She was quiet for a moment then responded.

"We still have two more places to visit, this small amount will not hurt me," she calmly replied," this should be able to keep their minds at peace. I do not wish to have a blood bath before your coronation."

"That makes sense," he said, " how do you plan to distribute them then?"

Her lips curved slightly.

"They’ll decide among themselves," she said, "that’s what makes them useful."

They walked a few more steps before he reached out and slipped his hand into hers.

She didn’t look down but tightened her hold on his hand.

"The one on the far left," she said after a moment, " he’ll push first." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He brieftly glanced at her.

"For access?" He asked.

"For weakness," she corrected, " access comes after."

’So they’re going after each other’

He hummed quietly, his thumb brushing faintly against her knuckles.

"And the sharp one?"

He was referring to the woman. She had been the most outspoken second to the noble elder.

"She’ll wait," Lilith replied, " then she’ll offer something that seems reasonable enough to split the others.’

’Wow she really knows them well’

His lips curved slightly.

"And the noble elder?"

That earned a soft exhale from her.

"He already knows he can’t take it," she said," so he’ll try to make me share it."

’Thats clever, then the council won’t argue among themselves’

"And will you?"

They slowed their pace, the question lingering between them.

She turned her head, looking at him properly.

"Do you want me to?" She asked.

From her gaze, he knew she was genuinely asking for his perspective on the matter. That did things to him, he didn’t want to admit.

This was one of the first steps to integrate into her political world.

He studied her for a moment, not rushing to answer.

"I want you," he quietly said," to do what you were doing in there... make them think there is a chance of you sharing it."

That pulled a quiet genuine laugh out of her.

"Cruel."

"It’s just being efficient, " he corrected.

She huffed softly, the sound barely there.

They reached an open balcony at the end of the corridor. Warm air drifted, carrying the faint scent of plants.

This time, they stopped.

The court stretched beneath them, quieter than the nights with mostly children running around and screaming.

She stepped closer to the railing, his hand slipping from hers only so that she could rest both palms on the cool stone.

"They probably didn’t expect me to go," she said," especially after you were hurt. It’s only reasonable for me not to leave my ailing husband."

Her gaze lowered slightly.

"I had expected them to know about my visit, someone was bound to recognise me but something is disturbing me."

He moved to stand beside her.

"What is it?"

"I’m sure someone among the council is tracking my movement, a little too well," she quietly said, her brows furrowed.

Lilith trusted her guts more than anything and she could feel there was definitely something not adding up.

Although she never tried hard to hide their location, some things still never made sense.

"You think someone in the council might be responsible for the incidents?" She asked.

She nodded.

"I trust my senses," she said," that is why I have been able to live for this long."

He tilted his head slightly, glancing at her.

"Any idea who it might be?" He asked.

She shook her head.

"I’m not sure but that won’t be for long."

His gaze shifted to the city below.

"I can act as bait," he said.

She whipped around to face him so fast that he got startled. Her sharp gaze met his cool ones.

"Let me not hear anything like that ever," she said her voice low and cold," I can handle everything well without putting you in harm’s way."

Atheline shrugged.

"Okay."

She glanced at him, expression unreadable for a second before softening slightly.

The wind shifted brushing a loose strand of hair across her face. He reached out, tucking it gently behind her ear.

She leaned into his warmth, for just a fraction her eyes flickering to him then back to the city again.

"There had been something disturbing me," he said," we might have been in too much of a hurry that we forgot."

She turned to him.

"What is it?"

"Remember on the third peaceful island, whatever was moving under the silver grass," he quietly said," what do you think might have happened to it?"

"It was a Jörmungandr," she quietly said.

Atheline looked at her in surprise, stepping back.

"What!" He whispered, "Why on earth would that be there?"

She shrugged.

"It’s still young, probably belonged to the sovereign of darkness. "

Jörmungandr was mainly known as the world snake. Just like beasts there are different types of mythical creatures that stand on top of the world hierarchy.

Now it came to Atheline, the way the second island had clearly been created to fit its preference. It probably just wanted to rest and them breaking in had probably disturbed it.

"What about those elemental corrupts, if they didn’t get killed by the second group that entered. "

Lilith shrugged.

"They’ll probably just sink and be forgotten. "

Atheline glanced up at the bright sky.

"I hope so."

Silence settled between them.

"They’ll move soon," he said breaking the silence, she glanced at him," the council, I mean."

"Mmh. They’ll probably try to approach you," she said.

Atheline nodded.

"I’ll be disappointed if they don’t, " he said," they all know I went with you to the island. "

A small amused huff left her.

"You should prepare yourself, most of the nobility will come to you," she said," I’ll give you a list of those to be cordial with as for the rest, treat them as though they don’t exist."

Atheline nodded. His gaze returned to the city below.

"Can I visit the market tonight, " he quietly asked, "I haven’t been able to see the court. "

He avoided blaming her for it. She turned towards him fully this time.

She didn’t respond immediately. His eyes searched her face briefly while waiting.

"Okay," she eventually said, Atheline let his breath out, but she added, "You will go with Zelpher. "

His eyes widened slightly but he went back to normal, his lips curving.

"I don’t mind."