Chapter 128: The Return Of The Crown Prince

Chase POV:

Back in the palace, it felt like stepping into a memory that had refused to fade. The sprawling halls, adorned with their cold, marbled grandeur, seemed unchanged, yet the weight of loss hung even heavier in the air. The kingdom, once vibrant and alive, was now draped in mourning, shrouded in a sense of grief that echoed the night my mother was killed. It was the same oppressive heaviness, only now it extended to my father as well.

Rumors of my return had spread like wildfire. I could hear the whispers as I walked through the grand corridors and into the courtyard, where my people had begun to gather. Some faces lit up with excitement, their murmured voices filled with hope. To them, the return of the crown prince meant stability, a sign that their kingdom would endure. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to bask in their joy, feeling the faint stirrings of a connection I hadn't realized I'd missed. 

But their joy wasn't mine.