***

The king looked at his niece to explain what she knew. This was the time when he would fume in anger at the queen's audacity. But he laughed instead. This was an opportunity. He was going to use it well.

“Uncle, if you catch her, you will have the right to dispose of her. All you need is to storm in there one day and have a witness ready,” Lady Steinhouse said with a smile.

“If it was that simple, I would have framed her by now. She is the Northern Lan princess, queen of Juhntt, her brother is the present king of Northern Lan. Besides, she would have covered up her tracks. Rushing in there one day is no guarantee that we will have her,” the king smiled.

“Then we let this opportunity go?” Lady Steinhouse frowned.

“Of course not, we will just have to act with care. You have to make sure the Mclears never find that man they are looking for. We must first find the treasurer and his assistant. He and the minister of finance,” the king said almost as though in thought.

“Why?” Lady Steinhouse frowned in confusion. The king immediately grabbed her hand.

“Helen, you are the only one I have on the outside. It's hard to say who has been corrupted and who hasn't. I married her, a stupid young king. Before I found my way around my own palace, she had taken control. You must find out all there is to know about those I have mentioned. We must have something to hold over them. That way, they will have no choice but to leave her side. As long as the money remains missing and we have witnesses, having her as the culprit will not be hard,”

“Didn't you just say that will not work?” Lady Steinhouse asked.

“It will work. It will just not be enough to take her down. We must first do this, and have her in our grasp. I must first weigh my options so that I can decide the best way to handle her. Do this first,” he instructed her and she nodded.

“Worry not, uncle. She will never know it's missing. The Mclears will never tell her it's missing because she can blame it all on them and you will behead them. They will also never find the money. I am handling it,”

The court lady sat in her chambers waiting in silence. The maids could not breathe a sound as they saw their lady seated like a stone, waiting patiently. Soon a person rushed in through the door. Seeing the girl that had arrived, they sighed in relief. The girl did not wear the maid uniform, but she was one. She was the Lady's personal maid. A position they envied a lot. If she worked well, the lady could arrange a good marriage match for her. The girl that had rushed in did not think the same as they did. She was on the lady's side not for a better future.

This was her mistress. She had planned and worked hard all these years so that she would be placed by her side. Only she knows the true origins of the lady. She is the only one who saw what the king of Northern Lan did to get her lady to sit quietly in the kingdom of Juhntt. She came all the way, plotted and killed to get to her lady's side so that she could help her lady get to her goals.

Waving away the maids by the corner, she closed the door. She went over to the lady's side and knelt close.

“I did not hear much. I just know that Lady Steinhouse said something about the royal treasury missing money,” the maid whispered and the lady smiled.

“He has been told of her most implicating activity. The king finally has a plan,” the court lady said.

“The king, would he be able to do anything? He is but a pawn in everybody's game,” the maid sneered.

“You underestimate him, Ria. If that man knows to do anything, it is to see the entire picture and bide his time. I fear when he strikes it will be fatal. The queen may have it hard soon,” the court lady smiled.

“My Lady, what of the royal crown set. Did you find it?” Ria asked.

“No, she has the key. No one can get in,” the lady said

“If we could just have it, we would be able to save Madam,” the maid sighed in regret. Only then did the lady look at her.

“Don't blame yourself, Ria. You found me when no one could and found out where she kept the antidote. You have worked hard,” the lady said calmly.

“We can just steal the key then we steal the....”

“The wind is blowing well. The change of seasons is near. Steal her crown? Nothing would please me more,” the lady smiled.

***

Night descended quickly. As Walter had expected, it was as Lady Steinhouse had told him. The man he had bought the diamonds from had been taken away by the magistrate. Night was the best time to have this settled.

He had asked around and discovered how the city guards had pressured the magistrate to release him into their custody, but the ministry claimed the magistrate had gone out of the city for work and they cannot release anyone without a signature. Walter felt he could probably bet on his life that the magistrate was surely in the ministry. He was told to not approach Lady Wickshire for a while. Even though he was sure no one knew of his existence to trace it back to the lady, he still obeyed orders.

He made his way into town and then into the city. Just like agreed, he was behind the entrance to the ministry. Waiting for him with guards, was the same man he had seen in the morning. One look and he recognized this man was one of Lady Steinhouse's people. The man made not a sound nor asked any questions; he recognized Walter and made way for him. Taking the lead, he led Walter to a small sitting room. There waited the Lady Steinhouse, who waved away the butler. He paused to take in her attire. She seemed to have removed her make-up, but her perfume was still strong and her hair was braided in a complicated weave held in place by quite a few hairpins.

The lady noticed him pause for a moment and noted his facial expression. She had completely forgotten about him as she handled things for the king all day.

Only when she was in the ministry and recalled the time, did she ask for a servant to bring her a wet towel. She found herself cleaning off her make-up and adjusting her dress. Though she had scolded her actions, the deed was done. She waited with an anticipation she could not understand. Yet now, seeing the blank look on his face, she was to her surprise completely disappointed. Suppressing her frown, she forced a smile.

“You're on time,” she said.

“Do you still have him?” Walter asked sitting down.

“Yes. How do you intend to deal with him?” she asked out of curiosity. In truth, she had not truly decided what best be done about the man in custody. She considered having him sold away to a foreign country

but thought of all the work that had to be done to sneak him out of the city under the nose of the Mclears. She waited expectantly at the boy before her.

“Can you have a rope prepared?” he asked.

“Why?” she frowned at his request.

“Is it possible?” Walter asked.

“Of course,” she called for a servant and relayed his instructions.

“Is it possible to ask something of you?” she said after a moment of silence. Walter took in her expression and frowned. She was fiddling with her thumbs and carried an unsure and, Walter could almost swear, a shy look on her face.

“What?” he asked, feeling a headache coming.

“There are some people I would like to find. I would like to know their work, secrets, family; everything,” she said. Seeing the look on his face, she tried to explain.

“I need something on them; something that would make them listen,”

“I’m guessing this is the price for helping me with this man,” he said.

“I cannot think of a better way for you to repay my kindness,” she tried to look resolute.

“I had thought you wanted to help me deal with this because you wanted to be part of Lady Wickshire's inner circle. I guess something must have come up,” Walter smirked at her attitude.

“I just need some people to do as told, that is all,”

“If you can hold what is important, they will do as told. And of course, it depends on if you have the power to demand to be obeyed,”

“Oh, when they stand before their judge, they will obey,” she smiled slyly.

“Who do you want dirt on?” Walter asked.

“The minister of finance,” she said. Walter's pupil shrunk visibly. He almost laughed at himself.

Had he taken on this role so well, that one actually thought he, the boy from the stables, could deal with the minister of finance? He almost burst out in laughter at her request. Who did she think he was?

She had said she was not like other foolish ladies of society, yet here she was; requesting such foolishness. He was about to refuse when her next words froze him in place.

“I want to go on the attack. I have dug out a lot about the people in the ministry of finance but, nothing on the minister. I just need you to take a look and help out. I just want you on my side,” she said.

Walter finally realized what was happening. She was probably doing something unreasonable and she needed the assurance that she will not be crossing Lady Wickshire. If she will be acting with Lady Wickshire as her backing, she could be a little bolder. Her standing will be firmer. Only then did it occur to him, that he was to her, Lady Wickshire's proxy. If he said plain out that such a thing was beyond him, won't he be saying the Lady Wickshire is not capable of accomplishing such feats?

Remembering the face of the lady, he almost sneered at the thought. Was there something she could not accomplish? Still, it only mattered if she wished it happen. something he had always thought odd how sure he was of it. He maintained his silence. But his mind was much calmer. The servant returned with a rope. He took it and got up.

“Show me the man,” he said. She stared at the boy for a few seconds before leading way.