The exhaustion faded during the ride.

The evening air brushed over my skin like fine silk. I closed my eyes for a moment because Azurea seemed to know the way back to the castle without guidance. Her steps were steady. The rhythm of her hooves grounded me.

It did not take long until the soft earth turned into cold cobblestone beneath us. I opened my eyes again.

From a distance the castle rose like a true demon kingdom. Dark towers pierced the dim sky. Faint amber lights burned in the high windows. The silhouette looked almost beautiful.

I slowed Azurea.

This is where my trauma ended.

Or began.

I gave her a gentle nudge and we continued forward. The castle lights glowed in the growing dusk. The atmosphere felt strangely nostalgic. The scent of spring lingered in the air.

I dismounted and tied Azurea carefully. I pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.

“Good girl.”

Then I walked toward the entrance. I removed my cloak and folded it over my arm. The moment I stepped inside, I felt it.

All of them were there.

Kaelin’s presence dominated the room like a storm held in place.

My nerves tightened.

I took a slow breath and pushed the door open.

The room was dim. The fire in the hearth burned low. Taurus stood near the far wall with his massive arms crossed, rigid like a statue. Yokai leaned against a column, eyes lowered toward the floor. Luis stood near the window, one hand covering his face as if he had been rubbing it repeatedly.

And Kaelin.

He stood behind his desk. One hand braced against the wood. His posture was tense. His shoulders were rigid. His red-violet eyes were darker than usual.

He did not look well.

I stepped further into the room.

“Is everything okay with you?”

Luis dragged his hand down his face and did not answer.

“Guys, what is going on?”

The only one missing was Akaza.

I turned halfway in a circle. “Kaelin, say something.”

The door opened again.

Akaza entered.

“You called for me—”

His voice faded as he took in the room. His eyes met mine for a second. The door closed automatically behind him.

I looked back at Kaelin.

“What is happening?”

Kaelin’s voice came out dry. “Ask Akaza.”

My heart began to pound.

Akaza stood with his hands behind his back. His posture was stiff. He looked injured somehow. Not physically. Something else.

“I have nothing to say,” he said weakly.

He only looked at Kaelin.

Kaelin leaned against the desk. I could see only one of his eyes from that angle. That red emerald eye looked disappointed. His dark curls fell over his forehead.

“Oh, really?”

The tension thickened.

I glanced at Yokai. He did not lift his gaze.

Kaelin opened a drawer. He pulled out several documents and threw them at Akaza’s feet. The sound echoed sharply in the quiet room.

Akaza looked down once. Then he closed his eyes.

I crouched down and picked up a few of the papers.

They were photographs.

Villages.

Destroyed villages.

My breath caught.

I read further.

“The financial situation was critical… funds were not delivered… funds disappeared… unknown destination…”

My heart hammered louder.

I flipped to the next page.

“An assassin group was financed by a third party…”

I turned the page quickly.

“The third party: Akaza Vireth.”

I looked up at him in disbelief.

It made sense now.

He was the finance master.

I forced my voice to stay calm.

“Why?”

He looked at me with pure hatred.

“All because of you.”

The words struck harder than any blade. My heart dropped violently.

Kaelin slammed his fist onto the desk. The wood split in half.

“Do not even dare. DO NOT DARE use her as an excuse.”

I flinched.

I had never heard him like this. It was not only anger. It was frustration. Betrayal. Deep betrayal.

“You financed an assassin group with state funds to kill Aaliyah?”

Akaza said nothing.

“ANSWER!”

Akaza lowered his head. He struggled internally.

“Yes.”

The word was barely audible.

Kaelin shook his head. For a split second I saw his eyes shine with unshed tears.

I took a slow breath.

Taurus did not move.

“Akaza,” Kaelin said, voice shaking slightly, “that money was meant for poor villages. Villages we came from. When I saw them… they were in ruins.”

Akaza pressed his lips together. He squeezed his eyes shut.

“I am sorry.”

Kaelin swept everything from his desk. Papers, ink, objects. They crashed against the wall.

“Sorry?” His voice broke. “You used my trust. From your best friend.”

He grew quieter.

I saw the pain in Kaelin. Deep and raw.

I saw it in Akaza too.

The fact that he sent killers after me felt almost secondary now.

Kaelin dragged a hand through his hair.

“When I found out… it felt like my vision of us collapsed. I could not sleep for days.”

He opened the drawer again and pulled out a small photograph. He threw it at Akaza’s feet.

“That was us when we were younger. Now it lies at your feet. Just like your value in my eyes.”

Akaza’s eyes filled with tears. He stared at the picture.

“You are hereby banished from this kingdom.”

We all inhaled sharply.

Akaza looked up.

“Please, Kaelin—”

Kaelin raised his hand. His sorrow twisted into something darker.

“If you do not want me to activate my magic and take your head right now, you will walk through that door and you will not turn around. You disgusting traitor.”

The words were merciless.

Akaza bent down with trembling hands. He picked up the photograph. His shoulders shook.

He walked toward the door slowly.

“By the way,” Kaelin added coldly, “the reason I did not kill you… you can thank Aaliyah for that.”

I looked at Kaelin abruptly.

Akaza paused for half a second.

Then he left.

The door closed.

It was done.

I stood frozen.

The others knew. They had known.

But knowing and accepting are different things.

The atmosphere in the room turned ugly and suffocating.

Kaelin dropped into his chair and leaned back. He stared at the ceiling.

“Leave the room. All of you.”

His voice sounded exhausted.

Taurus left first. Then Yokai. Then Luis.

I moved toward the door.

“Wait.”

I stopped.

“I need to confess something.”

I turned around.

He was still staring at the ceiling.

“When you told me you wanted to move on from your past… I mocked you for a moment.”

He smiled sadly.

“For despising something I could not feel myself. Because I am not strong enough to think like you.”

My eyes widened. A tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away slowly.

“Kaelin… I am sorry.”

He shook his head.

“For what? Do not tell me you blame yourself.”

He laughed hollowly.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I do.”

His voice sharpened through pain.

“Aaliyah, a man who betrays you does it regardless. You were only the excuse.”

He ran his hand over his face.

“I wanted to be strong like you. To forgive like you.”

My lips trembled. The air in the room felt thinner.

He finally looked at me.

“Thank you.”

I closed my eyes.

Then I turned and walked out.

The moment the door shut behind me, my legs weakened. I pressed my back against the wall. My breathing became heavy. I covered my mouth with my hand and began to cry silently.

But I do blame myself.

If I had never come here, their friendship would not have broken.

And the look in his eyes…

It was as if an entire dimension inside him had collapsed.