17.4

When committing a crime, the first thing required is an alibi. Eve thought as she double-checked with the guards to ensure the duke had escaped.

After being assured the duke had reached safety, Eve assisted in mopping the remaining forces. While cutting a swath through the left attackers, she contacted Charlotte discreetly through the telepathic earring.

I cannot see Ralph anywhere. Eve sent. She could see the younger woman look out over the crowd. It was only a moment before there was a desolate expression on her face that was quickly concealed.

My father. Charlotte responded with the brutal truth.

You are certain? Eve replied. It was curious that the younger girl didn’t seem to suspect anything until now. Her mind might be a brilliant calculator, but blind spots were universal.

After announcing me as Heir, there is almost a one hundred percent probability. Charlotte said, careful not to fully voice her suspicions.

How will he avoid being exposed as the killer? Eve asked, her mind racing forward. Almost every society appeared to have truth spells, stones, or some manner of lie detection. It was the part of a magic world that allowed justice to be firm and swift.

It is only possible if he doesn’t make the killing. Charlotte responded. If he had someone of your caliber…

I must break the world's limits and make it a traceless kill. Eve said, thinking hard. There would be a massive cost involved, and the world would banish me almost instantly afterward. Anything that Ralph could do would have the exact requirements.

First things first, create an alibi. Can you change the form to mimic him or make a clone? Charlotte’s tone had returned to full business mode. It was the mindset of the strong to stay focused on the current crises and not a future one.

Eve quickly created a fake Ralph with Witch’s Dust having him appear by Charlotte’s side without warning. The clone leaned down and pretended to whisper into the young duchess’s ears as if imparting valuable information. After that, Eve banished the clone, making it mimic falling into the girl’s shadow. This little display would mean that anyone who claimed Ralph had killed the duke could be plausibly denied.

The best-case scenario would be to have Ralph appear in the sanctuary. Eve said as her mind continued plotting. We could claim he was attempting to communicate a message from you to the duke before an assassin struck. Ralph valiantly fought but was defeated, and the duke was tragically murdered.

My father could survive instead. Charlotte replied, playing the devil’s advocate. I might even be removed as the Heir.

Eve shook her head as the last of the rebel forces fell. She let the sword drop on a corpse before moving away. Walking back towards Raven and Charlotte's table, she said over the mental link. That isn’t likely. Ralph wouldn’t attempt something he was sure would succeed. Whatever method he’s going to use, it won’t leave anything to chance. Such strategies always have a horrific cost-to-efficiency ratio, though.

Charlotte’s eyes flickered with calculation as she considered the possibilities. If my father dies, succession is immediate since he has already announced me before the attack. The royals will support that as they have in the past.

In that case, we need a guilty party. Eve said, glancing at Charlotte’s stepmother.

Indeed. Charlotte said, striding forward, drawing Eve and Raven to flank her. She approached her stepmother with a cold face full of rage and shouted, “Guards, seize the traitor!”

The expression of everyone at the banquet froze for a moment as the new reality emerged. Charlotte’s stepmother, Roxanne, was from the branch families. Accompanying her was Luvec, who had previously been a possible heir. Unfortunately, the two hadn’t escaped before muddy water was thrown at them.

Eve turned a brilliant smile towards the nearby guards that were pausing, unsure who to support to say, “The future Duchess gave an order, is there a problem?” She glanced at the corpses around, still holding that slightly chilling smile.

While the guards might be many things, they weren’t inherently idiots. Many of them leveled weapons at the former Consort encircling her in a steel wall. Luvec’s face mottled with rage, and he spat, “Filthy little girl. Your pathetic attempt to usurp you betters is nothing more than air.”

“Fortunate then that the Zienfer are masters of such,” Charlotte said with a chilling glint.

If you can push him to attack, I will resolve it. Eve sent as she positioned herself slightly in front of Charlotte. It would be even better to catch the stepmother with the poisoned blade. I can still smell the scent on her.

Charlotte’s slight hesitation vanished as she heard the message. “Search them both! The assassins had to get in somehow.” The future duchess said in a ruthless tone.

“You dare? Get your hands off me, scum!” Roxanne screamed as two of the guards moved to search her person. The entire hall bore witness as the woman used magic to throw both men backward. Luvec used the opening to draw his blade and charge forward. It was clear both of them were not going to stand for being made into fish on the chopping block.

“Your actions only deepen the suspicion,” Charlotte said, reaching out with one hand open toward the two individuals.

Eve felt the Air stir before it bore down on the attempted escapees like a mountain. Luvec and Roxanne crumbled to their knees before slamming face-first onto the banquet hall’s tiled flooring.

Demonstration time? Eve asked.

Demonstration time. Charlotte seconded.

Eve opened her mouth, twisting space within it to shout, “SEIZE THE REBELS!”

Where the guards had paused before, they now leaped into action. Luvec and Roxanne were buried under a dogpile of steel. Anyone watching could see gauntleted fists rise and fall as they beat the two traitors within an inch of their lives.

Mana manacles were produced from somewhere and clamped firmly on Luvec and Roxanne. Moments later, the two bedraggled individuals were dragged before Charlotte, who looked down on them without mercy.

“Stepmother, how sad you decided to betray Father!” Charlotte said with a tearful shake of her saddened face. Anyone looking would feel the urge to comfort the poor girl, such was her mastery of expression.

“Guards, search them. Their actions are beyond suspicion and bordering treason.” Eve said, looking at Roxanne’s pale visage. The woman knew something was wrong; moments later, the entire banquet hall did too. The single guard that ruthlessly searched Charlotte’s stepmother revealed the poison blade Eve had glimpsed earlier.

“That's for s-self-defense,” Roxanne said, trying to salvage the situation.

“Self-defense?” Charlotte said calmly. “That would be reasonable." Moving forward, the younger girl grabbed the blade’s hilt before stabbing it into a seam in Luvec’s armor.

Everyone watched with bated breath as Luvec began to spasm and convulse. Foam appeared on his mouth before he finally collapsed and lay still on the ground. Charlotte looked on dispassionately and said, “Rather lethal for self-defense, stepmother. What terrible foes you must have to fight.”

Having identified the poison, Eve stepped forward and matched it with Nota’s help. The College of Warlock’s library had an extensive branch of research dedicated to this very substance.

Nastia's Thorn. More commonly known as Mage-bane. It was highly illegal, and distribution was strictly controlled between the Royal family and the College. Eve doubted the royal family would have made a move; it didn’t benefit them in any way. Far better to have Charlotte marry one of their own than murder her.

Eve took the knife from the guard’s hand and scented it, noting the burning sensation in her nose. Nodding, she turned to Charlotte in a theatrical display and said, “Nastia's Thorn. At least a century of steeping. Quite bitter, too.”

Charlotte’s expression displayed unnerved shock at Eve’s antics accompanying the information. “Are you certain?” the young girl asked.

“Beyond doubt. I’m certain others can confirm it if you wish, Mistress.” Eve stated, looking at the gathered crowd around them.

Nodding, the future duchess said, “Could someone please confirm my servant’s findings? I would be ever so appreciative of a second opinion.”

It was amusing watching the gathered guests fall over themselves to offer the services of their bodyguards. After a short delay, no less than eight individuals confirmed Eve’s findings.

“With a weapon like this, I fear for my father’s safety,” Charlotte said, looking at the poisoned blade with a worried expression. “Let us proceed to the sanctuary. Summon the castle healers. I have a terrible feeling the plot runs deeper than this.”

Like puppets pulled into play, not of their making, the entire banquet hall followed Charlotte to the castle’s sanctuary. Eve saw many guards slamming their fists on a steel door etched to the brim with runes.

“What is going on?” Charlotte asked the guards as they turned to recognize her.

“Heir, there were screams inside a short while after the duke entered. We’ve been trying to force our way inside, but to no avail.” The lead guard captain replied to Charlotte.

“Step aside. If mere steel could breach the sanctuary, the runes painted on it wouldn’t be worth it.” Charlotte said in a commanding tone.

Eve watched as the younger woman stepped up to the door’s runes. They shifted and twisted before blue light scanned over the young future duchess. With a large clank, the mighty bolts sealed the door open. Charlotte slipped inside, and the door closed behind her instantly.

Test? Charlotte sent over the mental link with Eve.

Does it appear to work? Most likely due to the difference and superiority of my runes. Eve replied with a faint tone of surprise.

Ralph is inside. He’s passed out cold. Can you get him out without being seen? Charlotte asked briskly.

Space is space. Swords are swords. Eve said as she pulled a weave of mana around her that discreetly twisted eyes away. Breathing deeply, Eve flexed her power pulling herself through space and into the sanctuary room. A splitting headache made it clear why doing this without her previously enchanted boots was terrible.

Eve turned and retched, although her physiology had no vomit to excrete. Charlotte stood kneeling beside Ralph’s prone body, which was twisted in agony. Moving beside them, Eve gave a low whistle.

“Whatever was used ripped the Blessing of Shadow right out of him,” Eve said, letting her Witch’s Dust feed information to her mind. “It also left trace elements in the walls. I’ll clean everything up and get him stored temporarily in a pocket space. I’ll need to hide in your shadow afterward, though.”

“Do it,” Charlotte said.

“This is going to burn a boatload of power. After this, I’ll be out of commission for a good time. I need to take care of some things back home.” Eve said, looking up over Ralph's body.

“With you went, I have no doubt my reign will be short and sweet,” Charlotte said with a poker face.

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave insurance.” Eve said, drawing a summoning circle on the ground.

“Insurance?” Charlotte said, looking at the cryptic runes.

“Right. I can’t let my investment go to waste.” Eve said, snapping her fingers to the sound of shattering ice.

There was a flash of blinding light before Iantha and Bennie appeared in the Summoning circle. Eve looked at the new arrivals with a brilliant smile.

“Is that the happy to see us smile, or is the world ending? Oh, great divine one?” Bennie asked, looking slightly worse for wear.

“I was expecting this,” Iantha said calmly.

“These two are reliable allies that can be trusted to handle things. Iantha is the Seer. Bennie is my High Priestess.” Eve said, pointing to each woman.

“Pleased to meet you both. I believe Bennie and me have met before.” Charlotte said, bowing slightly to both women.

Bennie tilted her head and said, “Oh! Right, the annoying noble girl. Wait, wasn’t there some boy with you back then?”

Eve cut her High Priestess off and said, “Charlotte’s orders are my orders till I return.” She knelt and grabbed Ralph’s shoulder before twisting space around them and sinking into Charlotte's shadow.

I need to check up on things back at the Prison Plane, but I can’t do that and leave my body here to be experimented on. Eve thought as she crafted an eldritch silver box twin to the one her main body was inside in the Prison Plane.

Once complete, she lay down inside the box, making a second one for Ralph to heal him. Eve couldn’t do anything about the missing Shadow affinity. Soul Mana Magic was so far outside her wheelhouse it might as well be Time Magic.

First, let’s see how the experience has been building up. Eve thought. The silver box would serve as a temporary set of coordinates to return. It wasn’t long-term, though, which was why Kudzu’s offshoot was required.