"I'm not accusing." The Fifth Concubine's eyes never left Elara's. "I'm *observing*. The Fourth Princess has been investigating palace conspiracies for weeks. She set a trap. Spread a rumor. Drew out an assassin. And then..." She tilted her head. "...something went differently than planned."
Elara's expression didn't change. "You're confessing to conspiracy to commit regicide."
"I'm confessing to trying and failing." The Fifth Concubine stood, moving with liquid grace. "I sent Lian to kill the Emperor before he could wake and reassert control. I wanted him dead because his return would have destroyed everything I'd built in his absence. Every careful alliance. Every protected position. All of it gone the moment he opened his eyes."
She walked to the balcony railing, looking out over the Harem gardens.
