The Crown Prince's study was filled with tension and ink. Scrolls, maps, and sealed letters covered every surface, and Liora sat beside him, poring over troop movement records and grain ledgers.
Everything leads back to him, she muttered, tracing the signatures. "Every falsified order. Every bribe. Every missing report.
The Crown Prince didn't look up. "He's covering his tracks faster now. Since Mei fell, he knows we're coming."
[System Notification: 92% Mission Progress.]
[Final Evidence Required: Live witness or confession.]
But that was the problem. The Prime Minister wasn't foolish enough to leave behind a confession. And his network ran deep. Too many would lie for him.
They needed something undeniable.
Later that night, a message arrived. Delivered in secrecy. A scroll sealed with wax, marked with the sigil of Lord Heng, a former ally of the Prime Minister turned reclusive after his son vanished last year.
Inside, a single line:
I know what he did. Meet me alone. Midnight. Northern Tower.
The Crown Prince frowned, turning the scroll over. "It could be a trap.
It's definitely a trap," Liora said. "Which is why you're not going.
He looked at her, unreadable. "And you are?"
She met his eyes without flinching. "I'm bait. That's what they already see me as. Let's use it to end this.
He clenched his jaw. "If anything happens
I'll run." She smiled faintly. "You taught me that much.
The Northern Tower was ancient and rarely used its spiral staircases cracked, its rooftop exposed to the wind. Liora climbed slowly, each step echoing in the silence.
At the top, only the stars waited. No Lord Heng. No messenger.
Just the sound of a blade being drawn.
She turned too late.
A figure in black emerged from the shadows. "You're a persistent little parasite, aren't you?"
She recognized the voice instantly. The Prime Minister himself.
You should have stayed where you belonged on your knees, quietly playing pretty for the Prince.
Liora stepped back, scanning for a weapon. Nothing. Her only defense was her wits.
You're not here to silence me," she said slowly. "You're here to provoke him. You want him to find me dead."
The Prime Minister smiled. "He's too soft now. You've weakened him. Love does that. So I'll cut the weakness out.
He lunged.
[System Alert: Emergency Combat Triggered.]
[No weapons equipped. Escape or delay required.]
Liora dodged the first strike, stumbling as the blade sliced through her sleeve. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
You really don't know how to shut up," the Prime Minister growled. "I should've drowned you in the baths the day you arrived.
That confirms it. He'd ordered her first assassination attempt.
She grabbed a loose tile from the floor and hurled it. It cracked against his shoulder, barely slowing him.
He cornered her near the edge of the tower. The wind howled.
You don't deserve him," he sneered. "And he doesn't deserve this empire.
I don't want the empire," she gasped. "I want you to burn.
The Prime Minister raised the blade. "Say goodbye, seductress.
But the sword never fell.
Steel clashed.
A figure appeared in a blur of motion, intercepting the blow with a loud clang.
The Crown Prince.
His expression was pure fire.
You put a blade to her again," he said coldly, "and I'll carve your heart from your chest myself.
The Prime Minister stumbled back. "So this is it? You'd ruin everything for a woman?
I'm not ruining anything," the Crown Prince said. "I'm cleansing the rot.
Their swords met in a brutal clash. The rooftop rang with steel and fury.
Liora scrambled aside, clutching her arm as blood trickled down.
The fight was fast and vicious. But the Prime Minister older, slower couldn't keep up.
He fell to his knees after a final strike sent his sword spinning into the night.
You won't kill me," he spat. "You don't have the guts. You owe me everything your crown, your survival.
The Crown Prince raised his sword. "No. I owe you a grave.
But Liora's voice cut through the tension. "Don't. Killing him makes him a martyr. Let him rot publicly. Let the court see what he is.
The Crown Prince hesitated. Then slowly, he lowered the blade.
You're right. He turned to the guards who had followed quietly behind. "Take him to the dungeon. Prepare the trial. Tomorrow, the truth comes out.
[System Update: Final Threat Captured.]
[Mission Completion: 98%. Confession pending.]
Back in his chambers, the Crown Prince personally cleaned Liora's wound. His hands were gentle, voice quiet.
You shouldn't have gone alone.
You would have done the same, she whispered.
I'm not afraid for me.
She looked up. "Then what are you afraid of?
Losing the only person who ever looked at me… and didn't flinch.
Her heart twisted.
You won't lose me, she said. "Not until this system rips me away.
He frowned. "What system?
She froze.
[Warning: System Identity Nearly Exposed. Risk Level – High.]
Liora smiled faintly. "Fate. I meant fate.
He didn't press. But his eyes lingered on her with suspicion and something else longing.
The next dawn, bells rang. The court gathered. The Prime Minister, in chains, was paraded before them.
The Crown Prince stepped forward, scroll in hand. "This empire was nearly betrayed. But truth won. Because of her."
He pointed to Liora.
She has no noble name. No title. But she has something this court has forgotten honor.
[Final Mission Complete.]
[World 1 Cleared. 100% Completion Achieved.]
[Reward Unlocked: Male Lead's Devotion (Permanent Bond).]
[Countdown: 4 Days until World Jump.]
Liora looked at him, her chest tight. She had four days left.
And she didn't know if he'd follow.