Liora barely slept after the assassination attempt. Every creak of the palace walls felt like footsteps. By the time a maid knocked at her door to summon her to morning court, her nerves were frayed.
She followed silently through the gilded corridors until the throne room loomed ahead. Dozens of ministers and nobles knelt in neat rows, murmuring greetings as the Crown Prince entered.
He was dressed in black and crimson robes today, his expression carved from stone. The courtiers lowered their heads instantly, yet Liora couldn't look away.
He looks exhausted, she realized, noticing the faint shadows under his eyes. But unlike last night, there was no trace of vulnerability just a sharp, unapproachable presence that seemed to fill the entire hall.
"Your Highness," the Prime Minister stepped forward, bowing deeply. "There is the matter of the eastern garrisons. Supplies are running dangerously low"
"That will be handled," the Crown Prince interrupted coldly. "If that is all?"
The Prime Minister hesitated. "There is also the… new courtesan." His gaze flicked briefly to Liora. "Some in the court question her origins."
Liora's stomach tightened.
"She will remain, the Prince said without looking at her. "Anyone with concerns may take it up with me directly."
A ripple of unease moved through the crowd. No one spoke.
"Dismissed," the Crown Prince ordered, rising and sweeping from the hall.
Liora was still standing uncertainly at the edge of the room when a smooth voice spoke behind her.
"You should enjoy that protection while it lasts."
She turned to find a woman in silken lavender robes, her beauty so striking it was almost unreal. Her smile, however, didn't reach her eyes.
"I'm Lady Mei," she said lightly. "The Crown Prince's favored companion… until you arrived."
Liora forced a polite smile. "I'm not here to compete with anyone"
"Oh, you already are," Lady Mei interrupted, stepping closer. "The court is a nest of knives, and His Highness can only shield one person at a time. If you're wise, you'll leave before someone decides you're in their way."
Liora stiffened but said nothing. Lady Mei's smile widened, clearly satisfied, and she swept out of the hall.
Later that morning, a servant guided her to the Crown Prince's private study. He was seated behind a massive carved desk, reading a scroll with his usual stoic calm.
"You survived the night," he said without looking up.
"Thanks to General Kael," Liora replied quietly. "Someone tried to kill me."
"That's hardly surprising," he said. "You're new, and no one knows where you came from."
"I didn't ask to be here," she said before she could stop herself.
That finally drew his gaze. His eyes were sharp but… softer, somehow, as though he was studying her for the first time.
"You speak as though you were forced," he said.
"Wouldn't you?" she muttered, then winced. "I mean"
A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. "You're braver than most."
Liora blinked. "I'm just… trying not to die."
The Crown Prince leaned back in his chair, the faintest trace of amusement in his voice. "A fair goal."
She hesitated. "Do you know who sent the assassins?"
His expression darkened instantly. "I have suspicions," he said. "But until I confirm them, it would be unwise to act."
"Suspicions about…?" she pressed.
He didn't answer, but his gaze shifted briefly to the doorway where the Prime Minister had stood earlier.
The Prime Minister? Liora thought, a chill running through her.
The Crown Prince stood. "Stay close to me for now. It will be harder for them to strike if you're under my protection."
Her heart skipped at the unexpected offer. "Why are you… helping me?
For a moment, he didn't answer. Then he stepped closer, his voice dropping low.
"Because I cannot afford to lose another piece on this board," he said softly. "And because…" He paused, as though debating whether to continue.
"Because you are different," he finished finally, turning away before she could respond.
That night, as she lay awake in the cold bed, the System chimed again.
[Mission Update: Suspicion detected. Prime Minister identified as possible conspirator.]
[New Objective: Gather evidence before 21 days remain.]
Liora stared at the ceiling, her pulse racing.
Palace politics, assassins, and now a conspiracy? She took a shaky breath.
I'm not just trying to seduce the Crown Prince anymore. I'm trying to survive a war I can't even see.