The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the walls of the Empress's private chamber as a messenger hurried in, his face pale and his breath quickened from the haste of his journey. Empress Lamaine, seated by the window, turned her sharp gaze on him, her posture rigid with an air of impatience.
"What is it?" she demanded, her voice cold and precise, cutting through the tension like a blade.
The messenger swallowed hard before speaking, his voice trembling slightly. "Your Majesty, the fire at the banquet hall has been subdued. The damage is extensive, but it has been contained."
The Empress's eyes narrowed, her fingers tightening around the armrest of her chair. "And Theo? Where is he?" she asked, her tone betraying the slightest hint of concern.
The messenger hesitated, then shook his head. "There has been no word of Prince Theo, Your Majesty. The search is still ongoing."
Empress Lamaine's lips thinned into a hard line, her mind racing. Theo was vital to her plans—he was the key to everything she had worked for. The uncertainty of his whereabouts gnawed at her, stirring an unfamiliar sense of worry deep within her chest.
But before she could fully process this, another messenger burst into the room, his face flushed with urgency. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice quivering, "there's more—Prince Axel is on his way back to the palace. He will arrive within the day."
The Empress's eyes darkened, and a slow, simmering anger began to bubble up inside her. Axel, the one obstacle that stood in the way of her complete control, was returning. His unexpected return threatened to unravel everything she had so meticulously planned. The timing couldn't have been worse, especially with the chaos the fire had caused and the uncertainty surrounding Theo.
"Axel," she hissed, her anger barely contained. The very mention of his name set her on edge. She had worked so hard to manipulate the situation, to ensure that her son would take the throne. Axel's return was a complication she didn't need, and it filled her with a cold fury.
Lamaine stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the stone floor as she did. The fear for Theo mingled with her anger towards Axel, creating a storm of emotions that she struggled to control. She had to find Theo, secure him, and prepare for Axel's arrival. There could be no mistakes, no loose ends.
"Double the search for Theo," she ordered, her voice like ice. "And prepare for Axel's arrival. I will deal with him myself."
As the messengers hurried out to carry out her commands, Empress Lamaine stood alone in the dim light, her mind whirling with strategies and contingencies. Axel's return was a challenge, but she had faced worse. She would not let him derail her plans—not when she was so close to achieving everything she had ever wanted.
As the first messenger retreated from the chamber, another one stepped forward, his demeanor hesitant, as if he carried news that would be difficult to deliver. Empress Lamaine's sharp eyes caught the unease in his stance, and she fixed him with a piercing gaze.
"Speak," she commanded, her voice brooking no delay.
The messenger cleared his throat, his voice low and careful. "Your Majesty, there's... another matter. The Crown Princess, Lila—she was caught in the fire. The reports say she did not survive."
The Empress's reaction was instantaneous—a dismissive wave of her hand, as if brushing away an inconsequential detail. Lila had never been more than a pawn to her, a minor player in the larger game she was orchestrating. Her death was of no concern to her; if anything, it was a relief to have one less variable to manage.
"Lila is dead?" she repeated, more to herself than to the messenger, her tone devoid of emotion.
The messenger nodded, watching her closely. "Yes, Your Majesty. She did not escape the flames."
For a brief moment, the Empress's lips curled into a cold, satisfied smile. Lila's death meant nothing to her, but she knew that it would have a profound effect on Axel. He had always been close to the girl, too close for Lamaine's liking. This would crush him, devastate him, and in that devastation, she saw an opportunity.
"Good," she said, her voice dripping with cruel anticipation. "Axel's return will be all the more entertaining now. Let him come back to ruins, to loss. Let him see what his absence has cost him."
She could almost picture it—Axel's face twisted in grief, his spirit broken by the news of Lila's death. It was a delicious prospect, one that she relished. His pain would be her pleasure, and it would only strengthen her resolve to ensure that Theo took the throne.
The Empress's heart, cold and calculating, beat with a rare excitement. Axel's devastation would be the final touch on the masterpiece she had been crafting for years. His suffering would serve as a testament to her power, a reminder to all that she was not to be trifled with.
With a final, dismissive gesture, she turned away from the messenger, her mind already planning her next moves. Axel's return would mark the beginning of the end for him, and the Empress was more than ready to greet him with a smile as he walked into the trap she had so carefully set.
Empress Lamaine glided through the dimly lit corridors of the palace, her expression one of grim satisfaction. The news of Axel's return, the chaos of the fire, and Lila's demise had all played perfectly into her hands. She reveled in the thought of how everything was falling into place. Now, there was just one more stop to make before she could savor her victory in full.
She arrived at the door to the Emperor's chambers, guarded by two silent sentinels. With a nod, they stepped aside, allowing her entry into the room. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with the scent of incense and medicine. The Emperor lay on the grand bed, his once-strong form now frail and unmoving, eyes closed as if in a deep, eternal slumber.
Lamaine approached the bed with slow, deliberate steps, her gaze fixed on the man who had once ruled with an iron fist but was now reduced to this lifeless state. She sat on the edge of the bed, leaning in close as if to share an intimate secret.
"My dear husband," she began, her voice soft and almost tender, "what a time you're missing. The palace is in turmoil, your empire teeters on the brink, and our son, Theo, is poised to take what is rightfully his. But you're not here to see any of it, are you?"
She paused, as if expecting a response, though she knew none would come. The Emperor's face remained impassive, his chest rising and falling with shallow, rhythmic breaths.
"The fire… the chaos… it all serves our purpose, you see," Lamaine continued, her tone shifting to one of delight. "Lila is gone, Axel is returning to nothing but ashes, and Theo—our Theo—will soon ascend the throne. He is your true heir, after all. The blood of Ezra runs through his veins, stronger than any other. Even stronger than Axel's."
"And you, my dear husband," she whispered, "you will be remembered as the Emperor who secured the greatest legacy this empire has ever seen. All because of me."
She sat back, a cold smile playing on her lips as she looked down at the unconscious Emperor. He had been a powerful ruler in his time, but now, he was just a silent witness to the unraveling of his empire. And Lamaine was the one pulling the strings.
"Rest well," she murmured, her voice dripping with false sweetness.