Something was wrong.
Elira felt it the moment she woke up.
The room looked the same.
The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains. The air was still. The guards remained outside, their presence steady and unchanged.
Everything was… normal.
Too normal.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the blanket as she sat up, her gaze instinctively moving toward the cradle.
Kael was there.
Sleeping.
Peaceful.
For a moment, her chest eased.
Then—
That feeling returned.
A quiet, creeping sensation at the back of her mind.
Like unseen eyes lingering just out of reach.
Watching.
Waiting.
Elira slowly climbed down from the bed, her small feet touching the cold marble floor. She didn't rush. Didn't make sudden movements.
Instead—
She walked to the cradle.
Calm.
Controlled.
As if nothing was wrong.
Her hand reached out, gently brushing against Kael's hair.
Warm.
Alive.
Safe.
For now.
"…Stay quiet today," she whispered softly.
Not because he understood.
But because she needed to say it.
Her gaze lifted.
Scanning the room.
The corners.
The windows.
The door.
Nothing.
And yet—
The feeling didn't leave.
A knock came.
Soft.
Measured.
Elira didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes remained fixed on the door.
"…Enter."
The door opened.
A maid stepped in, bowing quickly.
"Your Highness, your meal—"
"Stop."
The word was quiet.
But it froze the maid mid-step.
Elira's gaze sharpened.
"…Who sent you?"
The maid blinked in confusion. "I—Your Highness?"
"Who sent you," Elira repeated.
Slower this time.
The maid swallowed.
"T-The kitchen, Your Highness."
A lie.
Too fast.
Too rehearsed.
Elira stepped forward.
Small steps.
Soft.
But each one made the maid's breathing grow more uneven.
"…What's your name?" Elira asked.
A pause.
"…Lina, Your Highness."
Another lie.
Elira tilted her head slightly.
Watching.
Measuring.
Then—
"…Leave the tray."
The maid hesitated.
"Your Highness, I was instructed to—"
"Leave."
This time—
There was no softness.
The word landed with quiet authority.
The maid flinched.
"…Yes, Your Highness."
She placed the tray down quickly, her hands shaking slightly before stepping back and bowing.
Then she left.
Too quickly.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Elira didn't move.
Not yet.
Her gaze remained fixed on the tray.
Minutes passed.
Then—
She turned.
"Commander Cassian."
The door opened instantly.
He had been waiting.
Of course he had.
His sharp eyes swept the room, then landed on her.
"You called."
Elira pointed at the tray.
"…Check it."
No explanation.
No hesitation.
Cassian didn't question her.
He stepped forward, his movements precise. A guard followed behind with testing tools.
The process was quick.
Efficient.
And then—
"…Poison."
The word fell like a blade.
Again.
Silence.
But this time—
It wasn't shock.
It was confirmation.
Elira closed her eyes briefly.
"…They're watching us," she said quietly.
Cassian's expression hardened.
"You're certain?"
Elira opened her eyes.
"Yes."
Not a guess.
Not fear.
Certainty.
"They're testing me," she continued. "Seeing what I notice. What I ignore."
Her gaze shifted slightly.
Cold.
Calculating.
"And how far they can go."
Cassian watched her closely.
This wasn't the reasoning of a child.
This was strategy.
"…Then we respond," he said.
Elira shook her head.
"No."
Simple.
Firm.
Cassian frowned slightly. "If we do nothing, they will continue."
Elira looked at him.
"…Exactly."
A pause.
"They think I'm reacting," she said softly. "They think I'm defending."
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
"So we let them think that."
Cassian's eyes sharpened.
"…And what will you do?"
Elira's gaze shifted back to the tray.
Then—
A slow, small smile appeared.
Not childish.
Not innocent.
But something far more dangerous.
"We set a trap."
Silence.
The guards shifted slightly.
Cassian didn't.
"…Explain."
Elira walked slowly toward the table, her small hand resting lightly against its edge.
"They're confident now," she said. "They think I can detect poison."
A pause.
"So next time… they won't use it."
Cassian understood immediately.
"They'll change methods."
Elira nodded.
"Yes."
Her gaze darkened slightly.
"And that's when we catch them."
The room fell silent.
Because it was simple.
Because it was dangerous.
Because it would work.
Cassian studied her for a long moment.
Then—
"…You're asking to be used as bait."
Not a question.
A fact.
Elira didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The word came without hesitation.
Without fear.
Cassian's expression hardened.
"That is not acceptable."
Elira met his gaze.
"It's necessary."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
Then—
She added quietly,
"They won't aim for me first."
A pause.
Her eyes shifted toward the cradle.
"…They'll aim for him."
The truth hung in the air.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
Cassian exhaled slowly.
His hand rested briefly against the hilt of his sword.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Then—
"…Fine."
The word came reluctantly.
"But under one condition."
Elira waited.
Cassian's gaze locked onto hers.
"You do exactly as I say when the time comes."
A pause.
"No hesitation."
Elira considered it.
Then—
"…Agreed."
A contract.
Unspoken.
But binding.
Cassian turned toward the guards.
"Prepare."
Simple.
Cold.
Final.
The trap was set.
Elira turned back to the cradle, her fingers gently wrapping around Kael's.
Warm.
Alive.
Still here.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Just a little longer."
Because now—
It wasn't about reacting anymore.
It was about control.
And somewhere in the palace—
An enemy believed they were hunting.
But soon—
They would realize—
They were the ones being hunted.