Chapter 29 – The Queen's Shadow
The palace gates groaned open, and with a silent gust of wind, Prince Kimo and Oki returned—cloaked, veiled by the forest's enchantment. No fanfare, no servants. Just shadows slipping through familiar halls.
But the palace… had changed.
Rumors clung to every corridor like cobwebs. Whispers of a phantom power protecting the king, of a mysterious figure who fought like a demon but disappeared without a trace. And most unsettling—many of the palace staff had no memory of the battle's end. The queen had returned to her calm, elegant self… but her eyes never left the shadows.
"She knows," Oki murmured as they walked through a quiet hallway.
Kimo gave a curt nod. "Let her."
At the throne room doors, they paused. Oki reached for his hand. "Do not react. She will test you."
Kimo pushed open the doors.
There she was.
The queen sat beside the king, robed in green silk, her smile gentle, but her aura deadly. Her eyes sparkled as they landed on the prince.
"Oh, Prince Kimo," she said sweetly, standing. "You're back. We feared… you perished."
Kimo said nothing. His cold gaze met hers. His silence was louder than any accusation.
"You must be tired," she continued, gliding toward him like a viper wrapped in silk. "Let me arrange a feast—"
"No need," he interrupted, his voice ice. "We didn't come for food. We came to watch."
The king looked at him, eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion and unspoken regret. "Kimo," he said hoarsely. "Thank you… for protecting us all."
Kimo didn't smile, but his tone softened, barely. "You're welcome… Father."
The queen flinched slightly.
Later that evening, alone in his chamber, Kimo stared out the window. "She's planning something," he muttered.
Oki appeared behind him, brushing his shoulder gently. "She always is."
Kimo turned to face her, his jaw clenched. "I need to know. Why do you risk so much? Who really sent you?"
Oki paused, then whispered, "I wasn't sent by one person… I was sent by many. Those who still believe in your mother. Those who remember the true queen."
Kimo's breath caught. "So she was betrayed…"
Oki nodded, pain flickering in her eyes. "And the one who led it… now sits beside your father."
That night, as storm clouds rolled in above the palace, the queen sat before her magic mirror, whispering dark incantations.
"He's growing stronger," she hissed. "But I'll break him. I'll shatter that frozen heart before Elira ever sees it beat."
Back in his room, Kimo's hand brushed Oki's as they sat together in silence. A shared promise pulsed between them—of vengeance, of loyalty, of something blooming quietly despite the darkness.
To be continued…