Chapter 42 — The Traitor Within
The council immediately goes into lockdown after receiving Valeria's demand.
Nathan refuses to let Mia be taken to the border, but Mia insists that she doesn't want everyone making decisions for her. The King agrees that they need another strategy.
The council begins discussing how Valeria could know so much about Mia's movements and Nathan's personal life.
Then Mia suddenly remembers something.
A few days earlier, someone had asked her an unusually specific question about her private palace and daily schedule.
She tells Nathan.
His expression changes.
"Who asked you?"
Mia gives him the name.
The guards immediately search for that person.
But they're gone.
Their room has been completely cleared out.
No belongings.
No documents.
Nothing.
Except for one small black box hidden beneath the floor.
Inside, they discover several letters between the unknown person and Valeria.
But the biggest shock is still waiting.
One letter contains a detailed description of Mia and Nathan's palace—including a secret entrance that only a handful of people should know about.
Nathan looks at his father.
"Someone in this palace has betrayed us."
Before anyone can respond, a guard rushes into the room.
"Your Highness!"
Nathan turns.
"What?"
"The Princess's palace security has been breached again."
Mia's heart drops.
"But how?"
The guard looks terrified.
"We don't know."
He hands Nathan a small piece of paper.
Nathan opens it.
There are only six words:
You can't protect her forever.
Mia looks at Nathan.
And for the first time, she realizes something terrifying:
The enemy isn't waiting outside the kingdom anymore.
They're already inside.