Chapter 238: You know he won’t stop
"Our objective," he began, "is simple. Secure the assigned outpost within three days, establish supply lines, and repel enemy incursions. Failure will reflect not only on us individually, but on the academy’s reputation."
Sun’s tone carried a weight that pressed into the room, each word deliberate, clipped, practiced. The nobles sitting closest to him leaned forward attentively, as though every syllable was a decree. The map stretched across the center table glowed faintly with mana-light, rivers and borders sketched out in shimmering lines. The only other sound was the steady hum of the red mana crystals overhead, their light casting long shadows across the students’ faces.
Sun allowed the silence to linger, his gaze drifting over the assembled class with measured calculation. One by one, he pinned them beneath his eyes, forcing them to absorb his authority. His stare finally landed on Jae, and the pause became sharp, deliberate.
"Which is why every soldier must obey their commander without hesitation."
The intent was clear—obedience, loyalty, hierarchy. Not just for the mission, but to Sun himself.
Jae’s expression didn’t shift. He met the crown prince’s eyes evenly, red against dark, and gave nothing back—no smirk, no defiance, no acknowledgment beyond a calm, unreadable stare. Inside, however, he was already dissecting Sun’s play. This wasn’t strategy. This was theater. The mission was only the backdrop; the real performance was establishing dominance.
"Jae," Sun continued, his voice smooth but carrying a faint edge, "you will serve under my direct command. Given your... talents, you’ll lead the vanguard when we advance. Your strength will be useful breaking enemy lines, provided you act when ordered and only when ordered."
The phrasing landed like a subtle strike. Only when ordered. A leash. A chain.
Some nobles smirked, the kind of expression that thrived on someone else’s reduction. A few exchanged knowing glances, their satisfaction poorly disguised. Elise shifted uneasily, her gaze darting toward Jae. Her hands clenched tightly on the edge of the table, knuckles pale. She looked as though she expected him to explode, to cut the tension with the sharpness he was known for.
But Jae simply inclined his head a fraction. Controlled. Careful. Neither bowing nor mocking.
"As you command."
The words slipped out quiet but steady, and for a moment, the room froze. Nobles waiting for conflict were denied it, their smirks faltering into faint disappointment. Others leaned back, whispering behind their hands that perhaps even Jae knew when to yield.
Sun’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. His lips curved into the faintest of smiles, as though victory had been assured before the battle had even begun.
The meeting continued. Sun’s voice filled the room, brisk and confident, as he assigned placements with surgical precision. Tirel was dispatched to the support lines, her sultry smile muted as she accepted the order. Byun was placed in the rearguard, his shadows relegated to protection rather than offense. Elise, to her quiet frustration, was assigned to scouts, far from Jae’s side.
Fin and Sun’s other allies were scattered across key positions, woven neatly into the web of authority Sun had spun. Every choice reinforced his control, ensuring no piece of the board moved without his influence. It was strategy, yes, but more importantly, it was performance.
When Sun finally dismissed them, the students filed out in clusters, murmurs buzzing like flies.
"He must be furious."
"No one keeps quiet like that unless they’re boiling inside."
"Or maybe he’s finally learned. Even raw power bends to royal blood."
The words followed Jae as he left the chamber, but he gave no sign of hearing them. His stride was steady, expression cool, movements precise enough to betray nothing.
Elise hurried to catch up, her steps sharp against the stone. She fell in beside him, lowering her voice to just above a whisper. "Why didn’t you say anything?" Her eyes flickered behind them, checking for eavesdroppers. "He’s setting you up as nothing more than a weapon."
Jae didn’t turn his head. His gaze remained forward, calm, unbothered. "Because arguing would’ve given him what he wanted," he replied. His voice carried no heat, only steady resolve. "Let him think I’ve fallen in line. When the campaign begins, what matters won’t be words. It’ll be results."
Elise frowned, her lips pressing into a tight line. She wanted to protest, to remind him how dangerous rumors and perception could be, but something in his tone stilled her. There was a certainty there, quiet but unshakable. Reluctantly, she let the matter drop, though unease lingered in her chest.
A moment later, Byun slipped into stride on Jae’s other side. His hands were shoved into his pockets, shoulders loose, though the flicker of shadows at his fingertips betrayed his tension. His usual grin was absent, replaced by a seriousness that rarely showed.
"You realize he’s not going to stop, right?" Byun said, his voice low but edged with weight. "Sun won’t be satisfied until he proves he’s above you."
Jae exhaled quietly, a sound closer to thought than frustration. His red eyes narrowed faintly, but his expression remained calm, almost distant.
xxx
The day had gone almost too smoothly.
Under Sun’s stiff leadership, the mock campaign had dragged across open fields, shallow rivers, and uneven forest paths. He had barked orders at anyone who so much as breathed out of line, his nobles laughing and nodding behind him, but the students got the work done regardless. Their makeshift company had reached the designated border post, set up defenses, and held against simulated "enemy" squads thrown at them by the academy’s instructors.
When the last horn blew to signal the end of the exercise, relief swept through the camp.
"We did it," Tirel said, dropping onto a crate and stretching her arms above her head. Her voice carried a rare note of pride.
"Flawless," Elise added softly, wiping her brow with a cloth. "Not one collapse, not one serious mistake." She glanced toward Jae, and though she didn’t say it aloud, the look in her eyes spoke volumes: because of you.
Byun lingered at the edge of the firelight, quiet as usual, though even he allowed himself the faintest smirk.