Blades of Ashes - 7. Chapter 7

Arc 2: The Case of the Belladonna Poisoned Palace Maid

Ch 7

Raithion watched the Sura ship disappear on the horizon, and a soft sigh escaped. He wished for the millionth time that he and Azula had a better ending. There was a harrowing rawness to their separation that left him filled with anger. He wanted to return to the capital city and defy his father and the Basileus. He would clear the Sura Clan and hope to see Azula’s cheerful smile again.
But, he could not do that, not with his youngest sister marrying Basileus Dio.
Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Your Highness.”
The title grated at his last nerve. It was new and filled with the consequences of betraying Azula. He hated it.
“Report,” Raithion growled at his lieutenant.
“Your orders have been carried out,” the lieutenant said. “The magistrate’s compound is under control, and the policing force has arrived from the Draeya Estate. Everyone knows how to assist the Sura Clan members. They will use the port city’s ships to make drop-offs.”
“Good work,” Raithion said, giving the horizon one last glance before he turned away and walked to a waiting black horse.
“Where to, Your Highness?”
Raithion fought a grimace at the title as he mounted his horse.
“Draeya Estate first,” Raithion said. “Then we shall head to the capital city, Genad, to take up the commandery.”
“I’ll relay your orders,” the lieutenant said as he hurried away to mobilize the troop following Raithion.

***

Soriel Maenaer watched one of the palace attendants arrange her clothes on a rack mounted in what they called her dressing room. The room was large enough to fit the chambers she used at the Maenaer Estate in Draeya County.
The Basileus’s palace left her breathless with the sheer size of everything. Basileus Dio’s ancestors had spared no expense as they built up the palace to mark their reign and the magnitude of their power.
She still could not believe she would marry into the Adertha family and become a Basilinna. Not because she feared managing the palace. No. Her disbelief was tied to her soon-to-be-husband. She could not believe he had looked at her and wanted to make her his wife.
With a soft sigh, Soriel arranged the skirts of her deep blue dress around her and focused on the three palace attendants working in her so-called dressing room. The three women unpacking her chests were from her family’s manor.
Her father had insisted she bring her people into the palace. After all, the palace had a more powerful mistress hidden in the deepest halls. She needed all the help to withstand a battle with her husband’s mother, the Dowager Basilinna.
Soriel shuddered at the thought of the dowager and frowned when one of the ladies let out a startled scream. She was cleaning out a closet in the corner of the dressing room and had jumped back with fright. Soriel’s frown deepened when the lady pressed a hand over her mouth and pointed at the open closet.
Thinking it was a pest terrorizing her people in this old place, Soriel got up to see what would make her attendants so weak-willed. She stopped short when she moved closer and could see into the open closet. She could not help the gasp that escaped her.
Folded into the bottom of the closet was a young woman dressed in the familiar pale-yellow dresses worn by the palace attendants working beyond her suite. She was not alive. Her skin was too pale and lacking the healthy pink glow of vitality.
Soriel took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and glanced at her attendant.
“Vaeri, find my father. Do not let anyone else into my rooms before he shows up,” Soriel said. “Trust no one. Do you understand?”
“Yes, My Lady,” Vaeri said and hurried out of the dressing room to find Thanir Maenaer.
Soriel stared at the dead girl in her closet.
Only one person could do this to her in this vast palace.
Great move, Dowager Basilinna, Soriel scoffed. Let’s wait for my turn.

****

Raithion returned to Draeya County in a complicated mood, his affection for the Maenaer Estate both a comfort and a reminder of his responsibilities. The family manor, Maenaer, had been built up over generations—a fortress and a sanctuary embodying the Maenaer lineage and its enduring military legacy. Tall, ancient walls, fortified and vigilant, encircled the estate, a testament to the family’s unyielding strength. A dedicated troop maintained the fortifications year-round, preserving the estate’s resilience across countless generations.
The guards at the gates greeted him with broad smiles and enthusiastic waves. Raithion returned the greetings with a wave of his right hand, riding fast along the road heading to the main house.
The sight of expanded fields along the way brought Raithion quiet satisfaction.
The most considerable expense for any army was food, so he was always glad for the thriving fields. Acres of land stretched out in orderly rows, bearing rice and seasonal vegetables under the care of soldiers’ families who had made the estate their home. The estate always had rice and various vegetables, depending on the season. What they could not produce, they traded with counties nearby.
Raithion had yet to face disappointment with the management of food supplies thanks to the efficiency of the estate’s staff. They encouraged the soldiers’ families living within the estate to farm ducks for the eggs and the meat. Through trade and production, the estate maintained a steady, well-managed supply. It was an invaluable duty that every Maenaer cultivated carefully.
As Raithion rode up to the main entrance of his family’s manor, he took in the sight that never failed to lighten his heart.
Deep red bougainvillea cascaded over the four towering pillars at the entrance of the three-story estate, the blooms vivid against the smooth stone. Raithion’s ancestors added these touches over centuries, the graceful arches and commanding columns shaping Maenaer’s timeless elegance. Expansive terraces and balcony gardens adorned the upper floors, transforming the manor into a sanctuary of beauty and strength—a legacy worth protecting.
Dismounting his horse, he lingered a moment, gaze fixed on the crimson flowers. For a fleeting second, he wondered what Azula would think of this home, layered with history and tradition.
Raithion crossed the threshold with steady steps and entered the atrium, one of his favorite places in the manor.
A high, glass-covered ceiling arched above, pouring warm afternoon sunlight over every corner and adding to the airy, open feel of the space. The glass itself, a more recent addition to the ancient home, provided an unobstructed view of the sky—a luxury within a stronghold built for defense.
Marble floors, crafted by Storait artisans, glowed under the sunlight, each veined stone shining as a mark of refinement amid the manor’s unyielding structure. Raithion found comfort in the openness, a peace he rarely afforded himself, and the vantage this room provided.
Through the atrium’s high, expansive windows, he could see the land dotted with sentries and trees swaying in the breeze across the estate, over its fields and fortified walls. The view was both beautiful and strategic. From this space, he could watch for signs of approaching visitors or potential threats.
Long, white curtains hung along parts of the great hall beyond, adding privacy without diminishing the room’s airy openness. His mother had decorated parts of the atrium with her careful touch, tucking leafy plants in wide clay pots into corners and scattering plush cushions across the long couches. It was a space of rare warmth and subtle splendor that welcomed all who entered.
His second favorite place in the estate was the residence his father helped him build in preparation for his having a family in the future. Through the years, he had filled the residence with comfort, but now…the thought of Gesi Ajai’s daughter calling it her home made him sick.
“Lord Raith.”
Raithion dragged his thoughts away from Gesi Ajai and turned to see the butler who managed his residence approaching him with fast steps.
Raithion removed his dark coat and nodded at the older man, who was five years older than him.
“Oh, I think I should change my address to Your Highness.”
“Daron, I beg you, please keep calling me Raith. Don’t bring the capital’s complications to this place,” Raithion said, shaking his head.
Daron chuckled and took the black coat from Raithion.
“As you wish, Lord Raith.”
Raithion was glad for Daron’s uncomplicated acceptance. He walked along a wide corridor from the atrium to the north of the manor. His residence was separated from the main house with an enclosed walkway. His father had thought it would be an excellent idea for him to have a separate household from the main house.
‘Managing your affairs will give you character,’ Thanir had said with a pleased smile as he handed Raithion the key to the separate residence.
Daron opened the heavy double doors with a flourish when they reached them.
The residence was decorated with deep wood colors. The floors were polished wood tiles, and the metalwork on the furniture was intricate. The ceramics on the shelves were beautiful and exciting. They were gifts from his sisters, Noriel and Soriel. His mother had hung long curtains in the living area to divide the spaces. Raithion liked to sit by the tall windows in the living room when he could find time.
Raithion removed his dark tunic and draped it over an armchair as he walked through the living area, down a long corridor to the bathing hall at the back of the residence.
The sunken bath that took up a room was filled with warm water. Raithion assumed Daron had heated it when the first scouts reached the manor.
He stripped fast and stepped into the pool, eager to cleanse the worst of the dust. He swam to the center of the deep pool and sank deep until his hair was soaked. He stayed underwater for three minutes before he came up with a loud sigh, sweeping his fingers through his dark hair to push it out of his face. Satisfied with the momentary relief, Raithion moved to the pool’s edge and sat on the concealed bench in the water.
Daron brought him a box filled with soap, a comb, and a loofah to scrub his skin.
“Who is home?” Raithion asked as he settled in for a bath.
“There is only you at home. Your parents pulled the manor’s core staff to Genad City. Noriel and her husband stopped by days ago to tell us about Soriel’s marriage to Basileus Dio and your impending nuptials. Noriel ordered to close the manor and move everyone to the capital.”
“Hm,” Raithion sighed at the mention of his upcoming marriage. “My father claims to have found a mistress for this residence.”
“Will she agree to move away from the capital?” Daron asked as he helped Raithion wash his back.
“I don’t want her to take ownership of this residence,” Raithion said, shaking his head. “This place, I will close it up first before I allow Gesi Ajai’s daughter to enter it.”
“But—”
“This marriage is temporary,” Raithion insisted when Daron started to speak up. “I will not have her here.”
“If not her, then who?” Daro asked, taking the comb and tackling Raithion’s long, dark hair. Raithion sat back and closed his eyes, allowing Daron to help him with the tangles in his hair. It had been a long journey in the woods to protect Azula’s clan. He had not stopped to clean up.
His memory filled with Azula. He doubted he would ever forget the sight of Azula laughing as he placed all his chess pieces in the wrong spaces.
Raithion smiled at the memory and again wondered what Azula would think of his residence. He would love to watch Azula placing all the chess pieces on his stone table by the bedroom terrace in the wrong places.
“Maybe there will be someone,” Raithion said, his tone filled with longing. “I’ll leave it to the fates.”
“Then, where will you live with your new bride?” Daron asked, confusion evident in his voice.
“As my father says, I’ve come to close this place for a time. Our family will live in the capital until Soriel finds stability. It may take a few years. Pack up my clothes,” Raithion said as Daron combed his hair. “Leave old man Cassius here with ten attendants to look after the manor and ensure the bougainvillea grows. Otherwise, mother will be unhappy.”
“Are we really going to the capital, too?” Daron asked.
“You, Aryn, and her sister, Sira, plus your son, Sharian, are the only people I can trust to run my house once my so-called bride moves in,” Raithion said with a shudder. “My new father-in-law is a snake in disguise, seeking power while offering gifts. Daron, my new household will be like living in a warzone. We cannot leave anything to chance. Even the food we eat needs attention. It will be a hardship.”
“I understand,” Daron said, putting away the comb when he finished working on Raithion’s hair. He patted Raithion’s left shoulder, and Raithion moved away from the bench. He swam deeper into the water and rinsed his hair in the deep waters.
Raithion swam to the steps and exited the sunken bath, feeling refreshed.
Daron handed him a large bath towel, which he tied around his waist.
“I’ll sleep for four hours,” Raithion said, leaving the bathing hall and walking barefoot to his bedchamber. “Get everyone ready. We’ll travel to the capital through the night. I need to take over the Imperial Commandery tomorrow.”
“I’ll get it done, Lord Raith. Rest easy,” Daro said and left, closing the door quietly as Raithion sat on the edge of his bed.
Raithion started to pull back the sheets but paused when he saw the blades Azula gifted him on the side table. Sharian must have brought them in while he was bathing. He reached for the scabbard and unsheathed the blades.
Raithion traced the carvings on the handles, his memory filling with the sight of Azula carrying his sister on board their ship. The memory of the scream Azula let out when his sister was shot with the arrow had Raithion closing his eyes for a moment. He shook his head and wished again that things were different between them.
Suddenly, Azula’s teasing voice filled his head.
“I heard the Draeya General was having a meal on the balcony. I heard Draeya General has a horn growing on his forehead, making him fierce. I came out to have a good look.”
Raithion smiled and shook his head.
“You took a good look at the ship and turned away,” Raithion murmured as he sheathed his blades and returned them to the bedside table. “You must be very angry with me. I hope your anger cools before we meet again, Azula Doriel, Sura Prince.”
Raithion sighed and stretched out on his bed. He would indulge in the peace and quiet for a few hours before returning to the capital’s chaos.

****

The Basileus’s engagement sent shockwaves through the capital. Most people who attended Noriel Maenaer’s wedding were unsurprised that the Basileus had chosen the Maenaer family. In fact, their questions as to why the Maenaer family was suddenly so favored seemed answered by the engagement.
Dio had a rare moment of excitement as he watched his court scramble to find favor with his new father-in-law. Even the Prime Minister had extended an invitation.
The Imperial Diet decided to title Soriel a princess inside the palace as she prepared for the wedding. Her family was helping move Soriel into the Basilinna’s residence, Rose Hall. The progress was impressive. The Maenaer family had enough resources to renovate Rose Hall and add in attendants loyal to Soriel.
“Soriel will not be lonely at Rose Hall,” Dio noted. “I’m more worried that my chambers will become lonelier as her people take on the palace’s management.”
“She’s a kind girl. If you find love with her, you won’t have to worry. I have news.”
“What news?” Dio asked.
“A palace maid was found murdered in Princess Soriel’s chambers,” Theod said, watching Dio pace the length of his desk. “Her Highness is smart. She utilized her father’s soldiers to report the matter, claiming a cleaning maid found the dead attendant. Still, the inner palace is in turmoil. Your mother insists the dead palace maid is a close confidant and wants answers.”
Dio scoffed at his mother’s machinations.
Olneth Adertha could scheme the devil’s fire out of his pit.
Shaking his head, Dio clasped his hands behind his back, deep in thought.
Soriel was indeed quite clever. Pulling Thanir Maenaer into the case allowed Raithion to investigate the matter, but the Commandery Prince was not back yet.
“Any news on Raithion?” Dio asked.
“He is halfway to the capital,” Theod said. “Our spy reports he stopped at his family home in Draeya County. He stayed a few hours, then closed the place and started a convoy to the capital.”
“That’s good news for the future of my armies, bad news for the current case,” Dio said. “Olneth will ask the imperial diet for an investigation. She wants to cast doubt on Soriel as a candidate for Basilinna. Soriel has to come out of this clean to retain her status as the Basilinna.”
“What do we do?” Theod asked, his frown deepening.
Dio closed his eyes and stopped pacing. He was so close to placing his pieces in the right spots. He could not lose the game now.
Soriel needed to win so that he could gain the support of both Thanir and Raithion Maenaer. If something happened to Soriel, Raithion would not forgive Dio. Raithion might even become an enemy.
Gesi Ajai was already on his way to becoming the Minister of Finance. The moment Gesi Ajai gained a foothold in parliament, who knew what plan he would start next.
Dio could not afford a rebellious Raithion Maenaer.
“The imperial diet has seven members,” Theod said. “Four on your side, while three follow the Dowager Basilinna’s instructions. Perhaps Princess Soriel will gain their support—”
“No,” Dio shook his head. “She cannot face an inquiry from the Imperial Diet over the death of a palace attendant. It will cast doubt on her with the parliament. They will ask how a palace attendant died just as Soriel entered it. We need to settle this before my mother seeks an inquiry.”
“Then—”
“We need to find my aunt, Princess Sanan,” Dio said, snapping his fingers. He started for the door and turned to look at Theod when his guard remained frozen. “Come on, Theod. There is no time to lose.”

****

Soriel wished her brother was around to give her strength, but Raithion had disappeared two days ago. No one in the family could find him. Not even her father, who tracked Raithion like his shadow.
“Lord Haedor, are you sure he is not sleeping off a drunken night?” Soriel asked her brother’s most trusted legion officers. “You can tell me. I won’t be angry.”
“I apologize, Your Highness,” Haedor said, his hands clasped behind his back, standing tall as he held her gaze. “His Highness is completing an assignment.”
“How can the Draeya Commandery Prince be missing for two days without news of his whereabouts?” Soriel demanded, shaking her head. “Lord Haedor, I really need his help—”
“Do you need his help to forge evidence after murdering a palace maid?” Dowager Basilinna’s voice filled the room, and Soriel gasped as she stood from her chair.
The door to her living room opened, and the Dowager Basilinna walked in, followed by three of her attendants and an unfamiliar older woman who looked of rank.
Soriel swallowed down her fear and curtsied gracefully as her training lessons demanded.
“Welcome, Your Majesty,” she said in greeting. “Soriel wishes you good health.”
Olneth ignored her greeting and moved to sit on the chair Soriel had vacated, her attendants moving to stand behind the chair.
Soriel took three steps away from the armchair. The lady of rank chose to sit on the long couch next to Olneth’s armchair. Soriel stood in the middle of her sitting room, facing two censuring gazes.
“Greet your elders,” Olneth said, her forbidding tone grudging as she waved to the woman on the long couch. “Princess Sanan is Basileus Dio’s paternal aunt. She lives with the grand dowager Basilinna, Basileus Dio’s grandmother.”
Soriel took in a deep breath to calm her rioting nerves. She turned to face the new face and executed an elegant curtsey.
“Soriel greets Princess Aunt. I apologize for not greeting you sooner.”
“You wouldn’t have known where to find me,” Princess Sanan said, her tone filled with amusement. “Two days in the palace, you’ve already had such a dangerous accident. Child, you need to grow stronger.”
Soriel lowered her head and nodded, acknowledging the scolding.
Princess Sanan’s words were too true.
“Speak, why are you harassing the legion officer?” Olneth asked as she turned her attention to Haedor.
“He is a legion officer working under my father,” Soriel said. “I asked him to find my brother because I miss him. I wanted to request that my brother toast my wedding.”
“Hm,” Olneth frowned. “There are rumors that Draeya Commandery Prince has disappeared from the capital. Are you sure he is not out there causing trouble?”
“He is now responsible for growing the Basileus’s armies,” Princess Sanan said, her tone filled with authority. “Why would a new princess know what Draeya Commandery Prince is doing for the Basileus?”
Olneth frowned, meeting Sanan’s gaze for a moment before she shrugged.
“Your big brother is no longer a small official you can demand to see as you wish,” Olneth told Soriel. “He has no time to cater to your whims. He certainly won’t be around to help you resolve this case in your favor.”
“What case?” Princess Sanan asked. “A Palace Maid was found dead in the new Princess’s chambers. How does such a case involve Princess Soriel other than to frighten her? She must be scared by the skeletons in the closets as she tries to move in.”
“Your Imperial Highness,” Olneth started to protest.
“Dowager Basilinna must be concerned about the skeletons in Rose Hall’s closets, too,” Princess Sanan continued. “My mother worries she left ghosts lurking in this residence when she left it to you. She has decided to manage the investigation.”
“What?” Olneth asked, her eyes widening in shock. “Grand Dowager—”
“My mother has every reason to involve herself in her grandson’s affairs,” Princess Sanan said. “Princess Soriel is going to be the next Basilinna. We invited her into the palace to learn etiquette and prepare for the wedding. She encountered a frightening scene of a corpse in her closet. Why wouldn’t the Grand Dowager Basilinna involve herself? At the very least, we should clean the closets to ensure this doesn’t happen again. What part do you protest, Dowager Basilinna?”
Soriel bit her bottom lip as she realized someone had sent her a helper in the form of a Princess Aunt. She kept her gaze down, staring at the red carpet covering the tiled floor.
“No part,” Olneth said after a moment of silence. “Princess Sanan is right. The closets should be scrubbed clean. No one wants the new Basilinna to think we are savages in the palace.”
“I’m glad we all agree,” Princess Sanan said, her cheerful tone making Soriel glance up. She caught a brilliant smile on the older woman’s face. “Lord Haedor, am I to understand that you work for the Draeya Commandery Prince?”
“Your Imperial Highness, my name is Haedor Ayas, a newly promoted general working under Draeya Commandery Prince.”
“Lord General Haedor,” Princess Sanan said with a nod. “A young woman has lost her life within our palace. The Draeya Commandery Prince’s station is tasked with the safety of our palace. Before we settle matters of clean closets, can I ask you to relay my orders to the Commandery Prince?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness,” Haedor said.
“Princess Soriel, find me a paper and pen,” Princess Sanan said, reaching into the pockets of her cream dress and pulling out a large gold ring with the Adertha crest, a majestic gold griffin.
Soriel hurried to her writing desk in the corner and returned with a lap desk, paper, and an ordinary ink pen she used for her daily writing. Thankfully, she had written notes to her big sister Noriel this morning, so the pen was filled with ink.
Princess Sanan wrote fast and used the red inkpad on the corner of the writing desk to ink the crest on her ring before pressing it to the finished letter.
“This is an order from the Grand Dowager Basilinna’s office,” Princess Sanan said. “My mother tasks the Commandery Prince to investigate the death of the girl in the closet. He must find out the truth about the palace attendant’s death and how she came to be found in Princess Soriel’s chambers. Is that clear, Lord General Haedor?”
Haedor moved closer and took the order with both hands, nodding his head with utmost respect before he stepped back.
“You may go,” Princess Sanan said to him.
Haedor met Soriel’s gaze for a minute before he left her living room.
Soriel took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Dowager Basilinna, the order I gave to Lord General, asks the Commandery Prince to report his findings to parliament and Basileus Dio. I hope this meets your requirements for answers?”
Olneth stared at Princess Sanan for a full minute before she stood in a graceful sweep. The soft fabric of her rich peach dress whispered with the movement. Her hair, long gone gray, was pinned back from her face with expensive jewels. She had a beautiful face, but the beauty looked wicked when Olneth gave Soriel a hateful look before she turned to Princess Sanan.
“I have no place to protest when Princess Sanan orders an inquiry and involves the parliament,” Olneth said. “I hope to meet the culprit soon.”
Olneth walked out of Soriel’s living room, followed by her three attendants. Their pace was so fast that it felt like they were going on a running marathon. The attendants slammed the living room door closed.
Soriel breathed out in relief and stiffened when she heard a soft chuckle. She turned to find Princess Sanan sitting on her long couch, biting her bottom lip.
“You need to build up your expressions,” Princess Sanan said, her tone amused. “Otherwise, Olneth will eat you alive.”
“She’s frightening,” Soriel said with a sigh.
“She can be,” Sanan said, smiling. “Now, come over here and sit with me. I need to hear everything about your encounter with the unalived palace maid in your closet.”
Soriel stared at Basileus Dio’s aunt for a minute, then because she seemed pretty friendly, she hurried to sit next to her, hoping to make a friend in this place.

****

Raithion returned to the capital with a massive convoy. He led them to the Maenaer mansion with confidence. The family had long moved out of the private residence they rented before. Everyone in the capital now knew who they were and was interested in their comings and goings. He found a crowd of carriages waiting outside the gates of the manor.
“Lord Raith,” Darion said, exiting his carriage to take charge of the chaos at the entrance. “The carriages belong to ministers in court. They want to meet your father.”
“Where is my father?” Raithion asked, still on his horse, outside the gates.
“He is in the palace,” Darion said.
“Direct one of the lieutenants to make a list of the visitors,” Raithion said. “Tell them my father will reach out to them when he has time.”
Darion nodded to Sharian, who hurried away to complete the task.
“Who else?” Raithion asked.
“There is a carriage from Gesi Ajai’s residence,” Darion said. “And another from the palace.”
“Hm,” Raithion frowned and dismounted his horse. He held on to the reins, still debating whether to head straight to the army commandery before settling in at home. “Where are these two carriages?”
Darion pointed to his left, where two carriages waited by the manor’s wall. Their presence was relatively discrete, unlike the loud display from the court’s ministers.
Raithion approached the carriages and stopped a few feet away.
“What is your message?” Darion called out to the first carriage.
When he spoke, a delicate hand pulled open the curtain of the first carriage, and Naeri Ajai peeped out with a small smile.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” she said in greeting. “I wanted to bring you a care package and welcome you back to the capital.”
Raithion fought a frown. He had no words for Naeri. Looking at her reminded him of the terrible plot her father had hatched against an innocent clan. Thinking about the Sura Clan put him in a bad mood.
“Your Highness,” A familiar voice said, and Raithion’s attention was drawn to the carriage waiting behind Naeri.
“Galor?” Raithion frowned, recognizing the lieutenant whose job was to guard Soriel. “Why are you here and not with Soriel?”
“I have a note for you,” Galor said as Darion hurried to his carriage window. Galor handed Daron a note and bowed his head. “I’ll head back now. See you around.”
Daron gave the note to Raithion.
Raithion ignored Naeri’s expectant expression and read his little sister’s note.
‘Palace maid murdered in my residence. Worried it was a plot to discredit our family. Please help.’ – Little Bird.
Raithion reread the note, worry taking over at the fact that his little sister had faced a threat in the palace. He moved to mount his horse without a second thought.
“Lord Raith,” Daron said.
“Manage everything here, Daron,” Raithion said. “I need to find a little bird.”
“I will,” Daron promised.
Raithion turned his horse toward the palace and rode fast, eager to find Soriel.

****

Naeri watched Raithion Maenaer ride away without glancing at her, and fear enveloped her heart. She had known it was madness to come here to find him, but for him to ignore her so thoroughly…it was like she didn’t exist in his world.
And what a vibrant world it was, Naeri thought, watching the people exiting carriages and carrying packages and plants into the Maenaer manor. The mood was jovial and energetic, and everyone was friendly. It was nothing like her family’s mood; everyone tiptoed according to Gesi Ajai’s whims and mood.
“My lady,” the man Raithion had called Daron said.
“Yes,” Naeri said.
“I’m sorry we cannot receive you today,” Daron said. “The residence is in transition after travel. Perhaps we can receive you another day.”
“Of course,” Naeri said. “Let me give you the care package for His Highness.”
Daron gave her a polite smile. He even took the package her maid handed him with politeness. However, as Naeri’s carriage drove away, she looked out the window in time to see Daron give her package to a legion officer and not the woman she had noted managing Raithion’s items. Naeri frowned but did not think much of it.
After all, she would soon be responsible for Raithion’s personal matters. Maybe he had a legion officer serving in his residence. In time, she would perhaps get Raithion to rush to her side the way he had gone to meet his little sister in the palace.

****

Raithion entered the palace but did not go to find Soriel first. He went to the commandery offices and found Haedor having a meeting with the team of legion inspectors responsible for investigating the case in the palace.
“Your Highness,” Haedor said in greeting. The legion inspectors all saluted Raithion when he entered the large office.
“At ease,” Raithion said and moved to take the chair behind the desk. “Give me an update.”
“Two days ago, Princess Soriel found a dead palace maid in her closet,” Haedor said. “She was fast in her thinking. She sealed her room and called Lord Maenaer. It allowed us to take over the scene and the body.”
“What have you found?” Raithion asked, his fists clenched into fists at the thought of the shock Soriel had faced.
“The palace maid died of poisoning,” Haedor said. “Lieutenant Volker followed up with the coroner at the palace morgue. The poison used was belladonna.”
“Belladonna is a forbidden herb within the palace walls,” Raithion said.
“Yes,” Haedor agreed. “Someone must have smuggled it in.”
Raithion shook his head and sat back, staring at his legion officers.
“Where was the palace maid assigned to work?” Raithion asked.
“She is not on any roster,” Volker said. “We have combed through the month’s list ledgers and cannot find her usual post.”
“Every attendant in the palace has a task to complete. Otherwise, they are not meant to be in the palace,” Raithion said, holding Volker’s gaze. “It is not that she is not on the list ledger. It is that the list she is on is missing. Find the missing ledger.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Volker said, tapping his partner on the shoulder. They left the office to complete the task.
“What else?” Raithion asked.
“The girl’s family has scattered,” Haedor said. “I have two legion officers on the task, but we may need more.”
“The poison could have originated from their residence,” Raithion said. “Add in four more.”
Haedor pointed to four legion officers who got up and left after a swift salute.
“Where is Kailu?” Raithion asked.
“He is working on the inside of the palace,” Haedor said. “I had him join Princess Soriel’s guard. Your father gave him a token from Basileus Dio that allows him to move around the palace without restriction. He will reach out if he discovers something new.”
Raithion nodded, satisfied that most of the work was half done.
“I want to see this girl,” Raithion said, standing up. “Then I’ll visit Soriel.”
“I’ll take you to the morgue,” Haedor said, leaving the commandery office. “Did you succeed?”
“Yes,” Raithion said as they walked along the vast corridors of the palace, headed to the back buildings where the morgue was located. “It wasn’t easy, but he is safe.”
“For now,” Haedor said.
“Yes,” Raithion nodded. “I’ve set safeguards to help protect him in case of trouble.”
“What happened to him was a tragedy,” Haedor said.
“No, it was a betrayal orchestrated by my father,” Raithion said, self-loathing filling his heart. “I was unable to do anything for him. I owe him for a broken promise.”
Haedor sighed and did not comment.
They stepped outside and found themselves in the back gardens of the palace. The palace morgue was built in the farthest corner of the vast imperial property. They needed horses to get there. Haedor’s assistant met them with a pair of horses. The ride to the morgue was fast.
The head coroner received them with a solemn face. He saluted Raithion, acknowledging his new status in the palace.
“Report your findings to His Highness,” Haedor said when they stood before the dead girl’s corpse. She was wrapped in a white shroud and lying on a slab of ice. Her body was clean and ready for burial as soon as Raithion ended the investigation.
“We have meticulously documented everything we found on her. I’ll state the obvious first,” the head coroner said. “She died of poisoning. The contents of her stomach include a peach blossom cake. Our poison tests show that this peach blossom cake is the source of the poison.”
“How long have you worked in the palace?” Raithion asked the coroner. He looked older, already in his fifties.
“Fifteen years,” the head coroner answered.
“Do you recognize her?” Raithion asked.
“No,” the head coroner said. “But that is not unusual. My place of work is not auspicious. I run into palace maids who work in the outer wings of the palace or in the kitchen where we get our meals.”
“So, would you say she is someone who works in the inner palace?” Haedor asked.
“Yes,” the head coroner said, touching her folded uniform. “The fabric of this uniform is the answer. Expensive silk and embroidery accents are found on palace maids working in the inner palace.”
“She is not on any roster,” Haedor said.
“Then, she works for someone with enough authority to make her existence disappear,” Raithion guessed.
“Don’t burden me with such information, I like my head on my shoulders,” the coroner said. “Let me finish my report.”
Raithion hid a smile at the head coroner’s will to survive. He spent most of his morning hours listening to updates from the head coroner, who documented all the palace maid’s injuries before and after death.

***

Raithion visited Soriel in the afternoon. He needed to change and dress in a formal uniform to enter the inner palace and meet with the soon-to-be Basilinna. The process allowed him to clear his thoughts. The case facing them was simple yet complex.
On the surface, a girl was poisoned with belladonna, and her body was hidden in Soriel’s chambers. The palace guard commandery should solve the crime and bring the culprit to face justice.
Hidden, in this case, was the girl’s true identity. Her clothes belonged to the inner palace, which meant she was under the control of the Dowager Basilinna Olneth, Dio’s mother. He doubted Dio’s grandmother and aunt would want to harm Dio’s bride. Still, perhaps someone in their households worked for Olneth.
Why Olneth? Raithion frowned.
His father had evidence that the Dowager Basilinna wanted the power to control the throne. Which meant taking control of the newest Basilinna. She had tried to get Gesi Ajai’s daughter in place, but since that failed, she wanted a way to control Soriel by placing Soriel in the middle of a murder case.
Raithion smirked. Let’s see you try to control a Maenaer.
An attendant led Raithion to Rose Hall, Soriel’s residence when he was ready. He was not surprised to find Dio waiting with Soriel when he arrived.
Soriel looked beautiful in a long gold dress, the skirts shimmering in the sunlight. Her hair was brushed to perfection and restrained by golden leaves in the form of a crown. She looked lovely in her royal clothes. She sat in an armchair, her hands resting on her lap.
Raithion noted how hard she had to work at not running to hug him. She visibly clenched her hands on her lap and smiled at him.
“Your Highness,” She said with a demure tone, her gaze shifting to Dio before she smiled at Raithion. “You have returned.”
“Yes, and I received your message,” Raithion said. “Are you alright?”
“Of course she’s alright,” Dio said, getting up from the couch to stand next to Soriel. “Why wouldn’t she be?”
Raithion held his sister’s gaze, ignoring Dio’s comment.
Soriel’s brown eyes were filled with mischief. Her lips twitched, fighting a smile as she held his gaze and he sighed in relief. At least they had not broken his sister’s spirit. It would be a tragedy if Soriel turned into an uppity highborn lady.
“How long are you going to keep pretending?” Raithion asked.
Soriel scowled at him, then to Dio’s surprise, she bolted out of the chair and raced to hug Raithion. Jumping on him with her usual energy, she kissed his left cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Raithion held her tight, hugging her back.
“What took you so long? Lord Haedor would not tell me where you were,” Soriel complained. “Everyone in this place wants me to start calling you Your Highness. Even Pa keeps repeating the same things. It’s been so difficult. Are you really a Commandery Prince?”
“I will always be Raith to you, Little Bird,” Raithion said.
“Oh thank the fates,” Soriel said with relief. She held on for a moment longer, then let go and he set her on her feet. “Where did you go?”
“To fulfill a promise,” Raithion said, adjusting Soriel’s crown on her head. It was askew. “I like your crown, Basilinna Soriel.”
Soriel turned to glance at Dio who had taken her seat. She shrugged and looked at Raithion.
“He’s a good man,” Soriel said, her voice low. “I like him and want him to be my husband. Will you accept him the way you took in Nori’s Hujan?”
“I think he has to take us in,” Raithion said, pressing his index finger into her right cheek. “He’s the Basileus.”
“What a powerless position,” Soriel said, shaking her head. “He’s in trouble in this place. Someone dared to plot against us with a dead girl. It’s disgusting. He helped me escape the worst.”
“Did he?” Raithion’s brow rose in surprise and glanced at Dio, who watched them with avid interest.
“Yes,” Soriel said, taking his right hand. She squeezed it and smiled up at him. “He sent his aunt to neutralize the Dowager Basilinna’s lecture. She saved me from an investigation.”
Soriel tugged at his hand, her expression full of expectation and pleading. She was talking for her new husband and it irked him.
Raithion fought a scowl and tightened his hold on Soriel’s hand. He led her to the couch and made her sit next to him.
“Raith,” Soriel started.
“I’ve heard it,” Raithion said, squeezing her hand. “Now, it’s my turn. There’s more to agree on before I commit.”
Soriel nodded and remained obediently next to him.
Satisfied with Soriel’s response, Raithion met Dio’s gaze and felt a wide chasm of anger and frustration open up inside him.
“I’m angry with you, Basileus Dio. I can’t explain what your machinations with my father cost me,” Raithion said. “You’ve made me break a promise to someone important, and now I have no way to restore the break.”
Soriel squeezed his left arm, but he ignored her.
Raithion met Dio’s gaze. “I always keep my word, and you made me break it.”
“Is this about the Sura?” Dio asked, his tone solemn to match.
Raithion clenched his jaw, his hands in fists on his knees.
“They did not deserve such a betrayal,” Raithion gritted out.
“I agree,” Dio said. “I feel the same guilt you do, Raithion. But I have no power to protect them.”
“You’re the Basileus.”
“One with fractured wings,” Dio said. “I wish I could spread them and envelope everyone in my kingdom with protection, but I can’t. I have constraints placed upon me by court ministers with more power than I. I would save the Sura if I could. It pains me to have no power to change this truth.”
“If you cannot protect others, how do you plan to protect Soriel?” Raithion asked.
Dio fell silent and it was his turn to clench his fists on his lap.
“No harm will come to her on my watch,” Dio said.
“You can’t make that promise,” Raithion shook his head. “A dead body in her chambers is already enough of a threat. It could have been her.”
Soriel gasped beside him, and Raithion sighed as he realized she had not thought of it.
Dio’s gaze remained on Soriel for another minute, then he stared at the floor, his jaw clenched.
Soriel squeezed Raithion’s left arm, she moved, getting up and walking over to Dio’s side. Raithion frowned when she turned and faced him, turning them into a unit. His little sister had grown up and dared to love a powerless Basileus.
Raithion sighed.
“Raithion,” Dio said. “I will do my best to protect Soriel. I will do everything to ensure nothing happens to her in my palace, including moving into Rose Hall. I’m begging for your support.”
Raithion frowned at the plea.
“No need to beg, little bird is by your side,” Raithion said, meeting Soriel’s hopeful gaze. “I have no choice but to give you support to make sure she survives. But, before I agree to help, I need a promise.”
“Raith,” Soriel started to protest.
“No,” Dio said, taking Soriel’s hand. “I will give the promise.”
“You don’t know what kind of promise,” Soriel said.
“It will be reasonable,” Dio said, smiling at Raithion. “Go ahead.”
“The Sura Clan,” Raithion said. “I want to protect them. I also want the chance to clear their reputation when the time comes.”
“Why?” Dio asked.
“That is my business,” Raitihon said. “But if you must know, count it as helping me fulfill the promise you made me break.”
Dio held Raithion’s gaze for a moment longer, then nodded.
“You’ll have full rights over the forged silver coin case when it is time. The Sura Clan is your burden.”
“Good,” Raithion said, standing up, eager to leave. “I’ll take control of their manor in the capital and hold it under the Commandery Prince’s authority.”
Dio nodded without protest.
“What about the belladonna poisoned palace maid? " Dio asked.
“You received the reports from the morgue,” Raithion said, standing in the middle of the room. His gaze was on Soriel. “How many enemies can you have in this palace, Basileus Dio? The one you had to defend my sister from is the culprit.”
Dio scoffed.
“Of course, you would know the truth with one glance. I have to say the Maenaer family is not easy to manage. What do you plan to do? My aunt placed the work of bringing this case to court on your shoulders.”
“Well, since we all know the culprit, we’ll have to play the entertaining drama she has planned. Don’t worry. I will make sure no one ever thinks of framing my sister with poison again.”
“Somehow, hearing you say that relieves me,” Dio said with a grin.
“I have to go,” Raithion said, turning to leave.
“Raith,” Soriel said, drawing his attention.
Raithion paused, turning to look at her. She still stood next to Dio.
They made an interesting picture.
Soriel with her sweet beauty, jet black hair long to her waist, and a royal gold dress that shimmered in the afternoon light. Dio dressed in a long white royal coat with gold embroidery sat in an armchair facing Raithion. They looked perfect together, but their union was weak. Dio needed more strength to protect his new wife.
“Visit us often,” Soriel said. "I missed you these last few days."
“I’ll try,” Raithion said, winked at her then left.
He was in a rush to seal the home Marius Doriel used to call home. He wanted Azula to find it intact when he returned. If he ever returned.

***