The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 322: Chapter 317 — Dawn

But then he’d heard Zephyrion reveal that he already knew Malach was being assisted by his House Commander, and everything had fallen into place.

”Malach knew the code you gave me. A code only you and I were supposed to know. So someone on our side was feeding him information, someone besides their House Commander. And if you already knew about the House Commander... then knowing you, there was no fucking way you didn’t suspect the other one too.”

Zephyrion remained silent.

”You knew someone was watching us. That’s why you made sure to say all that shit out loud before I left. That’s why you secretly shoved that metal into my shoulder and didn’t tell me a damn thing about it.”

Kaiden stared directly into his eyes.

”You knew I was walking into a trap, Zephyrion. Hell, you were counting on me getting caught.”

”...”

At Zephyrion’s silence, Kaiden chuckled, but the pain behind his expression didn’t escape him. Once again, Zephyrion felt that uncomfortable tightness return to his chest.

Because Kaiden was not... wrong.

He had sent him in knowing full well that it was most likely a trap. But for his plan to work, he needed someone inside the northern fortress, and Kaiden had been the best option.

’Still... he figured out all of that?’

Zephyrion could already tell where he’d slipped. Malach revealing that he knew the code had given Kaiden the one piece he was never supposed to have.

From there, apparently, he managed to put everything else together. And finding out that someone you trusted had deliberately used you as bait... anyone would be furious

As expected, Kaiden’s fists had clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

But to Zephyrion’s surprise, a moment later, Kaiden released a deep sigh and slowly unclenched his fists.

”You know, I came up here fully prepared to punch you in the face. Actually, I was really looking forward to it. Then I realized something.”

Kaiden looked directly at him.

”You only do this shit to people you think are beneath you. People you don’t trust to handle things themselves. And that means, somewhere in that fucked-up head of yours, you looked at me and thought, ’Yeah, this idiot can’t do it. I’d better do it for him.’ And somehow... that pissed me off more than everything else.”

Kaiden’s expression slowly hardened.

”But it also made me realize what I’m going to do next.”

Zephyrion remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

”After this academy, I’m leaving. I’ll find an apprenticeship somewhere far away from you, work my ass off, train until I can barely fucking move, whatever it takes. I don’t care if it takes years.”

Kaiden clenched his fist.

”But one day, we’re going to meet again, and when we do... I’m going to prove to you that I was never beneath you.”

The intensity in Kaiden’s eyes was unlike anything Zephyrion had ever seen from him before, and it was only then that he finally understood the strange look he’d noticed in them earlier.

’Certainty.’

Kaiden had already made up his mind.

This wasn’t some decision made in the heat of anger, nor was he looking for Zephyrion to convince him otherwise. No matter what Zephyrion said, he wasn’t going to change it.

Realizing this, a small smile slowly appeared on Zephyrion’s face.

”Where will you go?”

Kaiden blinked, clearly not expecting that response. Then, after staring at him for a moment, he shook his head and chuckled.

”Seriously? Not even an apology? Not even a little ’Sorry I used you as human bait, Kaiden’?” Kaiden turned his gaze back toward the horizon, smiling. ”You really are fucking insane. Whatever. Maybe it’s better this way. I’ll beat the apology out of you the next time we meet.

The cold night wind swept across the wall, carrying away some of the tension that had hung between them.

After a moment, Kaiden finally answered.

”Somewhere far.”

Not long after, Kaiden left, leaving Zephyrion alone atop the wall.

Another person close to him who had suffered because of his need to control everything.

’I really do have a problem.’

Zephyrion felt guilty about it, of course, but the feeling only went so far. At the end of the day, he still believed control was necessary. In the kind of world he lived in, achieving the peace he sought while simply trusting everything to work itself out was laughable.

’I can’t stop controlling things.’ Nor did he want to. ’But maybe I don’t have to control them.’

Perhaps that was the distinction he’d been missing. The people closest to him didn’t need Zephyrion deciding everything for them simply because he believed he knew better. And that thought finally gave him an answer to Lumi’s situation.

Zephyrion had spent some time thinking about how best to handle the damage he’d caused her, and now, he finally settled on something.

’I need to stay away from her for a while.’

It was the best choice for her growth, and the upcoming apprenticeship offered the perfect opportunity to put some distance between them.

Zephyrion sighed.

’She’s going to hate this.’

He could already imagine Lumi’s reaction when he eventually broke the news to her. Needless to say, it wouldn’t be pleasant.

Pushing the thought aside for now, Zephyrion closed his eyes and allowed the silence around him to settle over his mind.

It was peaceful. He liked the peace. And within that peaceful stillness, time slowly passed.

The moon gradually disappeared beyond the horizon, darkness giving way to the faint glow of dawn, until eventually, shimmering golden rays of sunlight fell across Zephyrion’s face.

Only then did his eyes slowly open.

However, rather than the empty plains he had been staring at hours ago, Zephyrion was met with a sea of cadets stretching far into the distance.

And standing at their forefront was Arcturus Aur Eryndor.

The eastern Prime stared directly at him from across the plains, a familiar smirk slowly spreading across his face before his voice thundered through the morning air.

”Time’s up, Lightning Prince.”