The silence Alaric and Aidan left behind was heavier than any conversation.
The family remained at the dinner table, the half-eaten food forgotten.
It was a long moment before the Lady Elizabeth finally broke the spell, her voice a strained whisper.
"Edistone," she said, as if testing the word. "I had no idea. Your grandfather never mentioned..."
Her voice trailed off, her eyes fixed on Daphne, hurt visible in their depths.
"He promised me he wouldn't," Daphne said, her gaze steady. "He said it was safer if no one knew."
"Safer?", her father repeated, his hand still resting on the table.
He looked at her, his expression a mixture of awe and fear. "My daughter, do you understand what you have just agreed to? The Prince spoke of winning, and a problem that has baffled the empire's most brilliant minds. This is no mere competition; it's a game of life and death with the Emperor's heir at stake."
"I do, Father," Daphne replied, her voice filled with a quiet resolve he had never heard before. "The alternative was a gilded cage, the harem. At least this way, I have a chance at true freedom. A chance to be more than just a political pawn."
Finn, who had been silent throughout the entire exchange, finally found his voice.
"He truly believes in you, Daphne," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "To put his own reputation on the line... the General doesn't make gambles like this without being certain of the outcome. He sees something in you."
Lady Elizabeth looked at her husband.
"She has her father's strength. And she has the knowledge of my family."
She turned to Daphne. "Tell me, darling, what exactly did you learn? Are we talking about poultices and herbal remedies, or something more... substantial?"
Daphne took a moment to gather her thoughts, the weight of a lifetime of secrecy finally lifted. "I studied everything from traditional herbalism to surgical procedures. But my true interest was in a more specialized field. Grandfather had a rare collection of ancient texts on a variety of medical subjects, including fertility, poisons and acupuncture. I spent years translating them."
Lord Thomas' eyes widened. "Poisons? Ancient texts? Could they be the key?"
"I don't know, Father," Daphne admitted. "But they are our only hope."
Lord Thomas' expression shifted from disbelief to one of fierce determination.
"Then we will do everything in our power to help you. Finn, you will use your contacts to secure any supplies she needs. Elizabeth, you and I will organize everything here at home. Daphne, you need to write down every detail you can remember about those texts, and what supplies you'll need."
Daphne felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Alone, the task would have been impossible. But with her family united behind her, she felt a glimmer of hope.
What she couldn't tell her family was she learned medicine so she wouldn't be vulnerable like she was in her last life.
The Empress had poisoned her, making her unable to conceive. She wanted to be sure she was prepared for anything.
...
The night air was crisp and cool as Aidan walked Alaric to his horse.
"You know, you could have warned me," Aidan said, breaking the silence. "Just a small hint about the grand, secret plan. You dropped that bombshell on them like it was nothing."
Alaric didn't respond immediately. He kept walking.
Aidan sighed, shaking his head. "Come on, Alaric. Don't play coy. I know you. You didn't just walk in there on a whim. The way you spoke, the way you looked at her… it's clear you already have a plan. So, what is it?"
Alaric came to a stop beside his horse, a magnificent black stallion that snorted softly, as if sensing the tension in the air.
He turned to face Aidan, and in the low light, his eyes were two pools of unfathomable darkness.
"I have my people," Alaric said, his voice a low, even tone that offered no room for argument. "For the last two months, I have had them replacing the servants in the harem. No one suspects a thing."
Aidan's playful smile vanished. His jaw went slack, and he stared at Alaric, speechless.
He felt a shiver of cold dread trickle down his spine that had nothing to do with the night air.
Alaric continued, his voice as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
"I have my men and women in every corner. They serve every concubine and consort, even the Empress. They listen, they observe, and they report. When Daphne arrives, she will not be alone. She will have allies in every shadow."
Aidan felt a sudden, profound fear of the man before him.
He had always known Alaric was powerful, but this was a level of influence he hadn't even imagined.
To infiltrate the most secure and secretive part of the Imperial court, to plant spies in the Emperor's private household without a whisper of suspicion… it was a feat of a different kind of war.
He made a solemn note to himself right then and there to never, under any circumstance, get on Prince Alaric's bad side.
He had just witnessed the true face of the general, a man who operated with an inhuman level of foresight and ruthlessness. And Daphne was now in his game.
"There's more, right?" Aidan asked.
"There is. But I'd like to speak with Daphne first"
"So you're ready to finally speak to her?", amusement obvious in Aidan's voice.
"I can't possibly marry a woman I've never spoken to now, can I?"
"Is there anything you can't do?"
"Hmm. Rule Eldoria, not can't but won't."
After saying that, Alaric jumped on his horse, taking off immediately.
He left Aidan looking astonished.