King Rudra sat upon his throne while the ministers took their seats in their respective chairs.

Nervous glances were exchanged throughout the hall.

The Crown Prince hadn’t arrived yet.

All of them shared the same unspoken question: Where is Crown Prince Rihaan?

It was unlike him to miss a meeting—especially after already being absent from the past few important ones.

"Now," the king began, exhaling sharply, "let us begin."

Beside him, Prince Vihaan occupied the Crown Prince’s seat.

The sight sent a ripple of shock through the ministers, though none dared voice it. Not yet. Not before the king finished what he had summoned them here to say.

"I have summoned you all today to make a very important announcement."

Every man in the room swallowed hard, impatiently waiting for the king to continue.

"I have decided to hand over the position of Crown Prince to Prince Vihaan."

Gasps, whispers, and murmurs immediately spread across the hall.

Change the Crown Prince—now?

Hadn’t Crown Prince Rihaan been sent to Revhara precisely so he could return as a proper heir? How could this be?

"Do you believe Crown Prince Rihaan should keep his position?" Rudra asked, his gaze sweeping across the alphas seated before him.

"Well... after the engagement, he was expected to leave the kingdom and marry the Crown Prince of Revhara. However... now that he has refused that alliance—"

"Exactly my point," Rudra interrupted. "We cannot allow someone who is swayed by emotions to take over the throne. Today, it was an engagement. Tomorrow, it could be something far more costly—something whose loss we cannot afford."

The ministers nodded at the king’s words.

They carried more weight than expected. A ruler who was devoted was admirable, but one who could not compromise for the sake of the kingdom would never be fit to rule in the long term.

Vihaan sat in the Crown Prince’s seat, spine straight, hands resting calmly on the armrests.

The chair felt wrong. It belonged to his brother. Not him.

It felt too large—too heavy—as if it carried a weight he hadn’t earned. One he didn’t fight for to begin with. From the moment he had gained consciousness of his surroundings, he had only heard of his brother’s name, followed by "Crown Prince".

He had never dreamed of this. And yet, it was happening today.

But he didn’t feel the slightest happiness or joy about it. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He could sense the ministers’ gazes lingering on him—curious, assessing, some even approving. Not a single one looked toward the empty seat where he should have been.

His throat tightened.

This was never how it was meant to happen.

He hadn’t asked for this. Hadn’t even known—until his father summoned him before dawn, voice sharp and firm, leaving no room for protest.

"Sit. Say nothing. Just let me speak."

So Vihaan obeyed. Just like a puppet. The kind his father loved.

Because opposing the king was not an option.

Because opposing his father had never ended well.

Still, guilt curled in his chest like a slow, suffocating fog. It burned inside him like poison. He had tasted poison once, or twice due to his curiosity.

His elder brother had always walked ahead of him—strong, willing to bear burdens Vihaan had been glad to avoid.

And now, in his absence, Vihaan was taking his place.

Not by merit.

Not by choice.

When his father declared that he would be taking his brother’s place, Vihaan lowered his gaze, fingers tightening slightly around his shirt.

I’m sorry... brother.

He thought, though he knew apologies meant nothing when spoken only in one’s mind.

He did not look triumphant.

He did not smile.

He simply sat there—caught between duty and guilt—knowing that even if he stood up now, even if he spoke for Rihaan aloud—his father would never listen.

And so, Vihaan remained seated, still—similar to a lifeless doll.

***

A servant knocked at Rihaan’s door, the sound quick and urgent.

The door opened, and Arav stood before him, arms folded as he narrowed his eyes, studying the servant.

The man’s hair was dishevelled, his white clothes barely draped over his frame, carefully folded over his left shoulder. Thin strands of gold jewelry hung from his neck and ears, catching the light as he shifted.

"What is it?" Arav asked, his tone sharp, edged with bitterness.

"I-I need to speak to His Royal Highness. Is he here?" the servant said, panting.

It was obvious he had rushed here.

But from where?

The servant hesitated, glancing past Arav as if hoping to catch sight of Rihaan inside the room. Arav’s expression darkened.

This servant was far too suspicious.

He must know something important...

"Say it," he ordered quietly.

The servant swallowed.

"I... I want to tell the Crown Prince."

"Hear me out," Arav firmly wrapped his hand around the servant’s wrist, twisting it. "You better speak to me if you don’t want to get punished by the Crown Prince when I tell him you tried to harm me."

The servant’s eyes widened.

"B-But I haven’t done anything!..."

"Oh, of course! But would he believe me, his lover, or you, a mere servant?" Arav’s lips twisted into an evil smirk.

The other man bit his lips before parting them.

"I-I overheard the ministers while serving tea at the court earlier. The king intends to demote the Crown Prince. Prince Vihaan will take his place." He lowered his voice. "I don’t know when the announcement will be made, but it’s already decided."

For a brief moment, Arav said nothing.

Then he smiled.

"Alright," he said calmly, waving his hand dismissively. "You may go. I will inform the Crown Prince myself." His gaze sharpened. "For now, keep your mouth shut."

The servant nodded quickly and hurried away.

Arav closed the door, leaning his back against the wooden frame. His smile faded, replaced by something colder—calculating.

"Who was that?" Rihaan asked as he stepped out of the washroom. His hair was damp, water dripping from a few loose strands.

"Oh," Arav replied lightly, turning toward him, "just a servant."

"Why?" Rihaan wiped his hair with a white towel. He wore no shirt, only a towel wrapped around his waist, skin still warm from the bath.

Arav’s gaze lingered on him for a second longer than necessary.

"Nothing important," he said softly. "You don’t need to worry about it," he grinned.