8. Zai
Zai
The ballroom swelled with laughter and music, nobles chattering with flushed cheeks and wine-bright smiles. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, casting flickering lights across the revelers. A soft melody wove between conversations from the lyre-players tucked into one corner.
Father presided over it all from his throne-like chair on the raised stage by the far wall. His gaze swept the crowd with cold assessment. Everyone was draped in gold-trimmed silks that probably cost more than a farmer made in a year.
Somehow, I’d survived the week. Only one more night to endure, then I could forget about the whole thing. At least for another year.
My deep-red satin attire with golden embroidery glimmered in the light, but my insides felt like ash.
Everywhere I looked reminded me of her.
Mother moving through the crowd, making every person feel seen and valued. The way she’d spun across the floor in Father’s arms, her laugh bright enough to rival any sun wielder’s light.
I grabbed a crystal glass from a passing servant and downed it in a few large gulps. The liquor still burned my throat as I reached for another.
People smiled at me, their words coated in favor-seeking flattery. I forced myself to nod, speak the right words, play the proper prince.
Did they even remember I was the one who killed the woman they were here to honor?
Sure, everyone knew it was an accident, but if not for me, she’d still be alive. They should all hate me as openly as Val did.
My brother cut through the crowd toward one of the lesser noble families, clasping hands with their eldest son, Therovan. He was the lieutenant of the non-wielding guard unit at Blackridge border camp.
Heat prickled beneath my collar. I knew what Val was up to—and I shouldn’t care. Yet my feet carried me closer, angling through clusters of nobles.
Val spoke too low to catch, but Therovan responded with a deep bow.
“Of course, my Prince.” Reverence dripped from every syllable. “I’d be honored to accompany you in such a maneuver.”
Nausea churned in my gut. If he knew Val planned to use his entire unit as bait, he wouldn’t be so eager to agree.
I emptied my glass in one long swallow. The liquor seared down my throat but did nothing to settle the acid rising in my chest.
“You’re sulking.”
My sister materialized beside me, draped in flowing red gossamer, nearly transparent. Her performance attire.
“Observant,” I said flatly.
I grabbed another glass from a passing servant.
She raised a brow. “Maybe you should go easy on those.”
I scoffed. “Haven’t you listened to Father? Going easy isn’t an option. You need to stomp out any weakness and be ruthless.” I raised the glass to her and took a swig.
She sniffed. “You’re always trying so hard to please him.
I’ve seen you during your training sessions, trying your best to throw harder, spin faster, burn brighter.
But you know as well as I—whatever you do will never be enough for him.
” Her gaze trailed past my shoulder to where Father lounged on his throne.
Heat prickled up my neck. “Look who’s talking.
Everything you do is to please him, isn’t it?
Whatever it takes to have him shower you with glitter and gold.
” I gestured at the elaborate necklace of shimmering red rubies at her throat.
“What do you even do with all of it? You must have a mountain of jewelry locked away in your room by now.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I do what I need to survive. And if you really want to prove yourself, you should stop trying to master your abilities and focus on controlling your emotions instead.”
And there it was, another accusation regarding my lack of control. I opened my mouth, but she jabbed a finger into my chest.
“The perfect blade isn’t forged from explosion, Zai. It’s welded with patience. It survives pressure by reshaping into something stronger. Something that might actually have an impact on the world one day.”
Before I could reply, she turned and glided away, joining the performers assembling near the center of the hall.
I stared after her. Something ambiguous lurked beneath her scolding words. Was she actually trying to… reach out?
I shook my head. Of course she wasn’t. After years of silent brooding, her loathing of me wouldn’t just disappear.
The Master of Ceremonies clapped his hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present our first performance of the evening in honor of the late Queen Arylin. Allow me to introduce our very own Princess Izmeria and her dancers.”
The crowd formed a circle around them as the music shifted into a sensual rhythm.
Iz led the performers in a graceful dance while she dazzled the crowd with her sun wielding.
Light burst from her fingertips in rainbow cascades that flickered overhead like living color.
Fire shaped into drakes that swooped above the gasping crowd, each conjuration perfectly controlled, beautifully executed.
By royal tradition, she’d never be granted the master title. Royal women weren’t allowed to train as fighters. Yet in every sense that mattered, she was a master, honed for grace rather than combat.
Something uncomfortable twisted in my chest. Regret, maybe. A longing for something that could have been. But Iz hated me as much as Val did. She was simply better at hiding it, always keeping that professional front polished to a shine.
Lieutenant Therovan stood alone a few paces away, staring up in wonder. I eased closer until he noticed me and gave a light bow. Shoulder to shoulder, we watched the show.
I should keep my mouth shut. I should be the dutiful sun prince and uphold my family’s image, as Mother had always reminded me.
The sun doesn’t choose when it shines, Zai. It shines because its duty is to keep the world warm.
Her words were etched into my mind.
If the King was perceived as weak, the entire Kingdom could crumble into rebellion.
My duty was to shine like the sun—to ensure my family remained a symbol of strength.
But Val’s duty as future King was to protect the people, not sacrificing innocents to prove his strength. Mother would surely agree with that.
To the abyss with our image.
“That mission with Val,” I murmured, low enough so only Therovan would hear. “He plans to sacrifice your non-wielders. Use them as bait, then sweep in himself with a unit of wielders to save the day.”
Therovan’s gaze cut to me, a disbelieving frown creasing his forehead.
The crowd erupted with cheers and applause as Iz finished her performance. A glowing red rose blooming across the ceiling exploded into a million tiny petals raining down like glittering embers. No fire or heat, of course, only harmless light.
Clapping along with everyone else, I leaned close to Therovan. “Just thought you should know what you’re agreeing to.”
He still didn’t answer, only stared at me with something like disgust creeping across his features.
The performers swept into deep bows while the Master of Ceremonies stepped forward, announcing the next part of the program. The speeches.
I stifled a groan. Nobles droning on about the late Queen’s beauty, her kindness, all the ways she’d supposedly helped them. Most had barely known her, it was all just to impress their King.
I snatched another glass from a passing servant and gulped down the amber liquid. I’d had more than I should, but if I ever needed the numbness, it was now.
Val’s gaze found me across the crowd, eyes narrowing as they flicked between Therovan and me.
He stalked toward us. “What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing,” I said, glancing at Therovan.
His gaze dropped to the floor as he bowed to Val. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but your brother told me you mean to sacrifice my unit in our battle against the monsters.”
My stomach plummeted.
Val’s eyes darkened as they cut to me. “You told him?”
I grabbed Therovan’s arm. “Why’d you tell him? I was trying to help you.”
He bowed deeper, avoiding my gaze. “I am deeply honored that the Crown Prince has chosen my unit to play such an important part in his strategy.”
I groaned. “And will you sacrifice yourself as well? Or do you plan to send the non-wielders in alone?”
“I will do whatever my Prince commands me to.”
A satisfied smirk twisted Val’s mouth. “See, Zai? This is a display of true honor.”
“It’s a display of true foolishness,” I murmured.
Val hurled his glass to the floor. Crystal exploded across marble in a spray of shards.
Around us, conversation died. Heads swiveled in our direction.
Flames and fury, why couldn’t I keep my scorching mouth shut?
Val swayed on his feet, his gaze unfocused, likely having downed as many drinks as I had. “You constantly challenge me, little brother. But this? Here?” His voice rose, carrying across the quiet hall. “Questioning me openly—at our mother’s ball of all places.”
He stepped closer, his wine-soured breath washing over me. “Does her memory mean nothing to you?” He whirled toward the assembled nobles, flinging his arms wide. “But of course! After killing her, why not disgrace her memory too?”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The words clawed at my core, tearing my guilt wide open. My jaw clenched as I shoved it back down.
Val’s finger stabbed toward a cluster of noble daughters who gaped at us with hands pressed to their chests. “Why don’t you slink off and bed one of these ladies instead? That’s all you’ll ever excel at—making women swoon.”
Heat flared in my chest as rage rose above the guilt.
“At least I don’t pay for them to be with me.
” The words flew from my mouth before I could stop them, years of pent-up frustration breaking loose.
“You’re just jealous, aren’t you? Your own wife is so disgusted by your ugly face she refuses to touch you. ”
I flung an arm out, pointing at Shiori a few paces behind him. Her face went pale.
My brother’s expression twisted, eyes bulging. He lunged, slamming into me. I toppled backward, instantly activating my bolster to absorb the pain. Shouts erupted around us as his fists pummeled my sides.
“Enough!” Father’s roar cut through the chaos.
Val’s weight was yanked off me as several guards pulled him away.
Father stepped between us. “You will not defile your mother’s memory like this. Not here.”
“Outside then!” Val wrenched free from the guards, chest heaving. “Zaivareth, I challenge you to a duel!” He stepped closer, his burning gaze fixed on me. “To the death.”
Gasps and whispers echoed off the vaulted ceiling.
“No,” I breathed. “You can’t… That’s not…” My gaze slid to Father.
His face remained cold as stone, but rage simmered in his eyes as they bored into me. “You questioned your brother’s honor and virtue. Valaric has every right to challenge you.”
Ice flooded my veins.
Duels were an old tradition in the Sun Kingdom—favored among royals and nobles as the cleanest way to settle disputes. Duels to the death were rarer, more extreme, but no less legitimate under Sun law. And with the King’s approval, there was no stopping it now.
Father turned to the Grand Sun Master. “Prepare the training area.”
The old man nodded, instantly issuing orders to nearby servants. The crowd stirred with excitement, grabbing fresh drinks and moving toward the exit.
My feet felt leaden as I trudged outside.
A duel to the death against my older brother, twenty-seven to my twenty-four. A sun-wielding prodigy who’d been properly trained his entire life, while I’d been kept separate, training under a master whose only mission was to see me fail.
If I refused to fight, I’d be exiled, forced to venture into either the Moon Queendom or Blightlands—both practically a death sentence.
And even if I somehow beat Val, Father had been right. I’d shamed my own brother in front of everyone and disgraced Mother’s memory at her own ball.
Defeating Val wouldn’t restore my honor. Nothing would.
No matter how this ended, I couldn’t win.