The air between them seemed to freeze.
Lucas' eyes narrowed behind the mask.
Commander Alexander stared at Ken in disbelief.
Ken continued without hesitation.
"She has been working with the us since the beginning."
The King shook his head slowly.
"No," he said quietly.
Ken ignored the denial.
"She helped plan the destabilization of Valerion from within."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Lucas.
"You remember the attempt on Prince Darius' life."
Lucas' mind immediately returned to that moment.
The poisoned wine.
The desperate race to save the prince.
The chaos that had nearly plunged the kingdom into war.
Ken smiled faintly.
"That plan was hers."
The King's expression cracked.
Ken's voice remained steady.
"She arranged for the poison."
He lifted the crown slightly again.
"The blame was meant to fall on the Kingdom of Blackmare. A war would have followed soon after. Valerion would have been weakened from the inside while fighting a pointless war outside its borders."
