The clink of metal echoed as Anna sliced into her steak, breaking the silence that blanketed the room. Aiden sat across from her, his eyes smoldering, ready to explode at any moment. His spirit was still shaken by the events of the afternoon.

“You’re still not eating?” Anna asked, noticing Aiden hadn’t touched a bite.
“That’s not my cooking.”

“Don’t act as if nothing happened.” Aiden growled, though his voice was low. “I want to hear it directly from you.”

Anna set down her utensils, folded her hands on the table, and leaned toward her son. “What is it you want to hear?”

“Your purpose in doing this,” Aiden shot back.

For a moment, Anna glanced upward to the left, her thoughts drifting. “To create a land that is peaceful and safe to live in.”

“Don’t joke with me.”

“You can see for yourself—your surroundings, the people around you.”

“You think that prisoner aren’t our people?”

“Foam on the sea is of no importance, Aiden.”

Suddenly, Aiden’s breath caught. His chest trembled, his eyes widened. His mother felt further away than ever. In a hushed voice, still struggling to accept it, he said, “Mom... you don’t mean that… do you?”

Anna closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. When she opened them again, her gaze was sharp. “I do. Being queen is not enough for me. I want them to bow unconditionally—just as they bow to God.”

“You’ve gone mad,” Aiden said.

“Call me what you will. I am still your mother, and you cannot deny that.”

Aiden’s eyes twitched, crimson threads of blood surfacing along their edges. Beneath the table, he clenched his fists, jaw tight, trying to keep from baring his grinding teeth.

Anna resumed cutting her steak. “You won’t return to Altiora, but neither will you be allowed to leave here. You are punished.”

“Why should I care?” Aiden burst out. “Ten years I spent in that place, suppressing all my desires, obeying your every word, because I believed you’d come back and give me the life you promised. But what did you give me? You broke your promise—you deceived me.”

“I did not deceive you.”

“Then what is this?” Aiden snapped. “People stripped of reason and humanity! Twisted beyond recognition! Killing in your name!”

“You are too young. There are many things you don’t yet understand.”

“You never listen to me! You always treat me like a child! You’re selfish! You’re cruel! All you care about is power!”

“I am trying to protect you!” Anna slammed the table, unable to contain the greatest fracture within herself.

Her fork and knife slipped, clattering to the floor. She fell silent. Sweat beaded her brow. Her chest heaved with quick, heavy breaths.

Silence seeped back into the room. Aiden said nothing. It was the first time he had ever seen his mother so furious that she lost control of her emotions. He steadied himself to speak gently, trying to understand. “Protect me from what?”

Anna gave no answer, hiding her face behind her hair.

“I truly don’t understand you,” Aiden said in frustration. He picked up his mother’s fallen utensils, replacing them with his own, and continued.
“I saw Winterhold soldiers there. Elden must be involved. At first, I thought you really wanted to mend our relationship. But now I see why you called me back, why you suddenly acted warm toward me. You only wanted to use me—just as you use Elden. But know this...” Aiden’s voice hardened, his eyes sharpened.
“... I will not obey like Elden. Stay out of my life!”

Without another word, the young man rose from his chair and stormed out.

“Aiden!” Anna called. But as he had said, he no longer obeyed her.

Outside, Aiden crossed paths with someone who resembled him, except for his black hair, dark brown eyes, and taller, broader frame. Elden. There was no warmth in his face. No closeness between them. The brothers only exchanged a brief glance before moving on without a word.

Elden entered the dining room, taking the seat across from his mother. “I told you—you spoil him too much.”

Anna ignored him, only sighing heavily before drinking her water in frustration.

Seeing the exhaustion on her face, Elden took the initiative. “I’ll handle the boy.”

“No,” Anna replied quickly. “You already have too much on your shoulders. Leave Aiden to me.”

“If he steps out of line, I’ll deal with him—with or without your approval,” Elden said firmly.

Anna nodded, gently reaching for her son’s hand. “All right. But for now, eat and rest. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” She gave a bitter smile. “You came all this way, and it turned into a mess like this. I’m sorry. This should have been our first proper dinner together.”

Meanwhile, on the balcony of his room, Aiden sat alone, lost in thought. His gaze was vacant. Jameson’s words and his mother’s confession still rang in his head. He tried to make sense of her reasons, but all that came to mind was a once-gentle face now foreign, a once-beautiful face revealed as manipulative, the face of a ruler blinded by power. Those tender words, the peace he felt when she soothed his wounded brow—fading, fading. Aiden realized he might never have truly known his mother.

The doorknob creaked. Duncan stepped out from Aiden’s room onto the balcony, joining him. He placed a cup of tea on the small table where they played chess.

“The view is beautiful,” the servant said, gazing at the starry sky. “People dislike the darkness. But strangely, sometimes darkness gives us a different perspective on how we should see the world.”

“Leave. Don’t talk to me.”

Duncan paid no mind. “Without darkness, we cannot see the stars. Without darkness, we cannot see the fireflies shine. Without darkness—”

“I said leave!”

Duncan turned, smiling patiently. “Emotion clouds reason. I know you’re angry at everything to the point you no longer know who it is you want to be angry with. I don’t mean to lecture you, and I won’t beg for your forgiveness. In time, you’ll understand on your own, my lord.”

Aiden shut his eyes, calming his rage, forcing himself to think logically as Duncan urged. “You’re right. You’re just a servant assigned to watch over me. I was wrong to think of you as a friend.”

“You’re free to think that.” Duncan patted Aiden’s shoulder and left him alone.

That night was silent, yet full for Aiden. He wished he had never known his family—perhaps even that he had never been born at all.

Next Chapter: Chapter 6: The Barani Prophet