At Duke Labelle's manor, Princess Elery and Sir Lucian just departed, and Rue gathered his belongings, ready to return to his estate.
"Will you be alright?" Prince Caleb asked, concern in his voice.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Rue replied with a soft smile. "I still need to finish the investigation and report to His Imperial Majesty."
"I should've done more, helped with the investigation-"
"You've done more than enough. Besides," Rue glanced toward the upper floor, "Lady Cecilia will need you when she wakes up."
Caleb nodded, his voice low. "Thank you… Have a safe trip." He pulled Rue into a tight hug.
Before leaving, Rue took one last look up at the window of Lady Cecilia's room. Then he turned and rode off into the growing morning light.
On the road to the Dostani Kingdom, Princess Elery leaned back in her seat, deep in thought."Was Lady Cecilia truly alive?" she asked, still trying to wrap her head around the impossible.
"Yes," Sir Lucian replied. "But she hasn't woken up yet. It's… nothing short of a miracle."
Elery lowered her gaze to the shard in her hand. "Maybe this has something to do with it. The shard's power… I need to know more," she thought.
They stopped at a small tavern to rest and eat. As Sir Lucian excused himself to the washroom, Elery's eyes landed on a group of rugged-looking men across the room and an idea sparked.
Before Lucian returned, she walked over to the men, whispered something, and slipped them a pouch of gold. When Lucian came back, he saw the men crowding around her. "Excuse me," he said sharply, stepping between them and the princess. "Is there a problem?"
"We were just asking the lady to join us for a drink," one of them said with a smirk.
"She's not interested. Find someone else." Lucian's voice was firm, protective.
"Who are you to her? Her lover?"
"No, but-"
"Then mind your own damn business. Or do you want to come with us too?"
That was enough. Lucian's patience snapped. His fist met one man's jaw, and the tavern erupted into chaos. While fists flew and tables toppled, Princess Elery slipped quietly out the back door.
"I'm sorry, Lucian," she thought, wrapping herself in a cloak as she disappeared. "But I can't go home… not yet. Not until I find the truth."With determined steps, she began her journey alone toward Kouzlo Duchy.
At the palace in Yamma, the emperor sat at his desk, surrounded by documents. He didn't look up when the empress entered. "Is there something I can help you with, Empress?" he asked, his eyes fixed on his papers.
She scoffed, pacing slowly around the room. "I heard your little mistress is pregnant. One bastard wasn't enough, so you made another."
The emperor paused, then lifted his gaze to her, his voice calm but cold. "Are we doing this again? If this is about Caleb's position, I've told you before - so long as Rue lives, Caleb has the right to the throne."
"So it's fine, as long as it's not him," she hissed.
"Are you confessing to something?"
"Confessing?" she laughed bitterly. "You speak as though I'm the villain here, when it is you who sinned against me."
"Haven't I given you everything you wanted? The highest rank in the empire. A son recognized as heir."
"That was mine by right. I earned it when I put you on that throne. And Caleb becoming emperor? That is his birthright!"
The emperor leaned back and chuckled, the sound thick with disbelief. "You're right, you did help me ascend. But Caleb?" His eyes narrowed. "I've treated him like my own son. But what did you do to mine? You tried to have him killed."
"Is your bastard more important than Caleb?!" she snapped, her voice shrill with rage.
"If you call Rue a bastard, then what does that make Caleb?" he asked, voice like ice.
The empress froze. "W-what are you saying?"
"I've known for a long time," the emperor said grimly. "Caleb is not my son."
"That's a lie!"
"When Caleb awakened as a light mage, I was suspicious. Neither of our bloodlines have produced light mages. Then I remembered the day you dismissed your knight."
The empress stood still, her breathing shallow.
"I investigated and months later, a woman came to me, her body covered in burns. She said you ordered the slaughter of her family to keep your secret. She was your knight's sister."
He pulled open a drawer and placed a silver ring on the table, engraved with the emblem of House Avaris. "She gave me this. Said it was proof of your infidelity. A family heirloom... meant only for the spouse of a true Avaris."
The empress stared at the ring, her thoughts spiraling.
"You killed the father of your child. A man who once stood by your side. Does Caleb know?"
"No! You can't tell him!" she cried out.
"Then leave Rose and Rue alone," he said, rising to his feet. "You, of all people, should understand the cost of secrets."
Her mind reeled.
He's known all along. And still, he said Caleb would be emperor. Was that a lie? Is he just buying time to secure his bastard's place? What happens if Caleb learns the truth? What happens to me?
Her thoughts blurred into panic. Emotion overtook reason. Suddenly, she drew a hidden dagger from her boot and stabbed him in the back.
"Aaagh!" the emperor cried out, staggering forward. "You've finally lost your mind! Guards!" he called. "Restrain the empress!"
But no one came.
He turned to crawl toward the door. "Guards!"
The empress stepped forward, mounted his back, and drove the blade into him again. "No one will come. Not today," she whispered.
"W-what... did you do?" he gasped.
"I should've done this long ago. I only ever wanted your love...."
He reached for his sword, but his hands shook and failed him. The blade clattered to the floor."This dagger," she said, "is laced with poison. Compliments of Duke Vane. He truly is... resourceful."
The emperor collapsed, his limbs failing him. The empress leaned over his fading body, her eyes filled with tears. "I only ever wanted you to love me," she whispered, before plunging the dagger into his heart.
Again.
And again.
She stabbed him until his body was unrecognizable, pouring out every resentment she'd bottled for years. When she was done, she was soaked in blood, her chest heaving.
"Duke Vane," she called out hoarsely. "Are you there?"
The door opened. The duke stepped in, taking in the scene with quiet satisfaction. "Quite the mess," he said. "I assume the plan has changed?"
"I heard the marquess is arriving today," she said. "He and his mother have plotted treason - joined hands with the emperor's knight commander. I, as Empress Regent, command you to execute the traitors."
Duke Vane bowed, a smile curling on his lips. "Your wish... is my command." Everything was going just as he planned.
Outside the Palace of Yamma, The Knight Commander, Sir Garran D'Sharn, rode in with his patrol, unease gnawing at his gut. Their return from inspection had been riddled with strange delays - fallen trees, blocked paths, wayward beasts - as if fate itself was stalling their arrival.
At the palace gates, he saw a crowd of attendants lingering outside, among them was the Grand Chamberlain, Alex. "What's going on here?" Garran demanded.
Alex hesitated. "Duke Vane requested a private audience with His Imperial Majesty. He ordered all servants of the inner palace to vacate... said it was a matter of utmost secrecy."
Sir Garran narrowed his eyes. There were far too many of the Duke's men loitering near the palace. "Who's guarding the emperor, then?"
"There were a few knights left inside," Alex replied uncertainly.
"Something's wrong," Garran muttered under his breath. Then, louder, "Sir Shaedwyn."
His son, the knight captain, stepped forward. "Yes, Commander?"
"Take your elite unit and head to Lady Rose's quarters. Get her out of the palace quietly. I fear we're walking into something dark. Her safety is your top priority. Go - now."
Shaedwyn nodded, understanding the urgency, and slipped away with his men. Meanwhile, Garran strode toward the inner palace. As soon as he entered, he was met with resistance - armed guards at every corridor, all bearing the crest of House Vane. "What is the meaning of this?!" he barked. "How dare you station your men in the emperor's private chambers!"
A smug voice responded from across the hall. "Sir Garran D'Sharn," said Duke Vane, stepping forward. "You have betrayed His Imperial Majesty by conspiring with Marquess Rue Mallory to commit treason. By order of the Empress Regent, you are to be arrested. Resist, and you die."
"Treason?!" Garran roared. "What lies are you spewing?! I demand to see the emperor at once!"
"That, I'm afraid," came another voice, softer and chilling, "is impossible."The empress emerged, walking slowly from behind the Duke. The soldiers immediately bowed.
Garran froze. She was drenched in blood. "What did you do?" he whispered in horror.
She covered her eyes and feigned sobs. "What did I do? You betrayed your emperor! The Marquess struck him down with his sword along with that woman. And you… as his co-conspirator, are to be captured. Seize him! "Soldiers charged, weapons drawn.
"Lady Rose?" Garran asked, parrying a blow.
"Don't worry," the Duke said with a smug grin. "Two of my finest men are on their way to dispose of her as we speak."
But the knight commander was far from defeated. Despite the overwhelming odds, he held his ground. His sword blazed with fire, heat radiating from his armor as if fueled by sheer wrath.
"Impressive," the empress muttered, watching him cut down man after man. "At this rate, he'll kill them all."
"I expected this," said Duke Vane. He snapped his fingers.
Three mages stepped from the shadows - cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing with forbidden power.
The empress narrowed her eyes. "Dark mages? That's a direct violation of imperial law."
"I was planning to tell His Majesty," Duke Vane said with mock innocence. He pulled out a black box and opened it, revealing a glowing green shard. "But I thought it would be more… impactful to demonstrate." He inserted the shard into his staff.
"Malachai," he called.
The mage stepped forward silently. With a nod from the Duke, he grasped the staff. In an instant, the energy in the chamber shifted. The air grew heavy. Malachai's aura darkened, dense, overwhelming.
Garran struggled to hold the line as the three mages attacked. But even against their sorcery, his flame burned hot, forcing them back."You shall pay for your sins!" he bellowed, directing his blade toward the empress and the Duke.
"If you've got anything left, Vane," the empress warned, "now would be a good time. Otherwise, we're all dead men."
The Duke only smirked."Malachai."
The mage raised his hands, channeling the shard's power into a glowing green orb that pulsed with darkness. Garran planted his feet, his sword raised. The orb exploded toward him. He met it head-on. A blinding flash. A searing shockwave. The palace trembled as a massive explosion rocked the walls, smoke and flame billowing down the corridor. When the dust settled, silence fell - tense and ominous.