The festival ended in triumph. Officially, at least. The fireworks were praised as a historic enhancement to imperial spectacle, merchants celebrated record trade throughout the capital, and Emperor Caelus publicly declared the Ascension Festival a complete success. To the people, it had been a flawless celebration.
Inside the palace, however, the atmosphere was very different.
Silence filled the private strategy chamber. No maps floated above the central table. No crystal projections illuminated the walls. The room felt strangely empty after weeks of constant planning and crisis management.
Selene broke the silence first.
"The eastern underground site was abandoned."
Kylrus showed no visible reaction.
Cassian crossed his arms tightly. "They retreated too cleanly."
"Yes," Kylrus replied.
That was exactly the problem.
The festival trap had failed to achieve its intended result, but the deeper issue remained. The enemy had still gained valuable information. They had widened the fracture in his mana core, tested Cassian's reflexes under pressure, confirmed Kylrus's instinctive need to protect his siblings, measured the palace core's discharge threshold, and most importantly, forced him into a moment of emotional decision-making.
He had chosen to release his power.
That alone was useful data.
Selene's expression darkened slightly.
"There is another problem."
Kylrus looked toward her.
"Go on."
"Three noble houses have formally requested a temporary decentralization of palace mana oversight for future festivals."
Cassian's eyes flashed immediately.
"They're blaming you."
"Not openly," Selene corrected. "But they're laying the groundwork."
Kylrus nodded slowly.
It was a smarter move than direct opposition. Instead of attacking him, they were attempting to isolate him. If palace mana oversight became decentralized, future synchronization attempts would become significantly easier.
He walked toward the window.
"I miscalculated."
Cassian stared at him.
"...You?"
"Yes."
Kylrus turned back toward the room.
"I assumed they needed a full release from me to destabilize the system."
Selene understood immediately.
"They didn't."
"No."
His voice remained calm, but a colder edge entered it.
"They only needed an emotional response."
Silence settled over the room.
That realization stung more than any wound. He had not lost. He had not been defeated. But he had been guided toward a predictable action.
Cassian stepped forward.
"You reacted because of Isolde."
"Yes."
"And that's wrong?"
Kylrus considered the question carefully.
"No."
His gaze shifted briefly toward the city outside.
"But it is exploitable."
No one argued with that.
The chamber doors opened and Aurielle entered quietly. Unlike usual, she wasn't smiling.
"There are missing persons reports."
All three turned toward her.
"How many?" Kylrus asked.
"Seven confirmed in the last two weeks."
"Locations?"
"Outer merchant districts. Two from the eastern wards."
"Bodies?" he asked.
Aurielle shook her head.
"None."
A faint darkness entered Kylrus's eyes.
"They're no longer just calibrating."