His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 84

“I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but may I ask why is Her Highness here?” Yulien’s aide, who had introduced himself as Zariel earlier, asked with a forced smile once they were all sitting around the round table. He had kept glancing at Raena as if expecting her to turn and leave, but when Kassian pulled a chair for her to sit, his patience must have run out. “I know she is your wife, but this is not a place for..”

“She is not here as my wife.” Kassian interrupted him. “She is here as a contributor and someone who might have valuable information for us”

“Is that so?” He asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. He was the oldest of the group, probably in his mid-forties, with dark blonde hair that barely hid the white that had started to peep out. His eyes were sharp though, not that she expected anything different from Yulien’s aide, and he looked at her with most suspicion. On top of that, the casual way he spoke to Kassian clearly showed they had a long history.

“Alright, if you say so. Let’s hear it.” Kassian gave her an encouraging nod, and Raena turned back towards the three men on the table. She had survived university midterms for four years; she had worked twelve-hour shifts, then pulled all-nighters; she had suffered clients complaining that the ice cream was too cold for their children or the soup was too hot. Not to mention that all of them together weren’t nearly as intimidating as the Empress, who Raena was planning to betray.

She wasn’t going to be scared of them. She got this.

“A few months ago, shortly after I got married, I was invited to the Imperial Palace to pay my respects to the Empress as the newest member of the Imperial family.” She started, feeling her voice grow steadier and her body relax with each passing word. “I went and gave my respects. And then..” she paused for a second, glancing at Kassian before returning her eyes to the other three. “..I blackmailed the Empress into supporting my restaurant venture and making me her personal vendor for her social parties.”

Gerrin, the soldier who was introduced to her as Kassian’s second-in-command and who was just taking a sip from the glass of water he had poured himself, choked on it. Blaine patted his back while he fought to compose himself while Zariel continued to stare at her with narrowed eyes.

“With what?” He finaly asked.

“With revealing the names of the nobles from the Empire’s regions, who are conspiring with her to make her son the Emperor and get rid of his competition. At least that’s what I revealed I know, hinting that there might be more.”

Zariel blinked a few times, as if trying to make sure he heard her right. Blaine and Gerrin stared at her as if they were seeing her for the first time.

“And how did you find that information?” Zariel asked, his voice almost breathless.

“I cannot tell you that,” Raena replied, glancing at Kassian again. She returned her eyes back to the table, reaching out towards the stack of blank papers and the inkpot lying in the middle of it.

She opened the latter without hurrying and started writing the names down. “I will provide you with what evidence I have dug up on them. It should be enough to start an investigation into them. I assume you’re competent enough to find the rest.”

She pulled the quill away, sliding the paper towards them. Zariel’s nostrils were flaring at the remark, but he said nothing. Blaine was the first one to move, pulling the list closer and adjusting his glasses. His eyes slid over the names and he glanced at her before turning towards Zariel.

“Three of them are people we already know to be connected to the Empress.” He said quietly. pushing the paper towards the other aide. “lt is worth checking it out.”

“At just her word? We are already stretched thin as it is.” Zariel replied just as quietly as if they were having a private conversation, not minding her presence. “His Highness won’t…”

“May I continue now?” Raena asked louder, making them both turn to look at her. Blaine adjusted in his seat awkwardly, while Zariel slowly leaned back, waving for her to continue. His displeasure was still present on his face, but the look in his eyes was different. “Thank you. While I do believe those connections, if proven, can be enough to implicate her in treason, I have gathered more information recently that will also implicate directly the second prince too.” The three tensed visibly, but nobody interrupted her. She kept her eyes on Zariel, fully aware he was the only one whose trust and approval she actually needed. Both Blaine and Gerrin were Kassian’s men and while he probably did value their opinion, she was sure they would do whatever he told them. While Zariel was Yulien’s and he only had his master’s interests at heart.

Raena took a deep breath and told them about the network she and Marden had created and how they used the workers at the brothel to gather information. She told them about the things they found out through it, watching them carefully as they looked at each other or tried not to react. She told them about Hale often servicing the second prince and everything up until the night of the attack. She dared not glance at Kassian too often, but she hoped he could control his face for once, since, in order for them to trust her, they needed to think he already knew all of that.

“So I went to see Marden after l got word of his condition and he told me that just before dying, Hale hid a note in his room.” She added, shifting slightly when she felt a shiver run down the spine as if someone was staring intently at her. She glanced at Kassian for a split second, finding him standing stiff in his spot with his jaw clenched.

Raena almost sighed, but tried to focus on the matter at hand. “So I went to find the note..”

“By yourself?” Gerrin asked, frowning.

Raena turned her eyes to him.

“Who else can I trust with information that almost got two people killed?” Raena asked, and he quickly looked away from her. “There was a note indeed. In it, Hale said that when he was on his way to his room, he overheard Prince Rissen speaking with someone about the anniversary ball and how everything was going according to plan and the other party just needed to make sure to kill the own prince that night at all costs, Hale also mentioned that they didn’t care if Kassian died or not, since even if he survived, it wouldn’t be for long. This leads me to believe they plan to pin, everything on him or have him killed some other way. Madam Lydia’s name was mentioned too, so I suspect l will have a role to play too since my people are catering for the occasion along with the Imperial cooks.”

She waited for their reaction, but the silence dragged unnaturally long this time.

“Where is that note?” Zariel asked, his expression looking even darker than before.

“Gone,” Raena said as confidently as possible. “I couldn’t exactly carry it on me and have it fall into the wrong hands.”

“So we have just your word for it.” He said, holding her gaze. “Why did you have to destroy it exactly?”

“That’s because…” Raena started, but noticed Blaine frowning, then leaning forward and raising his hand.

“Were the count, and the worker attacked the same night you were attacked?” He asked.

Raena nodded. “And when did the boy hear this conversation?”

“Marden said Hale has been asking to talk to him for maybe three days so I say four days before the attack? I can go and check with Marden.” She sensed Kassian shift next to her and looked at him only to find an almost threatening look on his face. “Or have one of you go to his residence and check with him.” She added hesitantly, and Kassian’s face relaxed a bit.

“ls that the same count who is rumored to be dead?” Zariel asked, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s a ploy.” She said quickly. “I spread the rumor to keep him safe since the killer might have gone back to finish the job. It was the only way to make them play by my rules. They might find out the truth, but until then they will think they had been successful, which gives me the time to get Marden proper protection. And if they do go after him, they will not expect resistance which might lead them to them make a mistake.”

Another silence followed and the looks that she received made her even more hesitant.

“Ha. Yulien would love this.” Kassian scoffed beside her and she gave him a puzzled look. He sat forward, leaning his hands on the table.

“It’s true that we don’t have any concrete evidence. But there have been way too many coincidences already to ignore it. Yulien already suspects an attack will happen during the Anniversary ball – he just didn’t think Craidal will be right in the middle of it. Even I didn’t expect the Empress to sink that low.” Gerrin nodded in agreement while the other two looked down, unable to refute that simple fact. “We don’t have a choice but to assume what Raena says is correct. If it turns out she got the wrong information, we just spent some extra hours in preparation for it. But if we don’t take that under account and it happens – then all hell will break loose.”

“What about the names?” Zariel asked, glancing towards the list. “Why do we hear about it now? This information, if real, could have been a game-changer. But even if we follow up on those people now, there is no chance we could gather enough evidence before the Anniversary ball.”

“That is not something you need to worry about. I’ve already discussed this with my brother. Just give him the names, he’ll decide what to do with them.” Kassian said in such a commanding tone, even Raena tensed in her seat. Kassian turned to Gerrin, who straightened his shoulders as if expecting an order. “Send someone you trust to the count’s residence and have them question him for more details then put a protection detail on him.”

“What are we going to do about your situation? If they really plan to pin something on you, it might be better not to attend at all.” Blaine said. “This way. you have deniability.”

“If they want to have him accused of something he didn’t do, they will do it regardless. I doubt their entire plan depends on him attending a ball. His presence there is probably irrelevant to their plan.” Zariel frowned. “Better have him there to control the situation from inside. As a royal member, he is allowed to bring a weapon in.” His eyes stopped on Raena. “What about Madam Lydia? Will she be in attendance?”

“I wasn’t planning to go after the Empress almost had me exposed the last time, but now I think it might be best if I attend,” Raena said thoughtfully. “I will have access to the kitchen and the ballroom and I could monitor for any suspicious activity. And make sure none of the food or drinks are being poiso..”

“No.” Kassian interrupted her, making everyone turn his way. “it’s too dangerous. You’re not going.”

“It’s not up to you,” Raena said, forcing a smile that should have told him that he shouldn’t contradict her now that everybody was listening and even involving her in the conversation. It was him who had said she needed their trust and confidence, she couldn’t leave something as stupid as his protectiveness to ruin this.

“As much as I don’t want to agree with her, she is right. We need eyes everywhere and we don’t have people we explicitly trust among the servants.” Raena suppressed her smile, but as she met Zariel’s gaze, he added quickly. “I still do not trust you fully, but if your husband trusts you that is enough for now.” He turned back to the others as if nothing happened, his expression just as serious. We also don’t know how they plan to attack exactly, which is a problem since we can’t account for all possibilities.”

“Let’s not make plans before Yulien hears this. Hell just laugh at us again.” Kassian said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. Blaine and Gerrin both got dark expressions as if knowing exactly what he was talking about. Zariel nodded.

“I think it would be best if you accompany me back to the Imperial Palace. He needs to learn all of this,” he glanced towards Raena again, “and we need to make a plan. We also need to carefully select the quards that will be present there, balancing between His Highness’s and the Empress’s men so it doesn’t look too suspicious.”

Kassian closed his eyes with a tortured expression, moving his neck as if he was preparing to beat someone.

“Fine.” He said with the most annoyed voice, glancing towards Raena. “We should stop here today. If there is anything else…”

“Wait” Raena said just as they were all getting up. She licked her l!ps, hesitating only for a second. There was a chance what she said next would put her back to square one with them, but at this point, if she didn’t do it, it could be fatal. And she had promised Kassian no more secrets. “l need to add one more thing.” All four of them slowly took back their seats, staring at her expectantly. “I think… I have three Craidal rebels residing in my residence.”