Cassius narrowed his eyes to stern slits. "Your Highness, what exactly is the meaning of this?"
A chorus of voices echoed the same question.
Lord Vaerythos smirked coolly. "Forgive me, Your Highness, but are we to interpret this gathering as a hostage situation?"
A hush fell over the chamber as unease crept into the hearts of those present.
Lumielle's frown was subtle, but sharp. With a flick of her hair, she met his gaze. "How curious, Lord Vaerythos… that your first instinct is to paint a member of the royal family in such a sinister light. I wonder what guilt must weigh on a man for his thoughts to stray so quickly to treachery?"
The marquess didn't hide the scowl that creased his face.
"Since your chauvinism seems to have dulled your hearing, allow me to repeat myself," Lumielle said calmly. "There is no danger here. This space exists only within your minds. Your real bodies are still safely within the ballroom."
Several expressions hardened at that fact.
"Are we seriously going to stand here and indulge this farce?" Ignatius scoffed. "It's utterly absurd!"
"He's right," Palisson added, his voice laced with disapproval. "Princess Lumielle, it's clear the strain of the king's condition and your political aspirations are taking their toll. But this behavior is unbecoming of royalty. You must put an end to this nonsense immediately."
"Right," Zerbst added with a sly smirk. "If it's attention you crave, Princess, surely there are more tasteful ways to satisfy that need."
Lumielle raised her chin ever so slightly, regarding them over the haughty tilt of her nose. "Lords Pembroke, Palisson, Zerbst… if your remarks serve only to amuse yourselves, I suggest you hold your tongues. After all, discomfort tends to expose the guilty—and I imagine those in league with the Mhaledictus would find this atmosphere rather… suffocating."
A hush fell over the chamber as her accusation settled in the air—cold and undeniable.
The Archminister stroked his goatee with idle amusement. "Your Highness," he said smoothly, "would you be so kind as to enlighten us as to the true purpose behind this rather… unorthodox assembly?"
Lumielle nodded, then glanced around assessingly.
—High Justiciar, Hadrian Vexford
—Royal Steward, Leontius Drelmere
—Keeper of the Seals, Evander Wynthall
—Master of Coin, Sylas Duskrow
—Warden of the Gates, Tiberian Evermere
—Lord General, Varrick Merrowind
In addition to Archminister Lucien Halewright, she confirmed that all the other court members were present along with many other aristocrats and key officials such as Grand Chancellor Cassius and Marquess Vaerythos.
"Esteemed members of the court, loyal subjects of the crown," Lumielle began, the melody from the music box ceasing. "It brings me no joy to speak of shadows in this place of light, but I must share with you a truth that can no longer be ignored.
The Mhaledictus is a name some of you may know, and others may have only heard whispered in the darker corners of the realm, but I assure you, it is no mere rumor. It is a dangerous and deeply-rooted criminal organization, infamous for trafficking in illicit arms, narcotics, and human lives."
Her tone grew heavier. "I have reason to believe that this syndicate has not only infiltrated the capital… but the palace itself. Our beloved king has been poisoned and rendered docile while these people work in the shadows. They have begun to sway members of this very court, coercing them with coin, fear, or promises of power."
Alarmed glances and anxious murmurs took flight among those gathered while prominent figures such as Cassius, Vaerythos, Zerbst, Ignatius, and members of the courtiers frowned with troubled expressions.
Lumielle stepped forward, jade-green eyes gleaming. "I do not stand before you as a frightened girl, nor as a grieving daughter—but as the princess of Lunarel, sworn to protect her people. I beseech you, all of you, to join me in rooting out this corruption. Help me expel the Mhaledictus from our midst and restore honor and stability to our kingdom."
Her voice rang clear with conviction. "Let us not allow these vipers to sully what generations have built. Let the Arcanium Kingdom shine again, free from fear, free from manipulation. Stand with me—not in silence, but in action."
She lowered her head respectfully, then lifted it again with quiet strength in her eyes. "For the king. For the realm. For our future."
For a moment, there was but silence. Then nervous muttering rippled through the crowd like a rising tide. A few voices stood out, their whispers barely restrained.
"Did you hear that? She thinks the Mhaledictus are here… in the palace? Spirits preserve us."
"So, it's true then? The king didn't fall ill by natural cause? No wonder he's been bedridden for so long."
"I thought it odd how Lord Caervan's behavior changed so abruptly last month… do you think he's one of them?"
"Shhh, don't say names aloud! If they've really infiltrated the court, anyone could be listening."
"If the princess is right, and they're already converting members of the nobility—gods, what if we're next?"
Cassius took a measured step forward as tensions continued to mount. "Your Highness, these are… grave accusations. If what you say is true, it would mean treason has already seeped into the very heart of our kingdom."
He lifted his chin, his gaze slightly accusatory. "But surely, you understand the weight of such claims. Do you have evidence to support them? Or are we to act on fear alone?"
Vaerythos folded his arms. "Frankly, I've heard enough of this madness," he scoffed. "Criminal syndicates infiltrating the palace? The king being drugged under our noses? These sound more like the ravings of conspiracy theorists than royal decree."
"I fear this is a case of mounting pressure breaking even the strongest minds," Ignatius said with pity. "The looming war, the strain on our coffers, our bedridden king… it would rattle anyone. But to see the princess descend into delusion is… heartbreaking."
"This kind of fearmongering isn't healthy for the realm, not now," said Varrick. "We need unity, not suspicion. Stirring panic amongst the court could do more harm than the enemies beyond our borders."
"Or perhaps this is a well-crafted performance," Sylas interjected dryly, his eyes narrowed. "What if she is the one with ties to the Mhaledictus? Spinning tales to turn us against one another so their infiltration finishes quietly while we argue?"
"If we start tearing each other apart over shadows, we'll do the enemy's work for them," Evander argued. "We must tread carefully or we risk handing over the realm by our own hands."
The hall fell into a chorus of murmurs again, louder now—accusations and defenses clashing like unseen swords as all eyes turned back to Lumielle.
"Curious," she said softly, "that not a single one of you dared to acknowledge the possibility that I might be telling the truth."
She let her words hang in the air a moment longer before continuing. "Is it because you've already chosen your side? Or are you simply afraid?"
Her voice sharpened, slicing through the silence. "Those who've already conformed will never permit the truth to breathe. And those who are being courted by the Mhaledictus now dare not lift their voices, lest they be marked a target.
I anticipated retaliation," she said, her hands clasped in front of her. "Slander. Doubt. Division. The Mhaledictus are masters of propaganda. That is why the Archmage—who many of you have noticed has remained sealed away in her tower—refuses to step forward. She fears what they will do to her if she dares speak out."
A stunned hush lingered—only broken when her eyes settled on Cassius. "And since you have asked for proof, Grand Chancellor, I intend to provide it. I will entrust this task to those with the best means of uncovering what lies buried beneath our gilded floors." She turned slowly, facing the court. "Yes… I speak of the Absolution Guild."
A wave of horror swept the room. Several nobles stiffened, some gasped outright. The color drained from many faces. Whispers broke out like wildfire.
"The Absolution Guild? Here?"
"But they're mercenaries!"
"This will tear the court apart…"
"She's mad… or brilliant."
Absolution was the name of a notorious Assassins' Guild, feared across the underworld for its efficiency in uprooting corruption and ruthlessly executing or imprisoning aristocrats proven guilty of treason—all without bias.
The catch, however, was that only a sovereign could employ their services, and only after presenting hard evidence of an insurrection. Hiring them came at an enormous cost—so steep that even when a kingdom succeeded in purging corruption, it often never recovered financially and eventually collapsed.
Worse still, the guild itself couldn't be fully trusted. If given the chance, they might seize the throne for themselves, bleed the kingdom dry, then sell off the land. Or worse, sell the realm's secrets to foreign powers.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," Hadrian remarked, his eyes hopeful. "But with the king bedridden, how exactly did you manage to commission a dark guild like Absolution? Such an action requires the sovereign's authority, does it not?"
"And if I may add, Your Grace," Leontius began, "those mercenaries don't come cheap. Where did you procure the coin? The royal coffers are stretched thin enough as it is."
"Indeed," Sylas agreed, "with war preparations looming and the supply crisis worsening by the week, the treasury is barely holding. So how, Princess, are we funding this endeavor?"
The hall grew tense once more. All eyes turned to Lumielle. "Whoever has been poisoning the king," she informed calmly, "has likely noticed that his strength has slowly begun to return."
Gasps erupted.
Vaerythos snarled, his hands clenched at his sides.
"That's because the king, while still on the mend, was the one who commissioned the Absolution Guild." She let the words sink in before adding. "As for the gold—my dear friend, Lady Sophia Lorraine Everwinter, graciously offered her support."
"Sophia?" Lucien echoed, scanning the crowd for the woman. "I don't recall any noble house of notable standing bearing that name."
"That's because her family only recently rose to prominence after discovering a rich vein of Orichalcum Ore beneath their lands." Lumielle raised her chin slightly. "But instead of clamoring for courtly titles or political clout, they chose to invest quietly—building their wealth, not flaunting it. When I confided in her, she didn't hesitate to act. She understood what was at stake."
A stunned murmur rippled through the crowd, and for the first time, unease shifted into reluctant consideration.
"Do you understand what you've done?" Vaerythos scoffed, his voice carrying a simmering growl. "That guild is as infamous for toppling kingdoms as it is for removing threats. If they see weakness, they will exploit it. And you would risk our realm on a whim?"
"I must concur," Cassius interjected. "We cannot afford to be rash. There should be a proper council convened to assess your claims without the need for such drastic, irreversible measures."
Lumielle didn't so much as glance their way. Her voice rang clear and unyielding across the chamber. "This is not a whim. This is a reckoning." Her eyes narrowed. "And it is already done."
A gasp spilled through the court.
"I would not have taken this path had I not been certain. I know who drugged the king—and justice will come for them soon enough." Her eyes swept the room, unblinking. "But our priority must be the shadow behind the curtain—the mastermind who spreads the Mhaledictus' rot across our court. To those who have resisted, I implore you: stay strong. Keep resisting."
She exhaled softly.
"And to those who've already conformed, I urge you to come forward. Stand with me. Help me bring an end to this chaos before it swallows us whole." She raised her chin. "The guild has been commissioned. Judgment is coming. You may resist and fall…" She paused. "…Or you may confess and be spared."
The silence that followed was absolute.