EPISODE 3: “THE KNIFE HIDDEN IN MUSIC”

The banquet had not ended.

It had only changed its shape.

Laughter returned to the hall, but it was fake—thin

as glass over a blade.

Arjun stood still beside Kian, watching everything

carefully.

And more importantly…

watching Lucian.

The Crown Prince had returned to his seat, but his

gaze was no longer distracted.

It kept drifting back.

Always to Arjun.

Like a thread that refused to break.

Kian leaned closer, whispering, “I feel like we’re

being hunted.”

Arjun replied quietly, “We are. Just not by everyone.”

Kian frowned. “What does that mean?”

Arjun didn’t answer.

Because at that moment—

A system notification appeared.

⚠️ MAIN EVENT TRIGGERED: ASSASSINATION

ATTEMPT DETECTED

TARGET: CROWN PRINCE LUCIAN

Arjun’s eyes sharpened instantly.

“…It’s starting.”

Kian went pale. “Starting what?!”

Before Arjun could respond—

Music began.

Soft violin notes filled the hall.

A performance troupe had entered.

Dancers in silver masks moved across the marble

floor.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Wrong.

Arjun noticed it first.

One dancer’s step was too precise.

Another’s hand was too still.

And the violinist…

never looked up.

Lucian raised his wine glass slightly, unconcerned.

Ethan, however, had already shifted.

His hand moved subtly toward his hidden blade.

Kian whispered urgently, “Arjun, something’s wrong—”

“I know.”

The music rose.

Faster.

Harsher.

And then—

A dancer spun too close to Lucian.

Too close.

A flash of steel.

Kian gasped.

“MOVE—!”

But Arjun was already moving.

He grabbed Lucian’s wrist and pulled him sideways

just as the blade sliced through the air where his

neck had been.

Gasps exploded across the hall.

Chaos broke instantly.

Screams.

Shocked nobles.

Guards drawing weapons.

Lucian turned sharply toward Arjun, their bodies

dangerously close.

For a moment—

Everything stopped.

Arjun’s hand was still on Lucian’s wrist.

Lucian’s breath barely brushed his face.

Too close.

Too intimate.

Lucian’s eyes flickered.

“…You reacted fast,” he said softly.

Arjun didn’t let go immediately.

“I don’t like unfinished performances.”

A beat of silence.

Then Lucian smiled—slowly.

“Neither do I.”

Behind them, Ethan had already neutralized two

attackers in silence.

Cold. Efficient. Merciless.

Kian, shaken, grabbed Arjun’s sleeve. “We almost

died!”

Arjun finally stepped back from Lucian.

But Lucian didn’t let go of the moment.

His gaze stayed locked on Arjun.

Like he was memorizing him.

Like he had just confirmed something.

SYSTEM ALERT: EMOTION SPIKE

LUCIAN — INTEREST + OBSESSION +7%

WARNING: TARGET BONDING ACCELERATION

DETECTED

Arjun’s expression didn’t change.

But internally—

he understood.

The route had changed.

🖤 AFTER THE ATTACK

The hall was cleared.

The assassination failed.

But the danger remained.

Lucian stood alone near the balcony, watching the

chaos being cleaned up.

Arjun approached him.

Kian wanted to stop him—but didn’t.

Lucian spoke first without turning. “You saved me.”

Arjun replied calmly, “It was inefficient to let you die

in the first chapter of the mission.”

Lucian finally turned.

Golden eyes narrowed slightly. “Mission?”

A pause.

Arjun corrected smoothly, “Survival instinct.”

Silence.

Then Lucian stepped closer.

Again.

Always closer.

“You are not afraid of me,” Lucian said.

Arjun met his gaze. “Fear slows decision-making.”

A faint smile.

“That is a very dangerous philosophy.”

Arjun replied, “So is keeping a prince alive while

assassins walk freely in his palace.”

Lucian studied him for a long moment.

Then softly—

“Stay near me.”

Arjun paused.

“…Why?”

Lucian’s expression didn’t change.

“So I can decide if you are truly useful…”

A slight tilt of his head.

“…or just interesting enough to keep alive.”

For the first time—

Arjun felt it clearly.

Not just the mission system.

Not just survival.

But something far more complicated forming

between them.

Kian watched from a distance, horrified.

“…This is not seduction anymore,” he whispered.

“This is mutual disaster.”

🌙 END OF EPISODE 3

That night, the system updated again.

NEW VARIABLE DETECTED

LUCIAN × ARJUN ROUTE: UNSTABLE / RAPID

ATTRACTION FORMING

WARNING: STORY REWRITE IN PROGRESS

And somewhere in the palace…

Ethan silently watched Kian from the shadows.

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