As the chariot came to a stop at the palace gates, the group disembarked, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

The city had shown its beauty, its strength, and its secrets—and Adrian knew that, for all the tranquility on the surface, there were deeper currents at play.

"Thank you for the tour, your Majesty," Adrian said as they walked back into the palace. "It was... enlightening."

Alannah nodded. "There will be a council meeting tomorrow morning. I hope you'll be able to attend. There are some matters that require the attention of the special advisor to the queen."

"Of course," Adrian replied. "I'll be there."

Queen Alannah's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she turned and headed back into the castle, her long gown flowing behind her like a shadow.

Lilith, ever perceptive, watched the Queen's retreating figure with narrowed eyes. "There's something she's not telling us," she murmured, her voice low enough that only Adrian could hear. "I wonder what it is."

Adrian frowned but didn't respond. He had the same feeling. The King's absence, the Queen's guarded responses—there was more to Zarpha's royal family than met the eye.

And he had a feeling it wouldn't be long before they uncovered the truth.

Adrian gestured for them to follow him back to their quarters. As soon as the door closed behind them, he gathered them together, his mind working through their next steps.

"We need to blend in," Adrian began. He stood by the window, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow on his face. "Zarpha is an ally, but we can't be complacent. There's more going on here than Alannah is letting on, and the Shadow Court could have their claws in the kingdom already. We need to find out what we can."

The goddesses exchanged glances, already understanding the gravity of the situation.

Ava was the first to speak, her golden eyes gleaming with ambition. "I'll hit the marketplace," she said confidently, flicking a hand through her flowing hair. "It's the heart of the kingdom's trade and wealth. I'll see what whispers I can gather among the merchants. Maybe I can find out who's pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Adrian nodded. It made sense—Ava's charm and greed would fit right into the bustling market. "Be discreet, though," he warned. "We don't want to draw unnecessary attention just yet."

Ava smirked. "Don't worry. I know how to play the game."

Medea, standing with her arms crossed, spoke next. "I'll go to the barracks," she said firmly. "If we're staying here for a while, I need to keep in shape. Besides, soldiers always talk, and if there's any unrest in the ranks, I'll hear about it."

Adrian gave her an approving nod. "Good idea."

"The soldiers might know more about the King's absence or the internal politics here." Lilith continued.

"Just be careful—Zarpha's military isn't to be underestimated." Adrian finished.

Medea's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'll be fine. If anything, they should be careful around me."

There was a moment of silence before Selene quietly spoke up from her spot near the edge of the room. "Zarpha doesn't seem like the religious type," she said softly. "I'll go to the fields, where the farmers work. They're the ones closest to the land, and they hear everything. Maybe they've noticed something strange."

Adrian looked at her thoughtfully. The people of Zarpha were pragmatic, not easily swayed by faith, but Selene's quiet wisdom could be a valuable asset. "Good. Keep an ear out for anything unusual, especially in the outskirts. The Shadow Court likes to operate where the light of authority doesn't reach."

Selene nodded, her expression calm and composed. "I will, my Lord."

All eyes then turned to Lilith, who had been lounging against the wall, her arms crossed with a smug grin on her face. "And what will you be doing?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lilith stretched languidly, her smirk never fading. "Oh, I've already got my eyes in the palace," she said nonchalantly. "The maids, the guards—whatever happens within these walls, I'll learn about it soon enough." And trust me, I'm going to find out about the King and whatever Alannah is hiding."

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "You're really taking it upon yourself to uncover that, aren't you?"

Lilith shrugged, her gaze gleaming with amusement. "Someone has to," she purred. "And besides, secrets are so much more fun when you get to cut them piece by piece."

Medea scoffed, though there was a hint of a smirk on her lips. "Of course you'd find this entertaining."

Lilith winked at her. "You know me well."

Adrian sighed, rubbing his temple. "Just… don't cause too much trouble while you're at it. The last thing we need is to get thrown out of the palace before we learn anything useful."

"Who, me?" Lilith's voice was dripping with feigned innocence. "I would never dream of causing trouble."

Adrian shot her a warning look but didn't pursue the matter further. He knew Lilith well enough to understand that while she enjoyed stirring the pot, she was also resourceful. If there were any whispers or hidden plots within the palace, Lilith would be the first to hear about them.

With the goddesses now dispersed across the kingdom, Adrian was left with his own task: a visit to the Council meeting, where he would try to learn as much as possible about the state of Zarpha, their allies, secrets and foes.

Adrian had a feeling staying in the Kingdom of Zarpha would be a beneficial decision for their cause, but it would come at a cost.

He hoped they would be ready for whatever came next.

Lost in thought and strategizing for the days ahead, there was a sudden knock on the door. His thoughts were immediately pulled back to the present, and he headed to the door to see who it was.

A young servant stood there, bowing low before delivering the message.

"Lord Adrian, Queen Alannah has requested your presence," the servant said respectfully. "She wishes to have a word with you… privately."

Adrian felt a twinge of anticipation. He had expected this call would come sooner or later. Queen Alannah's gaze during the tour had revealed that she had more on her mind than she had let on. Perhaps now she would finally reveal some of the answers to the questions that had been gnawing at him since their arrival.

He nodded to the servant. "Tell her I'll be there in a few minutes."

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