---
Kairo sat on the ground, his hands shaking as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.
"This is impossible..." he whispered.
The faces of those men—the same ones who killed his father—were burned into his memory. But they were executed. He saw it on the news. He knew they were dead.
Then how...?
His chest tightened, his breath uneven. He needed answers.
Without wasting another second, he jumped to his feet and sprinted toward the royal mansion.
---
At the Mansion
As soon as he arrived, Kairo slammed the doorbell. A maid answered, startled by his urgency.
"Prince Kairo—"
But before she could finish, Kairo rushed past her, heading straight for Elsa's room.
Elsa was asleep when he barged in, panting.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Kairo...? What's wrong?"
Kairo clenched his fists. "Elsa... I saw them."
Elsa frowned. "Who?"
Kairo's voice wavered. "The men who killed Father. They were standing in front of my house."
Elsa's sleepy expression turned serious. "Kairo… that's not possible."
"I know!" Kairo shouted. "They were executed! But I saw them, Elsa! And there was another man… I couldn't see his face, but he told them to kill Father."
Elsa sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Listen, Kairo… I don't know much about the assassination. All I know is that it happened in Astreon, the capital of Solmaria."
Kairo's breath hitched. "Astreon…"
"If you really want answers, you won't find them here." Elsa's voice softened. "But I don't think you should go. The capital is unstable. Political tensions are high, and most people there support Sirius. If they see you, they'll think you're plotting against him."
Kairo's jaw tightened. "Sirius is in the capital?"
Elsa nodded. "Yes. He's been there ever since he left the mansion. If you go now… you'll have to face him."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then Kairo spoke, his voice firm. "I have to go. I need to know the truth about our family and the secrets being kept from us."
Elsa scoffed. "Do whatever you want. Just don't come back asking for my help if things go wrong."
Kairo smirked. "I won't."
Elsa sighed in defeat. "At least stay here tonight. You can leave in the morning."
---
The Next Morning
As the sun rose, Kairo stood at the mansion's entrance, ready to leave.
"Take care, Kairo," Elsa said, leaning against the doorway.
Kairo smirked. "Since when do you care so much?"
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Just go already."
Without another word, Kairo turned and left.
---
Arrival in Astreon
The flight was uneventful, but Kairo's mind was full of questions.
The assassins' faces.
The unknown man giving the order.
The dream.
The voice.
"Fix everything you have ruined."
Who was that man? What did he mean?
As the plane landed, Kairo stepped out onto the busy streets of Astreon.
The air felt heavy. He had finally arrived in the heart of Solmaria.
---
A Ghost in the Crowd
The streets of Astreon were packed with people. Vendors shouted, groups chatted, and the sounds of the city filled the air.
Kairo adjusted his bag and started walking toward the royal estate.
But then—
He froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
In the middle of the crowded street, he saw him.
The man from his dream.
The bright noon sun cast shadows over his face, but Kairo recognized him instantly.
Their eyes met.
A chill ran down Kairo's spine.
The man stepped forward.
"Fix everything you have ruined."
Kairo's head throbbed. A sharp pain shot through his skull.
His vision blurred.
The world tilted.
And then—
Darkness.
---
The Aftermath
When Kairo opened his eyes, he was on the ground. A crowd had gathered around him, shaking him awake.
"Are you alright?" someone asked.
Kairo quickly sat up, his eyes darting around. The man was gone.
He turned to the people. "That man—where did he go?"
They exchanged confused looks.
"What man?"
Kairo's heartbeat pounded in his ears.
"The man who was just here!" he insisted.
"There was no one," a woman said.
Kairo's hands trembled. "No... that's not possible."
One of the bystanders pulled up security footage from a nearby CCTV. Kairo leaned in, watching the screen.
The video played…
There was no one.
Only Kairo.
Standing alone. Talking to thin air.
His vision swam. His chest tightened.
"What the hell is happening to me?"
---
(Chapter Ends)
---