The capital remained restless. Even as the sun dipped below the horizon, its golden light casting long shadows over the streets, the air carried an undeniable tension. Merchants packed up their goods with wary glances, commoners hurried home before nightfall, and patrols of heavily armed soldiers marched through the city in greater numbers than before.
Kale watched from above, seated on the edge of a rooftop with one knee drawn up. Serene stood behind him, silent as ever, her brown hair tucked neatly beneath a hood. The city's undercurrents were shifting, but not in an obvious way. This wasn't the panic of an impending disaster—at least, not yet.
It was preparation.
"The nobles are moving," Serene said softly. "They've been gathering more frequently, and their guards have been reinforced."
Kale hummed in acknowledgment. He had already suspected as much. The question wasn't whether they were plotting, but what direction their ambitions would take. The kingdom was still recovering, yet instead of uniting under the crown, the noble factions were seeking opportunities to claim more influence.
"And the military?" he asked.
"There's been a change in command for several key regiments. Certain noble houses have been granted control over some of the kingdom's forces. A few knights have been reassigned away from the capital without explanation."
That was more concerning. Nobles playing politics was nothing new, but influencing the military structure meant they were preparing for something.
A coup was unlikely—at least not yet. If someone sought to challenge the throne directly, they would wait until the kingdom was truly on the verge of collapse. But if troops were being repositioned, that meant they anticipated a greater conflict soon.
"The eastern border remains quiet," Serene continued, "but there are rumors of minor skirmishes near the trade routes. No formal reports, though. It seems they're keeping it quiet."
Kale narrowed his eyes. The kingdom wasn't officially at war, but small fights breaking out along the borders meant tensions were rising. It wouldn't be long before one side struck hard enough to force the other into full-scale retaliation.
And yet, the palace remained silent.
"They're still treating this as an isolated issue," Kale muttered. "Either they don't see the pattern yet, or they're deliberately ignoring it."
Serene hesitated before speaking. "Should we investigate further?"
Kale didn't answer immediately. That wasn't their role. Not yet.
He had no intention of interfering directly. Not while the nobles continued their power struggles and the court remained divided. His purpose here wasn't to prevent a war—but to control its direction once it began.
"We'll keep watching," he said at last. "Let them think they have time."
Serene lowered her head in acknowledgment. "Understood, Master."
---
The Noble Court
Within the grand halls of the palace, the noble factions gathered once more. The council chamber, lined with banners of various houses, buzzed with hushed conversations as the highest-ranking lords and ladies took their seats.
Duke Marcian leaned forward, fingers tapping against the polished surface of the table. His sharp gaze swept over the others. "The king remains hesitant."
Count Veller, a man known more for his wealth than his wisdom, scoffed. "Of course he does.kingis still clinging to the illusion that diplomacy will solve this crisis."
Several nobles exchanged knowing glances. They had all seen the reports—troop movements along the borders, whispers of enemy scouts being sighted on their lands. The war had not yet begun, but its shadow loomed over them.
Duke Reynard, a staunch loyalist of the crown, frowned. "We are not at war. Reckless actions will only weaken the kingdom further."
"And inaction will leave us defenseless," Marcian countered. "We cannot afford to wait until the enemy is at our gates before we move."
"Then what do you propose?" Reynard challenged.
Marcian smiled, slow and deliberate. "We take control where the king will not. If kingrefuses to acknowledge the danger, then we will prepare without his consent."
A ripple of agreement passed through the room.
The nobles would not wait for the king's command.
---
Watching the Pieces Move
From the shadows of the palace corridors, Serene listened. Hidden behind one of the many pillars that lined the council chamber, she caught every word exchanged between the nobles.
Their ambitions were clear—this wasn't just about securing the kingdom. It was about securing their own positions in whatever conflict was coming.
Slipping away before she could be noticed, she moved swiftly through the palace's hidden paths. She had spent enough time in these halls to know the quietest routes, the blind spots in the patrols, the places where she could vanish without a trace.
By the time she returned to Kale, he was already expecting her. He didn't ask if she had been seen—he knew better.
"They're taking matters into their own hands," she reported. "The nobles are preparing, whether the king approves or not."
Kale wasn't surprised. He had been waiting for this.
"The kingdom is divided," he murmured. "And when war comes, that division will cost them."
Serene hesitated. "Should we act?"
Kale smiled faintly. "No. Not yet."
The kingdom would break itself apart.
And he would be there to pick up the pieces.