Goodness, this ended up being longer than I thought it would be. Double update, as I promised. This first part takes place in the same time as the previous chapter.

Viktor looked over across his city and the Midworld island to see the kingdom of Night. It was the only darkness in the sky, as it was still Day in the world between the two larger islands.

The doctor beside him slowly wrapped bandages around Viktor's arm. One of the men from the assassination attempt had managed to slice a deep gash down his arm, starting halfway down his bicep and running down to his forearm, about a hand's length. "The blade missed any major arteries, but you should still come to me twice a day to change the bandages, Your Highness."

Viktor nodded mindlessly as the doctor tied of the bandages and left. He was sitting on the railing of the balcony on the tallest tower of his castle in Solis. The breeze blew through his long, silver hair, lifting strands across his face and through the thin nightshirt he had rolled up to his shoulder.

Footsteps sounded from behind. "You know, Yakov, sneaking up on me won't do much more for my health if I fall off this balcony."

Solis Prime Minister Yakov Feltsman snorted lightly as he walked closer to the newly crowned king watching his sun set, the two of them waiting for the moon to rise. "How do you think it will go?" Yakov said.

"I believe in Prince Yuuri. First time is the hardest," Viktor replied, tone unwavering. It was true, though. Viktor really did think that the young prince had more to him than everybody thought.

"That's not what I meant," Yakov rolled his eyes. "The Prime Minister of Lunis has been up to something lately. Today only confirmed my suspicions."

"How so?" Viktor asked. When Yakov paused he said again, "I can't rule like you want me to if I don't know what's going on, especially with another very new ruler."

Yakov looked at his student, then turned back to watch Midworld. "The Prime Minister of Lunis does not want Prince Yuuri to become king. He's under the impression that two young kings together can't be good for our treaties. At least, that was his concern in the letter he just sent me."

"What did you tell him?" Viktor asked.

"I told him that we should wait until both kingdoms have recovered, and then he must work things out himself with the prince, who may still want to take up his father's role."

"That's understandable, but I can only fear for what his true intentions must be," Viktor said.

Yakov stared at the king. "Vitya, if you don't trust the government, there is little we can do without your consent. You can't do much in this situation, but when we get to strengthening our treaties, it really doesn't help if you don't trust the other kingdoms."

"I know, Yakov, but I can't help but think that something else is going on here," Viktor pleaded with his mentor.

"That's enough, Vitya. We'll talk about this later. We are all stressed and tired after today. You should get some rest," Yakov said, gesturing to the king's arm.

"Hmm," Viktor grunted a reply, eyes still fixed on the horizon. Yakov left, and the wind came back. Viktor's hair was blown across his face as a stronger gust came through.

The sun was setting slowly in the Midworld, and very slowly, the moon came up. Yuuri's moon seemed dimmer that Toshiya's, but Viktor could only guess it was the memories. It had happened to him, too. The sun had given him his father's last fever-filled memories of his life, and then the sun had been his.

Raising the sun had become easier over time. Viktor could only hope that the same happened for the prince.

-fancy line break-

About an hour later, back in Lunis

Benz helped the tired Yuuri down the stairs and to his chambers. The young page who had been with Yuuri before tagged along a few feet back.

Once Benz had tucked the prince into his large bed, Benz turned around and left the room, summoning a few guards to keep watch outside the room. One could never be too careful after an assassination attempt, so he placed a few guards below the prince's window, as his room was in a smaller tower in the west wing.

Once he was alone in the hallways with the page, Benz turned around. "What's your name?"

"Otabek Altin," came the short reply.

"Well, Otabek," Benz said. "You are a very resourceful young man. I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything, sir," said the page.

Benz paused for a moment. If his suspicions were false, this boy would get in trouble. But his suspicions were rarely wrong, he assured himself. "I need you to do some investigating on the Prime Minister for me. Tell me if he is doing anything strange, and report to me at the end of every day. Do you understand, Otabek?"

"Yes, sir," said the boy.

"Good. Your job starts now."

The page nodded and turned away, walking with a purpose down the hall to where the Minister was currently, or as Benz suspected, up to something.

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