The sun rose over the Capital, but it brought no peace to the Duke’s Estate.

Instead, the morning light hit the polished gold armor of the guards surrounding the property. Being in the heart of the Capital meant there was nowhere to run; the Duke was pinned in his own home, surrounded by his brother’s elite guards.

Well, it wasn’t like he planned to run anyway.

TRUUUU-UUUM-PET.

The blast was louder than the day before, vibrating over the glass of the balcony doors.

"Grand Duke Alaric Lucien Blackspire!" the commander’s voice roared, amplified by magic to shake the walls. "The sun has risen on your defiance! This is your final warning! Open the gates and surrender to the Imperial mandate, or we will take the Estate by force!"

Inside the room, Alaric stood on the balcony, looking out at the capital and then towards the towering walls of the Palace not too far from there. The emperor was probably waiting for him in those walls.

He hadn’t slept a single wink all night. His golden hair was messier than it usually was, and his tanned face looked tired, but his blue eyes were sharp. He watched the guards below with a look of pure disgust.

Alaric stepped back inside and shut the doors, silencing the shouting and all the noise from the world, and then turned his head to look at the scene that had only a slight change since midnight.

The priest was still there, sitting. His silver hair was damp with sweat, and his face was pale, but his hands stayed firmly over Julian’s legs. The golden light was dimmer now, pulsing softly. He was clearly exhausted, but he hadn’t let go.

Julian was still deep in the forced sleep. His face was calm, and his pulse gentle. Beside him, Lucius, who was already awake, watched the golden glow with curious eyes.

The Duke wished he could keep watching the process, but he didn’t have the luxury. He headed out of the room, glancing at Julian one more time before turning and heading for his study, where Kaelen was waiting with a grim expression.

"The Golden Guards are about to charge for the inner perimeter, Your Grace," Kaelen reported, his voice tight. "They are demanding entry relentlessly. The Marquis is with them, screaming for the gates to be torn down and his son to be brought out."

The Duke looked at the clock. He was pressed for time.

He wanted to draw his sword and clear the courtyard himself, but Julian’s voice echoed in his mind—Julian had told him not to retaliate with violence and choose the other path that didn’t paint him as a monster. He didn’t want the Duke to give the Emperor a reason to call him a butcher and a valid reason to walk him to the gallows, though the Emperor would likely not take it that far, given his obsession.

"Hold them off a little longer," Alaric ordered, his jaw set tight as he battled with the restraint. "Tell the knights to steady themselves as a wall for a moment longer. Do not swing a blade unless they breach the gates with force. We just need a few more hours."

The hours flowed by so agonizingly slow, especially the priest who was squeezing out every last bit of blessing he had in him.

Finally, the time for the treatment to end arrived.

The system window countdown hovered over Julian’s head, despite his incapacity to open his eyes and read it.

> [NOTIFICATION: HOLY RESTORATION – FINAL STAGE]

> Current Status: 98% Integrity —> 99% (Finalizing...)

> Estimated Time to Completion: 0 Hours, 2 Minutes.

Alaric stood by the bed, fully dressed in his formal Duke’s attire, his mantle draped over his shoulders. He watched the final glow of the holy light fade away and knew that it was done.

The young priest suddenly gasped and collapsed into his chair, his silver hair sticking to his damp forehead, as his chest rose and fell heavily.

"I... I have done my best," he rasped, his eyes fluttering shut from exhaustion. "He is mended, now, all he has to do..." he swallowed. "...is wake up."

Alaric nodded to the priest and immediately leaned over Julian. The system countdown reached zero and vanished.

"Wake up, Julian," Alaric said, his voice unusually soft.

Nothing happened. Julian’s chest rose and fell in a steady, calm rhythm, but his eyes remained closed.

"Julian?" Alaric tried again, his voice rising with alarm. He shook Julian’s shoulder, but he didn’t even stir, lying still. "Kaelen!" the Duke yelled, not waiting to shake Julian a third time to know something was wrong.

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"Fetch the physician! Now!"

The physician rushed in, trembling under the Duke’s lethal gaze.

"Check him," he ordered.

By this time, the knights had taken the passed-out priest to another room to keep his presence in the Estate a secret.

The physician checked Julian’s pulse, his breathing, and the temperature of his skin. After a thorough examination, he stepped back and wiped sweat from his brow.

"Your Grace, he is perfectly healthy," the physician said quickly. "The wound is gone," which shocked him more than anything else, but he did not dare ask a question with the Duke’s murderous gaze on him. "He is simply sleeping."

"Then why won’t he wake up?" Alaric demanded, his blue eyes flashing.

"It is a deep slumber, likely caused by the intensity of exhaustion. His body... is likely trying to get back on track," the physician explained, the most professional response he could give that would likely spare his neck. "I cannot say exactly when he will wake, but his life is in no danger, Your Grace. Be at ease."

But how could he be at ease? He needed Julian awake for the plan to go smoothly.

Alaric looked at Julian’s peaceful face. He didn’t have time to wait.

The gates had been breached, and the Imperial summons could no longer be ignored. He had to leave now.

He walked to Julian’s side and then brushed his cheek with his thumb. His reflection was brighter than before, which meant he was fine.

The Duke smiled, a little soft and warm smile playing on his lips. As long as he was fine, it was not a problem. Then, he leaned down and kissed Julian’s forehead, shocking the knights who were watching and the physician as well. What did they just witness?

The Duke leaned back and turned to Lucius,

"I’ll leave Julian with you, make sure to protect him, okay?"

Lucius nodded heavily, his eyes glinting. Leave it to me. His gaze said, and the Duke patted his head before turning, his cape billowing. It was time to face the music.

"Kaelen," he called.

"Yes, Your Grace?" Kaelen answered, having just recovered from the shock. "Assign the most skilled knights to protect Julian in and outside his room. If anyone comes near," his eyes glowed dangerously. "Strike them on sight."

Kaelen paused. A kill on sight order. Just for the tutor.

He bowed his head and said, "Leave it to me, Your Grace. The previous night shall not repeat itself." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Also," the Duke paused and turned his head. "...how is the prisoner in the dungeon?"