The Final Blow
The palace corridors echoed with the sounds of battle.
Solis stood, breathing heavily, as the four remaining assassins circled him. His once-pristine robes were now stained with blood, a mix of his own and his fallen enemies.
Julius Novachrono stood behind him, his grimoire glowing, golden clock hands floating in the air.
"Solis, stand down. I will handle this."
But Solis didn't move.
His golden eyes burned as he tightened his grip on his sword.
"No. They came for me. I will finish them myself."
Julius studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Then prove why you are King."
The assassins hesitated, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
The boy they had deemed a mere child now exuded a terrifying regal presence—one that spoke of absolute authority.
"Attack!" the leader snarled.
The assassins rushed forward.
Solis countered the first strike, his sword clashing with a dagger. Using the force of the impact, he twisted his body and slashed upward, cutting deep into the assassin's shoulder.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the man crashing to the ground.
Three left.
One assassin leapt from behind, aiming for Solis' spine—
Time slowed.
Before the blade could land, Solis moved with perfect precision, tilting his head just enough to let the dagger graze past his cheek.
Then—
He spun.
His sword cut clean through the assassin's torso, sending him crumbling lifeless to the floor.
Two left.
At that moment, Julius raised his hand—and suddenly, the remaining assassins froze in place.
Their bodies were locked in mid-motion, golden time magic wrapping around them.
"Enough," Julius said, his voice calm yet absolute.
Solis wiped his blade on his sleeve, his breathing steady.
"Who sent you?" he asked coldly.
The assassins remained silent.
Julius narrowed his eyes.
"They won't talk."
Solis approached the leader, placing his blade under his chin.
"Then their corpses will speak for them."
For the first time, the assassin flinched.
Julius sighed, stepping forward.
"Let's interrogate them properly. We need to know who is behind this."
Solis didn't move for a long moment.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he stepped back.
"Very well. But if they refuse to talk… I'll handle them myself."
The assassins were quickly restrained and dragged away.
The palace guards arrived, too late to be of any use.
Solis turned to Julius.
"This won't be the last attempt on my life."
Julius nodded.
"No. But you knew that the moment you took the throne."
Solis glanced down at his bloodied hands.
He had always known.
But that didn't make it any easier.
The Queen's Fear
Solis had barely stepped into his chambers when—
SLAP!
His mother, Queen Lavinia, stood before him, tears streaming down her face.
"Do you have any idea how terrified I was?!" she screamed.
Solis remained silent, touching his stinging cheek.
His mother never hit him.
Not once in his entire life.
But tonight…
She had almost lost him.
"You are my only son, Solis! The King of this nation! You are supposed to be protected, not fighting assassins alone!"
He took a deep breath, his voice even.
"If I cannot protect myself, then I have no right to rule."
Her eyes widened in shock.
But before she could argue, he turned away.
"I must prepare for what comes next."
And with that, he walked out, leaving his mother in silent anguish.
The Noble's Panic
By the next morning, news of the assassination attempt had spread.
The noble families of the Clover Kingdom were in chaos.
Some were fearful.
Some were angry.
Some were desperate.
A secret meeting was held between the most powerful noble houses.
Duke Roswell slammed his hand on the table.
"This boy has already killed nobles before! Now he's surviving assassinations like a tyrant! If we don't stop him now, he will come for all of us!"
Duchess Clarisse, an elderly but sharp noble, sighed.
"But what can we do? The commoners adore him, the Magic Knights respect him, and even Julius Novachrono supports him."
Marquis Eldrin sneered.
"We still have power. We must move carefully… or the next purge may be ours."
The nobles whispered among themselves, their fear growing.
And in the shadows, more plots began to form.
The New Order
As the sun rose over the Clover Kingdom, Solis stood on the royal balcony, looking down at the city below.
He knew this assassination attempt would not be the last.
But he would not falter.
"Let them come."
He had begun reshaping the kingdom in his image.
And nothing—
Not nobles, not assassins, not even fate itself—
Would stop him.
End of Chapter 29