The moment the news reached the king and queen, they abandoned all other matters.
Without delay, they hurried to the royal tent where their son lay wounded.
Tension weighed heavily on their hearts as they entered, fear tightening their breaths—until their eyes fell upon Prince Leon. He was resting at that moment, lying still beneath the coverings, his breathing slow and steady.
He was alive.
Only then did relief finally reach them.
Queen Elara moved first. She stood beside her son, her eyes fixed on his pale face as if afraid to look away. Seeing him resting, alive and safe for now, her shoulders finally loosened.
"He's safe…" she whispered, pressing a hand to her heart.
But the king's relief was short-lived.
King Aldric straightened, his expression hardening like forged steel.
After the healers finished their work and declared the prince stable, the king gave a single, firm order.
"Bring him."
A short while later, Prince Leon was escorted into a separate royal command tent, guarded closely on all sides.
The moment he entered, the tent fell silent.
Knights, commanders, and council members stood assembled inside, the air heavy with unease. Queen Elara immediately rose and guided her son to a seat beside her.
"You should be resting," she said softly.
"I need to be here," Leon replied, his voice quiet but resolute.
King Aldric stood at the center of the tent, his posture rigid, his authority unmistakable. His crown gleamed beneath the lantern light, but his eyes were dark—focused, furious.
"My son was nearly killed," he said, his voice low yet powerful enough to still every breath.
"Not by accident. Not by fate."
No one dared to speak.
"This was an ambush," the king continued. "Planned. Executed with intent."
Leon's fingers curled slowly against his palm, but he remained silent.
King Aldric turned sharply toward the captain of the royal knight.
"You will investigate everyone who participated in the royal hunt," he commanded.
"Hunters. Knights. Servants. No one is exempt."
The captain immediately dropped to one knee.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I want the forest searched from end to end," the king went on.
"Every path. Every hiding place. Whoever loosed that arrow believed they could escape unseen."
His eyes narrowed.
"They were wrong."
A low murmur rippled through the tent.
"Bring me names," the king said coldly.
"Bring me proof. And bring me the truth—no matter where it leads."
Queen Elara finally spoke, her voice calm but sharp as ice.
"And if the traitor is found within our own walls," she said,
"they will answer to the crown."
The king nodded once.
"Double the guard around the prince," he ordered.
"Until this matter is resolved, Leon will not take a single step without protection."
Leon lifted his head.
"Father," he said quietly, "there was someone else in the forest."
The tent stilled.
"A man," Leon continued. "He saved my life—before the knights arrived."
King Aldric studied his son intently.
"Did you see his face?"
Leon hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes. Silver hair. Calm eyes. But I don't know his name. He disappeared before dawn."
Silence followed.
The king turned back to the knights.
"Add this to your investigation," he commanded.
"Find the man who saved the prince. Bring him to me—alive and unharmed."
The captain bowed deeply.
"It will be done."
King Aldric's voice rang through the tent one final time.
"And until the truth is uncovered," he said,
"this hunt is far from over."
As the council was dismissed and the tent slowly emptied, Prince Leon remained seated, his thoughts drifting far beyond the canvas walls.
Silver hair…
Somewhere beyond the royal camp, unseen—
A white fox listened.