By dawn, the palace was awake, but not in the usual way.There was no hum of routine, no lazy chatter from the kitchens. Instead, there was a watchfulness in the air, a stiffness in the servants' steps.
News of the armory breach hadn't gone public, but rumors spread faster than disease in a place like this.
The System's countdown pulsed faintly in the back of my mind:
[47:12:08]
I split the day into two fronts:
Me, rooting out which guard captain could orchestrate an armory breach without raising suspicion. And leyra digging among the servants and low-ranking guards for whispers and loose tongues.
i have Interrogated the Captains
Captain Veylor — too polished, too polite. He stammered when I mentioned the koi pond.
Captain Drann — assumingly loyal, but his men had been reassigned to the west wing only last week. Is it unlucky timing or the perfect cover, or someone framing him?
Captain Istren — didn't hide his contempt for me. That almost made me trust him more.
i wrote in my notebook.
Leyla returned to my chambers at dusk,her hair mussed, the faint scent of spiced wine clinging to her.
"I made a friend," she said, dropping into a chair like she'd just danced through the whole city. "Kitchen boy named Orrin. Knows which guards drink too much and which ones sneak out at night."
I didn't like the casual way she said made a friend.
"Where the hell have you been?" I asked.
"Not important right now, Your highness." she said, swirling the last of her wine before drinking it in one go. "Sergeant Thayne, one of Valric's men, hasn't slept in his barracks for three nights. Yesterday, a delivery cart came in from the northern estates,and no inspection were made for it."
"Why?"
Her smirk was quick, almost wicked. "Because the guard on duty had his hands full with a courtesan from the lower harem."
My jaw tightened. "My harem?"
"Not important right now," she said, tilting her head. "He likes clever women."
"I don't care what he likes," I said. "If a man looks at you too long, he'll remember it as his last mistake."
Her smile faltered, just for a heartbeat, then returned a bit sharper. "We have better things to handle right now."
"I don't care, don't compromise your safety, Leyla"
Before I could say more, the door swung open without a knock.
The High Queen swept in, every step deliberate.
"Caelan," she said, tasting the name like a sip of expensive wine. "You've been… distracted. And the council is concerned. You've yet to name a queen or produce an heir."
"I've had other matters—"
She cut me off with a flick of her hand, dismissing Leyla. "A throne without an heir is an invitation to chaos. Choose. Tonight, at the reception Valric has arranged."
I glanced at Leyla. She didn't speak, but her knuckles whitened around her glass, as she bowed her head and left.
The System chimed:
[Main Quest Updated: Attend the Reception and Select a Consort.][Failure: Decrease in Legitimacy — 25%. Increase in Coup Success Probability — +10%.]
After the Queen left, Leyla came to me again."You can't let Valric put one of his puppets in your bed," she said. "But if you refuse anyone, they'll say you're weak or incapable of producing a heir."
"You have a better idea, Miss Leyla?"
"Yes," she said. "Just pick someone you control, Your Majesty."
"You mean like you?" i smirked.
She smirked, but didn't answer.
Later that night, shouting erupted in the corridor. Jorven burst in, sword drawn.
"They've found another body," he said. "Outer gate guard. Same as the first, no wounds. Just dead."
He placed something on the table, a black silk mask, the kind worn by Veynn Isle assassins.
The System's clock ticked in my head:
[45:09:42]
I reached for my sword. "No one gets near you without my permission," I told Leyla.
She didn't argue this time.