By the time they approached Crown Prince Theodoric’s private chambers, the weight of their findings pressed heavily against Cassie’s mind. The guards outside the prince’s door stepped aside at Hildiger’s nod, their expressions betraying nothing.

  Inside, Theodoric stood by a tall window, his silhouette framed against the faint glow of twilight. His sharp features betrayed no emotion as he turned to greet them.

  “This had better be worth interrupting me,” he said coolly, though his eyes flicked to the papers in Hildiger’s hands with interest.

  Hildiger wasted no time. He laid the documents on a nearby table, his voice grim as he summarized their findings. Theodoric listened in silence, his expression growing darker with each revelation.

  When Hildiger finished, the prince leaned over the table, his hands gripping its edge.

  “This isn’t just a threat to the throne,” Theodoric said, his words clipped. “This is a deliberate effort to hollow out the foundations of the kingdom itself. And they’re succeeding.”

  His frustration was palpable, even as he kept his composure.

  “Then we stop them,” Cassie said firmly, stepping closer. “We have their plans, their funding. It’s only a matter of time before we uncover the rest.”

  Theodoric’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes narrowing as though weighing her words. “Time isn’t on our side,” he replied. “This court doesn’t trust itself, much less me. Every step I take toward uncovering the truth will be seen as a move to consolidate power.”

  He ran a hand through his hair, an uncharacteristic gesture that betrayed his weariness. “Trust is a luxury I can’t afford anymore.”

  Cassie hesitated, the weight of his admission hanging between them. Theodoric rarely revealed anything resembling vulnerability, but this wasn’t a show of weakness—it was an acknowledgment of the stakes.

  “You’re not wrong about the court,” she said finally. “But this evidence is damning enough to cut through their suspicions. It’s proof, not posturing.”

  Theodoric shook his head slowly. “You underestimate how fragile loyalty is in this court. I’ve seen alliances crumble over less. And I’m not just talking about the nobles.”

  His eyes met hers, sharp and searching.

  “Don’t underestimate the conspirators’ reach,” he continued. “They’ve had years to cultivate doubt, to erode trust. What we’ve uncovered tonight may be enough to expose them, but it’s not enough to undo the damage they’ve already caused.”

  Cassie resisted the urge to challenge his words. She could see the truth of them etched in the tension around his mouth, the tightness in his jaw. Despite her firm stance, her fingers nervously twitched, and uncertainty flickered in her eyes.

  “Then what do you suggest?” she asked, her tone measured.

  Theodoric turned back to the documents, his expression hardening. “We move carefully, piece by piece. And we make no assumptions about who we can trust.”

  Cassie nodded, her chest tight with apprehension. She left the room quietly, her mind racing with his words. The corridors felt darker as she walked back to her quarters, her footsteps echoing faintly in the silence. The palace seemed to hum with unspoken tension, an unease she hadn’t noticed before but now couldn’t ignore.

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  By the time dawn broke, the atmosphere had thickened further. The growing tension was palpable. Whispers filled the halls, every shadow seemed longer, every glance sharper. Cassie felt the undercurrent of unease as she moved through the corridors performing her duties as a maid, her steps quick and purposeful.

  It was as if the entire palace had been put on edge overnight, each person caught in the pull of unseen forces.

  In the west wing, she found herself face-to-face with Prince Dietrich for the first time since the conspiracy’s evidence had come to light. He was flanked by his advisors, his expression a careful mask that concealed the feelings beneath.

  “Cassie,” Dietrich greeted. “Running errands for my brother again, are you?”

  Cassie stiffened but didn’t rise to the bait. “I’m here to discuss something that affects both of you,” she said, keeping her voice steady.

  Dietrich’s brow arched, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “How magnanimous of you.”

  One of his advisors leaned in, whispering something too faint to catch. Dietrich nodded absently, his attention fixed on her.

  “This isn’t about politics,” Cassie said sharply, stepping closer. “The evidence we’ve uncovered points to a coordinated effort to destabilize the kingdom—an effort that extends beyond the court.”

  He studied her for a long moment, his silence stretching uncomfortably. Finally, he laughed.

  “You expect me to believe this isn’t a ploy?” Dietrich asked, “you’re just as blind to his ambitions as the rest of them.”

  Cassie’s hand tightened at her side. “Do you think the conspirators care which prince wins this fight? They’re exploiting this division to destroy both of you—and the kingdom with it.”

  “And yet,” Dietrich said, stepping closer, “you’ve chosen your side.”

  The tension between them was a taut wire, vibrating with unspoken accusations. Cassie forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to flinch under the weight of his scorn.

  “Believe what you want,” she said quietly. “But when the wards collapse and the court burns, don’t pretend you weren’t warned.”

  Dietrich said nothing. With a curt gesture, he turned away, his advisors falling into step behind him.

  Cassie exhaled slowly, the encounter leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

  Later in the afternoon, the fractures in the court were more visible than ever. Nobles clustered in small, muttering groups, their conversations abruptly stopping whenever Cassie passed. The once-unified royal council was in disarray, its members divided between Theodoric and Dietrich with an intensity that bordered on open hostility.

  In the council chamber, heated voices echoed off the high ceilings.

  “This is madness!” a noblewoman shouted, her voice shaking with fury. “You’re tearing the kingdom apart over rumors!”

  “Rumors?” another councilor snapped. “Have you even seen the evidence? Or are you too busy lining your pockets to care?”

  The room descended into chaos, accusations flying from every corner. Cassie lingered near the edge of the chamber, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. The conspirators’ strategy was working: the court’s leaders were too consumed by infighting to recognize the true threat.

  Her gaze drifted to Theodoric, who stood at the center of the storm, his expression cold and unyielding. Dietrich stood across from him, his arms crossed, his advisors whispering furiously in his ear. The distance between them was more than physical—it was a chasm that no bridge could span.

  Unless the brothers reconciled, the monarchy itself would remain vulnerable to manipulation.

  Night fell quickly, shrouding the palace in deepening shadows. Cassie was reviewing her notes in her quarters when the knock came.

  It was Callen, his expression tense.

  “An urgent meeting’s been called in the council chamber,” he said.

  Cassie frowned, setting down her quill. “What happened?”

  “Not sure,” Callen replied. “But it doesn’t look good.”

  She followed him through the dimly lit corridors, her instincts prickling with unease. When they reached the chamber, the sound of raised voices spilled out into the hall.

  Inside, chaos reigned. Nobles shouted over one another, their words a tangled mess of accusations and counterclaims. Theodoric and Dietrich stood on opposite sides of the room, their postures stiff, their glares locked in a silent battle.

  Cassie moved toward the center, her presence cutting through the noise like a blade. Before she could speak, the doors slammed open, and a messenger stumbled in, his face pale and his breathing labored.

  “My lords,” he stammered, his voice barely audible over the din. “The wards... they’re failing faster than expected.”

  The room fell silent.

  Cassie’s stomach twisted, the gravity of his words sinking in like a stone.

  “What do you mean?” Theodoric demanded, his voice sharp.

  “The outer wards,” the messenger said, his voice trembling. “They’re collapsing. It won’t be long before—”

  He stopped, his face draining of color.

  Before anyone could react, the chamber erupted into motion.