THE SHADOW BOUND CROWN

The grand hall of the castle was filled with murmurs as the king's council gathered. High-ranking nobles, seasoned generals, and trusted advisors lined the long wooden table, their voices overlapping intense discussions. At the head of the table sat King Edric, his expression unreadable as he listened to the concerns of his kingdom's most powerful men.

"We must discuss the security reinforcements immediately," Lord Hargan, the king's war minister, began. "With the matchmaking season approaching, we expect delegations from multiple kingdoms to arrive within weeks. The roads must be patrolled, and our defenses strengthened."

"The taxes from the conquered territories should be enough to fund additional guards," another lord chimed in. "But the commoners grow restless. If we push them too hard, we risk rebellion."

King Edric scoffed. "Let them grumble. They have little power to act."

A soft chuckle rippled through the council, but not all shared the king's dismissiveness.

"There is another issue," Lord Cassiel, the master of intelligence, spoke next. "The so-called 'Knight of Shadows.'"

A silence fell over the room.

"A myth," one noble sneered. "A bedtime tale for peasants."

Cassiel shook his head. "A tale that grows stronger each day. The common folk whisper of a lone warrior who defends them against bandits. A knight who appears from the shadows, striking with unnatural speed and disappearing just as quickly."

The king leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "And why should I care for the fantasies of peasants?"

Cassiel exchanged a look with General Aldric. "Because, Your Majesty, last night, this 'knight' stopped an attack on a noble's carriage. Reports claim the warrior displayed uncanny abilities—perhaps even magic."

A murmur spread through the hall.

"Magic?" the king repeated, his fingers tapping against the table. "Explain."

"A survivor spoke of an unseen force stopping an arrow mid-flight, of an attacker being thrown through the air without being touched."

The room tensed. Magic was rare, feared, and closely monitored.

The king's expression darkened. "Investigate, but discreetly. If this knight is real, I want them found—but I will not waste my resources chasing shadows."

The discussion moved on, turning to the matchmaking season. Noble sons and daughters from allied kingdoms would soon arrive, searching for advantageous matches. The event was as much about diplomacy as it was about marriage, and every royal child was expected to partake—even those not yet of age.

"Evelyne's prospects must be carefully considered," one of the ministers stated. "As the one of the high-ranking princesses, her match must be of great strategic importance."

"And what of Princess Lysara?" another lord asked.

The king's lips pressed into a thin line. "She is too young for marriage, but she will attend the gatherings. It will do her well to learn the weight of duty."

The other princes must also make sure to find good wives and princesses especially from high-ranking kingdoms to strengthen our ties.

"I heard that the princes from both Tharassara and Frostveil from the north will be here, they have already confirmed their attendance. We must ensure their secure a wife from our Kingdom they are both powerful countries rich with minerals. This will help secure our ties." The meeting went on.

Meanwhile...

Lysara sat in the gardens, her back pressed against the stone wall, listening intently as one of the castle's spies reported the king's words to her in hushed tones.

"They're looking for the Shadow Knight," the spy whispered. "Not aggressively, but enough to be cautious."

Lysara exhaled slowly. Her secret life had always carried risks, but this was the first time her father had taken notice.

"And the matchmaking?" she asked, her tone laced with irritation.

"You'll be expected to attend the events, though no match will be forced upon you yet."

Lysara bit her lip. Socializing with pompous nobles, pretending to be a perfect princess—it was a fate she dreaded almost as much as being discovered as the Shadow Knight.

She dismissed the person one of the few spies she had in the castle and was left deep in thought, and after a while decided to slow down her endeavors outside the castle especially during this period.