The room was still dark when Alina opened her eyes. Beside her, Austin was still fast asleep, his one arm wrapped around her waist. For a moment, she just watched him. He looked peaceful and more at ease than he had in days.

Carefully, she slipped out from under his arm. His grip tightened around her instinctively for a second, his body refusing to let her go even in sleep. Then it loosened.

Alina stood beside the bed and looked down at him one last time before reaching for the three sealed letters she had hidden in her drawer the night before.

The castle was silent at this hour. Her footsteps echoed softly as she walked downstairs towards the servants’ wing.

She stopped in front of Evelyn’s door, took a deep breath and knocked. Evelyn opened it after a minute, rubbing sleep from her eyes. But when she saw Alina’s facial expression, her sleep vanished instantly.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I need your help."

Evelyn immediately stepped aside to let her in.

Alina sat on the edge of her bed and pulled out the letters from her pocket.

"I need you to deliver this letter to Emeric without getting caught," Alina said, handing over the first letter.

Evelyn took it without any question.

"And deliver these two to Lady Talbot," Alina added, giving her the other two letters. "All the details are on the envelopes."

Evelyn looked down at the letters, then back at Alina.

"Does His Grace know?"

"Not yet."

"But why?" Evelyn asked. "If he finds out you’re acting on your own behind his back, he will be angry."

Alina sighed.

"I know," she said. "But right now our methods don’t align with each other. He is preparing for the worst while I’m trying to stop it before it reaches us."

Evelyn studied her for a moment, then smiled.

"I’ll send them first thing in the morning," Evelyn promised.

"Thank you."

As Alina stood to leave, Evelyn gently caught her arm.

"Be careful," she said. "Secrets can turn into disasters in this castle."

Alina smiled faintly.

"I know."

When she returned to Austin’s room, she found him still sleeping. She slipped quietly back into bed beside him, and immediately his arm came around her again, pulling her close. She smiled and closed her eyes.

I hope I wasn’t too late in making this decision.

In the morning, Austin sat in his study with reports spread across his desk, though he had barely read a single line. Mr. Harrington entered with the morning briefing tucked under his arm like always. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Your Grace," he began, "regarding the transfers..."

Austin looked up.

"What happened?"

"I’ve begun the paperwork as instructed," Harrington told him. "But I must ask if you are certain."

"I am."

Harrington hesitated then spoke.

"With respect, Your Grace, you might be risking your position because of this."

Austin didn’t answer because he knew Harrington was right. The steward realized the duke had already made his decision and wouldn’t budge. So, he just nodded and left the study without saying anything else.

The silence afterward felt louder. Austin stared at the empty chair across from him where Alina used to sit. She usually came in the mornings before leaving for the sewing circle. But today she wasn’t here. And that chair sonehow looked painfully empty.

He replayed her words from the last night.

You’re giving up. You’re surrendering because you’ve already decided you’ll lose.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes briefly. He knew she was right, but right now he couldn’t think of any other option. He had built contingency plans because they made him feel in control. And according to him, loss was easier to survive when prepared for in advance.

When Alina entered the study that afternoon, relief flashed across his face immediately.

"Why you didn’t come in the morning?" he asked , the moment she stepped in.

"I had things to do."

"What things?"

Alina crossed the room and sat in her usual chair across from him.

"I sent letters to Emeric and Lady Talbot," she replied.

She had to hide about the letter she had sent to Eleanor because she hadn’t told him about the blood ink pact yet. She had wanted to tell him but the timing wasn’t right.

"About what?"

"I asked Lady Talbot to arrange a private meeting with her merchant contacts. Those contacts might have information that we can use to our advantage."

"And Emeric?" he asked.

"Emeric once mentioned finding some old royal archives connected to Audrey," Alina explained. "Apparently there were three incidents involving her that were buried before she came to Ravenmoor. Do you know about them?

Austin thought for a moment.

"Audrey and I have been friends since we were children. Although we’ve spent a lot of time together, I don’t remember any such incidents."

Alina nodded.

"Because they were buried before anyone could find out about them," she said. "I’ve told Emeric to bring me those original records. If he succeeds, we may finally have an advantage over Audrey and the king himself ,"

"You knew so much and you didn’t tell me?"’

"With everything that was already going on, I didn’t want to burden you. Moreover, Emeric didn’t have anything concrete at that point."

Alina thought Austin might get angry on her for hiding such an important information from him. But to her surprise, he nodded in understanding.

"It is a smart move," he admitted.

She smiled.

"I just hope it yields results."

Late that afternoon, after Alina returned to the sewing circle, another knock came at Austin’s study door.

"Come in."

Audrey entered gracefully and sat in Alina’s chair without hesitation.

"Austin, I’ll come straight to the point" she said, resting her hands on the table. "I know about Alina’s royal heritage."

Austin’s expression didn’t change. He had already known that.

"And?" he asked.

"I’m not going to pretend that this information isn’t significant. The niece of the Arcasedian king is in the Duke of Ravenmoor’s bed. It’s more of a crisis than a scandal."

"If you’re here to threaten..."

"I’m here to help you, not threaten you," she cut in.

He stared at her. The word help sounded hollow comingfrom Audrey’s mouth after everything she had done.

"My father doesn’t know about it yet," she continued. "But if my finds out, he will take her away. Not only from you but from everyone. He will declare her as a state asset, and she will be lost somewhere in the palace where no one will care about her."

"And you care about her?"

"I care about you," she almost shouted. "I’ve always cared about you. Even when you broke our friendship, even when you chose her. I have spent three years building a life beside you. I..."

"Audrey..."

"Let me finish," she said. "I can help you. I can stop this information from reaching the court."

"And what do you want in return?" Austin asked, because nothing from Audrey came free.

"Leave her," Audrey finally said. "End whatever is between you and proceed with our marriage. And I promise you Alina will stay safe."

The offer was both tempting and cruel.

"You’re asking me to give her up?"

"I’m just asking you to save her and yourself," she replied. "And I hope you remember what happens to foreign princesses who become state assets. They don’t sew uniforms, Austin. They sit in dark towers and produce heirs for alliances. Is that what you want for her? A different version of the contract she is already in?"

Audrey was right. Her offer was actually giving Alina the protection Austin wanted for her but couldn’t provide. But the price of that protection was his everything.