Chapter 116: Chapter-116

Also completely symbolic.

“How thoughtful,” Elara said. Her voice was flat, empty of the warmth Eleana’s performance demanded. “I’ll treasure these. Especially the book. I enjoy learning from historical precedent.”

Eleana’s smile tightened. “I hope you find it illuminating. There’s a particularly interesting Chapter about marriages where one partner is significantly older than the other. The outcomes are… varied.”

“I’m sure they are.” Elara set the items aside. “Was there anything else, First Sister?”

“Just my sincere wishes for your happiness.” Eleana’s eyes were cold. “Marriage can be so difficult when the foundation is strategy rather than affection. I hope yours endures the challenges ahead.”

She swept away before Elara could respond.

Duke Romian leaned close. “That book is probably poisoned or enchanted. Don’t touch it without having it examined first.”

“Noted.”

More nobles approached. More gifts. More veiled threats disguised as congratulations.

Then Third Princess Sera arrived.

Unlike Eleana’s dramatic approach, Sera simply appeared beside their table as if she’d been there all along. She wore dark green robes that made her blend into shadows even in bright reception light.

“Fourth Sister. Duke Romian.” Her voice was quiet, controlled. “My congratulations.”

She placed a single item on the table: a small wooden box, simple and unadorned.

“A gift,” Sera said. “Something I think you’ll find useful.”

Elara picked up the box carefully. It was light, showed no signs of enchantment or poison. She opened it.

Inside was a folded piece of paper.

She unfolded it. Written in neat handwriting:

The First Consort’s sister, Lady Chen, was the one who administered the poison to Lin Mei forty-three years ago. She still lives in the eastern palace wing. Room 47. The evidence is in her private safe—a letter detailing payment from the noble families.

Use this information wisely. Or don’t use it at all. Your choice.

—M

Elara refolded the paper quickly and closed the box.

Sera watched with unreadable eyes. “Just a small token. Something to help you navigate palace politics.” She paused. “We should talk sometime, Fourth Sister. Privately. I think we have more in common than you realize.”

“Perhaps,” Elara said carefully.

“Enjoy your wedding day.” Sera faded back into the crowd, disappearing as silently as she’d arrived.

Duke Romian had seen the exchange. “What did she give you?”

“Information. About Lin Mei’s murderer.”

His eyes widened. “She knows about Lin Mei?”

“Apparently Third Sister knows more than we estimated.” Elara tucked the box into her jacket. “We’ll discuss it later. Privately.”

The reception continued. More nobles, more gifts, more political theater.

The younger princesses approached together—Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh. All looking nervous.

Fifth Princess—the one Elara had detained after the assassination attempt—spoke first. “Fourth Sister, I… I want to apologize. For what happened. I didn’t know about the assassin, truly. Eleana used me and I was too afraid to refuse.”

“Acknowledged,” Elara said. “You’re still under house arrest until I determine your level of complicity.”

“I understand. I just… I wanted you to know I’m not your enemy. None of us are.” She gestured to her younger sisters. “We’re just trying to survive. Like you.”

Sixth Princess nodded frantically. “We brought a gift. Together. To show we’re not opposing you.”

She presented a small box containing three jade bangles—one from each sister.

“These are protective charms,” Seventh Princess said quietly. “Real ones. Grandmother made them. They detect poison and harmful magic. We thought… we thought you might need them.”

Elara examined the bangles. They looked genuine. Her poison detection charm didn’t react to them.

“Why give these to me?” she asked.

“Because you’re the only one who might actually change things if you win,” Fifth Princess said. “Eleana would just maintain the current system. Sera would make it worse. But you… you treat people like they matter. Even beast knights. Even servants who betrayed you.” She swallowed. “If you become Empress, maybe the rest of us could stop being so afraid all the time.”

It was perhaps the most honest thing anyone had said to Elara since the wedding began.

“Thank you,” she said. And meant it. “I’ll use these. And we’ll talk about your house arrest situation after I’ve reviewed the evidence more thoroughly.”

Relief flooded Fifth Princess’s face. The three younger princesses bowed and retreated quickly.

Duke Romian watched them go. “You’re collecting allies faster than I expected.”

“Not allies. Opportunists who see potential benefit in supporting me.” Elara adjusted one of the jade bangles on her wrist. “But opportunists who support you are functionally the same as allies. The motivation doesn’t matter, only the behavior.”

“Spoken like a true strategist.”

The reception wound down. Nobles began departing. The Emperor had already left—making his point by attending but not staying long.

Finally, only close associates remained. Duke Romian’s military officers, Elara’s beast knights, a few trusted servants.

The fox knight approached. “Your Highness—Your Grace—the carriage is ready to take you to Duke Romian’s residence.”

Right. The wedding night.

Elara had been trying not to think about that.

Duke Romian noticed her slight hesitation. “We’ll discuss sleeping arrangements in private. But I suspect we’ll both prefer separate rooms.”

“Agreed.”

They rode to Duke Romian’s military estate in comfortable silence. The property was smaller than Elara’s palace but better fortified—high walls, trained guards, strategic positioning.

Inside, servants bowed and retreated quickly, giving them privacy.

Duke Romian led Elara to a sitting room. Poured two glasses of wine.

“So,” he said. “We’re married.”

“Yes.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t feel anything about it. But I recognize it as strategically beneficial and I’m satisfied with the outcome.”

He smiled. “Most men would be offended by their wife saying she feels nothing on their wedding day.”

“You’re not most men. That’s why this arrangement works.”

“True.” He sipped his wine. “I had my staff prepare two bedrooms. You can choose whichever you prefer. We’ll maintain the appearance of a normal marriage publicly, but privately, we function as agreed—separate lives, separate spaces, coordinated strategy.”

“Efficient.” Elara paused. “Though we should probably discuss what ’appearance of normal marriage’ entails. I don’t know what normal couples do.”

“Neither do I. I’ve been widowed for forty years.” Duke Romian considered. “I suppose we eat meals together occasionally. Attend social functions as a couple. Coordinate our schedules. Act cordially in public.”

“That seems manageable.”

“Good.” He refilled both glasses. “Now. About Sera’s gift. The information about Lin Mei’s murderer.”

Elara pulled out the box and showed him the note.

Duke Romian read it twice. His expression went cold. “Lady Chen. First Consort’s sister. She’s been in the palace this entire time?”

“Apparently.”

“And Sera just… gave you this information. For free.”

“Not for free. She wants something in return. We just don’t know what yet.” Elara took the note back. “The question is whether to act on this information now or wait.”

“What does your strategic assessment say?”

“Acting now—exposing Lady Chen and the First Consort’s family involvement—would damage Eleana’s political position significantly. But it would also trigger immediate retaliation. They’d have nothing to lose at that point.”

“And waiting?”

“Waiting lets me gather more evidence, build stronger alliances, prepare for the inevitable confrontation. But it also means Lin Mei’s murderer continues living comfortably while the Emperor knows she’s there and can’t touch her.”

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