MOONRIVER HALL
Divya stood in the sitting room, pacing. She was still trapped in her hall, unable to leave because of that damn punishment. She had sent a letter to Elder Chem, the man she'd made wealthy with iron ore contracts. And now he wouldn't lift a finger to help her? Did he assume she wouldn't tell the marquis about those contracts?
She gritted.
"Go to the usual store," she told her maid, Belly, who waited in the corner. "A message will be there."
Belly left.
Divya sat on a chair.
If only Nyasia had died back then...
Maryan would be in the palace by now. Playing the role of Nyasia. And the iron mine would be Maryan's. She would have given it to the Third Prince as a dowry!
...
BELLY ARRIVED at the crowded, smoky market. Then she turned right into a narrower, dimmer alley, just towering walls on either side. She entered a pawnshop. A man stood behind the glass counter. His eyes found her the moment the door chimed as Belly opened it. Without a word, he handed her a green bracelet carved with leaf patterns.
The man smiled.
"I hear the heiress is a true beauty."
Belly sniffed. "She's sickly."
They chatted for a while until it was time for Belly to leave. She slipped back into the crowded streets and bought a box of oranges. Then she climbed into a dull, small carriage.
A few minutes passed.
The carriage stopped moving.
That was strange.
She lifted the curtain, just enough to see. And there she saw the coachman's body sprawling on the ground. Immediately, she turned away but hands grabbed her neck before she could react. She was yanked out and thrown onto the rough ground. A man in dark robes loomed over her.
Belly's eyes widened.
Shit!
It's Sinopia!
That mysterious guild that had destroyed countless intelligence networks over the past three years.
But before she could grab a small device for help, a blade cut across her throat, and her head rolled just like that.
...
SINOPIA AGENTS submitted their report. The pawnshop was a branch of Jade Temple's network in the capital. The maid was a spy, assigned to work with Mrs. Divya Nox. The same maid who had received the beans and knew the process of boiling them into tea, making the poison undetectable unless examined by a poison expert.
"We had to kill her immediately," an agent said. "She seemed to be reaching for something, maybe a device to contact other spies in the capital. We couldn't afford to alert their camp."
"Wise choice," Levon said with an indifferent tone. "Besides, she isn't trained to betray her masters even if you let her live for a while."
The pavilion was quiet for a moment as the agent handed him the bracelet. He stared at it, then glanced at Nyasia, who sat silent by his side.
"Dizzy? I told you—your body can't handle this heat." It was late afternoon, but the sun was still blazing. When she frowned, he breathed out. "I suppose I'll just install some ramps leading here."
Wanting to change the subject, she replied, "Brother, I think there's a message in that bracelet."
"Reason?"
"It's a jade bracelet, after all. A symbol of who they are. If she was a spy, then they use bracelets to deliver messages."
"Brilliant," he nodded briefly. "The apple truly doesn't fall far from the tree."
He looked at the bracelet again. Indeed, those carved patterns were there for a reason: to hide a message woven into the design. His eyes narrowed, and he caught faint letters.
Wood.
He said nothing as he rose but gave it to Nyasia who took it immediately. Her gaze lingered on it and she blinked.
"Wood?" She frowned.
This was too vague. Were they supposed to find a tree where something was hidden or—
"Papers," she uttered. "Papers are made of wood. They want documents, those iron mine contracts."
Levon's head turned to her.
"Contracts? You seem to know a lot." His voice carried a hint of irritation. "Nyasia, have you been hanging out with that man again?"
"He doesn't need to tell me," she said. A lie, of course. "I'm studying diligently about my inheritance."
Levon wanted to call her out.
Tell her that her innocent little crush on Dorian was dangerous. That the man had just crushed two powerful families. That she should be afraid of him.
But the words never came. Because right now, he had bigger problems. Spies. Roaming freely inside Rashet Manor.
He turned to the agent and gave a wordless order. She nodded, understanding exactly what it meant.
...
DIVYA CLENCHED her jaw. The sun had set, yet her maid still hadn't returned. Belly never stayed out this long.
Did something happen?
She dug her nails into her palms, pacing back and forth. Maryan needs to finish her mourning period and fix this mess!
Then, she heard heavy footsteps.
A hurried knock.
Another maid.
"What is it?"
"Madam, the End House is burning!"
Divya's face went white.
"What?" she blurted. "Of all places?"
No.
Her maid gone.
Now, the End House.
This isn't coincidence at all!
*