The imperial hunting grounds opened only a few times each year.
Stretching across miles of ancient woodland north of the capital, the forest had once served as the private domain of the founding emperor. Generations later, it had become something far more political than recreational. Every noble family fought for an invitation, every ambitious official hoped to be noticed, and every prince understood that what happened beneath the towering pines often shaped what happened inside the Imperial Court.
This year's hunt was no different.
Servants hurried through noble estates, preparing riding clothes and polished weapons, while merchants delivered specially commissioned bows, saddles, and hunting falcons to aristocratic households before sunrise. Invitations bearing the Imperial Seal had already reached every distinguished family, leaving the capital buzzing with speculation over which alliances would strengthen and which rivalries would finally surface in the open.
House Solis, despite its recent setbacks, remained among the invited families.
Lord Solis saw it as an opportunity.
His daughters saw something else entirely.
Prince Julian stood before the windows of his study, watching servants prepare his horse in the courtyard below. The events of the past several weeks had unsettled more than the merchants of the capital. Rumors had begun circulating through the court that the Crown had become too aggressive in its investigations. Several ministers quietly questioned whether House Ashcroft truly deserved the scrutiny it had received, while others whispered that Julian's judgment had become clouded. He had heard every rumor. He remembered every look exchanged during yesterday's council meeting.
None of them had challenged him openly. That almost irritated him more. His steward entered with another stack of correspondence before stopping a respectful distance away.
"The preparations for the Imperial Hunt are complete, Your Highness."
Julian nodded without turning.
"The hunting grounds gather everyone in one place," he said thoughtfully. "Nobles become careless when they believe they've left politics behind."
"They often speak more freely."
"Exactly." His reflection stared back at him from the glass.
If mistakes had been made, this hunt offered the perfect opportunity to correct them. Away from formal court sessions and rigid ceremonies, conversations flowed naturally. Alliances revealed themselves. Ambitious men sought favor. Hidden enemies often expose themselves without realizing it. Whoever had disturbed the Empire's balance had remained invisible for weeks. Julian intended to change that.
He rested one hand against the window frame, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"If someone has been hiding among the nobility..."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"...the forest will eventually force them into the open."
Across the Solis estate, Lyra stood before a polished mirror while two maids adjusted the final silver embroidery on her emerald riding cloak. The color suited her perfectly, drawing attention to her graceful posture and elegant features. She studied her reflection with quiet satisfaction before dismissing the servants with a wave of her hand.
Only after the room emptied did the pleasant smile disappear from her face. Her thoughts drifted toward Kira.
The Imperial Hunt demanded far more than skill with a bow. Noble ladies spent just as much time attending outdoor banquets, riding through the forest, and entertaining members of the royal family as they did pursuing game. Every moment became another chance to earn admiration.
Or lose it. Her fingers lightly brushed the jade hairpin resting on her dressing table.
Kira had become... different.
Not stronger. Not louder. Simply harder to predict. That uncertainty bothered Lyra more than she cared to admit. She refused to believe her stepsister had suddenly become clever enough to threaten her. There had to be another explanation. Luck. Coincidence. Outside influence.
Whatever it was... The hunt would settle the matter. Hundreds of nobles would be watching. Members of the Imperial Family would be present.
Even the Grand Duke rarely declined the Emperor's invitation.
There would be no better stage. Lyra slowly smiled as she secured the jade pin in her hair. "Kira," she murmured softly to her own reflection, "let's see how long your composure lasts when the entire court is watching."
She had embarrassed Kira before. She could do it again. Only this time...
Everyone important would witness it.
Kira finished reading the final report before quietly feeding the parchment into the brazier beside her desk. The paper curled into ash within seconds, leaving no trace of the names written upon it. The invitation to the Imperial Hunt rested unopened beside the dying flames.
She already knew what it contained. Attendance was expected. Refusal would attract unnecessary attention.
Acceptance offered something far more valuable. Her fingers rested lightly against Rowan's folded cloth, now tucked safely inside a hidden compartment beneath the desk. Starfrost Crystals.
The conversation replayed itself in her mind with remarkable clarity. As long as the crystals reach him first, the Duke won't die.
The question was no longer whether the crystals were connected to him. The question was how. Very few people had ever seen the Grand Duke during one of his attacks. His illness remained one of the Empire's quietest secrets, hidden behind his fearsome reputation and carefully managed public appearances.
The Imperial Hunt might be the first opportunity she would have to observe him closely. Not as Wildflower. Not as someone seeking an alliance. Simply as another noblewoman standing among dozens of others. She closed the hidden compartment and rose from her chair.
Everyone believed the hunt would be about politics.
For Julian, it was a chance to recover lost authority. For Lyra, another opportunity to strengthen her flawless image.
For the court, an occasion to celebrate beneath the Emperor's gaze. For Kira... It was an investigation.
If Gideon's illness truly depended upon Starfrost Crystals, then every movement, every cup of medicine, every unexplained absence, and every subtle reaction might reveal something no report ever could.
Grand Duke Gideon Sterling stood alone inside the library of Sterling Manor as rain tapped steadily against the tall windows. Shelves overflowing with military records and maps lined the walls, while a massive table at the center of the room remained covered with trade ledgers collected over the past month. His aide entered quietly, carrying yet another report.
"The latest investigation has concluded, Your Grace." Gideon looked up from the map spread across the table.
"And?"
The aide placed the report before him.
"We traced the merchants."
"They lead nowhere."
"We questioned the caravan masters."
"Nothing."
"The warehouses."
"The contracts."
"The brokers."
He hesitated.
"We still haven't found whoever manipulated the capital." Silence settled over the library.
Gideon picked up the report, reading each page without the slightest change in expression. When he reached the final line, he folded the document neatly and placed it back on the table. His aide waited for disappointment. Or irritation. Perhaps another order. instead... Gideon's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile.
"Good." The aide blinked.
"...Good?" Gideon turned his attention back toward the rain beyond the windows.
"Most people leave footprints because they believe no one is looking." His voice remained calm.
"This one knew someone would." The aide frowned, still unable to understand.
"Shouldn't that concern us?"
"It does." Gideon's gaze remained fixed on the dark forest stretching beyond Sterling Manor.
"But someone intelligent enough to hide from me..." For the first time in weeks, genuine interest entered his eyes.
"...is worth finding."
The rain continued to fall as silence reclaimed the room.