Royalty on a verge

Ivana and Dante slipped through the winding alleys, the silence between them as familiar as the night itself. They reached an abandoned stone chapel on the edge of town, their usual meeting place when secrecy was paramount. Inside, Dante spread out the papers he'd collected, his fingers tracing a line on the map he'd drawn of Charlotte's fortified city.

"They've reinforced the eastern wall," Dante whispered. "It seems Charles is feeling the heat. He's doubled his guard shifts—something big must have rattled him."

---

Ivana smirked, leaning closer to examine the map. "Good. Let him sweat. He won't know what hit him."

Dante chuckled, though a hint of caution glinted in his eyes. "Just remember, Ivana, we're here to work quietly. This isn't about glory—it's about strategy."

She gave him a playful look. "And who's to say we can't make it both?"

Her eyes fell to a list Dante had brought back, one detailing those loyal to Charles. She skimmed the names, stopping when she reached one that sent a pang through her chest: Edmund.

He was supposed to be a fixture in her life, her childhood friend, but Edmund had become a puzzle, drifting in and out of alliances she couldn't pin down. He kept himself in the dark, always just beyond her reach. She'd never confronted him openly, but sometimes she wondered—was he hiding something from her?

Dante's voice broke her thoughts. "You're quiet all of a sudden. Someone on the list get your attention?"

"Just someone to keep an eye on," she said smoothly, folding the paper and tucking it into her cloak. "Nothing I can't handle."

Dante raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk on his face. "Edmund, isn't it? I noticed his name too."

She shrugged, giving nothing away. "He's…complicated. He knows how to keep secrets."

"Funny, coming from you," Dante teased. "Just make sure he doesn't get in the way."

"Oh, he won't." Ivana's voice was steady, though a part of her wondered just how far Edmund had slipped into Charles' influence. Still, she felt a surge of excitement. Navigating the threads of deception and mystery was what she thrived on. If Edmund had something to hide, she would find it out soon enough.

They packed up the maps and information, extinguishing their candle before slipping back into the night. As they moved through the city's winding streets, Ivana couldn't help but think of Edmund, his actions concealed even from her sharp eye. Whatever his purpose in Charlottesville, she was ready for him—ready for the truth.

And if he stood in her way, well…she'd show him just how bright she could burn.