The start of a new semester at the Academy of the Four Realms was usually an event filled with excitement and fresh possibilities. But for Princess Alara Celeste and her inseparable companions, Dominique and Carlysle, it began with an unwelcome surprise.

“This has to be a mistake,” Carlysle grumbled, staring at the parchment that listed his schedule. His heterochromatic eyes, one ocean blue and the other golden brown, darted back and forth between Dominique’s equally disappointed expression and Alara’s calm smile. “They can’t just split us up like this.”

Dominique adjusted his glasses, his lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s no mistake. The Academy’s new policy emphasizes specialization. They likely think we’ll perform better apart.”

“Perform better?” Carlysle scoffed. “We’re a team! How are we supposed to keep Alara out of trouble if we’re not even in the same section?”

Alara, standing a few steps away, chuckled at their despair. “Oh, come now. You two act like I can’t survive without you.” Her emerald-green eyes sparkled mischievously. “Besides, I’ve just found out something wonderful—Ellias and I have the same schedule. Isn’t that fate?”

The twins groaned in unison.

“Fate?” Dominique echoed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You mean disaster waiting to happen.”

Carlysle crossed his arms. “And here I thought we were your favorite companions. Replaced by some mysterious loner. Tragic.”

Alara rolled her eyes but grinned. “You’re being dramatic. Don’t worry, I’ll still need you two to bail me out when things go sideways.”

Despite their banter, the separation weighed heavily on the twins. The trio had always faced challenges together, and this change felt like the end of an era.

Alara’s enthusiasm for the new semester, however, only grew when she spotted Ellias in their shared class that morning. Seated at the edge of the room, he seemed as aloof as ever, his piercing gray eyes fixed on the book in front of him. Alara slipped into the seat beside him with an uncharacteristic grace, her excitement barely contained.

“Ellias,” she said brightly. “This is destiny, don’t you think? Us sharing the same lessons?”

Ellias glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. “If you say so, Your Highness.”

Alara’s grin widened. “Oh, come on, don’t be so serious. This is going to be fun.”

He didn’t respond, returning his attention to his book. Unfazed, Alara continued to chatter through the lesson, occasionally asking questions about his thoughts on the subject at hand. While Ellias answered politely, he remained distant, his demeanor as calm and composed as ever.

Despite Ellias’s reserved nature, Alara’s presence brought a noticeable change to his daily life. The bullies who had once tormented him now avoided him entirely. Word had spread quickly that Princess Alara Celeste, a skilled fighter and accomplished swordswoman, had no patience for those who preyed on others. Her mere association with Ellias acted as a shield, though he seemed indifferent to the shift.

One afternoon, as they walked between lessons, Alara decided to press him further. “Ellias, you’re not very talkative, are you?” she asked, her tone teasing but curious.

He glanced at her sidelong. “I’ve found that talking too much invites trouble.”

“You’re no fun,” she replied, pouting slightly. “But seriously, what’s your story? Why are you here at the Academy?”

Ellias hesitated, his gray eyes clouding for a moment before he answered. “I’m here because my family sent me away. I’m… an illegitimate son. A blemish they didn’t want to deal with.”

Alara’s playful expression softened. “That’s awful. They’re the ones missing out, you know. You’re…” She trailed off, searching for the right words. “Well, you’re better than they deserve.”

Ellias gave her a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re kind to say so, Your Highness. But it is what it is.”

What Ellias didn’t reveal was the full extent of his situation. The “family” that had cast him out wasn’t just any noble house—it was the royal family of Yvenne. As the illegitimate son of the Emperor, his existence was a source of shame. Yet beneath his calm exterior, Ellias harbored a growing determination. He hadn’t been sent to the Academy merely to be hidden away; he was here to learn, to grow stronger, and ultimately, to challenge the man who had abandoned him.

As Alara’s cheerful voice broke through his thoughts, Ellias reminded himself to tread carefully. The princess was far from ordinary, and the more she lingered in his life, the more difficult it would be to keep his plans concealed.

Ellias Coeverden’s dormitory at the Academy of the Four Realms was unlike any other. Reserved exclusively for those of noble lineage or extreme privilege, the space boasted luxurious furnishings and, most importantly, a secret room concealed behind a seemingly ordinary bookshelf. It was in this hidden chamber that Ellias conducted the work that no one—not even the inquisitive Princess Alara—could ever suspect.

Tonight, the air in the hidden room was tense. Ellias, seated at a grand oak desk, poured over letters sealed with wax and coded documents from his network of insiders. Despite his composed demeanor, the young man was a whirlwind of strategy and ambition beneath the surface. He had worked tirelessly for years to reach this point, building an empire unnoticed by the crown of Yvenne. What few knew was that Ellias, the overlooked illegitimate son of Yvenne’s Emperor, had become one of the kingdom’s most successful merchants, operating under a carefully crafted alias.

A soft knock at the hidden door broke his focus. Without looking up, Ellias spoke, his voice calm and measured. “Come in, Lady Sylviane.”

The door creaked open, revealing an elegant woman dressed in fine silks, her presence commanding yet veiled in secrecy. Lady Sylviane of Yvenne, once a prominent figure in court and an ex-lover of the Duke—Dominique and Carlysle’s father—stepped inside. Her sharp eyes took in the room’s details before settling on Ellias.

“You’ve made remarkable progress,” Sylviane remarked, her tone approving. She placed a leather-bound ledger on the desk before seating herself gracefully. “Your investments continue to flourish. The Emperor remains blissfully unaware of the web we’ve spun beneath his throne.”

Ellias allowed himself a faint smile. “It’s thanks to your guidance, my lady. The connections you provided ensured the foundation of this network. Now, I have enough influence to rival the Emperor himself.”

Sylviane leaned forward, her expression darkening. “Influence alone isn’t enough. You know the stakes. Every piece must be in place before we strike. Tell me, Ellias—how fares your army?”

Ellias folded his hands, his piercing gray eyes meeting hers. “They’re ready. Five years of careful preparation has ensured that. Our forces remain hidden, stationed strategically within the borders and the capital itself. Insiders within the court report directly to me.”

Sylviane’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Good. And the Emperor’s children? They remain oblivious?”

Ellias’s face hardened. “My brothers despise me, as always, but they’re too preoccupied with their ambitions to notice mine. My sister is consumed with her upcoming marriage to some noble. None of them suspect that the illegitimate son they dismissed is positioning himself to take the throne.”

Sylviane’s eyes gleamed with approval. “And the Empress? Does her shadow still haunt you?”

Ellias’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, his calm facade cracked. “The Empress murdered my mother,” he said, his voice low and venomous. “I was only four years old, but I’ll never forget. The Emperor hid the truth and swept it away as if her life meant nothing. But I will make him pay. I will take everything from him, starting with his crown.”

For a moment, silence filled the room, heavy with the weight of Ellias’s confession. Then Sylviane reached out, placing a hand on his. “You’re not alone in this, Ellias. We will bring down the Emperor and his family. Yvenne deserves a ruler who understands its true potential.”

Ellias nodded, his composure returning. “And that ruler will be me. The coup is near. Once my allies are fully positioned, the throne will be mine.”

Sylviane rose, smoothing the folds of her gown. “Then I shall ensure our plans remain on course. Trust no one but me, Ellias. Even those who seem loyal may falter when the time comes.”

As she turned to leave, Ellias watched her go, his mind already racing with the next steps. Lady Sylviane had been instrumental in his rise, but he knew better than to trust anyone completely. In his world, loyalty was a fleeting concept, bought and sold like any commodity.

Once the door closed, Ellias leaned back in his chair, staring at the hidden room’s ceiling. For years, he had hidden his true self behind a mask of indifference. Not even Princess Alara, with her relentless curiosity and infectious spirit, could see the darkness he carried. She thought him a mystery, an enigma to unravel. But some secrets were better left buried.

With a sigh, Ellias extinguished the lamp on his desk, plunging the room into shadow. The night was still, but the storm brewing in Yvenne’s undercurrents was anything but. And at its heart stood a man—an illegitimate son—ready to claim the destiny that had been stolen from him.