Later, inside Supreme Duchess Dowager Francisca's chambers at Flower Manor...
"I must admit, I was quite impressed by your pardon today, Alicia," Francisca said, taking a measured sip from her teacup as she sat across from Alicia on the settee. "I was skeptical when you first brought her to my attention, especially given what occurred twenty-eight years ago. When Samantha's so-called 'pardon' ended up in bed with my grand-nephew, Reginald, before the the trials were even halfway through... leaving us no choice but to declare her Crown Princess simply to avoid a public scandal." She shifted her sharp gaze directly onto Alicia before continuing. "Though, if memory serves, you played a hand in that little charade as well. Typical... and here I thought you valued royal law above all else. I suppose I stand corrected."
Alicia sighed softly. "That so-called charade happened for a reason, Francisca and you, of all people, know precisely why it had to occur. I am certain your sister-in-law, Samantha, gave you more than a clue about what she was planning before the... incident."
She took a slow sip of her tea before continuing. "Besides... Monalisa was destined to be crowned Crown Princess regardless of the schemes and theatrics Vagan spun with that pig, Damascus. She was going to be Queen. But tragically, that poor soul was targeted before she could fully prove her worthy of the Crown. Samantha and I merely salvaged the situation before it spiraled beyond control. Furthermore... I recognized Reginald's true feelings for Monalisa far better than he did himself. My son loved that woman more than he dared to admit. Had royal law permitted it, he would have taken her as a consort even if she had failed the Selection. So let us simply say... I merely smoothed the path for him to hold her by his side sooner."
She turned her gaze toward the window, her expression softening into a shadow of long-buried remorse. "Yet now... I deeply regret dragging that poor woman into this blood-soaked war. If I had not intervened...if I had not played my part... perhaps she would still be alive today. And my poor grandson would not be carrying such unbearable suffering."
Francisca studied Alicia's somber face for a quiet moment before letting out a soft sigh, placing her cup down onto the table.
"You did what you believed was right, Ali," she offered gently. "You cannot hold yourself accountable for the tragedy that followed."
She shifted slightly in her seat before continuing. "Samantha noticed Reginald's love for that woman as well. That is precisely why she helped you execute that plan. That beast, Vagan, was already intent on crowning his daughter so he could slaughter us all and usurp the throne. But Carmingale has never been the same since Vagan died... since she died. The absolute last thing I want is..." She swallowed hard, her voice dropping to a trembling whisper. "...for Erisa to rise again. That name nearly dragged our entire kingdom into oblivion, and to live through such a nightmare twice..." She shuddered, a rare tremor of fear passing through her frame. "I cannot bear it."
"You were only six years old when it happened, Francisca and I was hardly old enough to comprehend the horror unfolding around us," Alicia said gently.
"Yes... but the horror of that era was more than enough to scar us for a lifetime. Even now, the nightmare lingers. And I am certain that is precisely what that bastard, Vagan, and his puppets, Damascus Brentford and Jonathan Slovak, were attempting to reawaken before causing the tragic, untimely deaths of my nephew, Ronald, and my brother, Gerald. A tragedy that ultimately consumed that poor woman, Monalisa, and my dear sister-in-law, Samantha. That is why I never supported the absurd notion of marrying Damascus's wretched daughter into our royal family. It was a grave mistake... a costly one, Alicia. Very costly."
"We were still reeling from the sudden outbreak of war and the sudden incident involving... the Queen," Alicia replied softly. "And Carmingale held immense leverage over us at the time that's why it forced the marriage on us. We were powerless, Francisca. I permitted Reginald to make that desperate, hasty choice because I could not bear to watch another war erupt and claim even more of our loved ones. Though it proved to be a mistake, it was a sacrifice worth making at the time."
Francisca exhaled a heavy breath. "That girl... Fortmore. She reminds me so much of you at that age. Sweet and soft on the surface, yet fiercely bold and strategic underneath. Completely unpredictable. You were just like that...unpredictable. No one ever knew what you were thinking or where your next move would land. That is precisely why my nephew, Ronald, fell hopelessly in love with you. In truth, that is why everyone fell in love with you. And I am certain... that pardon of yours is more than capable of dragging that cold, beastly grandson of yours back to his senses. Of that, I am positive." She let out a light, fond chuckle.
"I believe she has already begun," Alicia said, a knowing warmth in her voice. "He is already dancing to her tune, even if he refuses to admit it to himself just yet. But he is falling for her... I can see it as clear as day."
"Well, I witnessed the woman's capabilities firsthand today. I have no doubt she already has him wrapped around her little finger, it is only a matter of time before it fully manifests,"
Francisca warned, her tone turning grave once more. "However, she had better remain vigilant. With the relatives of those beasts entrenched within both the competition and the royal court, her path will be treacherous. Today's spectacle will only intensify their desire to eliminate her. They have now witnessed her true strength, which puts her at the very top of their execution list. They will stop at nothing to see her destroyed."
"Don't worry. I can assure you she will be very careful," Alicia replied smoothly. Then, leaning back, she muttered beneath her breath, "...for they are the ones who should fear her."
A sharp, satisfied smirk touched Alicia's lips before she calmly raised her teacup and took a quiet sip.
.....
Meanwhile...
"It appears the Dragon is conducting his own investigation about Dinkley," a voice crackled through the speaker as Ariel sat before her vanity mirror, putting the finishing touches on her hair.
Having already showered and washed away every trace of the garden manure, she was dressed in a crisp, casual pink t-shirt tucked into fitted blue jeans, paired with pristine white sneakers. She adjusted her long, wavy black wig in the mirror, smoothly pulling the locks back to secure them into a high ponytail.
"It appears our Dragon isn't quite as barbaric and mindless as we assumed. He has already picked up on the clues surrounding Flavio's death and realized those bastards are running a human trafficking ring and they are the lowest scum in the world," she replied casually, running a comb through her dark locks. "Tsk... took him long enough."
"Mmm..." the voice on the line hummed thoughtfully. "Still, uncovering crucial evidence against those scumbags will prove to be nearly impossible. I believe the Scorpion King has already erased the breadcrumbs on the trail by now, instructing his hounds to eliminate anyone who dares to dig into their affairs. It will be anything but easy."
"Not easy for them," Ariel countered smoothly, pulling her dark hair back into a sleek, high ponytail. "But a walk in the park for us."
A sharp, confident smirk played across her lips.
She crossed the room toward her bed and picked up the phone, her tone turning brisk and operative. "I have already secured a contact who will assist with tonight's mission. I am heading to the town square to meet them now. Since Her Supreme Eminence was generous enough to grant me ample freedom to explore the city, I intend to put every second to good use. Order the Phantom Spiders to conduct a full recon sweep of the area before we make our move tonight. I will not tolerate a single mishap. We are stepping directly into enemy territory, and I cannot afford to compromise my position. Understood, Ricky?"
"Don't worry, Boss. Everything is already set in motion," Ricky assured her. He hesitated for a brief second before adding, "Though... if you don't mind me asking... why are you taking on the mission personally this time? The Phantom Spiders can execute this entire mission without you lifting a finger. Why risk exposing yourself? I thought the plan was to maintain a low profile, especially with the Dragon sniffing around your trail. What changed?"
Ariel let out a long, heavy breath before speaking, her voice laced with cold resolve. "I have reason to believe... Duke Andrew Dinkley, along with that vile witch Miranda, played a direct role in my father's death. While searching through the Sinclair records, I discovered sensitive records implicating Duke Andrew in instigating the civil war twenty-two years ago. The very conflict that claimed over two thousand innocent lives before King Reginald ended the bloodshed by taking that wretched creature, King Damascus Brentford's daughter, as his bride. Stripping the rightful Queen, Monalisa Floric, Daniel's mother, of her crown under false allegations of infidelity. At least... that is the official narrative recorded in those ledgers."
She paused, her knuckles tightening as she continued. "I was summoned back for theroyal bridal selection before I could examine every file, but the pieces already fit together. My father uncovered Duke Andrew's treason, his secret collusion with enemy forcesand Andrew had him killed to protect his secret. This is no longer just an intelligence operation, Ricky. It is deeply personal. I intend to make that bastard answer for what he did... and he will pay."
She gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles turned bone-white, her features contorted in a storm of boiling fury.
A heavy silence lingered on the line before Ricky spoke softly. "Understood, Bailey. But remember... I am always just a whisper away. Call my name when trouble comes knocking, and I will be there in an instant. All right?"
Ariel exhaled a long, steadying breath. "All right, Ricky. See you when you see me."
"See you when you see me, Bailey," Ricky replied gently.
With those parting words, Ariel disconnected the call.
She slowly lowered the phone from her ear, staring at its dark screen for a quiet moment before speaking into the empty room.
"Sparrow."
Instantly, a figure materialized from the shadows.
It was a man of medium build, his lean, muscular physique snugly sculpted beneath a midnight-black and sapphire-blue shinobi combat suit. A dark cloth wrapped tightly around his head and lower face, exposing only his striking green eyes and the bridge of his nose.
A black and blue scabbard, delicately engraved with sparrows, hung at his waist. He offered a crisp salute, standing motionless behind Ariel.
"My Lady," he greeted, his voice low and steady.
Ariel let out a soft sigh. "I want you to keep those nosy Dragonflies out of my quarters while I am away. I have a suspicion they might use my absence to plant things to spy on me."
"Understood, my Lady," Sparrow replied, a faint hesitation in his voice. "However... am I not supposed to accompany you as always? I am your shadow bodyguard, my Lady. My duty is to protect you at all times."
"Do not worry. Feather will assume your post by my side for now," Ariel replied smoothly. "I need you here... because you are the only one truly capable of handling those flea bags without leaving a trace. I am counting on you."
Just then, another figure, clad in a crisp white and blue shinobi combat suit, materialized seamlessly from the shadows and bowed deeply before Ariel.
Ariel turned and handed her burner phone over to Sparrow. "Dispose of this. And do not forget the other task I assigned to you." Her gaze shifted toward the entrance of her walk-in closet. "Ensure the barrier is absolute... so that not even his sharp ears can catch a single whisper from the other side. Understood?"
Sparrow nodded respectfully. "Of course, my Lady."
"Good," Ariel replied, turning on her heel toward the door.
She paused, her gaze lingering on the closed door of the walk-in closet for a quiet moment before whispering into the empty room, "That was the first and last time you catch me off guard, Daniel Devonte. Next time, I will be calling the shots."
A sharp, dangerous smirk touched her lips before she turned the handle and slipped silently out into the corridor.
The moment the door clicked shut behind her, Feather leaped silently out the window, vanishing into the thin air outside.
Sparrow shook his head with a faint sigh. With a subtle flick of his wrist, his attire morphed seamlessly into a sleek black-and-gold uniform before he faded back into the deep shadows of the room.
...
Outside...
A radiant smile graced Ariel's lips as she strolled toward the gates, where the car slated to transport her to the town square stood waiting.
The chauffeur stepped forward, offering a respectful bow. "Greetings, my Lady. My name is Philip, and I shall be taking care of your driving today."
Ariel offered Philip a warm, bright smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Philip. Shall we be on our way?"
Philip nodded respectfully before walking over to the car opening the rear door, and gesturing for her to step inside.
Ariel smiled at him once more before adding smoothly, "I hope you do not mind, but I have a few personal errands to attend to later today. I will be dismissing you early, so please do not worry about waiting for me, I shall make my own arrangements to return."
"Who are you planning to frolic with in secret, that you feel the need to drag poor Phil into your little scheme?"
Ariel's bright smile vanished instantly the second that sharp, familiar voice echoed from inside the vehicle.
She whipped her head toward the sound, and to her absolute dismay, lounging casually on the far side of the backseat was none other than that arrogant, perverted, jerkass prince himself.
He was also dressed casually, a sleek black shirt tucked into fitted black jeans, paired with black sneakers, and a low-brimmed cap concealing his silky dark hair.
He looked maddeningly handsome. Even the most ordinary clothes seemed elevated to effortless perfection on him.
Staring at him now, every lingering detail of the drama that had unfolded the previous night came rushing back to her mind. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, forcing her to avert her gaze to the driveway before muttering quietly beneath her breath.
"What on earth is he doing here? I thought I was taking this trip alone," she thought, casting a sharp glare back toward Flower Manor before swearing under her breath. "Damn old hags... it was a setup all along. I should have known!"
"Are you planning to stand out there all day lamenting your miserable fate for constantly getting entangled with me, or are you getting in?" Daniel grumbled from inside the car, his tone laced with annoyance. "Daylight is wasting, and trust me, I am not thrilled about this either. I have far more critical matters to attend to than wasting my time with you. Get in before I change my mind."
'Son of a... just what I needed. This arrogant, grumpy ore hare stuck with me. Fantastic,' she grumbled inwardly.
Smoothing her expression, she turned to face Daniel, offering a sweet smile and a fluid bow. "Greetings, Your Highness. Forgive my unseemly reaction just now. I simply did not anticipate the honor of your company today. But I am utterly delighted that you have taken the time out of your busy schedule to accompany me on a stroll. I am deeply grateful."
Daniel snorted, rolling his eyes as he muttered under his breath. "Can you not be genuine for even a single second and drop the fake act? Tsk... typical. Perhaps I ought to dump another bucket of filth over your head so you will finally react like yourself."
Ariel glared at him, her hands balling into tight fists at her sides.
'Jerkass! Pervert! Ingrate! Assh—urgh! I do not have time for this nonsense!' she cursed him violently in her mind. Forcing herself to take a deep, steadying breath, she climbed into the car and took a seat right beside the door, putting as much physical distance between them as the backseat allowed.
Daniel scoffed, shaking his head in mild disdain. "Tsk... really.."
Ariel refused to grant him even a sideways glance.
"Unbelievable," he muttered beneath his breath, tapping twice on the glass partition to signal Philip to pull away.
Ariel let out a soft, inward sigh as the vehicle glided forward into motion. 'This is going to be complicated.'