The great hall was starting to feel more like a cage than a meeting place. At the arrival of Mother Erna, another lofty chair was pulled next to Jimin. Once the council resumed, Namjoon remained reticent, his eyes swinging from Mother Erna to the other princes and occasionally Two.

Convincing others. It was supposed to be easy—Namjoon was a mind elemental, after all—yet he was stuck in this limbo with the Prince of Lux, who refused to admit defeat. He even brought in Two, a maniacal "guard" who—to Namjoon's dismay—had an uncanny shield against his element.

How could he put it? Two was. . . unusual, violent, volatile. Even her name was off-putting. Two. The only place he knew of that used numbers as names were the Sapientian laboratories, where they would number the rats and other experimental units. For all he knew, Lux could have created some inhuman monster in their short time of peace after the Great Southern Wars. Its abrupt end in the hands of the late King Aethyrias was always a topic of curiosity. If Lux ended the war to create—Namjoon looked at Two—that, he expected nothing else of such a power-hungry state.

The problem was that Two was being used to go against his plans.

He didn't understand. The answer was simple. Yes, Jungkook had notable observations, but everyone did. Reaching Infernum was impossible, and there was no need to even visit Two's "consultant" in Medeia, who sounded more like a slaver than anything else. At least Namjoon's plan was safe. Jungkook's risked the lives of thousands, put them up to chance and fate.

That was something Namjoon could never allow.

He understood the circumstances in some kingdoms would obstruct their goals, Pacem being the most notable. But from what Namjoon could tell, Hoseok was on his side. So what was the issue with Lux—the state that boasted security and stability for hundreds of years?

"You don't know that Lux is not in the middle of a political upheaval."

And amid all this miserable chaos was Aeri, who was pacing behind him. She pointed out the hints that went over Namjoon's head and offered different perspectives on the issues discussed. Namjoon appreciated it, but right now, all he felt was irritation.

And you don't know if Lux is in the middle of one either, Namjoon almost retorted but quickly remembered to hold his tongue. After what Yoongi told him, he was more careful with his conversations with Aeri.

"Then why is Prince Jungkook this desperate? Look at him." Aeri leaned in, her green eyes trained on the Luxian prince. Her breath was hot against Namjoon's neck. "Look at the fear in his eyes, the desperation. Why else would he want us to go to Infernum?"

Because he is mad.

"The mad one is you, Brother. Are you certain you have the votes? You have Prince Hoseok and Prince Yoongi, but how can you be confident that Prince Jungkook's lady friend—or guard as he calls her—did not sway the others?"

Her skill in battle does not prove the trustworthiness of her "consultant."

"Her combat capabilities increase the chance of survival. I even think Mother Erna was swayed."

Mother Erna is not part of this council.

"Yet she is in attendance." Aeri sat on the table, swinging her feet hanging over the side. "Prince Jimin holds her opinion in high regard. And as a fellow Vitan, don't you think Prince Seokjin would, as well?"

Namjoon flinched but did not turn his attention to Aeri, still looking at Jimin, whose words were inaudible. I will convince them with my closing statements.

Aeri hummed noncommittally. "Prince Seokjin will be the tiebreaker. I wonder who he will choose, whether he will trust an idealistic prince and his guard or a realistic one blinded by conceit."

I'm not—

By the time Namjoon peeked at Aeri in the corner of his vision, she was gone.

"Do you have any more to say about your plan, Prince Namjoon?"

Jimin's voice was like ice water that pulled Namjoon back into reality and made him realize he was staring at air. Clearing his throat, Namjoon stood. "All I will reiterate is that bolstering our offenses and defenses is the most viable option we have. The demons are preparing for war, and we know they already have a strategy. If we return to our kingdoms, regroup, and face the enemy when we are at our best, we have a chance of victory." Licking his dry lips, he gave Jungkook a furtive glance. "It is difficult to say the same if we were to flip a coin and trust the hands of chance, the hands of Luxians who have time and time again proven their capacity for deception. There is no rhyme or reason for us to venture to Infernum. To even consider such a ludicrous idea is begging for the death of us and our people."

Promptly, he sat, not entirely pleased with his closing statement and more worried about Seokjin.

"And do you have any more to say about your plan, Prince Jungkook?"

Jungkook rose to his feet with an unexpected air of poise. "The demons are devious and clever, defiant and unrelenting. But these are traits we hear only from tales. We know nothing about demons, but we know that a war is coming. And in a war, there is an organization, a hierarchy, a leader. That leader is Daetunos. If we find him, the war will be uprooted before it reaches full blossom. The demons have attacked us when we are at our weakest, our most divided, and Prince Namjoon's plans play into that trap. Although seemingly impossible, eradicating this issue at its source—killing Daetunos—is the best option we have." His eyes awkwardly jumped between everyone around the table before he shrank into himself. "That rests my case."

After missing his chair and making a small scene, he sank into his seat and shriveled further into his cape. Two looked unaffected for the most part, but the fingers massaging her temples showed otherwise.

Standing, Mother Erna assumed the role of the council head. "Then let the voting commence. As most of you should know, the vote will be decided by a simple majority. Starting with Prince Namjoon, we will go clockwise around the table. Sapientia?"

"I vote for my own plan," Namjoon said.

"Tenebris?"

"Prince Jungkook's plan," Taehyung said, playing with the skin on his fingers. Even though the voting did not pause, Namjoon felt a second of vertigo as the revelation that this vote wouldn't be easily won truly settled.

"Lux?"

"I vote for my own plan," Jungkook said. Two shuffled on her feet behind him.

"Pacem?"

"Prince Namjoon's plan," Hoseok said immediately.

"Bellum?"

"Prince Namjoon's plan," Yoongi said with a little huff of defiance as he crossed his arms, an undeniable scowl forming on his face.

"Umbra?"

Namjoon held his breath, expecting.

"Prince Jungkook's plan," Jimin said. Namjoon sighed, knowing that it would come to this.

"Vita?"

Seokjin gave a lopsided smirk. "When you consider the finer details, both plans are abhorrent, messy. But that is what makes this discussion captivating." He chuckled. "This council of war has amused me more than any other politics I have discussed in my life, so let's bring it to an amusing denouement."

Pausing, he basked in the heat of everyone's attention.

"I vote for Prince Jungkook's plan," he said.

* * *

Hoseok didn't take an immediate liking to Seokjin. Whereas he regarded the current predicament with the utmost significance, Seokjin glided through with oily ease while bearing a smile. It should not have bothered Hoseok as much as it did because, at the end of the day, Seokjin was an intelligent man. Hoseok would be a fool to overlook the Vitan's knowledgeable prestige.

However, there was a fine line that, once crossed, tipped Hoseok into a void of no return. And Seokjin just shamelessly waltzed over that line like this was some twisted game.

For a long moment, Hoseok thought he had misheard. Perhaps it was a slip of his ear, so he blinked at Seokjin before saying, "Pardon me? Who did you vote for?"

Seokjin—that mad man—perched his chin on his open palm and smiled his smile that made Hoseok's blood boil. "I vote for Prince Jungkook's plan, and I believe that puts the vote in his favor, bringing this council to a solemn close."

That smirk. That playful glint. The audacity of this man—

"Prince Seokjin," Namjoon breathed, equally struggling with himself, "you must consider the well-being of our people. Of your people."

"Oh, I did." Seokjin laughed. Laughed. The bastard laughed. "And I find Prince Jungkook's plan quite appealing as our next course of action towards victory."

A terrible dread dug its roots through Hoseok's heart as he thought of his home, of his sister. "Then you plan to forsake your kingdom to the clutches of chance?"

Seokjin gave a rueful grin. "We have already done that, haven't we?"

Hoseok couldn't even manage a scoff. This had to be a ruse, a farce, but when he turned to Jungkook for answers, he looked as shocked as everyone else.

"Prince Seokjin." Now Yoongi tried his hand at grappling for sense. "There must be a reason for your rash decision."

"Of course there is. I believe we must think beyond what we know to gain favor in this struggle, and Prince Jungkook's plan does just that."

"Thinking beyond is one thing," Yoongi said, drawing himself up. "Thinking beyond, we did. But making irrational decisions. . ."

"Instead of finding trouble with me, why don't you ask your other opposition why they made an irrational decision. I am not the only one."

Yoongi's face flushed, though Hoseok could tell it was more from anger than embarrassment. Before anyone else spoke, Mother Erna smacked her staff against the marble like a gavel, reining the council back into silence. "Despite your disagreements, the vote is in Prince Jungkook's favor. Thus, Umbra will prepare for your departure the day after tomorrow while I will continue the hunt for the assassin and begin the blood sampling in your absence."

Pushing himself off the table, Namjoon inhaled a sharp breath. "Mother Erna we—"

"Prince Namjoon, sit down." Her voice brimmed with an authority thick enough to send shivers through Hoseok's blood. Like a puppy lowering his tail, Namjoon sat.

"We will prepare eight horses for Medeia," Mother Erna said, continuing as if nothing had happened. "From there, I am sure Prince Jungkook will know where to go."

Hesitantly, Jungkook nodded.

"Then the rest of you have a day to prepare for your adventure. Physically and mentally. I am unaware of the obstacles ahead, but may Caeluros guide you all. As of now, the council of war has officially concluded."

Finally, fatigue gilded Hoseok's bones. His creeping apprehension prevented him from following the younger princes and Mother Erna out of the great hall. He was concerned with the future of Kartas, of Pacem. Resting his face in his hands, he heaved out a sigh, and when he looked up, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Seokjin remained at the circular table.

"I understand you three are probably upset with my decision," Seokjin said after a long silence. "Three different reasons led you to believe Namjoon's plan was superior, and you are not wrong to believe so."

Hoseok was too tired to register how Seokjin had dropped Namjoon's title. Still, the expected explanation came quickly.

"Since we are bound to travel with one another, it is best to lay down the formalities," Seokjin said. "You may call me Jin."

No one mustered the energy to respond, so Seok—

Jin. Gods, Hoseok needed rest. Jin continued. "With time, I hope the wisdom of my choice is reinforced, but until then, all we can do is move forward. As the Luxians say: May Light Guide Us."

Twirling, Jin vacated the great hall with a charming wave, taking the remaining positivity with him. Hoseok drowned in misery, pondering how he would explain the current situation in his letter to Caelin and thinking about what that would mean for Pacem, the High Caist.

"Well," Yoongi said, "I don't want to become nihilistic, so I shall take my leave." Despite his declaration, he made no motion to leave. Rather, he ruffled his hair and let out a frustrated, stifled scream.

"There's no point dwelling in our defeat," Namjoon said, the light in his eyes dulled into nonexistence. "The Luxian prince may be the youngest of us, but he is bright. His plan may succeed."

"If we can't find a rift?" Hoseok threw the question, letting it echo off the walls like an arrow bouncing from place to place, imbuing fear through the room.

"His guard has a consultant."

"And if this consultant was a lie?"

Yoongi laughed, shrill and cold, daring to say the words no one uttered. "Then Kartas is screwed." Even Namjoon didn't counter the statement as Yoongi continued laughing in a mixture of a sob and a chuckle. "We're so screwed."

While Hoseok listened to Yoongi's sad excuse of a laugh, he couldn't help but pick up a bucket of pessimism and pour it over his head. It felt terrible, but at least it gave him the power to hold his disapproval.

After they wallowed in their sorrows and worries, they left the great hall. Hoseok wandered the halls for long hours, and even when he lay in bed, he stared at the ceiling instead of sleeping like his body begged him to. All he could think about was the fresh air of Pacem, Caelin's smiling face, and the waterfalls of Sperofell. But even that couldn't sway his mood. Even that couldn't quell the feeling of impending doom.