The days that followed were filled with an uneasy quiet, but Jade's instincts never let him relax. He kept his head down, continuing his routine as the young, mute child everyone ignored. But inside, his mind was always working, always analyzing, and always observing. The prince's eyes haunted him—eyes that saw more than they should.
That afternoon, as Jade was helping his mother in the garden, a commotion sounded at the gate. At first, it was nothing more than the usual hustle of the village, but then the unmistakable stamp of royal guards punctuated the air. Jade's mother's face stiffened.
"They're here." She whispered under her breath.
Jade stood still, trying to read the situation. Was it just the prince's guards again, or was something else happening? His heart skipped a beat as he heard footsteps approaching the house.
Before he could react, the door swung open. There stood one of the prince's guards, dressed in the royal uniform, his stance commanding and unwavering.
"Is Jade here?" the guard asked in a deep voice.
Jade's mother didn't answer immediately, her eyes flicking to Jade as if seeking approval. There was fear in her gaze, but there was also a flicker of something else. Curiosity, perhaps. Hope? She turned back to the guard.
"I—I'll call him," she said, her voice wavering as she stepped aside.
The guard remained still, not saying another word.
Jade's mind raced. Why were they looking for him?
With a slow, deliberate pace, Jade moved to the door, feeling the weight of his knowledge from his past life settle upon him. The prince's interest wasn't an accident. He had seen something in him. Something that, even as a child, Jade could not fully understand.
The guard stepped back to allow him to pass, his eyes never leaving Jade.
Jade's heart drummed in his chest as he followed the guard through the winding streets of the village. They moved with purpose, cutting through the marketplace where vendors hawked their goods and children played in the dust. People stopped to glance at Jade, but most ignored him as they always did. He was just a child.
As they neared the outer gates of the village, the vast, towering walls of the royal castle appeared in the distance. The sight of them struck Jade with a strange sense of foreboding. Why would the prince want him there?
The guards led him through the gates, past the pristine courtyards, and into a large, ornate chamber.
Inside, the prince sat on a raised dais, his posture regal and poised. His sharp features were set in a calm, calculating expression, though his eyes seemed to hold a curiosity that Jade couldn't quite decipher. Beside him stood an older man, likely a royal advisor, with silver hair and an austere expression.
The prince's eyes locked onto Jade, and for a moment, the room fell silent.
"You came," the prince said, his voice soft but commanding. His gaze never wavered. "I've been waiting for you."
Jade said nothing, of course—he couldn't. But his heart beat faster. There was something about the prince that felt… different.
The prince continued, his voice lowering just enough for Jade to hear. "I've been watching you, Jade. I know you've been following me. I can see the way you observe the world, the way you make connections others can't."
The royal advisor cleared his throat, stepping forward with a sharp look at the prince. "Your Highness, perhaps it's too soon to—"
But the prince waved him off, never taking his eyes from Jade. "No. It's time. Jade, you have a gift. Don't pretend it's not there. And I need you."
Jade felt a chill at the prince's words. His instincts screamed that this was only the beginning of something far bigger than he had imagined. But he didn't flinch. He didn't show fear. The prince had acknowledged him, and that meant something.
The prince stood, slowly moving down from his dais. "I'll give you an offer," he said. "I don't care about your past. I don't care about the fact that you don't speak. What I care about is what you can do for me."
Jade felt the weight of his gaze, but he didn't falter. He was prepared for this moment.
The prince smiled, a small, calculating curve of his lips. "I want you to join me. Become my eyes, my mind. Help me uncover the truth about this world. Help me take what is mine. In return, you will have everything you could ever want. Power. Wealth. Freedom. You name it."
Jade's mind raced. This was a dangerous game.
But something else stirred inside him—a darker part of himself, the part that had been born in the fires of his previous life. This was his chance.
He gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
The prince's smile widened. "Excellent. I'll take that as a yes."
He turned to his advisor, who gave a sharp bow. "Arrange everything for Jade. Make sure he's ready."
Jade stood, still silent, but now more than ever, his mind burned with the knowledge of what this could mean. The prince had chosen him. But he knew better than anyone that being chosen came at a cost.
And Jade had no intention of paying that price lightly.