Even after Damien's chilling words silenced the air, a few soldiers continued to chuckle and mock the battered young guard.
Their laughter was jagged, nervously defiant—as if they were trying to convince themselves nothing had changed. That this was still just some joke. That the Crown Prince standing before them was still the same unpredictable fool from months ago.
"Hell," one of them scoffed, voice loud and laced with derision. "Given how crazy the Crown Prince is, he might even join us!"
He turned toward Damien, sneering. "Hahaa... Crown Prince, would you like to join us?"
Had it been in the past, perhaps Damien would have played along. Maybe he'd have laughed and brushed it off, masking fury with nonchalance. But that man no longer existed.
Not today.
Not anymore.
"Is this what the royal army has become?"
