The next day - Kirven city center:

  Sunlight filtered through the bedroom windows, sliding across the floor and drawing irregular shapes on the walls.

  The morning breeze penetrating through the balcony doors brought with it the sweet smell of fresh bread.

  His face illuminated by the sun's rays, Lucas still asleep, stirred slightly before opening his eyes.

  He turned around, then lay on his back for a few moments, silently observing the ceiling, while letting his mind gradually adjust to this new environment.

  After remaining still for a few seconds, Lucas slowly sat up and enjoyed the calm of the room, only troubled by the distant sounds of the lively streets below.

  As he rubbed his eyes, his gaze slid towards the corner of the room, and something caught his attention.

  Carefully placed against the wall was a sword.

  "Wait, that's not Arden's sword... could there be an intruder?" Lucas thought with a surprised look.

  Instead of panicking, Lucas remained calm, analyzing the situation as he had been taught at the palace.

  He scanned the room the left, then on the right, but he did not notice any notable change.

  As he reflected on how this sword had ended up in their room, a slight rattling from the shower was heard.

  "Ah... how good it feels to take a shower," said a relaxed voice.

  Listening to this unknown voice, Lucas, surprised, immediately lay down and quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be sleep. His face quickly returned to the innocence expression he wore while sleeping, but his mind was on alert.

  At that moment, Jayden, dressed in simple black pants, calmly stepped out of the shower, a towel placed on his still wet hair.

  As he stepped into the room wiping his hair, his gaze turned to Lucas.

  "Huh, he's still asleep," he thought as he watching him.

  He tossed the towel on a chair, approached the bed, then crouched down at Lucas' height to observe him more closely.

  "So he is the second prince," he thought calmly.

  "Would His Majesty resemble him? But well, they must resemble each other... they are father and son. "

  Without realizing it, the more he observed Lucas, the more Jayden let his expression soften.

  "Even though he is taller than the majority of children his age, he's really small. "

  "He must surely have hard training in the capital... he's an Ingriss after all. "

  "He looks cute when he sleeps. "

  But as Jayden stared at him, behind his closed eyelids, Lucas' mind was boiling.

  "Who is this guy... I've never seen him before. Is he a thief… or a kidnapper?" Lucas thought, his eyes closed.

  "Arden is not here, so how could he break into our room. "

  "Do I have to stay asleep, or do I have to try something?"

  While Lucas struggled inwardly, Jayden slowly stretched out his hand, to spread a few strands of Lucas' hair, in order to better see the features of his face.

  But by making this simple gesture, Jayden did not know that he had just made a mistake.

  At the precise moment when his fingers brushed Lucas' hair... the latter's eyes opened abruptly.

  Before Jayden could realize anything, with a dry and instinctive movement, Lucas violently jabbed his fingers in Jayden's eyes.

  "Shit!!" Jayden exclaimed.

  Surprised, Jayden quickly got up and immediately brought his hands to his face. But before he had time to take a step back, on his bed, Lucas sprang up and jumped at him.

  His body collided violently with Jayden's, throwing him back.

  Without waiting a moment, Lucas put his arms around Jayden's neck and squeezed with all his strength, his arms closing like a trap.

  Jayden, completely caught off guard, staggered back.

  "Hey... wait! " he exclaimed.

  "It's not what you think! "

  But Lucas, not listening to Jayden, didn't stop.

  Instead, he wrapped his legs around Jayden's torso, clinging to him like a leech.

  Following this gesture, Jayden stumbled backward, his back hitting the wall in a thud. But despite this impact, Lucas clung to him, teeth clenched.

  "Fuck... this kid is serious," Jayden thought.

  Jayden grabbed Lucas' wrists, and tried to break free without brutality. But the latter did not let himself go, and tightened his grip even further.

  At that moment the air was beginning to run out, and Jayden felt his strength beginning to fail.

  "Damn... why am I letting a child make me lose consciousness?" he thought with an angry air.

  Jayden began to breathe with difficulty, his field of vision slightly blurred.

  Suddenly, Jayden clenched his teeth, his features hardening.

  "Damn it... I don't give a fuck if it's the prince," he thought.

  "I can't let him make me lose consciousness. "

  From that moment, Jayden stopped holding back.

  With a swift movement, he slipped an arm under Lucas's, breaking the leverage of their hold. Then, with a powerful thrust, he freed his neck with a hoarse breath.

  Jayden then grabbed Lucas' body and threw him forward.

  Lucas barely had time to understand what was happening, that he was already in the air above Jayden.

  "Huh, what just happened?" He thought.

  In an instant, Lucas fell heavily on the bed, the mattress absorbing the impact as the air brutally left his lungs.

  Jayden started to move forward, slowly catching his breath. When he arrived in front of the bed, he stopped, and stared intensely at Lucas.

  Lying on the bed, Lucas with a lively but tense look felt an invisible pressure weigh on his chest.

  While Jayden looked at him without moving, his fists clenched, meeting his intense gaze, Lucas understood his helplessness and felt for the first time a feeling of fear.

  "Hey kid... did you really think you could knock me out?" Jayden said in an icy tone, a dangerous glow crossing his eyes.

  At these words Lucas tensed up, and a heavy silence invaded the room.

  Then... at that precise moment, the bedroom door opened abruptly.

  "Hello everyone!! "

  At that moment, Arden, holding a tray of food in his hands, happily entered the room.

  "I hope you were able to get to know—

  Seeing the scene that was offered to him, Arden remained frozen in front of the threshold of the door, his happy expression disappearing.

  For a fraction of a second, everyone remained motionless.

  When suddenly...

  "Arden! "

  Lucas quickly leaped out of bed, and rushed towards Arden. He immediately hid behind him, his hand lightly gripping the fabric of his clothes.

  "Quickly Arden, kill him! " said Lucas.

  "This stranger broke into our room and dared to use our shower," Lucas said quickly, looking at Jayden suspiciously.

  Arden, surprised, blinked while observing Lucas, then slowly turned his head towards Jayden.

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  "Uh, please," said Arden, looking at Jayden.

  "Can you explain the situation to me?" He asked with a bewildered look.

  A few minutes later:

  The morning tension had disappeared, replaced by the discreet rattling of the cutlery.

  On the balcony, Arden, Lucas and Jayden were now sitting around a wooden table. The sun rose slowly in the sky, illuminating the roofs of the city, while the sound of the bustling streets rose below.

  Lucas was sitting opposite Jayden, focused on his plate. He ate calmly, holding his cutlery with discipline. At times, he looked furtively at Jayden, before immediately looking away.

  Jayden, on the other hand, seemed perfectly relaxed. After finishing telling the whole story to Arden, he took an apple on the table and chewed it quietly.

  After Jayden finished his explanation, a short silence settled.

  Arden slowly placed his cup on the table, letting out a sigh.

  "Well... I finally understand the situation," he said calmly.

  He then turned his head towards Lucas and watched him for a few seconds.

  "He must have been scared," he thought.

  "Waking up and falling face to face with a stranger... it's not really a pleasant feeling. "

  "Lucas," he began slowly.

  At these words, Lucas slowed down his gestures and slightly raised his eyes towards him.

  "I'm sorry for what happened. This is all my fault. If I had warned you of his arrival, none of this would have happened," said Arden in a calm voice.

  He paused, then added in a more tender tone:

  "Jayden is not an enemy. I consider him my own brother. Of course he is a little brutal, but he is still a good person. "

  "So... could you forgive him, please?" He asked calmly.

  Lucas remained silent for a few seconds, watching Jayden.

  "He's Arden's friend... even if I don't like him, Arden invited him and trusts him completely," he thought.

  "Despite this, I don't want to see him anymore. In addition to hurting me, this bully scared me extremely. "

  "Besides, why did he come here... why did he get involved with our group, he will surely ruin our stay," he thought with an angry air.

  While Lucas was in his thoughts, unconsciously, he frowned, gritted his teeth, clenched his fists tightly, and released a faint hostile aura.

  Seeing Lucas' angry look, Arden scratched his temple slightly.

  "It looks like he's really angry," he thought.

  "But hey, I think I know what to do to solve this problem. "

  Arden remained silent for a few seconds, then he sketched a slight smile.

  "By the way..." he said, putting his elbows on the table while joining his hands.

  "Would you like to spend the day exploring the city ? "

  At these words, Lucas immediately raised his head towards Arden, his expression immediately changing.

  "Really!" He suddenly said.

  "You're serious hm!"

  "You're telling the truth, aren't you?" He asked, with a happy look.

  Seeing Lucas enthusiastic, Arden nodded his head smiling.

  "Yeah," he said calmly.

  "During my morning walk, I noticed that Kirven had plenty to offer. "

  "So I think we could walk, eat and... why not try several interesting activities," he added with a smile on his lips.

  At these words, Lucas' eyes lit up instantly, and he got up abruptly from his chair.

  "So what are we still waiting for here...let's leave immediately," he said excitedly.

  "Yes yes. We will leave soon, don't worry," replied Arden calmly.

  Arden paused briefly, then turned his head towards Jayden.

  "So, Lucas..." he began calmly.

  "Do you mind if Jayden comes with us?" He asked with a slight smile on his lips.

  At these words, Jayden and Lucas instantly turned their eyes to Arden, surprised by his words.

  "Currently Jayden is my guest and I can't leave him alone," Arden continued in a calm voice.

  "I know him very well, and if we were leave him alone here, he will certainly lose his mind. "

  "So would you accept that he comes with us?" He said with a smile on his face.

  Listening to Arden's words, Jayden's face tightened.

  "Don't tell me he dares to lie right in front of me," he thought.

  After Arden's words, Lucas calmed down slightly, then turned his head towards Jayden.

  He stared at him for a few seconds, then lowered his head and crossed his arms thoughtfully.

  After a moment of reflection, Lucas raised his head and looked at Jayden.

  "Okay... he can accompany us," he replied in a not very enthusiastic voice.

  "But only on one condition," he added calmly.

  "And which one?" Arden asked with an amused look.

  "He can come only if he promises not to touch my hair anymore," he said with his air that is both childish and angry.

  A short moment passed.

  Then Jayden let out a slight amused breath, before taking a bite of his apple again.

  "Deal accepted, Your Highness... I will respect your condition," he replied quietly.

  Arden watched the scene with a relaxed air, sketched a discreet smile.

  "I hope that with this outing, they will get closer," he thought.

  The tension had definitely disappeared, and they were completely unaware of what the day had in store for them.

  Meanwhile - Kirven slums:

  The sun, already high in the sky, illuminated the bustling streets of the Kirven slums.

  Between two buildings with dilapidated walls, under a wide dark cape, two small silhouettes were lying side by side on a flat cardboard.

  Suddenly, the youngest moved slightly, then slowly straightened up, her long white hair falling on her shoulders.

  She rubbed her eyes before opening them. Her eyes were a beautiful light blue, almost bewitching... but unfortunately his eyes did not convey any emotion.

  She remained motionless for a moment, observing the animation of the main street, before lowering her gaze towards the black cape that covered them.

  As she observed the cape... for the first time in years, her face lit up.

  She quickly leaned towards the figure next to her, and began to shake it sharply.

  "Aelrin! Aelrin!" She exclaimed in a excited tone.

  "Wake up... wake up... quickly! "

  The boy suddenly opened his eyes and quickly straightened up. His white hair, slightly short, framed a thin face, marked by fatigue.

  He had blue eyes with the same singular bluish hue as those of the girl... but hers seemed deeper.

  "Lyra... what's going on?" He asked with a worried look.

  When he looked Lyra in the eyes, she stretched out her hand towards him, then slowly opened it.

  "Look what I found," she said with a smile reaching her ears.

  In the hollow of her palm gleamed a gold coin.

  Seeing her, Aelrin's face was surprised, before freezing instantly with fear.