The Palace of Elyptis was bathed in warm, golden light, its stillness punctuated by only the soft hum of the servants in the distance. Meanwhile, Ely, seated thoughtfully in the parlour, occasionally sipped from her cup, her expression one of contemplation.
"Have there been any signs of activity?" Ely inquired, directing her gaze towards the two elderly twins positioned across from her, her keen eyes scrutinizing them closely.
The twins exchanged a weighted glance, their countenance clouding in concern and then they released a synchronised sigh, their long-standing service to the King evident in their demeanor. They had journeyed alongside him until his health began to deteriorate, and while they appeared unremarkable and harmless to onlookers, that was far from the truth.
"It is disheartening to consider that they have resorted to such tactics. Are they even human?" questioned Logan, one of the twins with thinning grey hair. Despite his composed tone, a smoldering fury was evident in his eyes.
"Keep calm, Logan. Your wrath won't make them repent, would it?" remarked the other twin, Lucas, as he gently tapped Logan's thigh. Unlike his brother, Lucas maintained a calm demeanor as he regarded the Princess, his gaze imbued with significance. "They made contact on the day you issued the order but departed swiftly, and since then, there has been no further communication."
Ely acknowledged their words with a nod, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"They exhibit remarkable intelligence—perhaps too intelligent for their own good. Currently, we lack substantial evidence against them, and they appear to be aware of this."
"Princess, we cannot simply overlook this situation," Logan urged, his agitation slightly tempered, yet the embers of rage flickered in his grey eyes.
"Human trafficking is not their ultimate objective, Logan. They are orchestrating a more significant scheme, intending to mislead us through such trafficking," Lucas asserted, his brow furrowed in concern.
"It is the throne" Ely stated, her sapphire eyes fixating on a portrait adorning the wall. As silence enveloped the room, Ely continued, "Examine that portrait and tell me what you make of it ." She gestured to his brother's simmering fury. A mere glance from Logan prompted him to temper his emotions and focus intently on the discussion.
"Indeed. They wanted my brother on the throne, perceiving me as uncontrollable; however, my brother has also proven to be a formidable obstacle," she remarked, a hint of pride evident in her tone.
"What course of action shall we pursue now?" Logan inquired, recognizing the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to safeguard the kingdom.
"An great question, Viscount," Ely responded with a smirk, her tone not one of derision towards him personally but rather a critique of the current governmental structure. In previous times, she could have taken decisive punitive measures; however, the constraints of a democratic monarchy hindered her plans.
'Such a detestable system. I must do well to dismantle it in the future,' she mentally noted.
"Your brother would advocate for a legal approach..." Ely's thought trailed off, yet her unfinished statement conveyed enough for Logan to grasp the implications. He cast a disdainful glance at Lucas.
"Do not concern yourself with him, My Princess. His position has clearly clouded his judgment," Logan remarked dismissively, gesturing towards Lucas. He was not mistaken; Lucas, acting as the Minister for Justice, had indeed allowed his role to influence his perspective.
Lucas, meanwhile, sipped his tea with an air of indifference, seemingly unaffected by the exchange.
"I cannot agree with that notion, My Princess," Lucas countered even before Ely could articulate her thoughts, prompting her to shake her head at his stubbornness.
Logan turned sharply, his eyes aflame with indignation. "Don't test my patience, Lucas," he warned, his temper flaring.
The subject of this threat remained unmoved, continuing to maintain an indifferent pose.
"This situation is dire; they must be exposed and punished publicly to serve as a deterrent for others," Lucas argued, his demeanour shifting to one of seriousness. "I acknowledge the absence of concrete evidence, but we must take action. I will go with whatever course you deem appropriate."
"You... do you wish for the King..." Logan halted, the implications of Lucas's words settling in. He stared at his brother in disbelief before turning to the Princess, who wore a smile. "What has gotten into you, Logan?"
"Keep your hands to yourself, brute. You must learn to employ your intellect, rather than relying on brute force," Lucas retorted, pushing Logan away with a look of disdain.
Ely observed the exchange between the elderly twins, nostalgia washing over her as memories of her brother surfaced, prompting a wistful smile.
Returning to the present, she addressed the twins, "We shall proceed with your proposed strategy, Logan. Disregard the other girl."
Her demeanour grew cold as she spoke, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Ely regarded the twins and nodded in acknowledgement. As she reflected on the current state of the kingdom, she remembered how the peerage had descended into chaos during her father's illness, crying for firm discipline; otherwise, they would overstep their bounds, and she would be more than willing to enforce the order if that was their desire.
Logan's expression morphed into a smirk, and he swiftly rose, bowing as he exited with an air of enthusiasm.
Ely's gaze followed him momentarily before returning to Lucas.
"You are aware of your brother's recent activities, are you not, Princess?" Lucas inquired softly.
Ely's expression softened at the mention of her brother, and she averted her gaze. While she was aware of her actions, she also recognized her desire for him to pursue his own path.
"I am aware," Her voice was a little above a whisper, her eyes clouding over with concern.
Lucas nodded, offering a meaningful glance before bowing and departing, leaving Ely alone with her reflections. As her thoughts wandered, they gravitated towards a haunting dream she had experienced. The very act of closing her eyes triggered vivid recollections of grotesque imagery and harrowing screams, conjuring a nightmarish vision of a blood-drenched sea where a humanoid figure lay, seemingly lifeless. Ely had been frozen in terror, her gaze suddenly locking with a pair of milky eyes.
As reality returned, she opened her eyes and drew in a sharp breath, beads of sweat forming on her brow. Fear flickered briefly in her eyes, yet she quickly suppressed it.
The past was irrevocable, but her present duty was to safeguard her brother.
Resolutely shaking her head to dispel these thoughts, she exited the parlour and proceeded towards the dungeons, situated far from the royal chambers. A cloaked figure emerged, bowing before her and leading her to a metallic cage housing a man.
With an expression of indifference, she regarded the man within the cage. The guard shook his head in response to her gaze, prompting her to extend her hand towards the searing metal placed before her. She approached the cage, the acrid stench of blood and rust assaulting her senses; however, she remained unfazed as she pressed the burning metal against the man, the sound of sizzling flesh filling the air amidst the agonized cries that ensued. After an indeterminate period, Ely issued a directive to the guard and departed.
Elsewhere, in a room with canvases and the smell of paint permeating the air, Philip maintained a placid expression as his hand glided across the canvas with precision. He paused, seemingly contemplating the theme, when a figure clad in black materialized beside him.
"My Lord, Lady Aurora has been assassinated."