Lord of Deception

The air in the throne room was suffocating. The scent of blood still lingered in the halls, a stark reminder of the assassination attempt that had just occurred. The nobles, usually so full of arrogance and self-importance, stood in tense silence, eyes shifting between Kael and Emperor Castiel Valerius.

The Emperor's face was impassive, but Kael could see the thoughts racing behind his cold, calculating eyes. The assassins had worn the insignia of Duke Renhardt, one of the most powerful noble lords still loyal to the Imperial Crown. If this was a genuine attack, it meant treason. If it was a setup, then someone was trying to turn the Emperor and Kael against each other.

And if there was one thing Kael Arden excelled at, it was turning traps against their creators.

Kael stepped forward, bowing slightly—just enough to show respect without submission. His crimson eyes met the Emperor's.

"This attack within your palace is an insult to your rule, Your Majesty." His voice was smooth, controlled, each word a knife carefully placed. "The noble court will see this as weakness unless a decisive response is made."

The Emperor's fingers tightened on the armrest of his throne. "And what response would you suggest, Duke Arden?"

Kael smiled slightly. "A public trial. Let Duke Renhardt prove his innocence before the Empire. If he is guilty, his title is forfeit. If he is innocent, then we will know there are forces working from the shadows to divide us."

The suggestion was perfect—too perfect.

A trial would force Duke Renhardt into the open, exposing any hidden alliances he might have. And if he was innocent? Then Kael would uncover the real mastermind behind the attack, using the process as a weapon rather than a defense.

The Emperor knew this.

And that's why he hesitated.

A soft voice broke the silence.

"I agree with Duke Arden."

The nobles turned to Empress Eleanor, who had remained quiet until now. She stepped forward gracefully, her piercing golden eyes meeting her husband's. "An attack inside the Imperial Palace cannot be ignored. The people will demand justice, and if we do nothing, they will whisper that the Emperor himself is compromised."

A deadly silence followed.

Kael observed the shift carefully. Eleanor's words were a direct challenge. She had sided with him—publicly—and the Emperor knew it.

She wasn't just an Empress anymore.

She was a piece on the board.

The Emperor's gaze flickered between his wife and Kael. He could not deny the logic behind their words, but more importantly, he could not afford to look weak before the court.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Duke Renhardt will stand trial in one week's time."

Kael inclined his head. "A wise decision, Your Majesty."

The nobles immediately broke into hushed whispers. The trial would be a spectacle—one that could shake the foundation of the Empire itself. Some houses supported Renhardt, others were secretly hoping for his downfall.

But the most important reaction came from Grand Duke Marcel, the Emperor's closest political ally.

He stepped forward, his face carefully neutral. "A bold move, Your Majesty. I only hope this trial does not set a dangerous precedent."

Kael smiled faintly. "Only those with something to hide fear the truth, Grand Duke."

Marcel's lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing more.

Later that night, Kael sat in his private quarters, sipping dark wine as he considered his next moves. Across from him, Valeria, the noblewoman who had barely survived the assassination attempt, sat with a bandage around her shoulder.

"You should have let me handle it," she muttered. "I could have made him confess on the spot."

Kael smirked. "Too easy. Renhardt is a tool—one that will be far more useful in the open than dead in the shadows."

Valeria sighed, shaking her head. "You play a dangerous game."

Kael leaned forward, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Not a game, Valeria." He set down his wine glass, fingers tapping against the table. "A lesson."

A lesson for the Emperor.

A lesson for the nobles.

And a reminder that no matter how powerful they thought they were—Kael Arden was always five steps ahead.