I hate negotiations with otherworlders!

  Especially on days like this, when the falseness of every smile cut sharper than a knife.

  "Princess Selena, you've changed greatly since our last meeting. How long has it been? A year?"

  The voice of Council representative Laer oozed sweetness, insinuating and deceptively warm, but hidden arrogance glinted in his eyes.

  "A year and two months. I'm glad you found time to meet with me."

  Laer squinted slightly, as if studying me anew.

  "We've been told you've become an experienced team leader, Princess. working with you is becoming more... intriguing."

  He emphasized the last word, as if driving in an invisible needle. The hint was clear: they didn't trust me. Then again, I didn't trust them either.

  "As you know, the royal family is always ready to discuss matters concerning our cooperation. But right now I'm interested in something specific."

  Laer slightly raised an eyebrow, showing restrained surprise.

  "I'm listening, Princess."

  I folded my arms across my chest, pulling on a mask of indifference.

  "Since the parliament incident in the capital, protests haven't ceased. The state is suffering serious losses, both financial and reputational. And one question concerns me."

  "How can we help with this matter?"

  "Interesting that you speak so calmly about it. Especially considering many protesters are somehow well-equipped with otherworlder technologies."

  Laer smiled.

  "Oh, we're concerned about this issue too. However, Princess, technology is just a tool - we can't control how everyone uses it."

  "And yet, control over it remains in your hands. Or will you say you were mistaken?"

  Laer frowned for a moment, quickly composed himself and leaned forward.

  "Speaking of incidents, we're interested in something else. Your government has been behaving somewhat... unpredictably lately. Recent military operations look more like searches for someone specific rather than suppressing protests."

  I felt my shoulder muscles tense. He was carefully steering the conversation toward Luten. I was ready.

  "You've been misinformed. The state acts exclusively to stabilize the situation. We solve problems, not search for specific people."

  Laer paused briefly and exchanged glances with Akiva, who hadn't spoken a word until now. He leaned forward slightly, and I felt the barely perceptible pressure of his gaze.

  "Perhaps I expressed myself imprecisely, Princess. We merely want to understand your position. It seems to us you're interested in restoring... stability."

  "I only care about returning soldiers to their families and restoring peace. Especially now, in such troubled times."

  I kept my voice steady.

  Inver, silent all this time, finally raised her gaze to me. A cold smile touched her lips.

  "Sometimes what's lost can no longer be returned. And sometimes it's worth asking, Princess: is it worth returning what will no longer be the same?"

  My gaze stopped on her impassive face. The question, of course, wasn't about me but about him.

  "And is it worth abandoning what belongs to us simply because someone considers it unnecessary? Or perhaps it proved too inconvenient for someone?"

  She smiled slightly.

  "Perhaps, Princess, your understanding of the situation is somewhat... romanticized, due to your age?"

  Her words sounded soft but stung unpleasantly. I understood their game: they were trying to provoke emotions from me so I'd slip up. But I wasn't going to give in.

  "Perhaps you're right."

  I allowed myself a slight smirk.

  "Or perhaps it's just a matter of perception. After all, maturity is determined not by age but by experience, correct?"

  Silence fell. The atmosphere in the room thickened.

  Laer smiled slightly and nodded briefly.

  "Then we'll be keeping a closer eye on you, Princess Selena. I hope you'll be as reasonable as you are ambitious."

  He stood up, the conversation clearly over. I slowly rose after him.

  "Believe me, I know where the line between ambition and prudence lies."

  They looked at me but didn't answer. The atmosphere grew cooler, and I understood perfectly why.

  They'd learned what they wanted. As had I. Neither side said anything directly, but both they and I had gained enough.

  Luten had escaped. And they knew it. Now they were trying to understand how much I knew. Already at the door, Laer turned to me.

  "I perfectly understand that your brother couldn't attend negotiations to spend time with the Emperor, but what about Alice Veil? Shouldn't she have accompanied you as her brother Darius's deputy?"

  The scoundrel decided I'd relaxed and tried to interrogate me.

  "Forgive me, but I don't understand the purpose of this question. She retired from affairs long ago, and I don't know where Alice is currently located."

  When the heavy doors slammed shut, cutting me off from them, my lungs finally remembered how to breathe. These meetings drained life more than the most exhausting sword training. At least those left a sense of satisfaction.

  Immediately after the meeting, I headed down a corridor leading deep into the palace's west wing—a section where even guards rarely appeared. I'd specifically chosen this place for the meeting to exclude accidental witnesses. Not so much for myself as for her.

  I pushed an inconspicuous door and entered a small room with dim lighting. Alice was already waiting for me there, comfortably settled in a chair by the window. She looked calm, though her hands gripped the cup with such tension it might shatter.

  "So, much news?"

  "More like much old news. They definitely know something. And they learned it before us. Just checking how much we know."

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  Alice smiled weakly and set the cup on the table.

  "So something's happening there..."

  "They didn't say directly, but it was obvious he's alive. They were trying to understand how much I know."

  Alice nodded and turned her head slightly toward the window. Concern flickered in her gaze, which she quickly hid behind her usual restraint.

  "So they weren't holding him for nothing. The question now is why they stayed silent so long. Either they lost control, or..."

  "Or lost interest?"

  She smiled slightly, but the smile quickly disappeared from her face.

  "Otherworlders never lose interest just like that. They only change tactics."

  I pondered her words. She was right: too many details remained unclear. What happened on the roof? Why were otherworlder forces there? But something else concerned me now.

  "Laer was asking about you."

  Alice slowly turned her gaze to me. Her shoulders tensed.

  "So they're starting to notice my absence."

  "And asking questions."

  She exhaled slowly and set the cup on the table.

  "Good that you didn't tell them anything. The less they know about me, the better."

  I frowned.

  "You still don't want to explain why you're hiding even from your own? Bad rumors are circulating in the capital."

  She didn't answer immediately. A shadow of doubt flickered in her eyes. This was strange, as I was used to seeing only iron certainty in Alice.

  "Sometimes, to act effectively, it's better not to be visible. I had reasons to disappear."

  "Did your brother reject you?"

  Alice slowly raised her eyes. Something heavy was in her gaze, but she didn't answer. Instead, she gently shook her head.

  "It's more complicated. Sometimes being close to the king is more dangerous than being against him."

  I nodded understandingly. We both knew what she was talking about. From the moment her brother became the king's personal military advisor, Alice had become a threat. Too smart and too independent to be manipulated.

  "You do understand everything will become clear to them sooner or later? Lord Darius Veil could switch sides at any moment."

  She smiled sadly.

  "Of course. But I hope by then we'll have found Luten."

  Silence fell. Outside the window, rain fell quietly, drops tapping against the glass, blurring the evening city's outlines.

  "Are you so sure he can help us change the situation?"

  She looked at me firmly and confidently.

  "Luten always felt like a fish in water in such discussions. He surely knows plenty of dirt about the otherworlders now."

  I sighed deeply. Her confidence made me believe too, though I understood that hope wasn't yet a plan.

  "So what do we do now?"

  Alice pondered, folding her fingers together. Her gaze became thoughtful and somewhat heavy again.

  "Wait until the otherworlders make their next move. They already understand we know about Luten. Now it's their turn."

  I nodded slowly, feeling anxiety growing inside. For the first time in a long while, the tangle of secrets was unraveling, but we weren't controlling it.

  When evening finally covered the city, I stood before a tall mirror examining myself with a slight smirk.

  The dress was emerald, deep, almost black, with silver thread woven so finely the the fabric seemed to shimmer and shift colors with my every movement. Shoulders were bare, but long sleeves of fine lace covered my arms. In such a dress, anyone would consider me adult, capable of taking the throne tomorrow. Even if the line of succession reaches me, no one will let some random girl lead the country.

  Around my neck—heavy jewelry with sapphires, icy drops flowing to my collarbones. The perfect mask of strength and power. The perfect costume for tonight's ball.

  I exhaled.

  "Is everything alright, Princess?"

  A maid's voice appeared behind me. She carefully adjusted the dress's folds.

  "Everything's fine, Amelia, thank you. You may go."

  The door closed quietly, and I remained alone before the large mirror.

  I inhaled and exhaled a couple times, organizing my thoughts. I didn't like balls. Behind every kind word, smile, compliment hid poisonous needles of intrigue from which there was no shelter. Especially today. I perfectly understood that the invitation to this ball was merely a way to gather everyone and check who was on whose side now. Music sounded beyond the huge doors. Time.

  I left the room and slowly headed to the hall, sensing from afar the aroma of flowers mixed with the tart smell of wine and perfume.

  The great hall reminded me of a spiderweb—beautiful sparkling chandeliers illuminated the impeccably polished marble floor, reflecting in hundreds of glints. Long decorative carpets adorned the walls, burgundy like blood. Guests moved softly and measuredly, like marionettes, though they seemed animated and free. An illusion. And I'd long learned to see through it.

  In the corner of the hall I noticed Reynald Tis, one of the old families' representatives. Seeing me, he smiled and immediately headed toward me. In his gaze—familiar friendliness mixed with wariness.

  "Princess, you're especially beautiful tonight."

  "Thank you, Count. But I'd prefer this evening to be useful, not just beautiful."

  He smiled, sipping wine and carefully looking around.

  "Perhaps I would too. Strange times have come. Troops throughout the country constantly search for something in the fields, and in cities people begin feuding with mages, don't you find this strange?"

  I turned slightly toward him, trying not to show excessive interest.

  "You mean the patrols? I think the crown is merely trying to maintain stability."

  He smirked, somewhat bitterly and discontentedly.

  "Princess, let's be honest. Now isn't the time for pretty phrases. When so few garrisons are held in cities, when there's lack of control... The last time this happened was when we were preparing for war."

  I leaned slightly closer.

  "You think the crown no longer controls the situation?"

  He frowned and nodded carefully.

  "The king is losing power. The army looks toward the otherworlders, the otherworlders look at us as a resource, and you... You seem to be trying to play your own games."

  I held his gaze, smiling slightly.

  "Perhaps I'm just looking for answers. Like you."

  He said nothing, only respectfully inclined his head and moved on.

  His place was quickly taken by Lady Evelyn. The woman was known for her dissatisfaction regarding the otherworlders' monopoly, though she always carefully hid her feelings behind an impeccable smile.

  "Princess!"

  She lightly touched my elbow.

  "Stunning dress. Though somewhat... bold?"

  "Now isn't the time to fear boldness."

  She looked at me more carefully and frowned slightly.

  "You're right. I heard you met with Council representatives today? Did they say anything about the missing mages?"

  I turned my head slightly, showing the question interested but didn't surprise me.

  "They said nothing directly. And it seems they're still trying to understand how much we know."

  The woman nodded slightly.

  "Of course. But Princess, be careful. You shouldn't trust them completely."

  "Believe me, Lady Lyle, I wasn't planning to."

  She sighed.

  "The problem is many don't share your opinion. The otherworlders have entered too deeply into trade and economy, and now dictate terms to us as if this were their kingdom, not ours."

  "I know. That's exactly why I'm here."

  She looked at me understandingly and stepped back, allowing me to move on.

  Making my way through the crowd of guests, I caught glances: envy, admiration, distrust. Some saw salvation in me, others—a threat.

  Finally I noticed who I'd been looking for all evening. Duke Faeron. A man with a neutral position but having connections with almost all sides. I approached him, slightly inclining my head in greeting.

  "Princess Selena. You're unusually serious tonight. Or does it only seem so?"

  I allowed myself to sigh.

  "It seems everyone has serious faces now, Count. I'd like to discuss something important. Do you have a moment?"

  He smiled softly, offering his arm.

  "Of course, always for you, Princess."

  He led me to the balcony, away from gazes and curious ears.

  I looked him in the eyes.

  "I need your help, Count. I heard you... still have connections in the East. I'd like to learn something about one person."

  He pondered briefly.

  "Who are you looking for?"

  I hesitated but answered directly:

  "Luten Caers."

  His eyes widened. Concern. Fear. But the mask of composure returned instantly.

  "Interesting name. What makes you think I can help you?"

  "Because..."

  I leaned closer, lowering my voice almost to a whisper:

  "I know you've already helped someone from the East. And I'm sure: it's a mutually beneficial exchange of information."

  He studied me another second and finally nodded slowly.

  "Perhaps, Princess, I can find out something. But remember: any contacts are dangerous now. Especially with Arontar. Most people think the otherworlders own this place now."

  "I know, Count."

  He looked at me once more, then bowed his head and carefully kissed my hand.

  "I'll do what I can. But remember: in such times, no one acts for free."

  I smiled slightly in response, perfectly understanding the price of such words.

  Friends didn't exist in this hall. Only those with me today—and those waiting for the moment to strike at my back.

  And I was ready to play by their rules.