Chapter 6 The crowned shadow

The Crowned Shadow

Nexalith. A coastal kingdom laced with tradition, legacy, and whispers of power that stretched beyond bloodlines.

And at the centre of it all stood Prince Lucian Stone the only son of the monarchs, the acting head of the royal household, and the CEO of Stone Corps, one of Nexalith's most powerful global companies.

He was twenty eight.

But the world had stopped treating him like a young man long ago.

Lucian lived in rhythms unforgiving, unchanging. Every hour of his life was mapped, from dawn's first light to the last flicker of boardroom bulbs. He was bred for responsibility, sculpted by pressure, and sustained by precision.

His parents, King Aldric and Queen Seraphina, had left the country on an extended diplomatic mission. Since then, the weight of Nexalith's throne and empire had quietly shifted onto Lucian's shoulders.

Not officially. Not ceremoniously. But wholly.

Each day began before the sun rose. His villa on the cliffs of eastern Nexalith came alive with quiet motion as he dressed in tailored perfection and moved through his routine with military timing.

Lucian didn't speak much. He didn't need to. His presence alone demanded obedience.

By six-thirty a.m., he was behind the wheel of his matte-black Aston Martin, navigating through the misty curves of Nexalith's highland roads toward Stone Corps HQ, a skyscraper of glass and steel that overlooked the turquoise sea.

He rarely stopped to enjoy the view.

Inside the building, silence trailed behind him like a second skin.

"Good morning, Your Highness," his executive assistant, greeted, trying not to make eye contact for too long.

"Status report," Lucian said simply, entering the executive elevator.

"The Eastern Corridor engineers submitted the revised models. The environmental lobby still opposes the coast project, and the German partners moved up the virtual conference to 10 a.m."

Lucian tapped the screen of the tablet she handed him. "Push the lobby meeting to Friday. Approve the model if it's under budget. I'll call the Germans directly."

"Yes, sir."

When he stepped into his corner office, no one followed.

The glass walls framed Nexalith like a painting but he didn't look. His world was inside the reports, the numbers, the deadlines. Beauty was optional. Control was not.

Lucian wasn't cruel, but he was feared. Not because he barked orders or threw tantrums, but because he didn't falter. Not once. Not ever.

He signed billion-dollar deals with a flick of his pen. He shut down dissenting board members with a look. He managed crises like clockwork fires, finances, political pressures.

And he did it all alone.

Most people his age had friend groups, spontaneous vacations, college memories.

Lucian had strategy memos, confidential files, and a calendar that never let him breathe.

"Are you eating today, sir?" his secretary asked quietly just past noon.

He didn't answer. Not because he was rude, but because he didn't notice the hunger anymore.

She placed a protein shake on his desk. He never thanked her. She didn't expect it.

That was Lucian Stone the machine Nexalith needed.

By nightfall, he was back at his villa. The modern fortress sat high above the sea cliffs, its walls lined with minimalist art and royal symbols. A silent butler greeted him. Dinner was prepared.

He ate a little and got distracted by mails

There was no room for mistakes. No softness. No youth.

Just legacy.

Responsibility.

And a silence that had grown too familiar.

He rubbed a hand across his jaw, eyes tired, heart... something he hadn't listened to in a while.

The city of Nexalith sparkled below. His company thrived. His name held power.

This has been his daily activities

The Price of Influence<<<<<<<<<

The sun had barely broken through the Nexalith sky when Evelyn Hills stirred from a restless sleep. The bed felt colder these days more than just physically. It was a quiet reminder that Louis Hills, her husband, had been gone for almost years now.

His absence left more than emotional gaps. The family empire he built was now under her control, and though Evelyn had kept things afloat, the cracks were beginning to show. The real estate ventures were slowing down. Logistics contracts were failing. Reputation alone was no longer enough.

She did everything she could to protect the Hills name... but the world wasn't giving second chances.

And Mira, her only child, certainly wasn't helping.

The phone buzzed on the edge of her nightstand.

Caller ID: Mira 💅🏽

Evelyn exhaled, then picked up.

"Mum," came the familiar, demanding voice, "I need one hundred and twenty thousand."

"For what?" Evelyn asked, not unkindly, just exhausted.

"For a group project. It's urgent. Don't ask too many questions, please."

Evelyn massaged her temple. "Mira, I just sent you money"

"Oh my God, are you seriously going to start counting again? Do you want me to look cheap in school? Is that what you want?"

Evelyn's mouth tightened. She said nothing as Mira rattled on, her tone sharp, her sense of entitlement louder than anything else. Finally, the girl sighed and hung up mid complaint.

Evelyn placed the phone down and stared at the ceiling.

Her daughter had always been like this spoiled, stylish, loud, impulsive. Mira had barely made it through school thanks to money and influence. Now, with graduation approaching in a few months, Evelyn couldn't ignore the truth anymore: there was no future leader in Mira. No strategist. No heart for the company. Nothing that could save what Louis left behind.

Yet, Evelyn wasn't ready to lose everything.

Not yet.

She rose from bed, the silk of her robe trailing as she moved to the tall window overlooking the estate. From here, the world still looked rich. Still powerful. But she knew how fragile the foundation was becoming.

Then came the thought. The one that had visited her often over the past year, but now stood clearer than ever.

Prince Lucian Stone.

A name that echoed through Nexalith like thunder.

Young. Wealthy. Royal.

Lucian had become the CEO of Stone Corps, Nexalith's leading multi sector enterprise, at just twenty eight. His parents the King and Queen were away on royal assignments abroad, which left Lucian to carry the nation's industrial pride and royal responsibility on his own.

He was everything Mira was not disciplined, commanding, powerful.

But above all, he was single.

Evelyn's lips curved faintly.

She had crossed paths with him at business events, exchanged pleasantries through corporate circles. The Royal family was once a partner with the hills empire when Mr hills was alive so there was a distant familiarity there enough to build on.

If Mira could win his attention... if she became Mrs. Lucian Stone... their name would never fade.

Everything Louis left behind would be restored and more.

All Evelyn needed...

was to guide Mira into his path.