Chapter 5: The Council and the Crown

The Valmont carriage rolled through the capital’s cobblestone streets, its dark crest gleaming beneath the morning sun. From the cushioned seat within, Lily watched as merchants bustled and banners fluttered in the wind. The city looked the same—alive, noisy, oblivious to the games that ruled it.

But she wasn’t here to admire the view.

The Spring Council was being held in the royal palace, a grand political event masked as a celebration of blooming trade, prosperity, and diplomacy. In truth, it was a battlefield. Deals were made over wine. Allegiances whispered behind silk fans. And reputations could be ruined by a single word in the wrong ear.

She remembered it well. The first time she had risen, a young girl with sharp wit and sharper ambition. It had been Elias who guided her through it then, feeding her secrets, helping her topple rivals. And when the court feared her, he stepped away—vanished—leaving her surrounded by enemies she had made in his name.

Not this time.

“Almost there,” Elias said beside her, reclining lazily in his seat. “You’re quiet today, Lily.”

“I have a lot to consider,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. “I intend to make a strong impression.”

He grinned. “You always do.”

The moment they arrived at the palace, Lily stepped out first. She wore soft lavender and silver—a deliberate contrast to the crimson and black she’d worn at her peak. Let them think her gentler. Unthreatening.

Let them underestimate her.

Inside the marble halls of the palace, nobles clustered like bees, dressed in blooming colors. She saw familiar faces—Lady Brielle, who once accused her of poisoning her fiancé. Lord Harven, whose betrayal had cost Lily her estate. They hadn’t done those things yet. Not yet.

Lily smiled politely at them all.

At the far end of the grand chamber, the royal family sat upon their dais. And in the center, golden-haired and serene as ever, sat Crown Prince Alaric.

Her breath caught.

In her last life, Alaric had never once looked her way. He’d favored Marianne. He’d watched from the sidelines as Lily fell.

But now… his eyes were fixed on her.

“Lady Valmont,” he said, voice carrying across the chamber. “A pleasure to see you again.”

Lily curtsied, perfectly poised. “The honor is mine, Your Highness.”

He nodded once. “I hear you’ve been studying independent magic theory. That’s rare for someone of noble blood.”

“I believe knowledge is power, Highness. And I’d like to use both wisely.”

A pause. Then—an approving smile.

Around her, murmurs began. A flicker of curiosity. A change in the tide.

She felt it.

Later, as the court dispersed for the day’s private sessions, Lucien found her in the garden, away from prying eyes.

“You impressed him,” he said softly. “The crown prince.”