Basil frowned into the distance. He’d been sitting in the same position for at least an hour, thinking and letting out little frustrated sighs. It had been a full day since the confrontation in the ballroom. She knew that he went to talk to Adolph about Laurel again after that, but he hadn’t said what they’d discussed. It was unnerving and only added to Delia’s current stress. The vial Eden had given her was burning against her skin, tucked safely in the bust of her gown. She hadn’t dared to leave it in her room where someone could find it and get suspicious. “I’m having doubts,” Basil said softly. “About… my mother and father’s relationship.”Delia slid closer, seizing upon the chance, “Why?”“… a feeling,” Basil said, making Delia’s stomach jolt in fear. “Just… an instinct I guess.”He sighed as Delia tried to calm her heart. Adolph had impeccable instincts. Was there a chance that Basil had inherited some of them and they were waking up now? Why now? She thought of Eden’s cold

After brunch, they retired to the bridal suite. Delia sat at the back of the room, refusing to help Laurel, though it didn’t seem as though she was expected to help. It didn’t matter to her other than to irritate her. There should have been news about Adolph being ill by now, but since there wasn’t, she could only imagine that Adolph would fall to the poison before the ceremony. She’d used the entire vial after all. She didn’t know what Tina was planning, but she doubted that Laurel would make it long after the ceremony either. With both of them out of the way, she would be the luna. Basil would be king, but the entire plan would be complete. Would Eden be happy? Would he reward her? She grimaced, thinking of Tina. There was no way the woman wouldn’t remember her hint about Basil’s heir. Maybe she should have saved a bit of poison for her as well. Raven watched Delia out of the corner of the mirror as she helped Irene do Laurel’s makeup. Lily and Sarah managed the curling of Laurel

A shudder went through the room at the mention of treason. The kingdom’s law regarding treason was one of the harshest laws they had: death by drawing and quartering. The last time someone had been accused of treason, the king left their body scattered until the wild beasts consumed every piece of flesh and refused to let the traitor’s family hold any form of funeral rites. In that man’s defense, the traitor had murdered his luna. Chasel knew that if Adolph had to follow in his father’s footsteps in that way, he wouldn’t stop at drawing and quartering. The late king had been a fearsome man, but he had come into the war a lot older than when Adolph had gone in. He hadn’t been so steeped in blood that his aura and scent had begun to smell of it. Chasel shuddered.“So says His Majesty,” Chasel said, calling forth a resounding salute of acknowledgment from the guards in the hall.Chasel approached Adolph slowly, taking stock of how he shook and the glints of red light in his eyes. It

Adolph walked into the room where they brought Maria and took a steadying breath, hearing her weep. He sat across from her and offered her a handkerchief. She took it with a little whimpering cry. “Y-Your Majesty… Is she okay?”“The priestess has said she will recover with time.”She nodded stiffly, “That’s… That’s good. I… After this I… I wish to tender my resignation.”Arthur tilted his head, “Have you passed on the recipes?”She sniffled, looking up at him with confusion, “The imperial jam’s recipe is recorded in the archives, of course.”“Not the imperial jam,” Adolph smirked, “*Your* petal jam recipes.”She blinked as he relaxed into his seat, “I’m not prepared to start eating someone else’s petal jam, Maria, so I can’t allow you to resign.”“B-But…” She sniffled. “I… Someone… I… I didn’t see it.”“I’m not worried about what you didn’t see. I’m worried about what you did.”She nodded, “I-I understand. W-Where should I start?”“The poison has been determined to be crimson oleande

Basil looked at his father in horror as Tina was dragged into the hall and put before his throne. Tina curled up, sobbing pitifully. “Pl-Please have mercy. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die….”“Father,” Basil said. “Does she not deserve leniency for all of her years of service? It’s probably just a mistake!”Adolph looked at Basil, “Tina. Do you confess to the crime of attempted murder?”Tina sobbed, “I-I… Y-Yes. I…”Basil’s eyes widened. He paled and he closed his mouth in shock. Adolph was grateful that he didn’t need to keep Basil on his list of potential threats. For all of his stupidity, Basil was still his son and heir.“I… I only did it for Luna Olivia,” she cried. “Please, you have to understand!”“What say the ministers for sentencing?” Adolph asked, and looked at Gavin. “Minister Mirabelle as she was once a servant of your house, you may speak first.”Her eyes turned bright and hopeful looking up at Gavin. “No true servant of my family would ever have attempted murd