An oppressive atmosphere filled the Second Prince's study.
He stood before the enormous curtains. Outside, the bustling cityscape of Chai Kan unfolded, but the sight was piercing to his eyes.
This Chai Kan... all show and no substance. It looked like a fine fiefdom, but it had become his prison.
His older brother was out there, a man of great power and influence, the undisputed heir to the throne! His third brother commanded elite generals and crack troops, with no weak links in his army. He had earned remarkable military honors and held significant prestige in the desert regions.
'And what about me? I'm like a rat in a sewer! An outcast, unfit to be seen in polite company!'
'I'm the Emperor's own son! The First Prince's twin brother!'
He spun around to face the ornate bookshelves and maps that filled the room, his eyes burning with rage and confusion.
"Why?!"
The Second Prince's voice echoed through the study, laced with a hint of helplessness and bewilderment.
