CHAPTER 127: SLOW AND DELIBERATE

Evelisse raised her hood further and crossed her arms. "Speak. All of it. Now."

The men hesitated, then looked at one another.

One finally spoke.

"You told us to get caught, Boss. You said it was the only way in. That they’d never suspect prisoners were the ones starting it all."

’Starting what?’

Another added, "We followed orders. We kept quiet even under torture. We didn’t break. Because we trust you. You told us to wait for the signal."

"What signal?" Evelisse asked coolly.

"The fire," one of them whispered. "The fire in the throne room."

Evelisse’s breath caught.

"What fire?"

"It hasn’t happened yet. But it will. The moment the fire starts, the east wing defenses drop. That’s when the real group enters."

Evelisse’s thoughts raced.

’They’re planning an attack. From inside. Using a prisoner distraction... They’re not the distraction. They’re the trigger.’

"And once they’re in?" she asked.

"They retrieve the girl," one said.

Evelisse blinked.

"What girl?"

They looked confused. "You said it yourself, Boss. The girl with the blood you need. The royal one."

Her heart dropped.

’They’re talking about me.’

"Repeat that," she said.

"The girl with the royal blood. You told us she’d be sedated. That she’d be easy to move. That her blood unlocks the gate."

’Gate? What gate?!’

"You said," one added nervously, "that the brothers are too distracted to notice her gone. That once the eldest leaves for the summit, the palace is ripe for picking."

Fluffy chimed in, voice rigid, "Evelisse. They’re talking about abducting you. For something magical."

’They think I’m a key? What gate are they even—’

A new sound cut through her thoughts.

CLACK.

It wasn’t from inside the cell.

It was from outside.

Metal.

A key turning.

Fluffy’s voice spiked. "Someone’s unlocking the dungeon door!"

Evelisse spun. "End the illusion?"

"No time. Hold character!"

The heavy iron door creaked open.

Torchlight spilled in.

A silhouette appeared—tall, broad-shouldered.

Lucien.

No. No no no.

’Please don’t walk in. Please just check—’

He stepped in.

The prisoners froze.

Lucien’s eyes scanned the room. His gaze landed on Evelisse.

His brow furrowed.

She turned slowly, letting the shadows fall across her face.

Lucien’s hand went to his sword.

"You."

Evelisse’s voice was deep, controlled. "You’re not supposed to be here, Prince."

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

"Who let you into the dungeons?"

"The walls did," she said.

He stepped forward. "I don’t recognize you."

He was trying to see through the illusion. Trying to place her.

She had to keep control.

Behind her, the prisoners were shaking again, kneeling low.

"Stand down, Prince Lucien," one whispered. "It’s the Boss."

Lucien looked between them and Evelisse.

"Who are you?"

Evelisse gave a slow, cruel smile.

"A ghost you should have buried better."

His sword came out halfway.

’Fluffy, help!’

But Fluffy’s voice didn’t respond.

The air shifted.

Lucien stepped closer.

And then—Evelisse saw it. The rune on his gauntlet.

It was glowing.

’He’s wearing a detection rune. He’s about to see through me!’

Lucien’s eyes widened. "Wait—"

Then everything happened at once.

The rune on his hand pulsed.

Evelisse felt her skin burn—like the illusion was tearing.

And Lucien—

His expression shattered.

"Evelisse?!"

The air snapped.

The illusion broke.

And now, Evelisse stood in the cell—

No hood.

No shadows.

Just herself.

His sword came fully out.

"You," he growled. "What are you doing here?!"

The prisoners looked up—

Confused.

Panicked.

"BOSS?!"

"She—she’s not—"

Evelisse’s heart pounded.

Lucien moved fast.

She backed away, stepping between him and the prisoners.

"Don’t!" she shouted. "They’re dangerous, but they—"

"Move," he snarled. "Now."

"No!" she yelled. "They know something! There’s going to be an attack!"

He froze.

The prisoners screamed.

And behind them—

A rune exploded on the floor.

BOOM.

The shockwave knocked Evelisse backward, slamming her against the wall.

Lucien hit the ground hard.

Smoke filled the dungeon.

The prisoners were gone.

The bars—melted.

Lucien groaned.

Evelisse’s head throbbed.

In the smoke, a single glowing message appeared on the wall.

Written in blood-red magic.

**"The gate opens in seven days. Long live the Pale Magister."**

Lucien stood.

"Evelisse..." His voice was low. Shaking. "What gate are they talking about?"

She swallowed hard.

"I don’t know," she said. "But they think I’m the key."

—

"The prince?" she asked slowly, voice laced with warning.

"No," he croaked. "Someone more important. A royal that no one expects. One who wasn’t supposed to be awake."

Her blood iced over.

’Fluffy. They’re talking about me, aren’t they?’

Fluffy’s voice was grim. "It matches. They didn’t expect you to wake. Someone in the Council may have orchestrated your kidnapping and planned your permanent... silencing."

"Finish it," Evelisse snapped coldly at the prisoners.

The trembling man obeyed. "The orders were to buy time. Create chaos. The real move is aboveground. They think she—uh, the target—is wandering the palace. Tonight’s the last chance."

Another added in a whisper, "They’re calling it a ’coronation funeral’. One final stroke before the girl wakes and talks."

Fluffy’s voice cracked through her thoughts like a lightning bolt.

"Evelisse. Abort. Now. They know you’re awake. They’re coming for *you*."

A surge of adrenaline shot through her.

"Fluffy," she whispered internally. "Is there any way to get out fast?"

"On it—casting a temporary illusion ward now. No one will notice you for ten minutes as long as you don’t touch anyone."

A shimmer of magic rippled outward, covering her like a veil.

"Go," Fluffy urged. "Forget them. Run now!"

But Evelisse didn’t move yet.

She stared at the trembling prisoners. Her voice dropped to a low whisper.

"If this is a trap for me... then the ones pulling the strings will learn something else tonight."

She reached up, grabbed one of the prisoners by the collar, and hissed close to his face, "If I’m taken down, I’m dragging every last one of you with me. Do you understand?"

He nodded, tears spilling down his cheeks.

Evelisse stood, cloak billowing, illusion intact.

And then—

A slow, deliberate clap echoed from behind the cell bars.

She froze.