Ryden's POV

I take deliberate breaths as I walk down the opulently decorated corridor of the Shadow Castle. I’ve walked this corridor several times, yet I’m still entranced by its unique beauty. I heard it was personally redecorated by the late queen, and I have to say, she had quite the exquisite taste.

While still admiring, I hear the snickers of a servant, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. Ever since my kingdom gave me up as a peace hostage to the Shadow Empire at the age of three, everyone has looked down on me. They see me as an abandoned prince and have no respect for the fact that I am still royalty.

Even though I’m a hostage, I am treated very well by the Shadow royal family. In truth, I hold more hatred toward the Dragonian throne and my father than I do for this empire. He abandoned me because of his own insecurities. I used to hope that he had no choice, that he loved me, that once the princess was found, I’d go back home. But when I learned the truth, all hope and expectations I had for that man died.

Whenever I think of him, my blood still boils. I should stop now due to my recent insomnia, I have no mental strength left to deal with those thoughts.

I reach the door of the throne room and knock. I wait until I hear the familiar sound.

“Come in.”

I walk into the throne room where the king of the Shadow Empire, Korrin Velmorne, and his seven princes sit. I enter and bow respectfully to the man who raised me more than my own father ever did.

“Greetings to the Supreme, Shadow Ruler of the Night and Custodian to the Day.”

“Rise and take a seat, my child.”

I bow one last time and take a seat. The first prince, Tarin, looks my way.

“Are you still battling with insomnia? It started ever since you went to the outpost border of the human realm. Did something happen while you were there?”

“Nothing eventful happened, First Prince,” I reply emotionlessly and dishonestly.

If I were to tell the truth, I would have said that I met a beautiful silver goddess that day, and she has haunted my dreams every night since. When I think about that encounter, I can't help but feel it was fate. A human with silver hair, confidently approaching the outpost border as if searching for something that’s not a common occurrence.

She looked me dead in the eyes with a defiant expression that stirred something in my already-dead heart. I became interested. Curious, even. I had so many questions I wanted to ask her: What are you searching for? What gives you the confidence to come here alone? After all, the borders are defended by low-level shadows who could still easily kill a human. Why did you have that fearless look in your eyes, like someone who has seen it all and can’t be scared anymore?

Why did you decide to haunt my dreams? And will I ever get the opportunity to see you again?

But those questions remain locked in my heart.

“The reason I summoned you all here today is about the coliseum that will take place two days from now,” I hear the king say, and I instantly pay attention.

“Why are we allowing humans in this year?” I ask, unable to hold back my curiosity.

It is Tarin, the first prince, who replies.

“On that day, it will be the princess’s nineteenth birthday. Shadow royalty undergo power shifts on their nineteenth birthday, it is the day they are most unstable, and their powers lose control upon the slightest provocation. We want to use this opportunity to create a situation where the princess’s power will be overwhelmed, and she will be found. In order to do that, the humans have to be in attendance.”

The king speaks next.

“Everything has been arranged, and we’ve decided to use the Ilulo crystals. As much as we want to find the princess, we won’t sacrifice life unnecessarily.”

It’s truly because of his benevolent and wise nature that I admire him as a king. I do hope the princess is found if for nothing else, then so she can know what it feels like to be truly loved and cherished by such an amazing family.

“You shall be joining us in our podium, so get ready and prepare well,” the king says in his final decree.

I bow once more before taking my leave.

I have a feeling the day of the coliseum is going to be rather interesting.