Perspective

Life had become a blur for the four royals ever since Rui Quarrier had been unveiled. One moment, Prince Randal ordered his Martial Masters to attack, and the very next, a gash had been inflicted on him and his half-sisters.

It couldn't be helped. The Martial Masters and even Rui lived on an entirely different speed, at least as far as combat was concerned. 

That was what may have taken a lot of time for them in combat and might have been just a split second for the royals.

He had been hurt in a split second and seemingly simultaneously been fed a healing potion, which he was duly inhaling.

It was a lot of blurred darkness.

It was like a bad dream.

In fact, Prince Randal desperately hoped it was a bad dream.

Perhaps he had nodded off the morning of the assassination, having a horrible nightmare caused by his nervousness. Perhaps everything had gone smoothly, and this was a nightmare he was having later that day.