“Oh, so he claims that knowing the secrets of the palace is concern for your safety?” she whispered, a faint scoff in her voice.
She glanced toward Theron and Valen.
“Let me guess…
those two are probably from the faction opposing you.”
Her voice remained low, meant only for Eryndor.
“They probably have spies among the people working in the palace.
If they’re important enough to sit on the council, they likely have a few guards on their side…
and maybe some maids who report information to them.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she continued thinking.
“The maids would probably be more dangerous than the guards.
They can hear a lot of things, enter almost every chamber, and even have access to food.”
She looked at Eryndor.
“I think you should clean the palace before a problem arises.”
She spoke with a measured voice, careful not to let anyone else hear.
Eryndor’s fingers tapped twice against the arm of his chair.
Her whispered words settled into his mind—factions, spies, guards, maids.
‘She’s not wrong.
Information traveled too fast.’
His green eyes moved across the council table.
Theron sat rigidly, his fingers still drumming against the wood.
Valen shifted slightly in his seat.
‘Two of them.
She called it exactly.’
But another thought surfaced.
‘How did she know they were from the opposing faction?’
‘My council’s information isn’t even known to the neighboring kingdoms.
And simply opposing me over bringing a human into the council proves nothing.
It could easily be concern for the kingdom’s internal affairs.’
His gaze remained on her for a moment.
‘Yet she reached that conclusion after barely a few minutes in this room.’
“Council Member Theron.” Eryndor’s voice cut through the silence.
“And Valen.
You both seem remarkably informed about palace matters.”
Theron’s jaw tightened.
“We serve your interests, Your Majesty.”
“My interests.” Eryndor’s voice carried a faint edge of mockery.
“Then you won’t mind explaining which of my guards report to you.”
Valen’s hand moved to adjust his robes—a nervous gesture.
‘Got them.’
“Or perhaps,” Eryndor’s tone dropped lower, “we should discuss which servants have access to my chambers.”
One cleared his throat.
Theron stood slowly.
“Your Majesty, you misunderstand—”
“I understand perfectly.”
Eryndor’s fingers intertwined as he rested his chin on them in a loosely bored manner.
His green eyes remained fixed on Theron, watching the older elf’s jaw work as silence stretched through the council chamber.
“Which servants?” Eryndor tilted his head slightly.
“Name them.”
Theron’s fingers stopped drumming.
“Your Majesty, this is—”
“An accusation of treason.”
Eryndor’s voice was flat.
The pressure in the room skyrocketed as every guard circling the room placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, drawing it slightly from its sheath.
The sound cut through the silence.
“Either you prove your loyalty by revealing your sources, or you prove your guilt by staying silent.”
Valen shifted in his seat again, his copper skin gleaming in the morning light streaming through the windows.
“We merely heard rumors—”
“From whom?” Eryndor’s scarred chest rose with controlled breathing.
“Guards?
Maids?
Kitchen staff?”
The other council members remained still, watching.
One—an elf with dark braided hair—leaned forward slightly.
‘Oh~ So they’re all waiting to see who breaks first~ How interesting…
I should wibe this and upload it to Dilly.
It will get a lot of views.’
Theron’s hand moved to his throat, adjusting the collar of his robes.
“A guard mentioned—”
“His name.”
The girl rummaged through her pockets with measured movements.
‘Where is the wibe?
It has to be with me…
This is gonna go viral!!
I can’t believe I didn’t carry it!!!’
She stopped moving when she heard Kael’s name.
‘This MF…’
“No.
He’s a liar.”
Her gaze shifted toward Theron.
“That isn’t the person.
He probably just gave you any name.”
probably someone close to him.’
Her eyes quickly scanned the room as she bought herself some time, letting whatever random thought came to mind fill the silence.
“And how dare you say ‘reported to you’ like you have the right to hear these things?” she said sharply, her voice now audible to everyone.
She looked at the man for a few seconds with a blank expression.
Then she smiled deviously.
“But I know one too~ Hehehe.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Since you’re this loyal and concerned for the safety of the king, you won’t mind me, right?” she said mockingly.
Then her gaze shifted toward the left side of the room.
One of the guards stood there.
Unlike the others, who looked confused, his movements were slightly anxious.
Eryndor’s eyes widened when she addressed one of the council members directly, using a tone and words like that.
‘It’s not like she was talking to me respectfully in the first place, but talking disrespectfully and accusing someone is a whole different thing.’
‘Hmm?
Is she a commoner?
I thought she was arrogant at first, but she appears not to know how nobles are supposed to speak in the first place.’
Theron’s hand moved to his collar, tugging at the fabric.
His amber eyes flicked toward her, then back to Eryndor.
‘She’s calling me out.
Directly.’
“How dare you—” Theron’s voice rose.
Eryndor’s hand shot up, silencing him.
His jaw tightened as he followed her gaze toward the guard on the left side of the room.
The guard’s fingers twitched against his sword hilt.
His eyes darted between the three of them, his legs shifting slightly with unease while the others remained completely still.
‘She spotted one immediately.’
A barely visible smile appeared on Eryndor’s lips before vanishing.
“That one?” Eryndor’s voice was flat.
The other guards remained still, confusion clear on their faces.
Their eyes drifted toward the accused guard, their expressions turning suspicious.
But the one she had indicated shifted his weight, his armor clinking softly.
Eryndor looked directly at him.
“Your name.”
The guard’s throat worked.
“Dain, Your Majesty.”
He bowed slightly.
“And who do you report to?”
Silence stretched through the chamber.
Dain’s eyes moved toward Theron for just a moment—barely a glance.
All guards immediately shifted their gaze towards him with pure anger …
They filt betrayed
‘His look is enough evidence’