Of Plays & Ploys

2. Now: Hidden and Discovered

"Sister, Lord Heodan is calling for me." Leordak said. "I'd rather not leave you alone but it seems urgent." He added quickly, his eyes asking for permission.
"It's alright Leordak, I'll be fine." Ilsea replied with a too wide smile.
"It'll be quick, I promise." Stated the crown prince before walking away.

Pressuring me into attending ball after my recent social humiliation. Crown prince, how unthoughtful of you. Ilsea bitterly thought. The said crown prince briefly turned around, offering his sister a small apologetic smile. Ilsea quickly rewore her wide smile until he turned away again.

The scandal; however, wasn't so recent: Four months had already passed. But for people in her position, gossips regarding them were all too quiet and took too long to die down - if they ever do die down.

Bored, Ilsea's hazel eyes studied the scene. There were far too many people. Every bachelorette was wearing the most expensive dress she could muster; the ball was arranged by an archduke after all. Any man who thought of the best for his daughter, at least in terms of finance, wanted a chance at marrying his daughter to Archduke Diwynn's eldest son Gireoz. At the moment, he was the second best bachelor after Prince Leordak.

All the more reason for Ilsea to loathe the place. Gireoz was apart of her social circle which the princess wanted to forget existed. Just at the thought, her friends came into the scene. As soon as Ilsea locked eyes with one of them, Lady Alfheev, she looked away. But it was too late. Alfheev was already leading a lady towards her.

———

"Sjane, are you sure?" Leordak asked Lord Heodan.
"I'm positive. The opium trade has reached the capital."

Leordak had heard rumors, a part of him knew but the other refused to accept it. Somehow, the trade that was put an end to decades ago was reborn.

"You knew, didn't you?" Sjane asked. Leordak raised his head and shut his eyes.
"Yes... Yes I knew." He grimly answered.
"Who was your source?" Leordak asked.
"One of the farmers on our land was using it. His wife came to me for aid. I had him followed - he wound up buying it two blocks behind the soldiers' barracks."
"That close?!" Leordak almost shouted, finally looking his friend in the eye.

Sjane looked away. He walked to the window, and his stance shifted. Leordak was on edge more than ever.

"Is there something else?" He beckoned.
"I don't know how to tell you this..."
"Just be done with it!"
"You must know. I gathered my intel seven months ago. Because of the gravity of what I discovered, I spent the following months confirming the findings. I would not tell you such news without confirming it." Sjane announced.
"Hell, Sjane. What is it?"
"I had trusted men survey the dealer. We tracked down their meeting point, collaborators, customers and properties. Soon enough, we found that quite a few aristocrats consuming the substance."
"Shocker." Leordak stated sarcastically. "Is that all?"

There was a long pause. Still, Sjane wouldn't look his friend in the eye. Suddenly, the library felt too tight. Everything in it was too much - the scent of tinted wood, the stiflingly small windows, and most importantly the small candle lighting the place.

The third person, tucked in the cabinet, was the most stifled person of all.

"Aristocrats wouldn't buy the substance directly, of course. So I had men also spying on homes to identify the servants. One servant in particular, the most frequent buyer, couldn't be identified by my men. So I started personally tailing the dealers." Sjane talked too quickly, wanting to remove the weight on his chest.

"That servant was her Majesty the Queen's maid."
"Even our servants? Others who live in our palace?"

Sjane winced. Yes. People in your palace.