Nimara's seat on the marble bench still held the warmth of the sun, and opposite her sat Adrian, hands folded, posture polite but eyes sharp.
I hear Her Majesty appointed you as the Trade Overseer for this quarter, Adrian began, his voice smooth but with that subtle probing tone. I was sent to Eldebryn to expand our economic sales and establish trade routes.
My father entrusted me with this task.
Nimara lifted a brow, brushing a strand of hair from her face. I just arrived back in the capital today. My mother and I haven't discussed any of this yet.
Adrian smiled faintly. Then I shall not disturb you further, my lady. Please, take some rest. I'll join you in your study room after a while.
Her gaze sharpened. And how exactly do you know where my study room is?
His smile widened,calm but strange. Her Majesty sent a few people to escort me and… show me the palace. He paused, almost as if weighing whether to say more, then offered a courteous bow. Until later, my lady.
She gave a short nod, watching him leave. There was something in the way he smiled ,measured, deliberate that made her stomach twist. Suspicious.
Later, in the bath
The warm water lapped gently at her skin, steam curling into the air. She leaned back, closing her eyes. Peaceful… gods, how peaceful. I'm lucky to have this, to feel this.
But as always, peace never lasted. Her mind wandered back to that night after the winter ball. The whispers. The shadows.
She slipped out after midnight, still in her gown,because in the middle of the dance she heard Prince Eros talking to someone in a low voice.
Take him to the guardhouse, he'd said to someone. She hadn't stayed in her chambers. She never did. Instead, she followed.
She Slipping through the quiet streets, she reached the guardhouse.
The guardhouse was quieter than I expected,nimara said in quite tone, but there was light flickering from one of the rooms. She crept to the window and peeked inside. And there it was the body of an old nobleman.
His body laid out under the flicker of oil lamps. Eros was there, alongside a physician, examining him. Two, maybe three stab wounds. And there was something more the physician mentioned, belladonna injection.
Belladonna. Deadly nightshade.
I'd read about it in old herbal remedy books. Used in ancient Rome for cosmetics, rituals, and, surprise, poisoning people. Causes weakness, poor coordination, numbness, and sometimes hallucinations. Basically, it's the plant equivalent of a very bad idea.
Prince Eros stood beside the table, his face unreadable. He wasn't dressed for the ball anymore, he'd changed into something darker. His hands were clasped behind his back as if he was the one running the investigation.
I stayed hidden, listening.
The physician muttered something about the dosage being enough to paralyze a man before killing him. That, combined with the stab wounds, meant whoever did it was thorough. Overly thorough.
Someone else in the room, a guard, maybe, spoke up about the dead man's life. Apparently, he was a low ranked noble. No scandals, no corruption, no enemies worth mentioning. Loyal to the royal family, always refused to get involved in shady deals.
Which… kind of made me wonder if he had recently tried to expose something.
The idea had barely formed in my head when one of the guards suddenly stiffened and turned toward the window.
Who's there?!
My heart jumped to my throat. I ducked and bolted, my skirts catching on the grass outside as I ran. I didn't stop until I was safely back in the palace, out of breath and cursing my own curiosity.
I sank deeper into the bath now, trying to shake off the chill that memory brought.
That old man hadn't deserved it. And Eros… I didn't know what role he played, but his presence there wasn't exactly comforting.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling. Why do I keep getting into these things…
The water had cooled by the time I got out, dried off, and dressed for the day.
When I stepped into my study hall, the big trade ledgers were already stacked high on the desk, mocking me. I swear they looked like they could crush a small animal if they toppled over.
And, right on cue, Adrian appeared in the doorway, perfectly composed, like he'd been born in that spot.
My lady, he said, bowing. Shall we discuss the trade routes?
I sat down behind the desk and eyed him. Let's.
If I was going to spend the afternoon buried in numbers and contracts, I might as well see what this suspicious smile of his was hiding.