“S-Sun…den…elle… C-C-Come closer…”
“Father!” Sundenelle bolts up from her seat at the Emperor’s side, kneeling at his bedside. He is clinging to life in his last moments, but every physician, doctor, and magic healer has given the same prognosis; his ailment is beyond recovery, and they don’t know enough about it to treat it properly.
It is currently a time before a fateful hero summoning in Mornistae, though there have been rumors throughout the land that more and more people have been having the dream Sundenelle had recently. She didn’t know what it meant at first, but the rumors are growing that the dream foretells a great disaster, where darkness consumes the land. Then, the sun devours Zenkon, and everything will be erased. In it, there were two shadowy figures, a tall man and a small woman by appearances, though the dream is blurry and doesn’t make a lot of sense on its own.
Now, with the Emperor seemingly coming to an end of his life, she feels fear for the future of the Empire.
“I’m here, Father,” replies Sundenelle, squeezing his hand gently. Her maids and ladies in waiting have urged her repeatedly not to touch the Emperor, for fear of her contracting the plague, but she couldn’t care less. He is and will always be her beloved Imperial Father. She is not the next in line for the throne, so her fate is to be a loyal servant to the Empire; a fate she has always welcomed with her mother and father at her side. She saw how heavy the crown is upon her father’s head, and she could only ever wish to ease some of his burden.
How she wishes she were not wrong with those thoughts.
“I… I have something… to confess, my dear sweet S-Sundenelle.”
“Take your time, Father. I’m not going anywhere. Mother is here with me, too.”
He tilts his eyes, barely able to see Sundenelle, let alone the noblewoman behind her that he had a ‘sixteen year long affair’ with. It was always odd that many people in the castle knew of the Emperor’s love for Sundenelle’s mother, Byleathea, but she was never made a consort or the Empress. In fact, he had very little affection at all for the Empress, who shared the sentiment, and the consorts were almost exclusively political pairings.
“Good,” whispers the Emperor. “You both should hear this.” He coughs, and the doctors do their best to be close, in case they need to step in. But, the weakened man manages to regain control of his breathing, and he relaxes once more. “Sundenelle… You are my only child.”
This causes an eerie silence to befall the room, and Sundenelle blurts out quietly, “What?”
“It is true, child. The only woman I have ever loved… is Byleathea.”
He looks to where Byleathea is, and she trembles as her hands cover her mouth.
“If they knew… Byleathea, forgive me… If they knew… You would have been targeted. I’m sorry. It was selfish of me… t-to *cough* to keep your rank so low…”
Byleathea rushes closer, and she places her hands on both his as well as their daughter’s. “I have never once wished to be the Empress nor a consort, your Majesty. I have been blessed, both with your love and your precious daughter. B-But, forgive this fool of a woman. I… I can’t possibly understand… what you mean.”
The Emperor manages to scoff and smile, reaching weakly with his free hand to touch her face, possibly for the last time. He stops at the last moment, remembering that he is sick.
However, Byleathea takes his hand and presses it to her cheek, lovingly kissing it. “If I was… able to comfort you, your Majesty, then I have been truly happy.”
“I… as well, Byleathea.”
Tears stream down both hers and her daughters’ faces, but the ailing father turns serious, returning his gaze to Sundenelle.
“Sundenelle, I didn’t have a chance… to reveal it, but my true will is located in my safe. You have seen it. And… only you can open it. Do so, only in front of those you trust.”
“I’ll do as you command, Father. But, shouldn’t the Crown Prince…?”
“All will be revealed in the safe. As I said, you are my only child.”
Sundenelle is silent, trapped in thought.
“Your mother’s family isn’t strong enough to support you, so I hid you both in plain sight. But, I have never loved another.”
“Then… the Princes and other princesses?” whispers Sundenelle, unsure if they should be discussing something so scandalous in front of so many witnesses.
“You will see. I… planned to handle everything myself. If only this damned… cursed disease…” He begins coughing again, and both Sundenelle and Byleathea try to comfort him.
True enough, they are the only ones of his family that are actually at his side, though many of the same arguments that they could brush off as the ‘illegitimate’ family were used to keep the ‘legitimate’ family members safe.
“You will struggle, Sundenelle, if you choose to open that vault. However,... I had a Dawnsight on the day you were born.” He manages to smile again, falling deep into a loving memory, though with some emotional pain lingering in his ailing expression. “You would be the Empress, shining like a beacon of hope for the Empire. However, you only made it there under the guise of a lie.” He places his free hand on top of the combined pile of hands between him, Sundenelle, and Byleathea. “Sundenelle, Byleathea *cough*, you have two choices ahead of you. You may leave and never look back. Forget this terrible palace, the rotting Empire, and all of the false princes. Go far away and find someone that makes you as happy as Byleathea has made me.” He has a small coughing fit, and Sundenelle asks softly, “What’s the other choice, Father?”
Sundenelle didn’t actually have to ask. She already knows. But, it never crossed her mind. A few times, she fancied being a Princess like her half-siblings, being paraded around in the most expensive dresses and jewels, and being the center of grand banquets.
“The other… is to take the birthrights that are yours and yours alone; the crown and the throne. Save this Empire from itself. Lead it into the future. Visit places I cannot imagine.” He murmurs strangely, “Iron horseless carriages and magic lights with no magic…”
“Father?” asks Sundenelle, fearing that his mind is slipping away.
He looks at her, continuing his previous thought, thankfully. “You are the true Crown Princess, and in moments, I fear, you will become the True Empress. The few I trust will ensure it is brought to light, but you must be prepared for battle. Be ready for anything and everything. You will struggle every day, as the Empire is not unlike this old man; so healthy on the outside, but writhing in death throes on the inside. Healing a broken Empire is much the same.” Another coughing fit threatens to claim the Emperor at any moment, but he continues to cling to life in order to finish his final conversation with his beloved daughter and his true love.
“Sundenelle… Sundenelle…”
“I’m here, Father.”
“You will need to act swiftly if you are to claim the crown. Even now, the serpents are poised to strike, and a battle will begin. You must act with resolve and without fear, or they will consume you.”
It’s a heavy burden the Emperor just placed on her. If she truly is the only true heir, not only can she not understand how something like that came to be, with the large number of supposed siblings she grew up with, but it means that she and her Mother are virtually alone in the grand scheme of things. Sundenelle has people she can trust, but few of them are nobles powerful enough to oppose the Empress or the consorts.
The first option he gave, for her to flee the palace with her Mother and find some other way to live; it certainly provides a strong temptation. While they would likely struggle some to survive, they would have far fewer enemies.
No… If this really is the truth, and Father certainly has no reason to lie, then the day that safe is opened by force, we will become targets.
The young Princess disheartens a little. Whether her father realized it or not, she never had a choice to begin with.
Father, I will pick up where you left off. I will find a way to strengthen the crown and protect the Empire from corruption. I will not let your legacy be one of ashes, but instead, the finest glass the world has ever seen.
Sundenelle bows down, kissing his hand. “I can’t do it, Father. I don’t want to be Empress.”
He smiles softly at her. “You may live as you please, my darling Princess. My only regret now… is that I will not get to see you fully grown.”
Tears find Sundenelle’s face, and she leans over and kisses his hand. I’m sorry, Father. But as you say, I need to keep only those I trust close. This room is full of spies.
She and Byleathea hold the Emperor’s hands, saying soft farewells until the time comes. His last breath goes surprisingly peacefully, and a tranquility falls over the room.
As the physicians begin to stir after a moment, Sundenelle takes one final breath. She stands up with a grace that seems to shrink everyone else in the room, and they watch her.
As a Princess or an Empress, she doesn’t look quite like the picture of the sun, so much as a wrathful woman scorned. Her eyes are red from tears, but her gaze is serious and unwavering. She is not planning on carrying out evil, but there were a lot of witnesses to what was just said, and if she doesn’t act on the element of surprise, she’ll be killed before she can leave the palace.
“Imperial Guards, to whom do your loyalties lie?”
There’s only a half-second’s pause before the guards snap to attention. “Your Grace, we are loyal servants to the glorious Empire’s sovereign ruler.”
“And who would that be?” asks the young woman.
“By the word of his Imperial Majesty, there is only one true ruler of the Grand Zenkon Empire; her Imperial Majesty, Empress Sundenelle kos Lindenmorg!” The guards salute, and the doctors are confused and frightened a little.
“You and you, step forward,” commands Sundenelle as she points at two guards.
The guards hesitate a moment, but they step forward. “Arrest these two men, alongside everyone else here. Question the guards as to why their loyalties do not lie with the reigning monarch of the Empire and imprison the doctors and nurses in the annex. They allowed my Imperial Father to die on their watch.”
“Your Majesty!” cry out the doctors, while one of the two guards called out exclaims, “Pri-Y-Your Majesty!”
You fools. What did you think would happen if you hesitate? You heard the Emperor with your own ears. Do you think the Empress will pay you for your ‘loyalty’?
I can’t be weak. I don’t want to do this, but if I can give them enough rope to hang themselves with…
“Speak, sir. Would you like to confess here and now?”
The guard kneels. “I… Your Majesty, my loyalty has never faltered. I am an honored guard of the Empire’s most precious…”
“Princess?” asks Sundenelle with an icy coldness. “Were you not listening to every word your Emperor said, lest his last words be lost to time and traitors claim falsehoods?”
“I-... I believe… If I may speak…”
“Are you not already speaking, Sir? Your fellow guardsmen had no qualms about obeying their imperial sovereign.”
The other of the two guards also takes a knee. “Your Majesty, I believe our shared concerns are likely that it is premature…”
“Good. Sir Dalloway;”
“Yes, your Righteous Majesty,” declares the knight leading the guards in the room as he bows. “I await your instructions.”
“Kill them both. They have chosen imposters over their Empress.”
This time, Sir Dalloway hesitates, as do some of the guards.
Apologies, gentlemen, but the sweet and loving princess you knew has to die today, or I actually will die.
One of the two guards singled out immediately prostrates himself, pleading for his life, while the other seems to accept his fate.
“Sir Dalloway?”
“Your Grace,...”
“This is already a room of death, is it not? What are two more lives? In fact, they should feel honored to die beside the Emperor they claim to love.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Yes! I-I-I love the Emperor! His word is law! Please, forgive my hesitation, your Imperial Majesty! Long Live Empress Sundenelle! Command me, and I will exterminate…”
“Silence,” commands Sundenelle, waving her hand. “I’ve changed my mind. You, there, Sir Lokenbach.”
The second of the two guards, and the one who remained silent after being sentenced to death, looks up. His face is lifeless already, but he still seems to hold his resolve. “Your Majesty?”
“Hand me your sword. I’ll execute the two of you myself.”
He takes a single breath and exhales, drawing his sword. This puts the guards on edge, but he rolls his hands over so that the sword is resting on the backs of his hands as he holds it up. “My life is yours, your Imperial Majesty.”
She approaches and takes his sword, which causes the tension to increase all the more. She could be killed by either of these men in an instant, but that would be their last act, most likely.
“Sundenelle, if I may speak with you,” urges Byleathea’s voice as gently as she can manage.
“Mother, I must command respect. If I am not granted it upon my title, I must earn it through action and resolve.”
She places the sword blade against Lokenbach’s shoulder, and he closes his eyes. “One last chance, Lokenbach. Finish your thought before you die. Speak the truth, unfiltered.”
“Your Father just died, your Majesty. And, you told him yourself that you do not wish to be Empress. Regardless of either of those facts, this room contains the only people in the world, so far as we know, that the Emperor wished for you to become Empress. I have, and will always live and die for the Empire and its Sovereign, but I will not serve a tyrant.”
Sundenelle replies coldly, “You would have me tell a dying man that I want to endanger my life?”
He pauses and looks up at her. “My Father was a great man, and he lied just once. He regretted knowing that I would be in danger the moment he left this world. Why should I add onto his regrets by saying I will be a fool and take up the heavy burden of Empress? I wanted my Imperial Father to go in peace.” She turns the blade slightly, nicking his neck. “You would have me burden an Emperor’s last moments. Who is the tyrant again?”
He looks down, apologizing softly, “F-Forgive me for that, your Imperial Majesty. I had no idea.”
“No, you didn’t. You heard what you wanted to hear, as will many in this Empire. The former Empress will hear that she is the Dowager Empress of the Empire, her son will hear that he is the new Emperor. The nobles will hear that a fool worthy of being their puppet wishes to rise to the throne. And, all of them will hear that Sundenelle and her mother are still little more than the Emperor’s mistress and a bastard daughter.”
Sundenelle walks away from Lokenbach with his sword. She rests it on her shoulder as she looks at the Emperor one last time. “My father intended to handle everything himself, but died before he could. That’s very much like him.” She looks over her shoulder, “Sir Lokenbach, arrest Sir Thrik. If you must question my motives again, do so after everyone is arrested. If I order someone to be executed on the spot, they will truly deserve it. The same goes for you, Sir Dalloway. I do not expect tyrannical blind allegiance, but I cannot afford to trust so many people without a show of loyalty. Do you understand?”
Both Lokenbach and Dalloway bow their heads. “Yes, your Imperial Majesty.”
Lokenbach asks, “But, your Majesty…?”
“You’re lucky today, Lokenbach. I commanded you to die, and you were ready to accept your death. Your loyalty is still in question, but I believe you are worth keeping around for now. Will you continue to prove it?”
He bows, “Until I die, I shall serve the Empire and the glorious Empress, Sundenelle kos Lindenmorg.”
“W-Wait! Your Majesty! I… I pledge loyalty as well!”
“My enemies will use all manner of tactics, Sir Thrik. A coward will easily be convinced to betray me. You will merely be imprisoned for now. If you do not like it, you may take your own life. I hear those with the resolve to do so tend to bite their own tongues off. I wish you luck.”
She then faces the doctors. “Now, then. You have heard too much. So long as you cooperate, you will be paid, and your families will be kept in a safe location. However, if any of you try to escape, your families will be executed. As I explained to the guards, I have no wiggle room to tolerate potential leaks until I can control the situation. You will not be kept in a dungeon, so I trust you will comport yourself like intelligent adults.”
A few of the doctors and nurses glance at each other nervously, and they nod in agreement. “W-We will do as you say, your Imperial Majesty. P-Please have mercy.”
“I will, so long as you give me a reason to be merciful. I will publicly blame you for letting my father die. This will hide suspicion of you knowing anything important. It is no secret how much of a doting father the Emperor was to me. No one will question my scorn. If you do allow the information to leak… Sir Dalloway, my final command, should I perish before I can secure my position is this; kill anyone involved in the leak.”
“As you wish, your Grace.”
Sir Lokenbach has finished binding Thrik’s hands and gagging his mouth, even as the latter continues to try to plead for mercy. The guards move in to bind the hands of the doctors, gagging them as well.
Byleathea says gently, “There will be no hiding the death of the Emperor, Sundenelle.”
“I know, Mother. But,... Do you trust me?”
The woman smiles and pets her daughter’s head. “With my life.”
“Good. Sir Lokenbach, arrest Lady Byleathea.”
“Y-Your Majesty?” questions the knight. He clears his throat, briskly walking over as the others are filed out of the room. “Your Majesty, forgive me… I do not comprehend your actions.”
“The crazed bastard princess was inconsolable. She ordered everyone dragged out. Mother, may I?”
Byleathea doesn’t even question it. She nods once. Sundenelle slaps her across the face rather hard, which stuns the knight.
“Forgive me, Mother. If you wish, I will accept retaliation at a later time.”
Byleathea is a little surprised by being slapped, but she gently cups Sundenelle’s cheeks. She whispers, “This is to protect me, isn’t it?”
The new Empress nods once. “I’ll have you taken to the villa far outside…”
“I will stay,” replies the senior woman. “You have few allies, and though it is true that my family is weak in the aristocracy, we are not a poor barony or anything of the sort. You will have the full might of my family behind you. I swear it.” She kisses Sundenelle’s head. “We’re in this together, my Empress. Command me, and I will serve you.”
Sundenelle’s eyes water again, but she doesn’t have time. She walks to the nearest candlestick, which actually has a magic-crystal powered light. She screams, swinging the candlestick at the wall and anything metal, making a terrible racket as she shouts, “OUT! EVERYONE OUT! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!”
Lokenbach and Byleathea nod at each other, as well as at Sundenelle, who gives a subtle acknowledgement as she continues her impotent rampage.
Lokenbach escorts Byleathea out with her hands tied, and he hands her over to one of the trusted guards to take to the annex for now. The separated mansion-like building is a good place to hide, as it’s rather remote compared to the rest of the large Imperial palace. Since it is where Sundenelle and Byleathea live normally, it’s completely normal for them to reside there, though it’s also probable that Sundenelle and Byleathea will be evicted by the Dowager Empress and the false Crown Prince as soon as they can consolidate power.
Fortunately, the other princes will likely contest the succession, since the ‘Crown Prince’ was never formally crowned by the Emperor. And, in history, the death of an Emperor has always led to a succession dispute where the corrupt try to increase their power, the moderates try to maintain order, and the Imperial faction tries to maintain the word of law, which backs up the Imperial family in many ways. Setting the precedent for overturning one Imperial law would open the floodgates for changes that could dig out the support of the Empire from beneath the Imperial family.
Sundenelle was raised like a Princess, but she never thought of pursuing the throne because she wanted her father to live a long life, and she just wanted to take care of the Empire that he so lovingly cared for, as if the whole of the Empire were her elder sibling.
It gave her a home, comfort, and family. Now that she is thrust into a position of adulthood, it is her turn to give back to her elder sibling who needs her.
She huffs and pants after exerting herself to destroy unimportant parts of the room where her father still lies. She realizes she still has the sword she took from Lokenbach, so she tosses the candlestick aside.
She kneels next to the bed one last time. Father, please forgive this unsightly display. I will do my best to become an Empress you can be proud of. But, until then, as you taught me, I need to avert the gaze of my enemies.
She heads for the door, hesitating one last time. She may never see her father again, but she cannot afford to cry or falter. She was allowed her tears when she needed them most. Now, the Empire needs her.
She opens the door, putting on her iciest scowl. She is met with a handful of her guards who have remained behind to protect her, though Lokenbach is unfortunately not among them.
I took his sword, so I have a responsibility for it. Hopefully, he won’t need it any time soon.
She looks at the guards that she has present. Dalloway seems to have taken responsibility for ensuring Byleathea is returned to the annex safely, but she has an option. His second in command is a gatonine, who are second to shenwulves in terms of hearing.
She whispers almost completely inaudibly, “Listen first and then take charge, Sir Ecklevon. I am still the bastard princess for now. Condemn my actions, but be ready to dodge.”
She notices him nod, and he states, “Princess, shall we return to the-...”
Without acknowledging his words, Sundenelle turns, chanting in the ancient Imperial arcane language. Wind rushes away from her as dark energy accumulates quickly around her, fluttering her black mourning dress and sunlight-golden hair. Under the eerie glow given off by the dark magic, even her golden hair appears to take on a dark hue.
She raises her hand as she continues to chant, making her intentions crystal clear.
Ecklevon quickly calls out, “P-Princess, wait! What are you-...!?”
She’s not sure if he’s following her orders or reacting naturally. She can feel her mana flowing, intermingling with the mana she is calling forth with her incantation.
“Gloom Inferno.”
She casts her hand forward like she is throwing a stone with minimal effort. A pitch black orb of flickering and lashing black fire arcs forward into the room where the Sovereign Father of the Grand Zenkon Empire took his last breaths.
Fire cannot bring you back, but let it send you forth to the heavens where you belong, Imperial Father. “I love you,” whispers the new Empress tenderly. One last tear escapes her eyes as her spell unleashes, spitting out black flames all around the room that ignite everything with ease, burning every material in the room, other than the stone.
“Your Majesty!” cries out one of the guards, while Ecklevon exclaims, “Princess! What is the meaning of this!? The Emperor’s-...!”
Sundenelle watches as the flames spread mercilessly, already igniting the bedding. She watches the face of her resting father, and she catches a flicker of an image that nearly drops her to her knees.
She grips the sword still in her hand tightly, feeling like a little girl all over again as the seeming trick of the light vanishes as suddenly as it appeared.
She manages to smile in spite of what is being done. Her father’s body disappears into a surge of flames, and a heavy hand finally lands on her shoulder. “We have to get back!”
Ecklevon scoops the Empress up and carries her away from the flames as they quickly consume the building, glowing blue with unnatural magic flames.
Once everyone has cleared the area and a crowd begins to gather, he sets her down, asking quietly, “Your-... Princess, what…?”
“I’ll not have the body of my father paraded around like some sort of political prop, Sir Ecklevon.” She then switches to a loud voice, “I’ll be with you soon enough, Father! Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Nothing will ever replace your glory! Nothing!” She continues laughing madly while everyone else, from servants to nobles all keep their distance from her. She whirls haughtily, saying, “Come, my knights. Father will be waiting for me at dinner.”
The guards glance at each other, but they know she is scheming something, so they follow closely behind her as she leads the way back to the annex.
She is caught by one of her ‘brothers’, Themihk. He is a few weeks younger than Sundenelle, so they mostly grew up together. This is especially true because Byleathea took it upon herself to not leave the neglected prince alone when his mother, the Empress, showed more favor to his elder brother.
“Sister, it’s good to see you.”
“Same to you, Brother,” replies Sundenelle. For now, she has to regroup, which means her facade needs to continue.
“I saw Madame Byleathea being taken by the nights to the annex. Was that your doing?”
“What I do with my mother is none of your business, I think,” replies Sundenelle a little icily. “She tried to stop me from saying farewell to Imperial Father.”
Themihk glances at the smoke and flames consuming the Emperor’s convalescence room. He asked to be moved to a room that had no treasures or important items, in case his disease was truly contagious. There’s still no evidence that it was, and Sundenelle isn’t afraid that it was.
“A farewell of fire, is it?” asks Themihk skeptically. Like Sundenelle, Themihk is intelligent, well-read, and well-cared for. He owes much of that to Byleathea, who was kind enough to tutor him alongside Sundenelle. Of all of her ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’, Sundenelle would be lying if she said she has no affection for Themihk. He is by far the person she gets along with best after her own mother.
That said, he is now a potential adversary, and she is a heartbroken and maddened young Princess, so as long as she doesn’t let her facade slip, she stands a chance of coming out on top. She’ll do everything in her power not to come to blows with Themihk, but she must resolve herself to that possibility.
“He was my father. He was getting cold.”
This makes a pained, almost bitter expression cloud the young man’s face. “He was my father as well, Sundenelle. Yet, the rest of us were forbidden from being by his side.”
“Oh? I didn’t know. You didn’t miss much. He was asleep the entire time.”
The young Empress feels disgusting for lying, but she can’t let word get back to the former Empress that she’s making logical decisions. The more irrational and selfish she appears, the easier it will be to mislead her extended family. Before anything else, she needs to confirm her father’s words, and to confirm that she can prove her claim and right to the throne more strongly than the woman who most will call the Empress Dowager and her son, the heir apparent.
Themihk sighs. “Sister, this isn’t like you. Seeing him one last time…”
“Last time? Brother, there is nothing to worry about. He’ll be at dinner tonight. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get ready.”
Sundenelle walks past the young blonde man with a graceful attitude, even though she knows her eyes and cheeks are undoubtedly still red. She realizes that she might look suspicious for having killed the Emperor, but anyone with a brain should find that mind-numbingly foolish at this point. It may disadvantage her when she reveals his will, if it exists, but she has plenty of witnesses who will testify to what occurred in his last moments.
Additionally, anyone who might claim she killed him will only be able to say that they believe she did, since only a handful of people actually witnessed her cast the spell, and the flames were certainly magic. It’s entirely possible the Emperor himself had an elaborate spell already in place, since he was known to cast dark magic spells, but Sundenelle has never been seen to cast magic.
Hmmm… I should find out if any of my ‘siblings’ can use Father’s magic elements. She smiles at her own hand. Two elements shy of omni-affinity, Father, but it will be easy to prove I am your daughter. As for disproving the others… You certainly never took it easy on me, did you?
When she turns a corner, she glances at the flames and smoke still rising into the air. Nothing will remain of the entire structure, since the spell she cast creates flames that cannot be extinguished until the mana channeled into the spell is consumed.
Once they’re crossing the courtyard to the annex, Ecklevon asks quietly, “Princess, I understand you are servicing some sort of strategy, but do you intend to share it with any of us so we might… be able to keep up?”
Sundenelle keeps her gaze ahead, replying quietly, “I am going to need you to go along with my whims for now, Sir Ecklevon. If you do not wish to, I need you to sequester yourself in the annex with the other prisoners until I achieve stability.”
He sighs. “Commander Dalloway will never let me live it down if I shave my tail now. I am with you to the end, your Imperial Highness.”
“Good. Continue the act for now. Once my pieces are in place, I will reveal the truth.”
“As you wish.”
Sundenelle smirks. It’s going to be a long night.
***