The morning after the birthday banquet, the Grand Duke's mansion finally returned to its usual tranquility.
The grand ballroom, which had been filled with laughter and music only hours before, was now occupied by servants carefully removing crystal decorations and bouquets of fresh flowers.
Inside the estate's library, Marbella sat alone.
A pile of books on medicine and poisonous herbs lay open before her, yet she had barely turned a page.
Her thoughts remained with one person.
Wilbert.
His pale complexion.
His persistent cough.
The bitter medicine he drank without question every single day.
A soft knock came from the door.
"My Lady."
Mia entered carrying several neatly tied documents.
"I've gathered everything you requested."
Marbella looked up.
"What did you find?"
Mia placed the documents on the table.
"I questioned several servants who have relatives working in the Imperial Palace."
"The Royal Apothecary delivers medicinal herbs to the palace at the beginning of every month."
"The herbs are inspected by the Imperial Physicians before being stored in the royal dispensary."
Marbella nodded.
"So the herbs themselves are unlikely to have been tampered with."
"That is also my conclusion."
Mia unfolded another report.
"However…"
"The Crown Prince's medicine is never prepared by the Imperial Physicians."
Marbella's expression became serious.
"Explain."
"According to one of the palace servants, Lady Eleanor prepares His Highness's medicine herself every morning and every evening."
"No one else is permitted inside the preparation room."
Silence filled the library.
Marbella lowered her gaze to the documents.
Exactly as she had feared.
If Eleanor was the one preparing every dose…
Then there were only two possibilities.
She was involved in the poisoning.
Or…
She had been following someone's instructions from the very beginning.
Either way…
She knew far more than anyone else.
Exactly as she had expected.
Lady Eleanor alone prepared every cup of medicine.
No one supervised her.
No one questioned her.
No one even entered the room.
"My Lady?"
Mia called carefully.
"Is something wrong?"
Marbella remained silent for a long moment before asking another question.
"Mia."
"Yes?"
"If something were to happen to His Highness the Crown Prince…"
"…who would inherit the throne according to the law?"
Mia answered almost immediately.
"His Grace, the Grand Duke."
Marbella slowly nodded.
"And after my father?"
"You, My Lady."
Mia looked puzzled.
"After all, you're the only child of House Petrovic."
"The succession laws have never changed."
Marbella quietly looked toward the window.
Of course.
She already knew the answer.
In her previous life…
Wilbert's death should have made her father the next Crown Prince.
After him…
The right would have belonged to her.
Julian had never possessed the strongest claim to the throne.
Not by blood.
Not by law.
He had become Crown Prince for only one reason.
Her family had willingly stepped aside.
Her father had renounced House Petrovic's claim before the entire Imperial Court, believing it was the best choice for the Empire.
They had trusted Julian.
Supported him.
Protected him.
Only to be rewarded with betrayal.
Marbella slowly clenched her fists.
Father…
This time, I won't let you make the same mistake.
"My Lady?"
Mia's voice pulled her back to reality.
"You seem troubled."
Marbella offered a small smile.
"I was merely thinking."
"If the Crown Prince truly dies…"
"…the Empire will descend into chaos."
Mia nodded in agreement.
"The nobles would surely split into factions."
"And House Petrovic would stand at the center of them."
Exactly.
Which meant…
Anyone wishing to place Julian on the throne would first have to remove Wilbert.
Then…
Convince—or force—House Petrovic to surrender its rights.
Only then could Julian become the Empire's heir.
Everything suddenly became clearer.
Wilbert's death.
Julian's rise.
The destruction of House Petrovic.
They had never been separate tragedies.
They were pieces of the same plan.
A servant knocked on the library door.
"My Lady."
"His Grace requests your presence in the study."
"I'll be there."
Grand Duke Adrian looked up from the documents on his desk as Marbella entered.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Come in."
Marbella bowed politely.
"You wished to see me, Father?"
"I did."
He gestured toward the chair opposite him.
"Sit."
She obeyed.
For a brief moment, Adrian simply studied his daughter.
"You've changed."
Marbella smiled faintly.
"So everyone keeps telling me."
He chuckled.
"I suppose birthdays truly mark the beginning of adulthood."
"You've become calmer."
"And far more thoughtful."
"I hope that isn't a bad thing."
"Quite the opposite."
Adrian folded his hands together.
"This morning, I received a letter from His Majesty."
Marbella became attentive.
"What does the Emperor request?"
"He has invited our family to the Imperial Palace in three days."
Marbella wasn't surprised.
Everything was happening exactly as she remembered.
Or perhaps…
Not exactly.
In her previous life, Wilbert had barely spoken to her during the banquet.
This time, they had shared the first dance.
"The Crown Prince spoke highly of you."
Adrian smiled proudly.
"He said you were pleasant company."
Marbella lowered her eyes.
"I'm honored."
"There is something else."
Adrian's tone grew more serious.
"You met the Second Prince yesterday."
"I did."
"What impression did he leave on you?"
For a fleeting moment…
Marbella saw another Julian.
The man seated upon the imperial throne.
The man who had sentenced her family to death.
She buried the memory behind a calm expression.
"He appears courteous."
"But one meeting isn't enough to understand someone's character."
Adrian's smile widened.
"Excellent."
Marbella looked at him.
He continued,
"Never judge a person by the face they choose to show the world."
"Especially not inside the Imperial Palace."
"There are many who smile while hiding a dagger behind their backs."
Marbella's heart tightened.
How ironic.
If only he had followed his own advice…
Perhaps none of this would have happened.
Meanwhile…
Inside the Imperial Palace.
Julian stood before the window of his private study.
The Chancellor entered quietly.
"You wished to see me."
Julian turned around.
"I don't understand her."
"The Grand Duke's daughter?"
Julian nodded.
"Everything we learned suggested she was gentle."
"Easy to approach."
"Someone who admired the Imperial Family."
He frowned.
"But yesterday…"
"It felt as though she was deliberately keeping her distance."
The Chancellor remained silent.
"She even chose my brother for her first dance."
"That wasn't part of our expectations."
The older man slowly walked toward the window.
"It changes nothing."
Julian looked at him.
"The Crown Prince remains the greatest obstacle."
"And after him…"
His voice became colder.
"House Petrovic."
"As long as they retain their rightful place in the line of succession…"
"…your path to the throne will never be secure."
Julian lowered his gaze.
"So what should I do?"
The Chancellor smiled faintly.
"Continue earning their trust."
"And if that fails…"
He paused.
"…then we shall simply ensure they no longer stand in your way."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Beyond the palace windows, the Imperial Capital bustled with life.
None of its people knew that beneath the Empire's peaceful surface…
The first moves of a deadly game had already begun.