Although Baron had outrightly stated he would not be making any moves during the competition, it did not an his mistress shared the sa restraint.
Celeste had never been a woman to wait patiently.
A dark shawl was pulled low around her face as she slipped into a secret location. It looked like an ordinary inn, but Celeste bypassed the front entrance, veering instead toward the stables at the back.
The scent of hay and animal sweat clung thickly to the air, and the mont she stepped inside, a stable boy glanced up, and his face lit up in recognition.
He did not bow, and moved quickly to her side without question. He led her toward one of the horses tethered near the far wall.
The creature was large and dark-coated, its eyes intelligent. Celeste ran her fingers through its mane, murmuring sothing affectionate, giving the picture of a woman visiting her favorite animal.
But all of this was a performance because while she stroked the horse, the boy slipped away, scanning the stable entrance, the alley beyond, and the shadows where soone might be lurking.
He then returned, announcing in a low voice.
"The coast is clear."
Celeste nodded, then pulled out a pouch full of coins. The boy accepted it with both hands, happiness written all over his face.
As soon as he pocketed the coins, the stable boy took her hand and guided her toward a concealed door behind a stack of feed barrels.
It opened to a narrow stairway descending underground, the air growing cooler as they moved down, torchlight flickering against the stone walls.
Four fae were already seated around a crude table in the basent below, and their heads snapped up the mont Celeste stepped into view.
A tense silence fell on the cramped space.
Councilor Enock was the first to react.
"What the hell is this?" He rose to his feet, craning his neck, checking the entrance and half expecting Baron to finally show his face.
He didn’t.
His face darkened instantly. "Didn’t Baron call this eting? Why is he not here, and why are you?"
The others shifted uneasily in their seats, discomfort written plainly across their faces. This gathering alone was an act of rebellion against the Queen. Every one of them knew the risk they were taking by sitting at this table.
And now, Baron hadn’t even bothered to show his face. Instead, he had sent his mistress.
Every single one of them felt insulted.
Celeste wasn’t even affected.
She ignored the hostility entirely and walked over with the authority of one who had summoned them. Celeste pulled out a chair and sat without a care.
Enock’s glare followed her every move, hard enough to bore a hole straight through her forehead. If looks could kill, she would have been ashes on the stone floor.
Unfortunately for him, Celeste had long mastered the art of ignoring pompous fools.
Although Celeste and Enock belonged to the sa house, their standings were worlds apart. Enock was blood and directly related to Baron. He was grood within the inner circles and was raised believing he would always stand closest to Baron.
Celeste, on the other hand, was two generations removed. Her mother had married into the family, hence she was tolerated — and replaceable.
Or so Enock had thought.
He should have been the one Baron trusted most. If anyone deserved to be the Queen consort’s closest adviser and master strategist, it should have been him.
And yet Baron had chosen her. Not just that he chose, he elevated her and the insult of it festered.
The others in the room felt the shift in hierarchy too and wisely remained silent. None of them wanted to beco collateral damage in whatever war was brewing between the two family mbers.
"I can assure you," Celeste said calmly to the other councilors, pointedly ignoring Enock, "Baron is very much aware of this eting."
She spoke as though Enock’s outrage was irrelevant and the eting could proceed perfectly well without his approval.
That deliberate lack of acknowledgnt pushed Enock further. His hands balled into fists at his sides, knuckles whitening.
Only then did Celeste lift her head and look at him.
"Are you going to remain standing for the duration of the eting, Councilor Enock?"
His jaw tightened. The muscles in his face flexed with restrained fury, but after a long, tense second, he reluctantly took his seat.
The smile Celeste gave him was utterly condescending.
Good boy.
"Anyway," Celeste said, ignoring his silent seething, "I’m sure you’ve all heard the news."
"You an the fact that the princess is powerful?" Councilor Zion pointed out, his lips pressed together grimly.
The other two councilors exchanged a look, clearing their throats as they shifted uneasily in their seats.
Celeste wasn’t fazed by their discomfort. "Exactly. Which is why the Trial of Ascension needs to be moved up. Possibly in two days."
The room erupted at once, low murmurs breaking into overlapping protests.
"Are you out of your mind?" Enock barked at her. "You might as well announce to the Queen that we’re conspiring against her."
"Queen Seraphira already knows we’re working against her," Celeste stated boldly. "Ever since her daughter returned, she’s grown a spine."
Enock let out a harsh laugh. "So your solution is to hasten our execution?"
Celeste didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she addressed the others.
"Queen Seraphira requested ti for Violet to train, to give her a fair chance at the Trial. But after today’s events, we cannot allow that."
Her serious gaze swept across the table.
"Unfortunately, we also cannot afford to make her suspicious of us. Which is why the Council will push a different narrative. You will make the Queen believe that we are eager for the princess to win. That we believe she is already capable enough and want her to take her rightful place as the recognized heir imdiately."
"And the Queen would believe that?" asked the second Councilor, his brows drawn in suspicion.
"Well, that’s not my role now, is it?" Celeste said, lifting a brow. "You’re a Councilor. That is your job. Or should I return to Baron with the news that you are incapable?"
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