The thud of steel on leather echoed through General Alaric's private training ground. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and polished metal as Aidan and Alaric moved with a fluid, practiced grace.
They had been friends since their academy days, their movements a dance of mutual respect and long-standing rivalry. But today, the dance was off-balance.
Alaric, who was unparalleled in combat, was a fraction of a second too slow, his mind clearly elsewhere.
After a series of rapid, powerful strikes, Aidan saw his opportunity.
The tip of Aidan's practice sword came to a gentle rest against Alaric's throat guard, the sound a soft, final clang.
"Yield," Aidan said, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
Alaric didn't even flinch. He simply lowered his practice sword, his gaze fixed on Aidan's face. "You are improving, brother," Alaric said, his tone a testament to his ease. He grabbed a towel.
"You were distracted," Aidan replied, pulling his sword back. He then leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're the one behind the House of Rexton incident, aren't you?"
Alaric's expression remained impassive, his eyes betraying nothing. He simply wiped the sweat from his brow.
Aidan watched him, "I see," he said, the amusement clear in his voice. "Looks like my friend is finally acting on his feelings for my sister."
Alaric stopped, the towel paused mid-air. His silence was the only answer Aidan needed.
Aidan continued, enjoying the moment.
"Well, that's good. My parents want to thank you for saving Daphne. They asked me to extend a dinner invitation to you." He then paused dramatically before dropping his bombshell. "But I already declined on your behalf. I told them you're a very busy man."
Alaric's gaze snapped up, his composure cracking for the first time. The cold, unreadable mask he wore melted away, replaced by an urgent, almost desperate look.
"Who said I was busy?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. He tossed the towel to the ground. "When is it? I can be there tomorrow night."
Aidan's grin widened. It was a test, and Alaric had failed spectacularly. He had chosen Daphne over his reputation, over his busy schedule, and over his carefully constructed persona.
He had just revealed his true feelings, and Aidan couldn't be happier. He had a powerful ally, and a friend who would do anything for his sister.
Then, Alaric dropped his next bombshell, his eyes fixed on Aidan's. "I'll be marrying her soon. Right after the competition."
Aidan's triumphant smile vanished, replaced by a look of sheer bewilderment. He couldn't have heard that right.
"Marrying her? Alaric, from what I know, you've never even spoken to my sister. How can you be so confident?"
Alaric didn't flinch. "I've spoken to the Emperor. He has granted our marriage. It has been decided."
Aidan's jaw went slack.
"The Emperor himself? Granting a marriage between his most trusted General and Daphne?"
A wave of relief washed over him. He looked at Alaric with a new, deep respect.
The Emperor's approval meant he no longer had intentions of marrying Daphne into the harem.
Aidan wondered, his mind reeling, just what his friend had done to convince the Emperor to make such an unprecedented decision.
"There are... conditions," Alaric continued, his tone turning serious. "The Emperor has two terms."
He looked Aidan in the eye. "First, Daphne must win the competition."
Aidan's eyebrows shot up. "The competition? What if she doesn't win?"
"She will," Alaric said with unwavering certainty. "The second condition is… more complex. The Emperor's harem is facing an infertility problem, and he wants Daphne to solve it."
Aidan's relief evaporated instantly. He stared at his friend, his mind reeling. A dangerous competition, and an impossible medical mystery?
The Emperor was a man of his word, but the conditions were a trap.
He had granted them a marriage that would put Daphne on a path to a life of immense power, but he had made that path a minefield.
The test was over. The war had begun.
"What do you mean, 'solve the infertility issue'?" Aidan's voice was a low, incredulous whisper. "The Emperor has a team of the best physicians and healers in the empire. They've been trying to solve this for years. What makes you think Daphne, a debutante, could succeed where they have failed?"
Alaric's expression was grim, but his gaze remained steady. "Because they've all been working with the same limited knowledge. The Emperor and I... we believe Daphne possesses a rare, almost unprecedented understanding of medicine."
Aidan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Daphne learned medicine? Just how much do you know about her that we don't?"
"Many things, my friend," Alaric replied, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Aidan's brow furrowed in confusion. "But... how? Where would she have learned such things?"
"She learned many things while with you grandparents, things that even you and your family are not aware of. Her knowledge is... unconventional. What others see as a simple herb, she sees as a compound with specific properties."
"The Emperor noticed her intelligence when he found out she used acupuncture to cause the Empress to lose control over her bladder. It was a precise, calculated act that no physician in the empire would have the knowledge to perform."
Aidan's eyes widened in disbelief. His face went pale as he stared at Alaric. "You mean Daphne was behind it?"
Alaric gave a small nod.
Aidan looked at Alaric, the pieces finally clicking into place. He couldn't help but ask, "So... you've actually been spying on my sister?"
Alaric gave a small, unapologetic shrug. "Shamelessly."
"I trust her to win the competition. I trust her to solve the Emperor's problem. And I trust her to be my wife. But we must provide her with every help she needs."
"So, what happens now?" Aidan asked, his gaze firm.
"We go to dinner," Alaric said, a flicker of his usual, confident self returning. "We convince your family this is all part of a plan. The Emperor has played his hand. Now it's our turn to play ours."
"But remember, it's not time to tell them about our marriage. Just follow my lead."
"For now, we focus on helping her in all that she has to achieve."
Aidan nodded, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders.
He was no longer just a spectator. He was an accomplice.