A Kingdom in Turmoil
The Clover Kingdom was in an unprecedented state of change.
With two noble purges in a short period, fear and tension gripped the aristocracy.
Merchants, once the backbone of noble wealth, were now under the control of the newly established Merchant Association, ensuring fair pricing.
The Magic Knights were divided—some admired King Solis Vermillion's efficiency, while others feared his ruthless grip on power.
And in the darkness, those who sought revenge began to make their move.
The Assassination Begins
It was midnight.
Solis sat in his study, reading through military reports and economic projections for the coming months.
His face was calm, but his body was tense.
"I know they're coming," he thought.
It wasn't a question of if an assassination attempt would happen.
It was when.
And tonight, the answer came.
CRACK!
The window shattered, and before Solis could react—
A black-clad assassin burst into the room, dagger aimed at his throat!
His instincts kicked in.
With a swift motion, he grabbed a nearby sword and blocked the strike, sparks flying.
But this was no ordinary assassin.
More figures emerged from the shadows, their movements silent and precise.
"Seven… no, eight of them," Solis counted in his mind, dodging another blade aimed at his heart.
"Trained killers. Not mere mercenaries. These are elite assassins."
They weren't here to send a message.
They were here to kill him.
The Battle Within the Palace
Solis moved with precision, countering their attacks while calculating their weaknesses.
He was strong, but without his Sunshine Magic fully awakened, he couldn't overpower them easily.
"If I was at full power… this would be over in seconds."
But right now, his magic was still unstable.
He needed to outthink them.
With a swift movement, he kicked over his desk, forcing two assassins to step back.
Using the opening, he lunged forward, slicing one's throat with his blade.
Seven left.
Blood stained the floor, but Solis didn't hesitate.
The leader of the assassins, a masked figure in black robes, raised his hand.
"Surround him. Don't let him escape."
Solis' golden eyes burned with determination.
"Escape? I have no intention of running."
He adjusted his stance.
If they wanted to kill him…
They would have to die trying.
The Queen's Fear
Meanwhile, in another part of the Royal Palace, Queen Lavinia woke with a start.
She felt uneasy, a sense of impending doom creeping over her.
A sharp knock on her door startled her.
A knight stood there, his face pale.
"Your Majesty…" he hesitated before speaking.
"The King is under attack."
Her heart stopped.
"No…"
Without waiting for an escort, she rushed toward Solis' chambers, fear gripping her heart.
She had already lost so much—she couldn't lose her only son.
The Magic Knights' Response
Across the city, at the Magic Knights' Headquarters, a sudden disturbance in the mana flow alerted the strongest mages.
Julius Novachrono stood from his chair, his eyes narrowing.
"Something is happening in the palace."
Fuegoleon clenched his fists.
"An assassination attempt?"
Nozel grimaced.
"With the kingdom in chaos, this was inevitable."
Without hesitation, Julius turned to the assembled captains.
"We move now. If Solis falls, the kingdom falls with him."
A Bloody Dawn Approaches
Back in the palace, the fight raged on.
Solis had taken multiple wounds, but three more assassins lay dead at his feet.
Four left.
His breathing was heavy.
"I need to end this before more arrive."
The leader of the assassins narrowed his eyes.
"He's stronger than we thought… but he's still just a boy."
They prepared to strike again, but before they could—
BOOM!
The door to the study exploded inward, and standing in the smoke was—
Julius Novachrono.
His golden magic clock spun behind him, and his face was deadly serious.
"It's over."
The assassins stiffened, realizing their mission had failed.
But they weren't going to surrender.
The leader snarled.
"Even if we die here… the kingdom will never accept him as king!"
Solis wiped the blood from his lip, stepping forward.
His voice was calm but terrifyingly cold.
"The kingdom doesn't need to accept me."
"They only need to obey."
The final battle of the night was about to begin.
And by morning, Clover Kingdom would never be the same again.
End of Chapter 28