𝐈'𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 (𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃)

Chapter 52: Schemes Coming to Fruition

The National Assembly had lasted two weeks. Now the marble floor was empty except for scattered scrolls and the echoes of departing envoys. Helios's banners were already being rolled up at the gates. Ydris's delegation had left at dawn.

Princess Belladonna remained.

I found her by the door, eyes scanning the crowd, until her eyes settled on the tall, silver-haired man she had been looking for since earlier.

Alistair, Crown Prince of Helios, approached us, cloak slung over one arm.

"You're staying," he said. It wasn't a question.

Bella nodded. "I promised the empress that I would help. Until it's done."

Alistair studied her. There was some understanding in the way they looked at each other. Then he sighed, not angry, just resigned. "I know I can't change your mind once you've made up your mind." He looked past her to me, who stood a few steps behind her. "Please take care of her, Your Majesty."

I nodded and replied, "I will."

Alistair turned his attention back to Bella and gave her a rare, small smile. "The Sunspire will be quiet without you. Don't be too long."

With that, he left. The doors shut behind the last envoy with a final, heavy boom.

Bella stared at the door for a bit longer before she turned back to me and said, "If you don't mind, I'm going to excuse myself for the day. I want to continue working on my research."

I frowned slightly. "Are you sure you won't take a day off? You haven't slept properly these past few days. I know I was the one who asked for help, but I don't want to pressure you."

"Neither have you," she shot back, but without heat. Then softer, "The research won't finish itself. If we want the effect I was looking for, I need the potion to be right. One mistake and I might doom you, and I would never forgive myself."

I sighed. I was too tired to argue. "Fine. Go. Be careful on your way back."

Bella held my gaze. The room was quiet except for the rain. Then she smiled, small and crooked.

"Unnie," she called.

"Hmm?"

"This is something I learned when I started acting," she whispered. "If it's a minor or supporting role, you learn to make the most of what you're given. I can make two lines seem like a hamlet."

I blinked. For a second I thought I might laugh, or argue, or both.

Bella leaned in a little more. "You were never just two lines, unnie. The story was wrong. The page was wrong. But you, you took those two lines and turned them into a whole empire shaking."

The tension in my shoulders eased, just a fraction. I exhaled, a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I finally looked at Bella, really looked, and the hard edge in my eyes softened.

"Hamlet, huh," I said quietly.

"I'll be going now." She squeezed my shoulder with a quick, easy grin. "Try not to plan the fall of a duke without me."

I huffed a laugh. "No promises."

Bella slipped out into the corridor. The palace was quiet at this hour, only the sound of rain and her footsteps echoing on stone.

***

It had been a month since the United National Assembly.

Rain tapped at the tall windows. Arsen and I worked side by side at the long table, maps and supply ledgers spread between us. Ink stained our fingers. The room smelled of wax and wet wool.