Since his victory over General Marius,
the soldiers' view of Vann had shifted.
He was no longer "the exiled prince"—
he had become a leader,
backed by swords and followed by watchful eyes.
But what went unspoken was that
with every step Vann climbed,
he built secret stairways descending into darkness.
---
One winter evening,
a formal banquet was held in the Golden Palace
to celebrate Vann's alliance with Princess Leila.
The hall was filled with the realm's greatest traders, knights,
and Leila's political allies.
Candles hung from gilded walls,
music filled the air—
yet Leila seemed distant,
her eyes filled with worry as she observed the guests.
Seth approached her quietly:
> "Expect anything tonight…
eyes may smile, but hands hide knives."
---
While Vann sat at the main table,
starting his soup served by a young new servant,
Serana approached with a fake smile:
> "Just wanted to congratulate you, Prince…
on how quickly you've made your presence known in our capital."
Vann replied gently, yet with suspicion:
> "Respect isn't demanded—it's earned.
Those who don't see me worthy will change their minds
when they see who falls before me."
Serana laughed, but said nothing.
---
The moment Vann lifted the first spoonful of soup,
Kaiden's face suddenly tightened.
He grabbed Vann's arm and pushed the spoon away.
> "Don't eat."
The servant gasped and stepped back,
but Kaiden lunged and grabbed him.
Drawing a small knife,
Kaiden dipped it into the soup and dropped a drop onto a leaf he carried.
Within seconds, the leaf blackened.
> "Black Death Blossom—the tasteless poison.
It takes hours to take effect."
The hall was stunned.
The servant tried to flee,
but Seth stopped him with a single word:
> "Move and I'll break your neck before you scream."
---
The hall was sealed.
Soldiers searched everything.
Vann remained silent,
his face unreadable.
Leila approached and whispered:
> "Do you suspect someone?"
Vann answered quietly:
> "Everyone is a suspect… even those closest."
---
At dawn, pressured by Seth and Kaiden,
the servant confessed.
He said the poison was placed by a woman named Serana,
who told him that Prince Vann planned to kill Princess Leila
and seize the throne.
---
Serana was brought before Vann in the throne room.
Vann said:
> "You were the strongest figure in the court...
yet you chose to be a traitor."
She replied coldly:
> "I owned this land before you could even say its name…
I won't watch it be sold off in a political marriage."
Vann replied confidently:
> "I didn't sell it...
I saved it from people like you."
He ordered her imprisonment in the dungeons below—
without execution.
When Leila asked why,
Vann said:
> "Death is easy...
but watching her crumble as the kingdom thrives without her—
that is the true punishment."
---
That night, Vann wrote his first royal decree,
signing it with a custom-made black ring:
> "Vann Raigor, Prince of Valdera…
and heir to its throne."