Royal Palace — Noon
Whispers of intrigue hang in the palace air, yet none dare disturb the Queen's morning audience. Nobles stand in silence as Lavaria perches on her gilded throne, her gaze slicing through the court. She is the paragon of royal composure—fearless, unchallenged. But her voice carries a blade's edge.
"Your Majesty," Lord Alverson purrs, oil dripping from his tone, "Rumors of unrest swirl in the Western Provinces. Military reports suggest we may need to recall the banished legions."
Lavaria's lip twitches in a scornful smile. "Banished legions? Lord Alverson, I've heard no such counsel from our commanders. Perhaps you confuse hearsay with your own… anxieties."
He drops his gaze, unwilling to challenge her openly. She is not the only one who knows how to wield courtly power.
A messenger bursts in, pale-faced and breathless, bowing frantically to Lavaria.
"Your Majesty, word from the Eastern Border. The Prince—Sorian—has convened the High Council in the Lion's Hall for an emergency session. He demands immediate action."
Lavaria's brow creases, a flicker of irritation breaking her calm facade. The Prince, her own flesh and blood, dares challenge her authority so publicly?
"I see," she murmurs, waving the messenger away. "Be gone."
As the messenger flees and 不安的低语 ripples through the court, Lavaria stares into the void, fingers tightening on the throne's armrest. What game is her son playing?
Lion's Hall — Later That Day
Sorian stands before the gathered High Council, posture regal but expression taut. The vast chamber echoes with whispers from the kingdom's most powerful figures—men and women who've served the Queen for decades, swearing her allegiance. Their presence is both an asset and a threat.
"Ladies and lords," Sorian begins, voice steady, "We stand at a crossroads. Everything we know of our kingdom—its history, its bloodline, its foundations—is a lie. The truth must be told, no matter the cost."
He signals for scrolls to be unfurled before them. Scribes have tirelessly copied the damning evidence Aria obtained. Sorian reads the words aloud, each syllable a hammer blow.
In the second year of the Queen's reign, Lavaria took an illicit lover, Sir Alric of Vashari, and bore a child—Marian. The child was erased from history, hidden from court and kingdom. Only the Queen's inner circle knew her existence. The order was clear: the child's bloodline posed too great a risk to the crown.
Gasps ripple through the room.
Councilors exchange wary glances. Rumors catch fire like wildfire. Lavaria, the untouchable Queen, has a secret. She has an heir—a bastard. The implications are staggering.
Sorian lifts his chin, heart pounding but voice unshaken. "This child, Marian, was cast aside to protect the throne. But what if she—or her bloodline—holds the key to our future? What if the truth is not what we've been told?"
Hidden Corridor of the Palace — An Hour Later
Aria stands at the base of a palace staircase, hand resting on the 雕花 stone banister. Summoned by Sorian to the council, she now hides in the shadows, watching nobles file out with 阴沉 and fearful expressions.
She knew this moment would come. But witnessing so many powerful figures rocked by a revelation—a truth—brings an unexpected surge of satisfaction.
"Is it true, Lady Valtoria?" A voice cuts through her thoughts.
She turns to face Master Calder, the Queen's spymaster, a man long versed in the arts of shadow. His pale eyes glint with too much insight.
"You know it is," she replies coldly. "The Queen's legacy is built on lies, and the blood she tried to erase has returned."
Calder's lips twitch in a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "So the Prince dares challenge her? What do you intend to do with this… truth?"
Aria narrows her eyes. "Truth? No, Master Calder. This is more than truth. This is power."
He steps closer, voice dropping. "Power. Dangerous, isn't it? Especially power born of blood."
She doesn't flinch. "Whose blood do you protect, Master Calder?"
His smile returns, icy as ever. "I protect the Queen's realm. I will do whatever it takes—at any cost."
Aria holds his gaze for a long moment, then turns and walks away, 步伐从容. She has played her card; now it's the Queen's turn to respond.
The Queen's Private Chambers — Nightfall
Lavaria stands before a mirror, carefully adjusting a delicate gold chain around her neck, her face a mask of calm. The reflection is perfect, unyielding—but beneath the surface, a storm rages.
Sorian's challenge has shaken the foundations of her control. The exposure of Marian's bloodline—her own flesh and blood—is a secret she never intended to resurface. It was a dead thread, buried under layers of lies and silence.
But truth is like fire: once lit, it spreads, consuming all in its path.
She is not blind to the forces gathering against her. Her son has begun to manipulate power, aided by the woman she once underestimated—Aria Valtoria.
Lavaria's fingers clench around the gold chain. This will not end well. For any of them.
A creaking door interrupts her thoughts. A figure enters the room, and Lavaria's sharp gaze meets the newcomer's.
"You've come," she says, voice frigid.
The figure pulls back their hood, revealing a familiar face. Their eyes are shadowed, heavy with untold secrets.
"I have," they reply, "And I bring word of a deeper conspiracy—one no one has yet uncovered."
Lavaria raises an eyebrow. "Speak."
They step forward, voice low and deliberate. "The truth you tried to bury is not the only one. The Prince's bloodline is not just tied to Marian. There is another heir—a figure more dangerous than both of them combined."
Lavaria's expression hardens. "Another heir? How is this possible?"
They smile darkly. "Did you think you were the only one carrying such a secret?"
End of Chapter 7