seth, curious—
but Seth said nothing.
---
The plan went into motion.
With masterful timing and a wave of false rumors about a financial collapse,
Seth threw the capital into chaos.
In the shadows of the confusion,
they stole a massive gold chest from the royal vault.
But luck has limits.
They were caught at the city gates—
and dragged to a public trial in the golden throne hall,
before the princess of the realm: Princess Leila—
a woman known for both her beauty and her blade.
Leila stood before them,
draped in a flowing golden cloak,
her eyes sharp with calculation.
She spoke coldly:
> "Theft from the royal treasury is punishable by death…
even for war orphans."
The guards moved to seize them—
but Seth raised his hand and said calmly:
> "I wish to speak with the princess. Alone."
The hall fell silent.
Then Leila nodded.
Everyone left.
Seth stood firm, locking eyes with her.
> "You're Leil… aren't you?"
Her eyes widened.
Color rushed to her face.
She almost denied it—
but her lips trembled, and at last, she said:
> "How did you know?"
Seth smiled:
> "I never forget the eyes of those who hide in shadows.
And I never forget someone who masks themselves among the crowd.
You were testing Vann…
And now, you've found what you were looking for."
Leila was silent. Then she said:
> "I'll release you.
In fact… I'll offer more than that."
She stepped closer, voice steady:
> "Three conditions."
1. "I'll grant Vann a thousand Golden Guards and funding to build his core army."
2. "I'll support him politically, should he declare himself the rightful king."
3. "And… I want him to marry me."
Seth almost gasped—
but held his expression.
Leila turned toward the golden window, her voice quieter:
> "I'm tired of political proposals…
marriages for power, money, alliances.
But Vann—he was different.
He fought for a boy he didn't know.
He respected everyone.
And not once… not once did he look at me the way men in court always do."
She whispered:
> "And I liked that…
more than I expected."
Seth left the room,
his eyes carrying a flicker of disbelief.
He approached Vann and said quietly:
> "We're free…
but now you're engaged."