Chapter 12: The Queen's Calculated Fury
I. The Triumphant Return
Evan returned to the Mecklace Capital not as the meek Third Prince, but as a genuine hero. The northern dispatches confirming his successful Oratorical Command and the generous financial aid (from the confiscated assets of the dead Minister Garrick) preceded him. The common people of the capital, already weary of the King's endless military campaigns, cheered the Prince who brought justice and peace.
He walked into the palace grounds with William—a tower of silent, formidable strength—at his side. William's presence was a palpable statement: Evan was now protected by earned loyalty, not just royal protocol.
The King and First Prince Alexander met him with rare, genuine approval. Evan had succeeded where a military response would have failed, consolidating the Kingdom just as the threat of Volkar loomed.
II. The Confrontation with the Mastermind
The true test was the audience with Queen Alessa. She met him in her private chambers, her expression a mask of cool analysis. There were no cheers here, only quiet, terrifying scrutiny.
Queen Alessa: "Prince Evan. You were sent North to quell the Uprising. You returned having executed a prominent Minister, usurped the King's tax apparatus, and acquired a private guard captain in the field. Explain your success."
Evan met her gaze with the composed, unyielding Stand Kaelen had taught him. He bypassed the emotional appeal and spoke with pure Rhetorical Force.
Evan: "Mother, I was sent to stabilize a province. I discovered it was under attack by treason and foreign sabotage. Minister Garrick's scheme, if allowed to continue, would have delivered the Northern Province directly to Volkar and led to civil war. I performed the necessary surgery. I did not betray the Crown's mission; I exceeded it by removing the threat."
His logic was unassailable. He presented the documents of Garrick's betrayal, forcing the Queen to acknowledge his Strategic Acumen.
Queen Alessa: "You eliminated a pawn I was using to test the field, Evan. You did not ask for permission."
Evan: "A Master of Influence must act decisively when a blade is pointed at the throat of the Kingdom. I secured the North. I brought peace. And I proved that the Third Prince will not be easily sacrificed."
The word "sacrificed" hung in the air, a direct challenge to her failed plot. The Queen recognized the depth of his knowledge—he knew the "Final Scythe" Strategy. She smiled, a chilling expression of respect for a successful rival.
Queen Alessa: "Very well. Your success stands. But do not think your newfound strength is limitless, Evan. The Palace is not the North. You have acquired an enemy far more resourceful than Garrick."
III. The Consequence of Theron's Trap
Evan's confrontation with the Queen ended in a stalemate—a victory for him. But before he could leave, the consequences of Theron's strategic trap landed with brutal finality.
A small, high-ranking detachment of the Royal Guard, led by a solemn captain, intercepted Evan with a sealed Royal Edict.
Royal Guard Captain: "Prince Evan, by order of the King, your private Master, the exile known as Kaelen, is hereby ordered to present himself to the Royal Palace for questioning regarding the death of Minister Garrick. His estate in the Foothills is sealed. He is charged with consorting with a member of the royal family for the purpose of sedition and murder."
The message was a masterful counter-strike from Theron. He couldn't prove Evan was the killer, but he could surgically remove Evan's most vital resource—his Master—under the pretense of "investigation." Kaelen's training was the source of Evan's terrifying new discipline, and Theron had eliminated it with a single, legal move.
Evan's mind raced. If Kaelen was brought in, he could be tortured, revealing the full extent of Evan's abilities, or worse, the location of the Sacrificial Magic texts.
IV. The Assassin's New Mission
Evan returned to his chambers, the weight of the crisis crushing the euphoria of his return. William stood guard, confused by the sudden attack on his Prince's Master.
Evan (Internal thought): Theron did not attack me; he attacked the foundation of my survival. Kaelen will not submit to questioning; he will vanish. I must find him before Theron's agents do, or the knowledge of my Magic will be exposed.
The new mission was immediate and personal: Evan had to secretly depart the capital again—risking the political capital he had just earned—to find and secure Kaelen.
Evan knew that to escape the Royal Edict and Theron's pervasive surveillance, he would need to recruit a third, distinct type of resource. He needed a master of deception and stealth who could operate in the shadows—a spy who could navigate the palace's intelligence web. He would need to find William's counterpoint.
The war for the throne was no longer fought with swords or words, but with a deadly race for intelligence.