The morning sun had barely begun its slow ascent when the news spread like wildfire. A high-ranking noble, one of the king's trusted advisors, had been assassinated in his own chambers. The royal palace, normally a place of rigid decorum, now buzzed with fear and uncertainty. Servants whispered in hushed tones, guards tightened their patrols, and the noble council erupted into chaos.
Duke Marcian wasted no time. "This is an act of war!" he declared, his voice ringing through the halls as he stormed toward the council chamber. "The enemy kingdom is showing its hand, and we sit idle? Enough delays—we must strike before they do!"
A handful of nobles murmured in agreement, but others hesitated. "We cannot act on assumption alone," one noble countered, his expression wary. "We have no proof of their involvement."
Serene, blending in with the palace servants, moved quietly along the outer halls, listening. Every conversation carried a different theory—some blamed political rivals, others whispered of a growing internal conspiracy. The only certainty was that the kingdom stood on the edge of something far worse than a mere power struggle.Moving through the palace unseen, Serene pieced together the details. The assassination was precise—too precise. No signs of struggle. A single wound. The target's papers had vanished.
"The killer was a professional," one guard muttered to another. "This wasn't an act of passion. It was planned."
"And too convenient," another replied. "Right when war looms? Someone wants to push the king's hand."
Serene committed the details to memory. The method, the timing—Kale would want to hear all of it.The noble council gathered sooner than scheduled, the air thick with unease. King Aldric sat at the head of the chamber, his face unreadable as the voices around him clashed.
Duke Marcian stood first. "Your Majesty, how much more proof do we need?" His fist slammed against the table. "First Lord Avelric, now this? The enemy kingdom moves in shadows while we bicker!"
"Convenient, isn't it?" another noble interjected. "Two of our own killed, and the only answer is war? This could just as easily be the work of someone within our walls!"
Aldric raised a hand, silencing them. "Enough," he said, his voice carrying over the growing tension. "We will not be dragged into war without certainty. Our next step must be calculated."
Marcian's eyes burned with frustration, but he did not press further—for now.
Serene Reports to Kale
As soon as she could slip away unnoticed, Serene made her way through the quieter halls of the palace. She navigated the familiar paths leading to a hidden passage beyond the walls, where Kale waited in the shadows.
She knelt, her voice steady. "It's done. The council is in chaos. Marcian is pushing for war, but the king is holding back—for now."
Kale absorbed the information, eyes gleaming beneath the hood. "Good," he murmured. "Then it's time to give them another push."
Serene glanced up, waiting.
He turned toward the city, already thinking several steps ahead. "Let's see how far they can hold their ground before they're forced to fall."
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