Ace coughed heavily, turning his head away as his hand flew up to rub the back of his neck in absolute embarrassnt.
"The... the chicken pair comnt was a strategic taphor for northern agriculture," Ace mumbled, his fierce voice cracking slightly as he quickly sat back down, suddenly finding his steak incredibly fascinating again.
Moreover, his eyes were slightly dodgy when he ntioned ’chicken pair’.
Evelina wasn’t paying attention so she missed it.
"Of course it was, Your Grace," Evelina murmured, thoroughly entertained by his utter helplessness, "Let’s hope your strategic taphors stay out of my study from now on."
While the guest estate enjoyed a rare mont of light banter, a much different kind of eting was taking place in a hidden, dimly lit office within the Capital’s high military wing.
Isabella stood by a large map of the Capital’s trade checkpoints and river ports, her fingers digging so hard into the edges of the parchnt that her nails nearly tore the paper.
Her uniform was wrinkled, and her face was pale, lined with fury.
Ever since Evelina had publicly humiliated her and stripped her of her influence in the North, Isabella had been lurking in the Capital, desperate to reclaim her position beside Ace and ruin the rchant woman who had stolen her life.
Yet things had been looking increasingly difficult... Until now.
The heavy iron door to the military office clicked open, and a tall figure wrapped in a gold-lined cloak stepped inside.
Isabella instantly straightened her posture, bowing her head deeply, "Your Highness."
Prince Elian pulled back his hood, revealing his handso face.
But there was no hint of gentleness on his face today. His eyes were sharper than a hawk’s.
His right hand was tightly wrapped in a clean white bandage and there was so strange air surrounding him.
Isabella noted it.
"You requested my presence through your rogue military channels, Lady Isabella," Elian said as he walked around the desk, completely ignoring the chair and standing over the map, "I hope you have sothing useful for . My patience with the Alvarez na is wearing thin."
Isabella saw through his emotions. The man who was usually so gentle and calm was furious today.
It seems that the little birdies from the palace that had brought her news from the palace were not lying. Evelina had gone ahead and provoked the crown prince.
A hint of a smile touched her lips.
"I have exactly what you need, Your Highness," Isabella whispered, stepping closer to the map.
She pointed a finger directly at the incoming northern transit lines just outside the city walls, "Duchess Evelina thinks she is completely untouchable because her linen trade is booming. And she takes great pride in it which is why she is trying to play the Crown.
Alas, every perfect thing cos with its flaws... If her wagons cannot move into the Capital markets, her wealth turns to dust."
Elian looked down at the map, his eyes narrowing, "As soone who is cooperating with her, why do you think I would be interested in this?"
"Your Highness, you cooperating with her should count as her blessing. But apparently, she doesn’t see it that way. In her eyes, your partnership doesn’t an much. Knowing her, she probably thinks she can do without it. Whether I’m lying about this or not, you know it in your heart."
Elian paused. The image of Evelina’s aloof face flashed in his mind.
He opened his mouth, "The Duke’s iron cavalry protects her supply lines from the North. Any open military strike on those wagons would be considered treason against the ducal house."
"We don’t need an open military strike on the roads," Isabella smiled softly, "I still have deep connections with the rogue rcenary factions and the underground thugs operating in the Capital docks where her primary city distribution warehouses are located.
They don’t wear uniforms nor do they answer to the Duke. For the right price, they can make sure her stored inventory disappears into thin air. But I need your help from above to pin her down."
Elian looked at her, his expression unreadable, "Go on."
"Ace will try to protect her with his sword, but he cannot fight imperial law inside the Capital limits," Isabella explained, a ruthless gleam in her eyes, "Your Highness, use your power as the future emperor. If we want to humble her, we will need to do a two pronged attack... You should know what I am saying."
The silence in the room stretched as Elian processed the plan.
He raised his bandaged right hand, staring at the white fabric.
He could still feel the sharp sting of the thorns and the mory of Evelina’s cold rejection cutting through his pride like a knife.
She valued her freedom over the throne he offered.
It was only fair he showed her which had power over what.
"A two-pronged attack," Elian murmured, and looked at Isabella with approval, "I will pass an ergency luxury tax through the ministry tomorrow morning. Her incoming shipping wagons will be completely stalled at the city gates, trapped under an imperial customs lockdown."
"And the mont her estate guards are spread thin trying to manage the borders," Isabella added, her face twisting with vindictive joy, "my n will hit the Capital docks and ensure that the Duchess has nothing left to sell."
Elian lowered his hand as his voice chilled even further, "We will strip her of her wealth, her status, and her arrogant composure right here in the heart of the empire. But after that, I need you to step back and leave her alone.
When she has nowhere left to turn, she will realize that the only hand left to save her belongs to the crown."
Isabella bowed deeply, her heart hamring with excitent, "To your victory, Your Highness."
...
The morning air inside the Capital guest estate was cold.
Evelina sat at her desk, dipping her quill into dark ink.
She was writing down calculations, profits, margins and various other financial numbers on piece after piece of paper.
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