Triune: The broken path

At the Crown Prince's Kingdom...

In the palace, a young woman sat on her luxurious bed, her expression intricate as her maids massaged her body. She issued a sharp order, her voice calm but commanding.

"Find out who that bodyguard is. I want all his information within the hour," she said.

"Yes, mistress," a shadowy figure responded, bowing before vanishing.

The woman's cold expression deepened as she mused to herself.

"Brother, what are you up to? It would have been better if you stayed foolish. But if you've grown wise... I'm sorry, you'll have to die."

***********

At the Jimi Kingdom...

Inside the Princess's Room...

Kael and Garrick stepped into the room and were immediately struck by its ambiance. The flowery scent and exquisite decor exuded elegance and sophistication, blending beauty with class.

Their gaze was drawn to a figure seated on a chair, waiting for them. Unlike the traditional gowns most princesses wore, she was dressed in tight-fitting black clothing, radiating an aura of deadly allure.

Her figure was captivating—graceful curves, a sculpted body, and a face so striking that even Garrick, ever stoic, couldn't help but feel awestruck. Her pink lips, enchanting eyes, and sharp features formed a perfect blend of beauty and fierceness.

"And you are?" her cold, melodic voice cut through the silence as her eyes shifted between the doll-faced Kael and the rugged, handsome Garrick. Her sharp gaze lingered on Garrick, sensing that he, like her, was a martial cultivator.

Kael, unshaken, smiled faintly. He now understood why the crown prince in the original story would risk everything to win her over. Even he felt moved by her presence—but only slightly. His mind remained focused.

After today, his plans would be set in motion. Kael had realized that every time he plotted long-term chaos or intricate schemes, he gained shards of power from the Orb of Chaos. His "All-Seer" ability, for instance, was granted when he planned to capture the assassin who once sought to kill him. He was certain this meeting was also tied to destiny.

"Kael," he finally replied, his voice steady. He caught the fleeting look of regret that crossed Kim's face.

Everything was proceeding as planned.

"What's your name, and why did you summon me?" Kael asked, his tone even.

Kim gestured to two chairs nearby. "I'll answer that, but first, please, have a seat."

Kael and Garrick moved forward, with Kael taking a seat while Garrick remained standing, his expression neutral.

"I'm Kim," she began, her eyes flicking to Garrick before returning to Kael. "As for why I called you..." She paused, her voice turning suspicious. "If you're the Crown Prince, then who is he? Why is he here?"

Kael's faint smile remained. "This is Garrick, my friend and bodyguard."

Kim's expression shifted, growing colder. "You brought a guard into my room?" she asked sharply.

"Yes," Kael replied calmly. "You may not know this, but I've survived assassination attempts and might face more. I need him by my side."

Realizing her outburst, Kim softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't know," she said, her voice apologetic.

"It's fine. Please, continue," Kael said, his tone polite but watchful.

Garrick, however, had already formed a negative impression of Kim. Her initial disdain for him—simply because he was a bodyguard—left a sour taste.

Kim resumed. "As you may know, I've recently become the disciple of an ancient warrior. Over the past two months, I've reached the Martial Disciple realm," she said, pausing as Kael nodded.

"I will soon leave to train under my master. However, he instructed me to sever all distractions before I go," Kim added, her gaze steady.

Kael understood her implication—he was the "distraction" she referred to.

"But before leaving, I wanted to meet the man I was meant to marry," Kim said with a sigh, standing from her seat. "I was curious about you. From what I've heard, you're lustful, stubborn, and utterly disrespectful. Yet... your eyes haven't wandered over my body. Perhaps there's more to you than I thought."

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. Her keen observation was impressive, but he remained silent.

Kim continued, her tone challenging. "So, here's my proposal, Crown Prince: If you can defeat me, I will convince my master to let me marry you. I will then leave for my training and return to fulfill our marriage when it's complete."

Kael raised an eyebrow at her boldness but said nothing for a moment. Kim, as the story's first heroine, was truly exceptional. Her talents were unmatched. She had reached the Martial Disciple realm at a speed that outstripped even the Son of Destiny himself.

Using his All-Seer ability, Kael checked her stats:

Name: Kim

Position: Princess of the Jimi Kingdom / Disciple of the Ancient Warrior

Rank: Martial Disciple (Stage 8)

Luck: 960

Kael was impressed. Each martial rank was divided into nine stages, and she was already at Stage 8, close to breaking through to the Martial Warrior realm. A formidable feat.

As a mortal, facing her was akin to courting death. Yet Kael smiled.

"I accept," he said confidently. "And let's not waste time. I'll defeat you right here and now."

Kim's raised an eyebrow.

"You have no talent for cultivation, perhaps a waste body, and yet you want to fight a martial disciple? Are you brain-dead or just plain stupid?" Kim asked, glaring at Kael. Her anger was evident, and her disgust had reached its peak.

Kael remained calm. He stood up and walked toward her, stopping directly in front of her.

Kim's plan was simple: to cancel this engagement. After all, she was going to be trained by an ancient warrior and would eventually reach at least the Martial Master realm. She had no need to be tied to this engagement any longer. The Jimi Kingdom had only agreed to this marriage because they lacked a Grandmaster-rank cultivator, relying instead on mere Master-level ones. But now, with the backing of an ancient warrior, they no longer needed to marry off their daughter for survival.

"He's so stupid," Kim thought, irritated. "Is this really the man I was supposed to marry? What a joke."

"The princess should stop frowning," Kael said with a faint smile. "It ruins her beautiful face. My wife must always smile, charming and enchanting."

That was the final straw.

"Who's your wife?! I... Sigh, you know what? Let's just get this over with," Kim snapped, deciding not to argue further. She had already lost any interest in this boy. After today, they would part ways for good.

"I'm ready whenever you are," Kael said lightly.

"Fine," Kim replied, taking a step back.

"I can't hurt the crown prince of Eryndor. That would cause unnecessary conflict," she thought. Although she had an ancient warrior as her master, she couldn't risk provoking a war over a moment of anger. She needed to be patient and strategic.

"What if you get hurt?" Kim asked.

"Don't worry, Kim. I won't hold you responsible. Now, attack," Kael replied.

Kim moved instantly. Kael felt a gust of wind slam into his body as her fist stopped mere centimeters from his face.

"You lost," Kim declared, shaking her head as she retracted her hand. "So, this is it? I thought he might be hiding his strength, but he's just a normal human. He didn't even move."

"Did I?" Kael asked, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

Kim glanced around him, her eyes narrowing. Then she noticed something—and her heart sank in horror. The bodyguard was gone.

"If you move, Princess, I assure you that you'll be injured, or worse, dead," came a deep male voice from behind her. A dangerous aura washed over her, and her body tensed involuntarily. She tried to convince herself it was a bluff—there was no way Kael would order his bodyguard to harm her—but her instincts screamed otherwise.

This bodyguard was dangerous. He wasn't bluffing.

"Come here, Garrick. Let's not frighten the princess too much; she might faint, who knows," Kael said with a smile. Garrick stepped away from her back and returned to Kael's side.

"So, it was all a lie," Kim thought, her face flushing with embarrassment. "But that aura… he meant every word."

"Remember the deal, Princess. We marry in a month," Kael said as he turned to leave. Just as he reached the door with Garrick, Kim snapped out of her shock.

"Wait! No! This doesn't count. You cheated! It was supposed to be between me and you—your bodyguard shouldn't have been involved!" Kim exclaimed.

"Exactly, Princess," Kael replied, smirking. "It was between me and you. That means I can use everything at my disposal—even my bodyguard. A win is a win."

"Intelligence over brute strength, Princess. Use your head, not just your body. Though… cough… nice body, by the way," Kael added mischievously before quickly closing the door behind him.

"You... Kael!" Kim shouted, but Kael and Garrick had already disappeared.

******

(Gained one shard of the Orb of Chaos)

(Chaos Being: You grow stronger through chaotic acts, especially during wars.)

******

"Ha, bingo. I was right. Instead of the engagement being canceled, now I'm marrying the princess and getting a Chaos Shard. Time to begin. But first… I'll need some help from the guards in this kingdom," Kael thought with a sly grin.

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