"Is this really necessary?"

"You heard Haruka. It's the plan with the highest probability of success." He doesn't have to look to know she's tilting her head mockingly. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet, future King."

He rocks his chair back until he's staring at the curved metal ceiling. "We've come too far for that, Kanade. No turning back now."


Economy. Healthcare. Public safety. Foreign affairs.

If Shu had known the kingship required this much paperwork, he would have conceded to Kanade long ago. Never mind her hidden agenda to fix his legs. With all the checks and balances set in the government system by their ancestors, she would never have been able to devote the entire national budget to the advancement of medical research. As is, he's seated in one spot within the confines of the castle 24/7 anyways, shadowing his father's activities. With his twenty-first birthday already celebrated and past, all that's left is his official coronation ceremony. He'll be king.

Probably more like a figurehead king, but eh, details. He's fine with leaving the nitty-gritty details to government officials more experienced than he.

Somewhere nearby, somebody sets off firecrackers. Pop pop pop. The windows rattle. Shu checks his phone; it's only 09:15. Maybe some foreign ambassador with a penchant for dramatic entrances is setting off fireworks in the castle courtyard. It's the only reason Shu can think of for such a disturbance this early in the morning.

His wireless earpiece buzzes. Eh, what did that signal mean again? Emergency…?

"...repeat, code silver. Intruder has breached the main gate. Lockdown initiated. Code silver. I repeat…"

Code silver is a firearm. Shu's blood turns ice cold. Not firecrackers. Gunfire in the castle courtyard? But how - ?

"Lethal force deemed necessary. Protect the King. Shoot to kill."

Shu drops his phone. He's been surrounded by security cameras and guards all his life but never has he even heard this kind of violence. What's going on? Are they accidentally broadcasting to his frequency? Regardless, his bedroom is not a safe place. He needs to move to the safe room, now. He may not exactly remember where it is so teleporting there isn't an option, but guards should be in soon to escort him there.

Where are the guards?

"The king has been compromised! Gunfire is ineffective on the intruder! The intruder - headed f - prince's suite - why - secured, wh - his guards - I think you've heard enough, haven't you?"

Shu startles at the abrupt interruption by a familiar yet completely strange voice. It's most definitely his younger brother speaking, albeit in a slightly higher but much more condescending tone. "Haruka?" he blurts, forgetting he has no mouthpiece to reply with.

"You can run all you want. You can try to hide. But know that by the end of today, dear brother Shu, you will no longer exist to this world."

"Haruka, why are you…"

He trails off. A black-clad figure stands in front of his locked door. The intruder tosses something at him. His fingers close around ice-cold metal and he almost drops it - a gun, the person just tossed him a gun, what -

"Defend yourself," says the figure, raising their own pistol.