Chapter 8 - The Queen's Gambit
While Alexander left to stall the furious High Council, Sophia did not sit in her room and cry. She summoned the Commander of the Royal Shadows—the King’s elite spy network. Because she remembered something from Victoria’s office years ago.
“My mother always received off-the-books shipments at the docks. She called it the 'Sterling Account',” Sophia told the Commander rapidly. “Lady Elara’s family name is Sterling. If Victoria is bankrupt, how is Elara paying for this massive media smear campaign?”
The Commander’s eyes widened. He dispatched his agents instantly.
For ninety agonizing minutes, Sophia waited, pacing the marble floors. Finally, just as the palace bells tolled to signal the High Council's verdict, the Commander returned. He was holding a leather briefcase, his face pale.
“You were right, My Lady,” the Commander breathed. “It’s worse than a smear campaign. We found the ledgers.”
Sophia opened the briefcase. Inside were shipping manifests, bank transfers, and encrypted letters. Elara and Victoria had not just leaked a secret—they had been running an illegal weapons smuggling ring through Laurent Enterprises to fund a rebel faction. They were planning to stage a coup and overthrow Alexander entirely if Elara wasn't crowned Queen.
May you like
Sophia snapped the briefcase shut. Her blood was pure ice.
“Get my cloak,” Sophia commanded. “We are going to the Council.”
