I need a way to get some information about the Dowager Empress.

She's playing with Duke Grahm, promising that Caroline will become Empress. But she's not the one choosing.

In the end, the last link I missed was the one between the Empress and the Duke. And it was none other than the latter's daughter in law.

My husband's relative, at that.

Duke Grahm already retired from the faction that wants Alexander on the throne. There's not any advantage for him in such a scenario.

Not since the moment Elisabeth left.

Now, he's investing in his younger granddaughter. He'll become a loyalist and abandon the Empress if Caroline is chosen. But she's making him believe she's the one that is helping him!

I wanted to take this chance and bring him closer to the throne, but that harpy...

If only I had some information from within the Empress's circle. How can I even prove that she doesn't have a saying?

Someone in the council is informing her about our decisions, maybe even lobbying after her instructions.

Is there any need to find out who? In the end, there might be more of them. And I don't want to put myself in danger more than this.

Rather, it would be safe to prove my claims with facts.

The Emperor declared he would follow my instructions regarding this matter, and I promised him to leave space for suitable choices. Still, there is something I can do.

«I will have tea with Caroline Grahm,» I declare to Alexander. «Can you make sure Bertha doesn't come?»

«What?» he mumbles, finishing cutting his beef and observing me with his confused look. «Bertha isn't a threat to you, Thea...»

«Don't start now. It's not what you think. I want to pretend to have some confidential information that is invaluable. I can't talk about it in front of her, do you understand?»

«One of your power games? All right, I can invite her for tea while you're out. She will like to see Vinnie, I'm sure of it.»

Ah, is he testing me?

«I can't help but feel worried for my daughter, Alexander.»

«Do you think anyone would try something in front of me? Most people won't dare to get closer than three steps from Vinnie in front of me. They already know what happens if they as much as look suspicious.»

A thrill crosses my spine. His aura is so menacing right now, even if his tone and expressions are neutral. Almost relaxed.

I am so glad to have him by my side. It's reassuring.

If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been this confident about walking in the Palace. The maids are protecting me, and most of them are not less skilled than the knights.

Lavinia wasn't hurt no matter the many attempts to get closer to her, and every single culprit was punished.

We couldn't get a confession about who was the sender, so we can't point our finger in the harpy's direction, but there are fewer tries as time passes.

The servants aren't willing to risk their lives for that woman anymore.

And it's becoming slightly clearer that I am not a nobody. And my little ball isn't either.

She's the daughter of Archduke Kyre. And a Princess herself.

«Why are you smiling like this, Thea?»

«I was thinking about our daughter,» I say. «Isn't she adorable?»

He looks at me, blinking a couple of times in disbelief. It's weird that I say something like this, I know.

But sometimes, I just feel the need to be sweet. Luckily, those moments pass quickly.

«And I?» he asks, retrieving his ability to talk. «Aren't I adorable?»

«Adorable?» I murmur. I do adore him, but that seems an oddity. Most people fear or dislike him.

He's more like... Cool?

«Sometimes, you're lovely,» I comment. «Adorable is too much, by the way. You're still the mighty Archduke of Kyre.»

«My wife doesn't care about my title,» he sighs. «And I change it often enough. It's not like anyone would approach me just because of it.»

«Are you sure your wife doesn't care?» I reply with a soft smile. I reach out to his hand and squeeze. He turns his palm up, and we entwine fingers. «I'm sure she cares about everything regarding you, your highness.»

He doesn't know how to cover happiness. He's trying so hard to keep his lips straight. His expression is still neutral. But his eyes can't hide their shine.

The same way Lavinia's eyes reflect the light after she eats, or when I sing her a lullaby, or Alexander tells her a story.

«I'm glad she's like you,» I chuckle. «Our adorable daughter.»

«What do you want to do?» he asks me, all of a sudden. «What tale will you tell Duke Grahm?»

«The Dowager Empress made him believe she's the one bringing Caroline Grahm towards the throne. What if I prove it's not like that?»

«Oh, all right.» He nods. He doesn't even ask me for details.

«You should keep your wife in check,» I point out. «Don't just let her do what she wants!»

«Thea, don't be unreasonable. I can't stop my wife if she wants to do something. I can just clean the mess after she's done causing trouble.»

«How often have you cleaned the mess after me?»

«I hope I'll have to, one day. I want to be useful to you.»

I roll my eyes and get up from the table.

«I hope it won't happen here in the capital.»

Should I organise something that will fail, in Stoneyard, just to make him feel better when he comes to help?

Oh, that would be so manipulative. Why am I becoming like my husband? Is staying so close to him transforming me into a shameless Archduchess?

After feeding Lavinia, I send a letter to Caroline Grahm. I also have a meeting with the boy serving the Grahms in the garden.

This year, our garden is quite a safe place.

It ensures privacy and security since when the Princess banned anyone that doesn't have an invite to come in.

Very few people can come and go, and the rest are either invited to an event for which the guards are informed beforehand, or they're together with the Princess or me.

«What can you say about Bertha Grahm?» I ask the boy.

«The young mistress? She's difficult to get close to, my Queen. But I can try if that is needed.»

«No, I just want to know about her character. Is she loyal to her husband?» Ah, no. Wrong question. «Does she serve the Dowager Empress often?»

«She's one of the ladies in waiting. The young mistress will become the Countess when Duke Grahm leaves us. She's rather reserved, almost unreachable. I don't think she's loyal to the Grahms, even if she's been married within the family for a few years.»

«She doesn't report about the Empress's things to the Duke, does she?»

«No, she doesn't.»

Indeed, she's on that side of the table. If the Grahms were to abandon the Empress, she would be the one to try stopping them and later helping the harpy get revenge.

«Is she the one that delivered the message, though?» I inquire. «About Caroline Grahm on the shortlist.»

«Yes, my Queen. In a closed envelope.»

«Understood.»

Maybe, I know how to turn this situation in my favour.

«You can go, now.» As for me, I should try using Alexander's encounter with Bertha as well.

He might say something without noticing. Or tell her in confidence.

Whatever the case, I have to leak false information to the Empress. Something she won't think twice to use.

At the same time, I have to hurry up and invalidate whatever knowledge was already made known. But to what extent is it already public domain?

Oh, I just can't wait to face the harpy in a public place. She's already fallen once in a trap. This time should be enough to make her back away and shut forever.

Or to speed her plans up.

«Kate, I'll need your help this time,» I say out loud. She's nearby, for Alexander is with Lavinia.

«What are we going to do?» she inquires, strolling to me.

«First, visit the archives. I'll bring you along to help me move the documents. Then, I'll have tea with Caroline Grahm.»

«Didn't you invite her here?»

«Yes, but in a week from now. I mentioned the garden won't be usable for a few days. They will write back with the proposal to have the tea party earlier but in their place. They don't want to wait a week. It's too much time.»

«Oh, understood. So, you made them invite you...» she sighs. Her lips are curled in an amused grin. «What shall I do? Make her fall ill? Kill her? Make her bleed?»

«No, wait,» I chuckle. «We're not going there to poison Caroline.»

«Then, the Duke. It would solve our problems, wouldn't it?»

«Duke Grahm is just part of our problems. The less dangerous, at this point. But he's still supporting two factions. It's time he chooses one, isn't it?»

She nods, still uncertain about my intentions.