Elira had decided to spy.
This was significant, because Elira usually preferred her information delivered loudly, dramatically, and while holding something sharp.
But today, she was peaceful.
Mostly.
She crouched behind a decorative hedge in the west wing courtyard, wearing bright green and yellow that did not, in any universe, qualify as camouflage.
Her veil fluttered in the breeze.
Her eyes were sharp.
Her posture was perfect.
She whispered to herself, "I am invisible."
A guard walked past.
He stopped.
Stared directly at her.
Elira stared back.
"…You do not see me," Elira whispered intensely.
The guard blinked twice, decided this was above his pay grade, and walked away faster.
Elira nodded. "Success."
From the balcony above, Mira watched the scene unfold with serene patience.
Aerin stood beside her, rubbing his temples.
"She's behind a hedge," he muttered.
"Yes," Mira replied calmly.
"In daylight."
"Yes."
"And wearing happiness."
"Yes."
Aerin sighed. "I love her. I'm just… afraid."
"That's normal," Mira said. "She's learning restraint."
Below them, Elira adjusted her position, accidentally snapping a branch.
She froze.
"Threat detected," she whispered.
It was a pigeon.
Elira stared at it.
The pigeon stared back.
Elira inhaled slowly.
Exhaled.
"Peace," she told it.
The pigeon flew away.
Elira smiled so hard her face hurt.
Meanwhile, Valessara was not subtle.
She never had been.
She glided through the palace halls like someone who assumed walls would move for her if she asked firmly enough. Servants bowed. Courtiers parted. Power followed her like perfume.
Cassian waited near the colonnade when she summoned him.
He didn't look at her at first.
"You shouldn't keep calling for me," he said quietly.
Valessara smiled. "And yet, you always come."
"That doesn't make it right."
"It makes it useful."
She stepped closer, fingers brushing his sleeve again — slow, deliberate.
"Do you enjoy pretending you're noble?" she asked softly. "Standing beside the King like a loyal hound?"
Cassian's jaw tightened. "Don't."
"Or do you enjoy being mine?" she murmured.
Cassian looked away.
And that was the moment Elira saw it.
From behind the hedge.
Her smile vanished.
Her eyes narrowed.
Her hands clenched — empty.
No knife.
She whispered, very softly, "Ah."
Mira felt it immediately.
She leaned closer to Aerin. "She's seen something."
Aerin frowned. "What?"
Mira didn't answer.
Because Elira stood up.
Elira did not charge.
This was growth.
She did not shout.
This was maturity.
She did, however, step out from behind the hedge directly into Valessara's path, hands folded politely.
Valessara stopped short.
Cassian stiffened.
Elira smiled.
"Good morning," she said cheerfully. "I was enjoying the flowers."
Valessara's eyes flicked over Elira's dress with open disdain. "How quaint."
Elira nodded. "Yes. I am colorful now."
Valessara arched a brow. "I noticed."
Elira tilted her head slightly.
"You touch Cassian often," she said conversationally.
Cassian's blood turned to ice.
Valessara's smile sharpened. "He's my guard."
"You touch him like he is not," Elira replied.
The air went very still.
Valessara's eyes hardened. "Mind your place."
Elira's smile did not fade.
"I am a wife," she said. "This is my place."
Valessara leaned closer, voice a whisper edged with poison.
"You are temporary."
Elira leaned in just as close.
"So are secrets."
Valessara froze.
Cassian's breath caught.
Elira stepped back, cheerful again.
"I hope you have a nice walk," she added brightly. "Do not trip."
Then she skipped away.
Skipped.
Cassian stared after her, stunned.
Valessara watched Elira go, her smile gone completely.
Aerin finally noticed something was wrong when Elira burst into the council chamber and slammed both hands on the table.
"I HAVE INFORMATION," she announced.
The room jumped.
Mira remained calm.
Merrowin sighed.
Aerin blinked. "Is it… stabbing-related?"
"No," Elira said proudly. "It is observational."
Valessara entered moments later, perfectly composed.
Cassian followed, pale.
Aerin looked between them.
Then back at Elira.
"What did you observe?"
Elira pointed.
"Those two," she said. "Are touching incorrectly."
The room froze.
Valessara laughed lightly. "How vulgar."
Elira nodded. "Yes."
Aerin frowned. "Incorrectly how?"
Mira closed her eyes briefly.
Cassian opened his mouth.
Valessara spoke first. "This is ridiculous."
Elira continued, unstoppable.
"She orders him. He obeys. She threatens. He stays. This is not guard behavior. This is possession."
Silence slammed into the room.
Aerin's heart dropped.
He looked at Cassian.
"Is that true?"
Cassian swallowed.
Valessara snapped, "Cassian, don't you dare—"
"Stop," Aerin said quietly.
Everyone froze.
He looked at Valessara.
"Stop."
Then at Cassian.
"Tell me the truth."
Cassian's shoulders sagged.
"Yes," he said hoarsely. "She's been… forcing me."
Valessara scoffed. "Forcing? Please."
"She threatens my position," Cassian continued. "My family. My loyalty to you."
Aerin felt something shift.
Anger.
Not explosive.
Cold.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Cassian looked ashamed. "Because you already have too much on you."
Elira's hands curled.
She did not move.
Mira's voice was calm but steel-hard.
"That ends now."
Valessara laughed sharply. "You think you can dismiss me?"
Aerin straightened.
"I am the King," he said.
Valessara stared.
And for the first time, she hesitated.
"You are my wife," Aerin continued. "Not my ruler."
The room held its breath.
Elira smiled slowly.
Valessara's eyes narrowed.
"You would side with them?"
"I side with truth," Aerin replied. "And you crossed a line."
Valessara turned on Cassian. "You are nothing without me."
Cassian lifted his head.
"I'd rather be nothing," he said, "than owned."
Valessara's control cracked.
Just a little.
Enough.
Later, the palace buzzed with whispers.
Elira walked beside Aerin, glowing.
"You noticed," she said proudly.
Aerin nodded. "I should have sooner."
Elira beamed. "I watched."
Mira walked with them, serene.
"You did well," Mira told Elira.
Elira straightened. "I did not stab."
"That was the best part," Aerin said sincerely.
Elira paused. "…I wanted to."
"I know."
They shared a smile.
Behind them, Valessara stood alone on a balcony, fury simmering beneath perfect posture.
This was no longer a game she controlled.
And she did not like losing.
The Harem Alarm chimed once — slow, deliberate.
Something had shifted.
And this time, it wasn't chaos.
It was power changing hands.