Selena hesitated for a moment before she spoke, her voice lowering as if she feared the very walls might hear. "It's Elana, the third wife. She harbors ill intentions toward Zeph. Her ambition… it's dangerous."
Fenwise's face darkened, his jovial demeanor evaporating in an instant. "Elana," he growled. "That woman has always been a snake. I told Solon not to trust her when he took her in."
Edward clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "What exactly has she done, Selena?"
"Nothing overt," Selena replied, her fingers tightening around her cup. "But she's made her dislike for Zeph clear. She never misses a chance to undermine me or my son in front of the court. Her eyes are always watching, and I fear that she'll use whatever means necessary to harm Zeph's future. Solon is aware, but he does nothing."
Fenwise slammed his hand down on the table, causing the tea cups to rattle. "Solon may be emperor, but I won't stand by while that viper threatens my grandson! If she dares lay a finger on Zeph—"
"Father, please," Selena interrupted gently, placing a hand on his arm. "It's not yet come to that. But I fear it may, in time."
Edward leaned forward, his eyes serious. "Selena, we have men stationed in the capital, men loyal to our house. They've been keeping an eye on things here, but if the threat is real, we'll increase our vigilance. You're not alone in this."
Selena's eyes softened at her brother's words. "Thank you, Edward. Knowing I have your support means more than you realize."
Fenwise nodded firmly. "Our men are at your disposal, Selena. You call on them whenever you need them, whether it's to watch Elana or deal with any other threats. You're my daughter, and Zeph is my blood. We'll protect you both."
The tension in Selena's shoulders seemed to ease at her father's declaration. "I'm grateful, Father. I've been so concerned about Zeph's safety, especially after the Elemental Ceremony. The court saw his affinity for water as a weakness. They're underestimating him, and I fear Elana will use that to her advantage."
"Let them underestimate him," Edward said with a determined glint in his eye. "Zeph will prove them all wrong. He's stronger than they know."
Fenwise's gruff voice softened slightly. "We'll make sure of that. And as for Elana… she'll slip up one day. When she does, we'll be ready."
Selena smiled, though her eyes still held a trace of worry. "I just want Zeph to have a peaceful future, one where he can grow into the person he's meant to be. I won't let anyone stand in his way."
Fenwise reached out and placed a hand on Selena's shoulder. "You've done well, Selena. You're a good mother, and Zeph is lucky to have you. We'll make sure no harm comes to him."
Meanwhile, in the quiet nursery, Zeph lay in his crib, finally free from the chaos of the morning. Though his body rested, his mind was far from idle. His connection to Lucian and ROSE had already been established, their shared consciousness swirling around him like a second skin.
"Yesterday's ceremony was... revealing," Lucian's voice echoed in Zeph's mind, its usual calmness tinged with a hint of curiosity.
Zeph mentally nodded, recalling the events of the Elemental Introduction and the subsequent interactions with the nobles. "Indeed. People showed more than they intended. Emotions, even when controlled, betray intent."
ROSE chimed in, her analytical tone sharp. "Elana, for instance. Her contempt was barely concealed. She's dangerous, but not in the way of physical violence—she's calculating. We can use that."
Zeph considered this, replaying the image of Elana's scowl and her superficial gift. "Yes. She despises me, and that hatred could be manipulated. We'll push her to make mistakes, to act rashly in front of others. Her ambition will be her downfall."
Lucian hummed in agreement. "But we must tread carefully. Pushing too hard, too soon could alert her. For now, we'll sow seeds of discord, small actions that irritate her but don't incriminate us."
ROSE continued, her tone thoughtful. "Elysia, on the other hand, is untouchable—for now. As empress, too many eyes are on her. But her kindness is genuine. Perhaps there's value in keeping her as an ally, or at least, someone who doesn't oppose us."
Zeph nodded again, agreeing with ROSE's assessment. "Elysia is too powerful, and her motives seem purely maternal. For now, we'll avoid her. But Eregon—he's young, immature. He can be shaped."
Lucian's voice took on a conspiratorial edge. "Precisely. Eregon is still learning the ways of the court, and his pride can be played upon. We can nudge him in the right direction, make him see things our way without him even realizing it."
Zeph smirked inwardly. "He'll be useful. But what of Anastasia? She's different from Eregon—sharp, cold, but there's something else there."
ROSE was silent for a moment, as if calculating her response. "She's careful, cautious. But she was curious about you, more so than she let on. She's not hostile, but she's watching. We'll need to be careful around her."
Zeph frowned, recalling her brief interaction at the ceremony. "I wonder why we didn't see her mother. Anastasia's behavior suggests she's learned a lot from someone."
"Perhaps her mother has her own plans," Lucian mused. "We should investigate further, but for now, Anastasia is not an immediate threat."
ROSE concluded, her tone firm. "The key is to maintain appearances. We must continue to act as an innocent child, never giving them reason to suspect we're anything more. Manipulation through innocence—that will be our greatest weapon."
Zeph's thoughts quieted as he absorbed their conclusions. His role was clear. He was to play the part of the innocent prince, all while pulling the strings in the shadows.