Arianne nodded, saying nothing more.

  She simply twisted the bracelet on her wrist.

  Since early spring, the Crown Prince had been secretly appointing officials to positions in the capital.

  Even the minor clerks seemed to have traces of his influence.

  Yet he did not promote trusted allies but rather placed people into roles where they would meet an untimely end.

  In just a short time, aside from a few exceptions, most new appointees in the capital barely lasted three months before being dismissed or mysteriously dying.

  The administrative structure of the city had never seen such chaos.

  At first, the king ignored the matter, merely pressuring the Ministry of Personnel to handle it.

  But the sheer number of unresolved cases overwhelmed the officials, forcing them to spend entire days reviewing records. Only after months of delays did they finally clear the backlog.

  The Crown Prince continued targeting the Ministry of Personnel.

  According to Chancellor Corwin, his strongest ally within the Ministry at that time appeared to be my second sister.

  As the months passed, tensions grew between the Crown Prince and Duke Rowan.

  During this time, as the Eastern Palace remained under restriction, the king, in a moment of leisure, handed the Tiger Seal—a symbol of military authority—to Duke Rowan.

  Now, the Crown Prince was desperate to reclaim what he had lost.

  Duke Rowan had always been wary of the Crown Prince, but now he grew more extreme, his strategies unpredictable. He finally resolved to challenge the Crown Prince directly.

  "Perhaps, Lady Spring encouraged him to act against the Crown Prince…"

  A storm of political maneuvering was brewing, filled with hidden schemes and power struggles.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Staring at the snow-covered plum trees outside, a thought suddenly crossed my mind:

  Would the king even live long enough to witness the outcome?

  Everyone blamed Alaric and his demand for the Tiger Seal.

  As the sky darkened, it was clear that the most crucial moment was approaching.

  That evening, Corwin came to see me.

  He stepped inside and ran his hand along the carved window frame, inspecting the embroidery on my curtains.

  "Half the season has passed, yet your home looks no different than before," he remarked.

  Despite his words, the Duke of Braedon’s estate had been bustling for the past seven days, celebrating his birthday. Though the old duke was aging, he had yet to decline. He had only one daughter, Arianne, whom he treasured, and he had called in favors to promote her husband’s rank. It was clear he was preparing for her to rise even higher.

  After finishing his visit to Arianne, Corwin invited me to join them.

  I withdrew my hand. "If too many people speak of it, what will you say? And if no one speaks of it, what will you do?"

  Corwin glanced at me, his gaze unreadable, before looking away. "There isn’t much to say. I’ll simply sever all ties between my family and the Duke of Braedon."

  I nodded slightly and stepped outside.

  Arianne studied me carefully. "Is it true?" she asked. "Have you seen Elias?"

  I considered her question before answering. "He’s been busy handling matters for the Duran family."

  Corwin stood beside her, lowering his gaze.

  The next day, I visited Arianne.

  She had caught a cold and was unable to meet me.

  On the seventh day of the king’s birthday celebrations, an invitation from the palace arrived, summoning me to the festivities. I had to prepare my gifts quickly.

  Arianne and I rode together in one carriage, while Corwin took another.

  Arianne gazed out the window, letting out a quiet sigh. "Whenever I see him, it unsettles me."

  I was skilled in maintaining composure, so I answered lightly, "If that’s the case, why dwell on it?"

  She turned her head slightly, looking at me. Then she lowered her gaze and began to weep.

  For some reason, tears streamed silently down her face.

  The quiet carriage, the faint scent of incense, and her soft sobs only made the king’s presence at the palace feel more suffocating.

  That evening, I met Duke Rowan.

  Not long ago, his wife had died from illness. Given his noble status and close ties to the Crown Prince, he had been granted the title of Prince Regent.

  The Crown Prince personally paid him a visit. It was no secret that he had faked an illness to avoid court affairs, but now he suddenly began discussing the idea of reinstating the former empress.

  During the banquet, while others were enjoying themselves, my elder sister and the Crown Prince met in private before the hall.

  She reminded him, "The Crown Prince’s heart is deep. Only those closest to him understand his true nature."

  Lady Spring looked at me. "Would you be willing to take my place in the Eastern Palace?"

  Her expression was unreadable.

  After a long pause, her voice turned cold. "Are you hesitating because you want to secure your own position? Or are you afraid of what awaits you?"

  I took a sip of tea, holding the cup steady. "I’ll think about it."

  She watched me closely before walking away.

  Corwin was waiting outside.