There is no silence to be found in the night. In reality, even the phrase—in the dead of night—has little to do with the quietness of the night and everything with the darkness. Keeping that in mind, it’s not difficult to paint a picture in one’s mind. It’s the dead of night and all there is, and all there will be, are meant to serve that very purpose.

It's as noisy as it should be. A winter breeze rustles the trees’ leaves, the faint sound of appliances working, and the steps of people switching places. It’s as dark as it should be. Winter nights are generally murky, as they make it their mission to remind one of the sun’s absence, but it’s also the house’s décor bringing little to no light inside.

It's the middle of the night when Shilial wakes up to a spine-chilling scream. Normally, she wouldn’t be as tensed, even if a shout was involved, simply because the logical part of her brain was always on. A shout couldn’t be good but the place didn’t lack guards and both she and Lilial were fine warriors. Still, Khun Maria’s death is freshly engraved in her mind—Maria was almost a friend—and keeps her awake even with her eyes closed.

Therefore, in the middle of the night, Shilial jumps from her bed and rushes into the hall to uncover the mystery behind the scream. Lilial’s room’s door isn’t open—a good thing for anyone who didn’t live with her and didn’t know she always left it slightly open to make her night trips less noisy. With no time to waste, she opens the door.

Another scream echoes and she’s almost sure it comes from her, yet her mouth remains firmly closed as she leans by her sister’s bedside. Before she can touch her, someone pulls her back. Her view becomes cloudy and she thinks her heart has begun working overtime. Someone leans in and touches Lilial’s hand. Oh, Shilial thinks, it’s you.

“She has a pulse.” Their maid says relieved. “I’ll call a doctor!”

“Princess,” their guard starts but doesn’t let go of Shilial’s own hand, “we must return to your room. The culprit must have been long gone judging from the blood—”

Shilial’s eyes dart over to where Lilial lays peacefully in her bed, “What blood?”

It’s the dead of night when two guards of the Princesses’ Shilial and Lilial are found with their throats cut off while the younger was found in a comatose state.

.

Her entire body aches and yet sleep has trouble coming, let alone staying. Slowly blinking awake, she notices the sun hasn’t come up. It must have been the fifth time she had woken up—not because of nightmares or stress—and her eyes are burning. There is a strange aura for some seconds, something that surprisingly makes her feel at ease before she feels a hand on her hair.

“Maschenny,”—she flinches at the sound of her name—“wake up.”

She turns to the other side and comes face to face with Yuri sitting on her bed. She’s dressed in the same clothes as yesterday and her hair is falling loose on her shoulders. Maschenny stares at her for only a second but she can’t help feeling as if she’s been studying her for several hours. There is easiness inside her soul, a warmth making her heart pump blood again and a terrible reassurance inside her brain that all will be well.

But Yuri doesn’t live with her and they had no plans for today therefore nothing in her visit implies good fortune. Indeed, when she blinks once more adjusting her vision, she sees Aguero standing by the door. Unlike Yuri, he’s in his nightwear which means it must still be midnight.

“What?”

“An attempt was made,” Yuri almost whispers, “against Lilial.”

.

It doesn’t take a genius to speculate the chaos within Jahad’s armies. Aguero had been prepared for the stone-cold face of the King, the worried whispers, even for Lo Po Bia Shilial’s breakdown. Still, few things could prepare him for the actual scenery in front of him; the dreadful silence. There was no meet-up between all the Princesses, despite what everyone expected, and the King only sent a brief message about Lilial having woken up. However, no one but her full-blood sister was allowed to visit her for fear of the news of her attack getting out.

Everyone seemed so tight-lipped about the situation at hand that Aguero was even forbidden from joining Maschenny’s talk with Shilial. It was why he had now found himself waiting awkwardly outside the door, watching people from Jahad’s court pass him by in a frenzy. On second thought, he didn’t understand why Maschenny hadn’t taken Yuri to find Shilial instead of him—the chances had been against him from the beginning.

He glanced sideways at a newcomer—a girl with a bright yellow dress—on the way to open the door behind him. “You’re not allowed in,” he told her indifferently, “the Princesses are talking.”

The newcomer ignored him. Even scoffed in distaste as she opened the door.

A minute later, she stepped out, her previous confidence long gone. “You were right. Half-right.” She sighed before sitting next to him. The silence lingered once more.

“You’re Maschenny’s brother?” This time it was Aguero’s turn to side-eye her. He had pale blue hair and blue eyes, the next best thing after having a big sign on his forehead saying ‘Khun Eduan’s Property’. She seemed to sense his annoyance. “I mean, her brother-brother.” She made a small pause, “I figured if it was another Khun, they’d be friendlier.”

“They’re not. And I’m not her actual brother. I’m more of her strategist.”

“Ah, you’re,” she stopped, unable to find the right words for what she wanted to say, “I’m sorry for your loss.” She paused once more and carefully extended her hand, “I’m Endorsi.”

“The successor.”—she nodded—“Maschenny is training you.”

“Supposedly.”

“She’s not the most caring teacher,” Endorsi wants to argue but some part of her seems to be, thankfully, holding her back and therefore she limited herself to an awkward smile. No wonder Maschenny was distant with her—she disliked it when people weren’t direct. But Aguero was more accepting, after all, he had known the burden of a child meant to become a soldier, and found himself briefly feeling sorry for her. Besides, the way she quietly frowned reminded him of—

No, he cut himself abruptly, do not dare go there.

“Aguero,” Maschenny’s commanding voice reached their ears before the doors had the chance to fully open. Her gaze flickered from Endorsi to him. “We’re leaving.”

“Masc—”

“Endorsi. Train with Yuri if you must or by yourself.” She snapped her fingers at Aguero and began walking away.

.

“Fold.”

“You’re cheating.”

“You have no proof.”

“I can see the cards under your hoodie.”—Ran maintained eye contact while shoving the cards into his pocket inside—“Did Aguero teach you this?”

“Maschenny.”

“Ah, that’s why you suck.” The sound of the gate opening made both Yuri and Ran jump on their feet. “Speak of the devils!”

Aguero walked in first, ignoring Yuri’s greeting, and quickly grabbed a vase. He inspected it for a few seconds before nodding to himself. When Maschenny came into view, he handed it to her. In the blink of an eye, she smashed it.

“That was poor old mum’s,” Ran whispered jokingly. Aguero looked at him worryingly.

“She knows. I know she knows.” Maschenny told them, pressing her hands together in a furry. “She knows and we aren’t allowed to hear a thing.”

“Lilial?”

“Both of them. All of them.” She snapped, “Maria, Kallavan, their deaths were calculated but you want me to believe that someone tried to suffocate a Lo Po Bia Princess in her sleep? In her house?”

“I know Lilial was injured.”

“No one is doubting that,” Aguero cut in, “but from what we found out, she must have seen the culprit and yet she isn’t allowed to say.”

“That’s what she and her useless sister claim.”

“It’s what the King said too.”

“As the King cares,” Maschenny said before turning to look briefly at Ran. “The King has his precious Princesses, not one diamond in his crown missing.”

“Aguero is right, Maschenny. The King might not care about Maria or Kallavan as people but he wouldn’t want to be seen as weak against the rebels.” Maschenny scoffed but remained silent.

“Yes. Against the rebels.” Aguero finally said, “And to his own?”

Yuri opened her mouth and immediately closed it, refusing to entertain the idea. Ran, however, had no qualms about it. “You think it’s an inside job.”

“At best, someone against Jahad saw this as an opportunity to try and mimic Maria’s killer, hoping to put the blame on FUG as well.”

“And at worst?”

“Lo Po Bia did it themselves.” Yuri said, “I think a girl who went up against Endorsi for the competition was from their family, could it be all just an act?”

“I hope it is.” Maschenny’s gaze fell on the naked trees outside. They were always full when Maria was around. She felt her throat drying up. “I hope it is so I can wipe their entire family branch.”

.

Ran hadn’t lived with his mother for long, he didn’t even remember the first three years of his life, and even as a toddler, he didn’t have much contact with her. However, Maschenny Senior was a figure whose presence you couldn’t ignore no matter the little time you had spent together. A mirror of her daughter in many ways, yet much more affectionate when needed, but without her impulsive nature. His mother was the queen of kings, a very self-driven cold woman, who unlike the other wives did not find allies in anyone, not even her own blood.

After today’s events, Ran saw a mirage of her in Maschenny. He wondered what a person with his mother’s mind and father’s mannerisms would become. Not that he could put all the blame on her if the situation were as it seemed. Kallavan’s orchestrated death, the attack–deliberate or not–of the Lo Po Bia Princess, Jahad’s indifference, the picture painted was nothing but a bad omen for their future. If danger came, would Ran be able to stand against it? Would he rise to the occasion or would he cower in fear? Would he make anyone proud?

“They are still talking inside,” Aguero told him, “I have a business to attend to, but if anything important comes up, call me immediately.”

“Where will you be going?”

“I can’t say.” Normally, Ran wouldn’t question him to begin with but with how things had turned out, Aguero leaving left a pit in his stomach.

“When will you be back?”

“I don’t know,” his brother sighed, “you don’t have to worry. I’m sure Yuri will end up staying the night.” The answer brought no relief to Ran and it showed. Aguero flashed him an apologetic smile and began walking away. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. “Ran?”

“Hm?”

“Do you, um, want to come with me?”

.

“Did pretty boy stand you up?” Ehwa asked Bam and handed him his coffee with a sympathetic look, “I can spit in his coffee next time.”

“Please don’t do that.”

“You’re right, Wagnan should do it instead.”

“He didn’t stand me up.” Bam explained before adding in a quick whisper, “I’m not sure we were supposed to meet.”

“What? How? Why?”

Because, apparently, Bam is an idiot who overanalyzed things and now has to wait by the coffee shop for an hour. “We didn’t specify an hour.”

“Didn’t you message him before coming?”

“No.” –Ehwa went through every stage of grief simultaneously– “I forgot.”

The lie, even though it was very in character for Bam, did not ease his friend. Seconds later, her eyes light up in delight. “Heads ups and act casual!”

Bam did not act casually in any way whatsoever. He turned his head as much as he could to get a good look at Khun talking to Wagnan, probably planning on ordering. Either his ‘soulmate instinct’ had been correct or this was bound to be their most awkward meeting yet. Yes, the one where he killed him is included in the list. As if sensing the fog in his mind–soulmate instinct striking once again–Khun’s eyes fell on him and he smiled.

Wait–

Why is he smiling? Should he smile back? Is he even smiling at him or is that just his normal face when he isn’t met with an enemy? Because Bam was raised with basic manners–both before and after FUG–he decided to smile back. Khun’s eyes widened slightly before turning to look elsewhere, making Bam begin doubting his actions once again until his soulmate looked at him once more. Bam was certainly missing something–there was no way this wasn’t some kind of code.

The answer came with Khun walking towards him and stealing a third chair from the other table. Before Bam could do as much as open his mouth, a shorter and most likely younger version of Khun sat next to him. “Don’t you want to sit next to me?”

“I’ll be sitting next to you, either way, there are three chairs.” Small Khun told the other one while simultaneously glaring at Bam. “It’s to ensure safe distance.”

Khun gave an awkward laugh and turned to Bam, “This is Ran, one of my brothers.” this explains nothing, “Ran, this is Bam. We’re dating.” this somehow explains everything and nothing at the same time, “well, not dating per se, but we have been going on dates.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ran.” Ran doesn’t seem to share the sentiment as he examines him. After barely acknowledging Bam, he turns to his brother.

“I think our orders are ready.”

“Oh? I’m going to pick them up.” he gave Bam another sweet smile, “Do not believe anything he tells you.”

.

The guy is a guy. There are no special words Ran can use to describe him and that alone leaves him with mixed feelings. It’s a good thing Aguero socializes–unlike Maschenny there is nothing holding him back–it’s even better that he does so after Maria’s passing. But seeing a guy like that, incredibly ordinary, makes Ran question how good his brother’s decision really is. Maschenny’s current paranoia must have rubbed in him as well because he can not fathom how this works; what this ‘Bam’ is looking for, what Aguero thinks he gets.

They say it’s good to deal with a tough situation head first and so, as soon as Aguero is out of reach, Ran moves his chair a little closer to Bam. “How did you meet?”

“Huh?” the boyfriend almost choked on his coffee at the sudden question but quickly recovered, “Oh, we met at the bookstore.”

“Bookstore?”

“Yes,” the guy said much more confidently than before, “he was looking for gardening books.”

That….actually checked out.

In the spur of the moment, Ran put his investigation on hold to find a more important answer. “How did he look?”

Bam opened his mouth many times until an answer spilt out, “Pretty.”

“I did not mean that.” Ran replied, a hint of disgust in his voice, “Was he angry? Troubled? Annoyed?”

“He was,” he paused, “set on finding what he was looking for. It was important.”

Something inside Ran relaxes. “What, exactly, are your intentions?” Then, without missing a beat, “I’ve been trained to kill since birth.”

Aguero returns before Bam can answer.