During the night of the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony, the prison guards were sent a barrel of wine from the palace.  They drank heartily and fell into a deep slumber.  As they slept, a figure in black climbed up the tower stairs and peered into the cell at the top of the tower. 

A man with red eyes was chained to the wall but showed no discomfort, as if he was where he needed to be.  He looked up and found the figure staring at him. Draco stepped out of the shadows with a relieved smile.

"My... My Lord," the prisoner stammered as he lowered his head humbly. "It is far too dangerous for you to be here.  You need to leave now!"

However, to his surprise, Draco pulled out a ring of keys and unlocked the doors.  He then approached the man and released him from his shackles. The man looked down at his freed wrists with surprise.

"Stop gawking, General Aris, and follow me," Draco said quietly, pulling him out of the tower.  "I have an escape route, but we must be quick."

Draco led him down the stairs and out of the tower.  The two of them ran north and found a wall covered in ivy.  Draco examined it and removed some of the vines, revealing a drainage pipe. 

"My Lord, how did you know?"

Draco sighed a little and looked back at the capital city, curious if Oliver was resting. His eyes soften a little. "A fortuitous encounter."

He pulled Aris through the pipes and met the carriage on the other side. The attendant jumped when he saw the two emerge from the wall.

"My Lord, General, hurry this way."

They both rushed into the carriage, and it took off on the rough route headed north.  Draco released a long breath and gripped Aris' shoulder.  "I'm glad you're safe."

He then tapped on the door, and a man in black slipped through the open window. "My Lord?"

"Go and see if a Rucrean has helped the Kardos family in the past, specifically Oliver." He order. 

The man nodded and slipped out of the carriage, leaving Aris with a confused look. "Oliver Kardos? Isn't he a buffoon?"

Draco took off his mask and revealed a smile. "Quite the opposite... I wonder if there may be a way to remove the Belelot shackles from the Kardos family."

Aris froze. "You are proposing war."

Draco's face fell as he remembered Oliver's words. "I am wondering if we can plan something to collapse the relationship between their families so I can bring him to us."

Aris tilted his head, catching the words Draco used.  "Him?"

Draco hummed with affirmation, unembarrassed that his thoughts were revealed. "I feel things would be quite exciting if Oliver were by my side."

"Is he that cunning or that beautiful?"

Draco laughed. "Perhaps a bit of both."

His hands pulled out a silver cravat and a small brooch with a purple diamond. His hands brushed over the jewel's details before placing it back in his cloak.  He felt like a thief but still enjoyed this small memento of today's events.

The news of the engagement annulment fractured the kingdom of Bierze.  It was unheard of and unprecedented. Although Oliver was not well-liked, his family was prominent.

Rumors of the events at the Crown Prince's ceremony broke out in the capital and reached the ears of the surrounding towns and cities. But what was most curious was the silence on the Kardos' side. Oliver accepted the breakup, giving back the engagement ring in front of everyone. Then he disappeared from view. He seemed nonplussed, which was uncharacteristic. Many had started questioning whether Oliver had acted out to force Piers' hand to end their engagement.

Out of all the turbulent emotions, the one most affected was Piers. His mind was rattling with paranoia. Oliver's reaction and their confrontation in the garden shook him. He expected Oliver to beg. He had dreamt of the broken man in front of him, kneeling and clinging to his clothes. The Oliver in his dreams disregarded propriety and status as he pleaded with Piers. He was desperate and weak, so easy to manipulate and harm.

The dream seemed real, and he anticipated Oliver's tears but was greeted with a harsh reality. Oliver seemed expectant and relieved when their engagement ended.

Piers couldn't shake the feeling of unease thinking about him. He couldn't break him. He couldn't control him. He couldn't even kill him.

Piers threw the items off his desk in anger. The floor was littered with papers, broken pottery, and inkwells. He bit his thumb as he tried to consider the next steps.

Oliver was a risk. He needed to eliminate him.

"Tomin." He called out.

The armored man walked into the office and ignored the chaos inside. He bowed. "Yes, Crown Prince."

"I want him gone."

Tomin understood Piers' meaning. "I'll arrange it."

He walked out without another word. He also wanted Oliver gone.

While the kingdom speculated over Oliver, he bid farewell to his family and manor servants. He had proposed that he go back to Wynter to Antony and Aaron earlier but had to take some more time to convince his mother.

Sophia was reluctant but found his resolve to be unshakable. He explained that it would be best to have a Kardos in Wynter, and considering he wanted out of the capital, it was an excellent opportunity.

Sophia still was distressed, convinced that Oliver was nursing a broken heart. "My dear, love will come again."

Oliver sighed helplessly. He gave her a tight hug. "Maybe I'll find myself a beautiful Rucrean when I go north."

His mother laughed. "Rucrean, Abrorgean, prince, or farmer... it doesn't matter. As long as he makes you happy."

She pulled away and called Julian over, who handed her a thin box. She opened it and held out a necklace.

Oliver's eyes shook as he saw the familiar silver wrapped around a white stone. It was their Anima Wish shard, a piece of the dragon's heart. He had wondered what happened to the shards now that he bore the dragon's heart.

But now the necklace was in front of him.

His hand trembled slightly as he reached out and touched the stone, but it laid dormant. There was no trace of magic, and he could see the stone had several cracks through it. It was only a shell, but deep emotions were attached to it.

"This is the heirloom of the Kardos family. It was said to be a magical item, but the magic had long disappeared. Now, it's only a necklace, but it is tied to Kardos' long history. Generations have guarded it, including me. Now I give you the task." She explained with a smile dancing in her eyes.

"I'll guard it well." He promised quietly, his gaze never leaving the necklace.

She smiled and had him turn around and bend a little as she clasped it around his neck. His heart beat rapidly as the familiar weight hit his chest. He felt like the necklace was finally home.

He turned back to his mother and hugged her. She sniffled and hid her face in his chest.

"When did you grow up?" She murmured.

He chuckled. "I had to so I could be a good son."

She laughed. "Every man makes a poor decision from time to time. Even if you misjudge and stumble sometimes, you were never a bad son."

Oliver felt his eyes misting, and he lowered his head to avoid others seeing his emotions. These were words he never thought possible. "Thank you, mother."

She stepped back and wiped her fallen tears. Her reluctance was evident. "Are you sure you have to go?"

He nodded. "I am. This is not only good for Wynter but me. Besides, I miss the north and my home."

He turned and found Sarah holding a small bag in her hands.  He quickly took it from her, helped her onto a horse, and then tied her bag to the saddle.  He slung his own back over the back of a horse, but he frowned a little.  He was used to the tall and proud stallions of the Glacier Tundras.  They were proud horses that did not flinch in the middle of battle, but they were difficult to train.  Many people in the South wouldn't dare try to raise one. He was one of the few to tame one in his last life. The only others were the Rucreans, who could pacify any animal with their dragon blood.  He vowed to find a new horse when he was back in Wynter, and that thought made him smile happily.  He could finally run free.

Antony quickly approached him and leaned close to his ear. "I am sending Mark, Sal, and James with you. However, the Belelots caught wind that you were leaving today and insisted on sending ten others with you.  They all report to the prince and Tomin."

Oliver stiffened and looked back to the approaching horses.  They dressed in armor and sat proudly on their horses, but the procession was unpractical. 

Oliver and the Core members who were traveling with them were all in riding gear that was warm and comfortable.  They avoided anything that would reveal their status or hinder their camouflage.

Oliver walked up to them with Antony and nodded toward the arrogant group. "Report your identities." He said in a commanding tone that did not match his age.

The men frowned.  "We're from the 3rd Company of the Bierzen army.  The Crown Prince wanted to ensure your safety and requested that we escort you to Wynter."

Oliver didn't hide his contempt.  "Then I assume you adhere to the rules of the army, correct?"

"Yes, sir." They responded, feeling compelled to address him as 'sir'. However, two men in the back did not respond, and Oliver noticed them immediately.

"And you two?" He pointed them out.

They both frowned. "Yes.  We do."

Oliver smiled, but it was chilling. "Good. I will remember this."

One of the men had more details on his armor, so Oliver assumed he was this small group's leader. "My name is Sampson Hill, and I will lead our party to Wynter. Go ahead and fetch your carriage. We can depart shortly."

Oliver laughed a little and turned to Antony. "General, does the 3rd Company rank higher than you?"

Antony held a cold gaze. "No."

The men started to fidget on their horses.  They felt bolstered because this was an order from Tomin and the Crown Prince.  They failed to recognize who was standing in front of them.

Oliver's lips tightened. "Yet they failed to greet you?"

Antony laughed darkly. "They also failed to greet you, my heir, properly."

The small crowd had turned deathly silent after hearing Antony's words.  No one knew that Antony had selected an heir. This meant that the only person Oliver needed to report to in the army was Antony.  And when Antony was not around, Oliver would be in command.

"Is this adhering to the rules?" Oliver asked with a raised eyebrow.

The soldiers, except for Sampson, jumped off their horses and kneeled. "We great the General and the heir."

Oliver shook his head. "Go back. We have no need for you."

"But the Crown Prince ordered us to," Sampson said darkly.

"The Belelots do not run the army. I do." Antony said. "Go back."

The men gritted their teeth and reluctantly turned away after giving Oliver a few dark looks.

"I may be killing some men from the 3rd Company during my trip, Uncle," Oliver said quietly, ensuring Sophia would not be able to hear.

"I will trust your decisions.  But if you do, don't get caught."

Oliver laughed. "I will cover my tracks well."

Although his demeanor was carefree, his eyes vigilantly watched the group ride away. There were two brothers within that 3rd company who Oliver remembered from his past life. He wanted to call them back to confirm he saw correctly but resisted. Maybe there will be an opportunity to see them again.

He turned back to his family and hugged his uncle with no other words.  Antony knew he was anxious to return home and start taking over the Core in Wynter.  He wrapped his mom and father in a firm embrace. However, he faltered and revealed a guilty expression as he stopped in front of the young Avery.  He was crying and hiccuping. 

"Why are you leaving?" He cried.

Oliver picked him up and held him tightly. "I have to go and get stronger."

Avery sniffed and wiped his wet cheeks. "But big brother said you're already strong."

Oliver planted a light kiss on his forehead. "I need to be as strong as Uncle."

"You don't have to leave for that."

Oliver chuckled. "I do, Avery. And that means it's up to you to help guard mom and dad."

"Really?" His watery eyes lit up with the possibility of a new mission.

Oliver nodded. "Conrad is going to be very busy, and he is going to need your help.  Do you think you can do that?"

Avery stopped crying, dried his face with his sleeve, and gave Oliver his sloppy salute. "I will."

"That's a good soldier," Oliver chuckled as he handed Avery over to his father. 

He and Conrad grabbed onto each other's forearms. "Do well to return in one piece," Conrad said.

"I will.  I don't know when that will be, but I will not disappoint you." Oliver said with a smile.

He froze when Conrad pulled him into a tight hug. Conrad patted his back. "Watch your back out there. Don't die."

Oliver shook his head lightly. "Dying is boring."

Conrad broke from the hug, called a soldier over, and handed him two swords.  Oliver almost cursed when he saw these swords.  These were presented to him in his previous life as he was heading off to war.  They had broke in the middle of the war before Oliver started to use Antony's swords.

His hands gripped the familiar handles, and he felt a rush of energy pulse through him. "Brother... thank you."

He swung the swords a little, enjoying the old feeling of the blades.  His thumb ran across the end of the hilt and felt the details of the Kardos sigil.

He was about to leave, but he saw Ewen.  He sighed and approached his younger brother. "Ewen, a word, please."

He stepped away from the crowd, and Ewen reluctantly followed. Oliver checked to make sure no one was within earshot but still spoke in a hushed tone.

"I will only tell you this once out of goodwill.  However, it is up to you to heed my words." Oliver said.

Ewen rolled his eyes. "I don't need your words."

Oliver gave him a complicated look. "Piers is not worth it."

Ewen paled, and his eyes became wide. "What? How do... What do... what?"

"He doesn't care about your efforts, and nothing you do will move him." Oliver's eyes softened a little, and he sighed.

Ewen's shock faded, and his face turned hostile. "Did he tell you about us? Are you jealous?"

Oliver shook his head. "No one told me because I already knew about you and Piers."

Ewen trembled a little. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing. I only wish to tell you three things." He held up a finger. "One: He will never love you, so stop living in that fantasy."

Ewen grit his teeth. "What if it's not about love?"

Oliver's second finger was raised as he continued without bothering with Ewen's outbursts. "Two: He is selfish and will never give you power.  Do not expect to be able to stand by his side because he will make you kneel with the rest of his subjects."

"He swore—"

Oliver cut him off and held up three fingers. "Three: He will pit you against us.  One day you will have to choose between Piers and your family.  But be warned, the moment you choose him, I will break off our brotherly bonds and cut you down as my enemy."

"Are you threatening me?" Ewen said with a tremble in his voice.

Oliver placed a heavy hand on Ewen's shoulder. "As I said, I'm only telling you this out of goodwill."

He sheathed his swords on his back and walked back to his horse. "I'll see you all later." He said with a smile and took off with the three Core soldiers and Sarah in tow.