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The morning sun had barely risen, casting its golden rays over the kingdom, but I was already wide awake, my thoughts consumed by the revelations of the previous day. The report, the hidden truths, and the Empress's involvement in my parents' death—everything pointed to a dangerous conspiracy. But I couldn't allow fear to take hold. If I was to rule, I needed to uncover the full extent of the web of lies surrounding me.
Lucien had informed me that the Empress's assistant, the one who might hold the key to everything, was someone who had been at her side for years. He was a shadow, a man who remained in the background but wielded considerable influence. His name was Alistair Vorn, a figure of mystery and allure, known for his exceptional skills in both diplomacy and manipulation.
I had to meet him. Alone. There was no telling what lengths the Empress would go to in order to protect her secrets, and I couldn't trust anyone else to help me—at least not yet.
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By the time Lucien and I arrived at the Empress's private wing, the castle was alive with the hum of early morning activity. Servants hurried past, their faces a mix of fear and respect for the palace's highest rulers. The air was thick with the kind of tension that only those with secrets to protect could understand.
Alistair was waiting in a lavishly decorated antechamber, his back to the door as he gazed out the window. His dark hair cascaded down to his shoulders, and his figure was draped in an elegant black cloak, which only emphasized his sharp features. He looked every bit the loyal servant of the Empress, but I had learned long ago that appearances were often deceiving.
"Alistair," I said, my voice cool but assertive as I stepped into the room. "I need to speak with you."
He turned slowly, his lips curving into a smile that was both charming and unsettling. "Ah, Your Majesty," he said, his tone smooth and practiced. "I wasn't expecting a visit from you today. But I must say, it's an honor."
I met his gaze without hesitation, feeling the weight of the moment pressing on my shoulders. "I've come to ask you about my parents' death. I know you were involved in the investigation."
The smile on his lips faltered for only a moment, but it was enough to confirm my suspicions. He knew. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
"I see," he said, his voice still calm, though I detected a hint of wariness behind his composed facade. "It seems the rumors have reached you, Your Majesty. But I must caution you—some things are better left forgotten."
"Do you believe that?" I asked, stepping closer. "That the truth should remain hidden, no matter the cost?"
Alistair's eyes flickered with something that might have been pity, but it was gone before I could be sure. He studied me for a moment, perhaps weighing how much to reveal. "The truth is a dangerous thing, my lady. And some truths are more dangerous than others."
I wasn't fooled by his cryptic words. There was something he wasn't telling me—something he knew that could change everything.
"Tell me," I demanded, my voice cutting through the heavy silence. "What really happened? Who was behind their deaths? Was it the Empress?"
Alistair's eyes hardened, and for a brief moment, I saw a flash of something raw in his gaze. But just as quickly, he masked it with his usual cold composure.
"Your parents' deaths were not a simple matter of assassination, Your Majesty," he said, his voice steady now. "It was the culmination of years of intrigue, betrayal, and ambition. They were caught in a power struggle that was much larger than anything they could have ever anticipated. The Empress… was not the only one who sought to take control of the throne."
I felt a chill creep down my spine. "Who else?"
Alistair stepped closer, lowering his voice as if to share a forbidden secret. "There were others within the court who sought to usurp the throne. Your parents, though beloved by the people, were too weak to fight back against the storm that was coming. And the Empress, as ruthless as she is, saw an opportunity to take power for herself. But there is more… much more than you realize."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle between us. I was on the edge of my seat, but I didn't dare interrupt. The truth, whatever it was, was coming.
"The beast you encountered yesterday," Alistair continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "is part of a much larger plan. It is the key to the kingdom's survival—or its destruction."
I felt my heart skip a beat. "What do you mean?"
Alistair's eyes glinted with an emotion I couldn't quite place, something almost like regret. "The divine beasts are not just creatures of power. They are part of an ancient covenant, a pact made long before any of us were born. The Empress's lineage is bound to one of them, and so is yours."
I stared at him, my mind struggling to keep up with the implications of his words. "But… why? Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because," Alistair said, stepping back and raising his chin, "you are not just an Empress. You are the last of a bloodline that was meant to rule this kingdom with the beasts at your side. Your parents were killed because they were weak, but you, Your Majesty… you have the potential to be much more."
I felt a mix of emotions flood through me—confusion, anger, and something deeper, something that resonated with my very being. The divine beasts, the Empress's betrayal, the ancient covenant—it was all too much to take in at once.
Before I could process any more, Alistair turned toward the door, his expression shifting back to its usual detached form. "But be careful, Your Majesty. The truth you seek comes at a price. And some truths are too dangerous to seek."
I stood frozen, my mind reeling. What had I just learned? The Empress was tied to the divine beasts, and so was I. But why had my parents been killed? And how was I supposed to harness the power of the beasts?
"Alistair," I said before he could leave. "One more thing. How do I stop the Empress?"
His eyes met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of something—an emotion I couldn't name. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"You don't stop her, Your Majesty," he replied softly. "You outwit her. And remember, everyone has a price."
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End of Chapter 10
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