***

In the silence of his room, Prince Chahaya is battling his own thoughts. Many things have come across his mind in the past few hours. Firstly, he needs to list down items that need to be done in order to communicate with Matahari and Neo Renegades effectively. Secondly, he is consistently thinking of how he can maintain his position as a crown prince without harming his brother. He hates to admit but he wants to keep Prince Surya out of the political landscape of the kingdom. He enjoys the attention and the position. He would be damned if he has to let go of this glory. 

Sighing, he stands up and walks toward the door to call the guards. He has decided what are the first thing he needs to do. He needs to schedule a time to talk with the ministers in Matahari. Then afterwards, send a reply with pre-determined rules to Neo Renegades. In the meantime, he will sort his heart. 

"Guard, come inside!" After opening the door, he calls the guard inside.

"Yes, Your Highness," answered the guard. 

"Set up a schedule for a meeting with all the ministers in Matahari. I want a meeting as soon as possible. Tell them to cancel all plans," he said. 

"Of course, Your Highness. How soon would you like the meeting to be?"

"Within the next day if possible. Actually, it has to be within the next day."

"I will let them know."

The guard then quickly proceeds to perform the task that Prince Chahaya asked him to do. Rumours have spread in this ship that Neo Renegades have contacted the kingdom and demands something in exchange for the crown prince. The guards have all heard about it; regardless if it is a rumor or real news. The return of Topan also has created an unprecedented storm of speculations and rumours. 

Deep inside his heart, Prince Chahaya is fighting an invisible battle. He messes his hair in frustration. Since notifying the guard, he has not been able to sit still, walking back-and-forth from nerves. He then decided to write a few things down to help sort his thoughts. Proceeding to the table, he immediately grabs a piece of paper and a pen. 

'First of all, if I am to boycott Surya during my discussion with the Neo Renegades, then it would be so easy for the public to find out. If the Neo Renegades were to be unhappy with me even the slightest bit, they would backstab me in front of everyone. They would ensure that people see.' he thought as he write that down on the paper. 

'Second, maybe I can just make an ally with the ministers in Matahari. I will not need all of them to comply with me. Just a majority will do. I will lie to them and say that the Neo Renegades are attacking. That way, when the Neo Renegades come, the guards in Matahari will attack them.' He smiles as he comes to a realization. 

'That would be perfect! Those rebellion soldiers will be angry and hold Surya hostage forever. The Neo Renegades will not know the truth as they think that the kingdom betrayed them. The kingdom will not understand the hostility either because everyone here will think that the Neo Renegades attack without a purpose."

Prince Chahaya then scratches his first option and circles his second option as the choice he makes. Sstisfied, he throws the pen on the table and relaxes his body on the chair. He looks up into the ceiling, looking at the chandeliers and his thought flies to all the future glory he will experience if this all works out. 

It is hard to admit that there is a voice-a tiny one- inside his head that screams 'No'. But Prince Chahaya is determined to ignore that voice. He does not want to listen to that voice that keeps on reminding him about his sibling. He hates his own conscience for being so weak. 

'I do not want to go back to being number 2. For once, I want to be number 1. I like to be number 1.'  Those are the sentence that Prince Chahaya keeps on telling himself.