Elias looked at me intently, his gaze deep, then clenched the protection charm in his hand.

  "Autumn, the capital is dangerous. Come with me to Nord Braedon! If I take the throne, I will make you my Empress."

  I firmly refused. "I can’t. My family is here, and so is yours."

  He pressed his lips together, sighed, and looked down at himself. "I have nothing to give you as a keepsake."

  "You do."

  I gently pulled on his sleeve. "Elias, your father once transported horses from Braedon for the King’s birthday, mobilizing forces for the long journey. I suspect some of those men are still hidden outside the capital, waiting for further orders. Leave your command medallion with me as protection."

  Elias froze. "Then what about me? Am I to return alone?"

  "Then you must also be careful."

  Elias lifted his head, looking at me silently. After a moment of hesitation, he carefully tucked the charm into his chest, then took out the Ly family’s command medallion and handed it to me. "It’s only a thousand men, but I entrust them all to you."

  He pulled me into his arms and whispered, "Autumn, wait for me. If anyone wants your life, tell them to come to me. I’ll take the burden for you."

  The fingers resting on his back trembled slightly. I responded softly, "You will return safely."

  When I returned to the estate, Arianne’s courtyard, which was usually quiet, had some unusual liveliness. Word had spread that Corwin had gone to visit her.

  I was about to go rest, but something felt wrong.

  Without hesitation, I stormed into Arianne’s courtyard, pushing the servants aside and bursting through the doors.

  Before me, I saw Corwin feeding her medicine.

  I rushed forward and struck the bowl from his hands. It shattered into pieces on the floor.

  Corwin’s expression changed slightly.

  Arianne, leaning weakly against the bed’s edge, looked first surprised, then empty, her gaze fixed on the broken shards.

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  Corwin stood, ordered the servants to clean up, gave me a glance, and left without another word.

  Arianne lay back down and pulled the blanket over herself.

  "Arianne, you must send word to the Duke of Braedon."

  "Leave."

  She pulled the blanket tighter around her and turned away, refusing to look at me.

  I knew it was impossible to wake someone pretending to sleep.

  Even more so, an expecting mother pretending not to know.

  She was beautiful, fragile, and carrying a child. As long as she clung to her blanket, she could shut out the storm outside.

  The autumn winds rose. The capital grew tense.

  Elias’ disappearance had already been discovered.

  I had no time to linger around Arianne any longer. Instead, I selected a few of Elias’ elite guards and secretly placed them in Corwin’s estate.

  I feared for Arianne’s safety.

  Since the first time I met her last year, I had seen a vision of Corwin’s estate consumed by flames.

  She had been heavily pregnant then, writing a farewell letter before she took her last breath before me.

  That letter—I suspected it was meant for the Duke of Braedon, likely a plea for help.

  Since the King’s birthday banquet, The King had not appeared again.

  Crown Prince Alaric had yet to reclaim the Imperial Guards, but his alliance with Duke Rowan had stabilized, securing his current position.

  If any threats remained, they came from the Ly family in Braedon and the Duan family in the West.

  Corwin had silently aligned himself with Crown Prince Alaric.

  He had no need for Arianne’s child. He had no need for the Duke of Braedon to march on the capital.

  And yet, for some reason, Arianne still had not sent word to her father, leaving the Duke of Braedon unaware of his son-in-law’s true intentions.

  That day, Arianne sought me out, asking to borrow Consort Thorne’s jade lock.

  "It was the late consort’s keepsake. I believe it is with Corwin."

  Arianne said nothing more and simply sat in silence for a while.

  Before leaving, she looked at the crimson parrot perched outside the hall. "You keep one of these too?"

  I suddenly remembered—she was from the West.

  That evening, I mentioned the jade lock to Corwin.

  "You already lent it out?"

  "No. It just happens to not be with me. A few days ago, I sent it to the jeweler for restoration."

  Corwin told me an interesting story.

  The Duke of Braedon once proposed a daring plan—to fabricate a new identity for Arianne, claiming she was the long-lost daughter of the King, the infant princess who had died years ago.

  "How could that be possible? The princess was stillborn, not missing..."

  Corwin rubbed his temple and sighed. "But there were some strange circumstances that could be taken advantage of."

  Fifteen years ago, the princess was born without breath, without a heartbeat. Yet, her body remained warm, never turning cold.

  The King summoned every physician in the palace, but none could save her.

  At the time, Consort Thorne was at the height of her favor. She refused to believe her daughter was dead, cradling the child for three days and nights.

  But on the fourth day, the infant princess still did not open her eyes, nor did she make a sound.

  The King ultimately ordered her to be laid to rest.

  Consort Thorne knelt before him, begging for a water burial instead.

  A small sandalwood boat was prepared, with holes carved in the bottom so it would sink. The princess was placed inside, drifting along the river’s vast current, before vanishing beneath the waters.