Crown Prince Aelric led Max through the grand halls of the Sun Palace, personally giving him a tour.
The two walked side by side, laughing and talking, their conversation easy and natural—as if they were old friends.
Aelric proudly showed off every corner of the palace, from its towering golden spires to the serene inner gardens and ancient relic halls.
The palace was a monument to power, a testament to the might of the Western Kingdom.
And yet—Max remained unfazed.
No matter how awe-inspiring the architecture, no matter how extravagant the wealth displayed, his expression never wavered.
As if all of this was simply expected.
Aelric noticed.
And it only made him more curious about Max.
But before he could pry deeper, they finally returned to the Grand Chamber.
And the moment they stepped inside—
Chaos ensued.
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
Whispers erupted like wildfire.
Gasps of disbelief spread from one end of the chamber to the other.
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