Battlefield.

04

In the secluded depths of the abandoned dungeon, Nathaniel and Sara found solace in each other's arms, their love a beacon of hope in a world shrouded in darkness. But their clandestine meetings were shattered one fateful day when their secret sanctuary was discovered by a castle servant with a thirst for vengeance.

One fateful day, as Nathaniel and Sara stole away to their hidden sanctuary, they were ambushed by the castle servant, who had stumbled upon their meeting by chance. Shock and fear coursed through Nathaniel and Sara as they realized they had been discovered, their hearts pounding with dread at the consequences of their forbidden love being exposed.

"You thought you could keep this a secret, didn't you?" the servant sneered, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction at the sight of Nathaniel and Sara's distress. "Well, now everyone will know the truth about your illicit affair."

Nathaniel's heart sank as he beheld the gleeful triumph in the servant's eyes, his mind racing with thoughts of the punishment that awaited him at the hands of his father, the king. Beside him, Sara trembled with fear, her hand clutching his tightly as they faced the inevitability of their fate.

Desperate to protect his firstborn son, Nicholas, the crown prince, from the truth of Nathaniel's being, fueled by rumors of a curse that haunted the royal bloodline, the king found himself faced with a dilemma that threatened to unravel his carefully constructed facade of power and prestige. The king concocted a plan to cover up his own sins—a plan that would see Nathaniel become the scapegoat for his father's crimes.

Summoned before the king's throne, Nathaniel stood tall, his heart heavy with apprehension as he awaited his father's judgment. Beside him, Sara trembled with fear, her hand clasped tightly in his as they faced the wrath of a king betrayed. "You have brought shame upon our family, Nathaniel," the king declared, his voice laced with scorn as he gazed upon his youngest son. "For your crimes against the crown, you shall be banished from this kingdom forever." Nathaniel's heart sank as he realized the true extent of his father's betrayal. He had always known that his existence was a threat to the stability of the kingdom, but he had never imagined that his own father would be willing to sacrifice him to protect his own interests. However, as Nathaniel was dragged away to face his punishment, he vowed to uncover the truth of his father's deception and seek justice for the years of suffering he had endured in the shadows of the castle.

As he languished in exile, Nathaniel's resolve only strengthened, his determination to uncover the truth burning like a flame in the darkness. With Sara by his side, he embarked on a quest to unravel the secrets of his past and expose the lies that had torn his family apart. "And what of Sara?" Nathaniel asked, his voice tinged with concern as he turned to face his father. "Will she suffer the same fate as I?" The king's expression hardened, his eyes flashing with anger. "She is a mere commoner—a pawn in this game of deceit. She is of no consequence to the kingdom." But Nathaniel refused to accept his father's callous dismissal of Sara's worth. "She is my love, Father," he declared, his voice filled with determination. "I will not abandon her, no matter the cost." As he spoke, Nathaniel felt Sara's hand tighten around his own, her silent support a beacon of strength in the darkness. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, their love a guiding light in a world consumed by shadows of deception.

—

As Nicholas stood before the throne, his resolve hardened with each passing moment. He fixed his gaze upon his father, his eyes ablaze with determination.

"Father, I cannot stand idly by while injustice reigns within our kingdom," Nicholas declared, his voice unwavering despite the weight of the truth he bore. "Nathaniel is my brother, and I will not rest until I uncover the truth of his banishment." The king's expression darkened, his features contorted with anger and frustration. "You know nothing of what you speak, Nicholas," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Nathaniel's fate was sealed the moment he defied my will." But Nicholas refused to be cowed by his father's intimidation tactics. "I refuse to believe that Nathaniel's banishment was justified," he countered, his voice rising with conviction. "He may have broke our royal rules, but he is still my brother, in fact you know he was born with weak heart, and he deserves better than to be cast aside like some common criminal, father!" The King walked away. Nicholas couldn't believe things he saw. He knew his father always favored him more than his little brother but how can a father did this to his own son because of a fatal mistake?  Sir Mason, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward to stand by Nicholas's side, his expression solemn but resolute. "Your Highness, we must uncover the truth of Nathaniel's banishment, no matter the cost," he urged, his voice a steadying presence in the tumultuous sea of emotions that roiled within the throne room. Nicholas nodded in agreement, his determination unwavering in the face of adversity. "We will not rest until justice is served," he declared, his voice ringing with authority. "For Nathaniel, and for all those who have suffered at the hands of tyranny."

With that, Nicholas turned on his heel and strode purposefully from the throne room, his heart heavy with the weight of the truth he bore. But as he embarked on his quest for justice, he knew that he was not alone—that with the support of his loyal allies and the strength of his convictions, he would uncover the dark secrets that lay hidden within the shadows of the castle walls. And though the road ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, Nicholas vowed to press on, no matter the cost, until Nathaniel's honor was restored and justice was served.

Determined to uncover the truth of Nathaniel's banishment, Nicholas and Sir Mason delved deeper into the shadows of the castle, their quest for justice fueled by a burning desire to right the wrongs that had been perpetrated against their family. As they sifted through the tangled web of lies and deceit, they encountered resistance at every turn, their efforts thwarted by those loyal to the king's nefarious agenda. But Nicholas refused to be deterred, his resolve unshakeable in the face of adversity. "We must tread carefully, Your Highness," Sir Mason cautioned, his voice a whisper of caution in the darkness. "The king's reach extends far, and there are those who would seek to silence us before we uncover the truth." Nicholas nodded in agreement, his jaw set with determination. "We cannot allow fear to dictate our actions," he declared, his voice tinged with defiance. "We owe it to Nathaniel—and to all those who have suffered—to see this through to the end."

With each passing day, Nicholas and Sir Mason drew closer to unraveling the mystery of Nathaniel's banishment, their tireless efforts yielding clues and revelations that painted a damning picture of the king's deceit. But as they neared the truth, they also drew the attention of those who sought to protect the king's secrets at any cost.

One fateful night, as Nicholas and Sir Mason pored over a trove of documents hidden within the castle's archives, they were ambushed by a group of the king's loyal guards, intent on silencing them once and for all. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Nicholas and Sir Mason fought valiantly against their assailants, their swords flashing in the dim torchlight as they battled for their lives. But despite their best efforts, they were outnumbered and outmatched, their strength waning with each passing moment. Just as it seemed all hope was lost, a figure emerged from the shadows—a hooded figure whose identity remained shrouded in mystery. With lightning speed and precision, the hooded figure dispatched the guards with a skill and ferocity that left Nicholas and Sir Mason stunned. As the last of their attackers fell to the ground, defeated, the hooded figure stepped forward into the light, revealing herself to be none other than Sara, Nathaniel's beloved. "We cannot allow the king's tyranny to go unchecked," Sara declared, her voice filled with determination. "We must stand together and fight for justice—for Nathaniel, and for all those who have suffered at the hands of his cruelty."

Moved by Sara's courage and conviction, Nicholas and Sir Thomas pledged their allegiance to her cause, their resolve hardened by the knowledge that they were not alone in their fight. "My brother, where is he?" Nicholas asked with his eyes full of hope. "He is safe, your highness. I brought him somewhere far away from here with some help I received. He is currently recuperating." Sara answered and passed a piece of paper in Nicholas hand. "Although I hate his whole family, Nathaniel urged that he wanted you to know that he is doing fine. If you are smart enough, only come when no eyes are behind your tail," Sara answered with a stern voice. "Is that why you are here today?" Nicholas asked and Sara nodded. "I hate to saved you, but Nath won't be happy if I just left you behind. Nevertheless, you are our main hope to revealed the truth of the King's bad deeds. I'm going now. Farewell," Sara said as she then swiftly moved and disappeared. Nicholas smiled, "He is safe Mase, at least for now," 'Yes, your highness. We will get this matter to the end," Sir Mason voiced out and Nicholas nodded.

'No matter where life takes us, I know that we will always have each other. See you soon, brother,'