Chapter 5: A Dance of Lies

Fear is a slow poison.

It starts as a whisper in the back of the mind. A doubt. A hesitation. A question that gnaws at the edges of certainty.

And once it takes root?

It never truly leaves.

Tonight, Lord Gregor would learn that lesson well.

---

The Court of Aurelia

The royal court of Aurelia was a grand display of power wrapped in elegance.

The throne room stretched high, lined with tall stained-glass windows that painted the marble floor in shades of crimson and gold. Every inch of the chamber gleamed with wealth—chandeliers dripping with crystal, towering pillars carved with Aurelia’s royal sigil.

Yet despite its beauty, the room stank of something far less refined.

Deception. Greed. Fear.

I walked through the massive doors, my every movement slow, measured. The frail, useless prince of Everhart—that was the role I needed to play.

Yet as my gaze swept across the gathered nobles, my real focus landed on only one person.

Lord Gregor.

The Minister of War sat at the left side of the court, speaking with a group of lesser lords. His presence was commanding, powerful—as expected of a man who controlled Aurelia’s military.

But something was wrong.

Even from across the room, I could see it.

The tension in his shoulders. The way his fingers clenched slightly on the armrest of his chair. The flicker of unease in his eyes.

I smirked inwardly.

He was already cracking.

And I had only just begun.

---

The First Strike

I made my way toward him, stopping just short of the small circle of nobles. I needed an opening.

Luckily, one was given to me.

A plump, red-faced lord turned toward me, his voice mockingly cheerful.

"Ah, Prince Lucian! Finally, you’ve decided to grace us with your presence."

The others chuckled. Predictable fools.

I gave a weak smile. "Forgive me, my lords. I fear my body is not as strong as yours. The journey from Everhart was… exhausting."

More laughter. More dismissive looks. Good.

Lord Gregor, however, said nothing.

He only watched me, eyes sharp beneath his feigned indifference. He was waiting, unsure.

Time to give him something to be afraid of.

I turned slightly, acting as if I was adjusting my sleeves, and let my fingers brush against the back of Gregor’s chair.

He stiffened.

A subtle reaction—one no one else would notice. But I did.

He was already on edge.

Perfect.

Leaning in just enough that only he could hear, I murmured:

"You should be more careful, my lord. Assassins rarely get second chances."

It was a simple sentence.

No direct accusation. No evidence.

And yet, when I pulled back, Gregor’s face had paled ever so slightly.

He knew.

He knew that I knew.

And now, he was left wondering how much I had discovered.

---

Evelyn’s Test

"How interesting," a voice murmured behind me.

I turned to find Evelyn watching me, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement.

Ah. So she had been observing.

"Prince Lucian," she greeted smoothly. "You seem to be enjoying the court’s company tonight."

I offered a small bow. "Only as much as one of my standing can, Princess."

She tilted her head slightly. A test. She wanted to see how I would react.

So I gave her nothing.

"You seemed rather close to Lord Gregor just now," she continued, voice deceptively light. "Have you two already become allies?"

I smiled, knowing she was fishing for something. "Not at all. Just exchanging pleasantries."

A flicker of something crossed her face—not disappointment, but interest.

She was getting nowhere. And she knew it.

But Evelyn was nothing if not relentless.

"How fortunate," she mused, "that someone as… delicate as you has made it this far in court."

A sharper test. A subtle push to see if I would react emotionally.

I gave her a slow, unreadable smile. "Survival is an art, Princess. One I intend to master."

Her lips curled slightly. Not quite a smile, not quite a frown.

We both knew what this was.

A game. A dance of deception.

And neither of us intended to lose.

---

Gregor’s Paranoia Begins

Hours passed. The court carried on with meaningless discussions and empty flattery.

But my attention remained on Gregor.

He was distracted. Unsettled. Every now and then, his gaze flickered toward me, his fingers tapping against his wine cup.

He was thinking. Calculating.

Wondering if I had proof. Wondering if I would act.

He was making himself his own worst enemy.

By the time the court session ended, his paranoia had taken root.

And I would make sure it grew.

---

A Quiet Conversation

As the nobles began to disperse, Evelyn approached me once more.

She studied me for a long moment before speaking. "You don’t seem tired for someone with such a fragile body."

I chuckled. "Perhaps the court’s entertainment has invigorated me."

She hummed softly. "You’re not what I expected, Prince Lucian."

I raised a brow. "Disappointed?"

Her lips quirked. "Not yet."

Then, with one last glance—one filled with calculated curiosity—she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I watched her go, amusement flickering in my chest.

She was testing me. Watching me.

But she wasn’t the only one playing this game.

I had my own moves to make.

---

The First Checkmate

By the time Lord Gregor reached his chambers that night, I knew he would find exactly what I had left for him.

Nothing.

No threats. No messages. No proof that I had ever spoken to him at all.

And that was the genius of it.

I had given him just enough to fear me. Just enough to make him paranoid.

And now, every shadow would feel like a dagger at his back.

Every whisper would sound like a conspiracy.

Every glance I gave him would remind him of one undeniable truth—

He had already lost.

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