Dawn was breaking over the castle, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Xander, the Crown Prince of Nohr, stood at the window of his private quarters, looking out onto the landscape that stretched beneath him. The familiar view of his homeland was a blend of awe-inspiring beauty and somber reminder of the battles fought and lives lost for its protection.

His fingers traced over the hilt of Siegfried, the divine blade passed down his lineage. Its presence was a comforting weight at his side, a symbol of his dedication and loyalty. Yet, today, it seemed to bear a heavier burden, the echoes of a command he had received from King Garon still ringing in his ears.

The order was a controversial one, stirring a whirlpool of discomfort within him. It was not in alignment with his principles, and it strained against his inherent sense of right and wrong. Even now, as the early morning light painted the room with hues of gold, Xander's heart was cloaked in the shadows of doubt.

His gaze fell onto a small portrait of his siblings. His commitment to them was unfaltering, and his desire to protect and guide them was unwavering. But now, caught between honesty and fealty, Xander was facing one of the toughest decisions of his life.