CHAPTER 167: A HIDDEN EMPEROR

[Imperial Palace—Training Field]

As I left the training field, my boots crunching over the sun-baked dirt, I dragged my sleeve across my forehead to wipe away the sweat. My arms still ached, and my palms still tingled from the last clash of steel with Ravick.

I had barely stepped into the shaded corridor when a flurry of skirts and hurried footsteps came my way.

"Princess—!" Marella burst into view, breathless, cheeks flushed from running. She stopped just short of me, hands clutching the sides of her gown as if that might keep her from toppling over. "You... you must come quickly!"

I tilted my head, catching my breath from training. "What is it? Did the kitchens run out of honey cakes again?"

Her eyes darted nervously, the humor sailing right past her. "No, Your Highness. His Majesty has summoned you to the royal meeting room. Immediately."

That one word—immediately—had a way of making my pulse pick up. My brow furrowed. "Has something happened?"

"I... I don’t know," Marella admitted, voice low, like the walls might be listening. "But—" she took a breath, her next words tumbling out in a rush, "—even Lord Osric was urgently called there. I saw him on his way just now."

I immediately marched towards the meeting room.

***

[Imperial Palace—Meeting Room]

I didn’t waste a second. My steps quickened into a march, echoing through the corridor until the grand double doors of the royal meeting room loomed ahead. The guards pushed them open for me, and the moment I stepped inside, the air felt... heavy.

Not just with heat, but with something thicker—anticipation, perhaps... or danger.

The long polished table was already full. Grand Duke Regis sat with his fingers steepled, his hawk-like gaze tracking my every step. Count Talvan glanced my way, lips twitching with some unreadable thought. Grandpa Gregor gave me the faintest nod of acknowledgment.

Osric was there too—straight-backed, his eyes sharp, though when they flicked to me there was something like warning in them.

And then... Marquess Everett. His gaze cut into me like a blade. No words, no greeting—just a cold, unwavering look that felt like he was already picturing how best to drive a dagger into my ribs.

I walked further in, the weight of so many eyes pressing against my shoulders. Papa sat at the head of the table, his presence filling the room in a way no gilded throne could.

"Papa..." My voice broke the silence, more cautious than I intended. "Did something happen?"

His answer was a single, clipped command. "Take a seat."

I obeyed, settling into a chair near him. From this close, I could see the tension in his jaw and the faint shadow of fatigue around his eyes.

When he finally spoke, his voice was measured, but there was an edge to it. "Lavinia... do you remember the kingdom of Irethene?"

I blinked, then gave a slow nod. "Yes. The one you conquered when I was ten." My lips curved faintly despite the mood. "You gave me that kingdom as a present, I remember, Papa."

Papa’s mouth twitched in something between pride and memory. "Yes. That one." He leaned forward slightly. "Today... we’ve learned something about it."

A small frown tugged at my brow. "Has something happened there?"

Before Papa could answer, Grand Duke Regis’s deep voice cut through the room. "We discovered," he said, his tone grim, "that the king His Majesty defeated and killed was not the true ruler of Irethene. He was a substitute."

The words sank into me slowly. "A Substitute?... What are you saying?" My voice was sharper now. "Don’t tell me..."

Regis’s gaze locked with mine. "The real emperor is still alive, Princess."

For a heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe. Then Papa’s eyes softened with something dangerously close to pride. "I knew my daughter would understand before I even finished."

Grand Duke Regis shot him a glare. "Now is hardly the time for praise, Your Majesty."

I leaned forward, the table’s edge pressing into my palms. "So... what does this mean? Is he threatening us? Planning something against us? Is there another war?"

Grandpa Gregor shook his head slowly, his voice deep and steady. "Not yet, my child. But a man who loses his throne rarely rests quietly. We believe he will act... sooner rather than later, or... he’s already acting."

I nodded, trying to piece together the implications. "Do we know where he is? Who is he, and where is he hiding?"

Papa’s answer was a grim shake of his head. "Not yet. But..."

He stopped, his hands curling into fists against the table. The flicker of anger in his eyes was unmistakable. "...we have reason to believe the poisoning incident is connected to him."

The air in the room seemed to tighten around me. "You mean—" my voice caught, "—he’s the one who sent that maid to poison my tea?"

Osric’s voice was quiet but unyielding, the kind of tone that carried weight even without being raised.

"Yes, Princess," he began, his eyes never leaving mine. "My messenger returned at dawn. He traced the trail from that maid’s confession. The coin she carried... it was foreign—minted in Irethene."

I frowned, confusion tightening my brow. "But Irethene is under our rule. Where could he possibly be hiding?"

Osric’s expression didn’t change, but there was something in his gaze—a shadow, perhaps. "No one knows, Princess. And no one has ever seen the true Emperor of Irethene since we occupied it. There’s only... an old rumor. That when our armies swept through Irethene, the real emperor was but a boy—fourteen years of age."

The words caught me off guard. "Fourteen?" I echoed softly, as if tasting the number. My pulse skipped. "You mean... a young emperor?"

Papa’s gaze was heavy when it met mine. He gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"That’s why there was a substitute emperor all this time," he said, each word steeped in warning. "And now... it seems that young boy has taken the reins. But don’t let his age fool you." He leaned forward, voice dropping to a low, venomous murmur. "He’s more poisonous than anything I’ve ever seen. A snake—coiled and patient—waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

The air in the chamber thickened, pressing in on my lungs. No one spoke.

Papa straightened in his chair, his eyes sweeping the room.

"Keep a close watch on the borders," he ordered, his tone sharp enough to cut. "Send spies into every neighboring kingdom. And..." His gaze darkened. "Find out what that snake looks like. Because for all we know... he’s already among us."

A ripple of unease passed through the gathered lords. Boots scraped softly against the marble as everyone rose, murmuring assent.

That’s when I saw it—so small it could have been missed.

A faint smirk curled at the corner of Marquess Everett’s lips.

My stomach tightened.

Was I the only one who noticed?

My eyes darted around, searching. And then—Count Talvan. He was watching Everett too, his expression cold, sharp, and entirely without warmth. Not surprise, not curiosity—just the stillness of a man who already knew what hid behind that smile.

A shiver traced down my spine. Two men—one wearing a smirk like a hidden blade, the other watching with a knowing, unblinking stare.

Why did it feel as if something venomous was coiling through our empire... right beneath our noses?

***

[DawnSpire Wing, Later]

I walked out of the meeting room, heading toward my chamber. Papa’s voice still echoed in my head—"Come to the office immediately after changing."

That usually meant one thing: he was about to hand me a mountain of documents to check, as if I were some glorified paperweight.

Meanwhile, Osric had been dragged off by his father for some urgent matter, and out in the garden, Marshi was waging an epic battle with Solena. (By the sound of it, they were losing the "civilized" part of their fight.)

I pushed open my chamber door—

And froze.

There, sprawled across my couch like a lazy cat who’d just conquered the kingdom, was Rey Morvan. Not only had he made himself comfortable, but he was also chewing my cookies.

The guards blinked at me. "Princess, is something wrong?"

I gave them my brightest smile. "No."

Then, very casually, shut the door... and locked it before they could even think about peeking inside.

"Gosh, you’re so late," he said, crunching down on another cookie like it had personally offended him.

I stared at him. "What are you doing here?"

He leaned back, speaking around another bite. "Didn’t I send you a letter saying, ’I’m coming’?"

My stare sharpened. "I see... you came very fast. But how exactly did you enter?"

He tilted his head toward the balcony. "From there. You really should lock it."

I glanced at the balcony, then muttered under my breath, "Thanks for the advice."

KNOCK KNOCK.

"Princess... Are you in there?" Ravick’s voice came sharp and immediate.

My head whipped toward the door, panic buzzing through me. Damn it!

I grabbed Rey’s wrist without thinking. "Move—"

"Wait—princess, what—"

I shoved him inside my wardrobe, ignoring his surprised laugh, then slapped a hand over his mouth. "Shush!"

His brows arched in question.

"If Ravick finds you here," I hissed, "he’ll grab you by the collar, drag you to Papa, and have you executed for treason."

Rey smirked, leaning just a little closer, his breath warm against my fingers. "Are you... trying to protect me?"

I blinked, caught completely off guard. "...No. I’m protecting my informer. Big difference. Now shut up and stay inside."

His smirk widened. "Whatever you say... princess."

He didn’t stop smirking. I didn’t stop glaring.

and then SLAM.

I closed the wardrobe door and leaned against it, and as Ravick knocked again, I realized—I never knew my life as a princess would come to this. Hiding a man in my wardrobe.