Chapter 36 --36
"I was sent to deliver a message." He walked closer, movements liquid and predatory. The fox knight behind Elara tensed immediately, hand moving toward his sword.
Robin smiled. "Easy, brother. I’m here under diplomatic flag. Princess Eleana wishes the Fourth Princess to know that her comments last night have been... discussed. And that consequences are being considered."
"Consequences." Elara didn’t move. "How specific."
"Very specific, actually." Robin’s golden eyes gleamed. "For example, the textile merchants who cancelled on you this morning? That was just the beginning. Every merchant contact your staff has approached has now received visits from palace representatives. Warnings about the risks of partnering with a princess in such... precarious standing."
So that’s how Eleana was moving. Economic isolation. Cut off all the merchant relationships before they could form.
"Interesting strategy," Elara said.
"It gets better." Robin leaned against the corridor wall with casual arrogance. "Your sister also wanted me to remind you that the Crown Princess trials begin in two weeks. And one of the challenges will be combat demonstration. Knight-bonded princess versus knight-bonded princess. Public arena. Witnessed by every noble house in the empire."
He smiled wider. "I wonder how you’ll compete when you’ve publicly declared that bonding knights is slavery and you’re too morally superior to participate? Will you forfeit? Or will you suddenly discover your principles are flexible when losing means death?"
The fox knight’s growl was audible now.
But Elara just looked at Robin with that same empty expression. "Tell my sister thank you for the advance notice. It’s helpful to know exactly which traps she’s setting."
"Oh, that’s not a trap, Your Highness. That’s just reality. You made a choice last night. Now you get to live with it." He straightened. "Assuming you live at all. Terrible things happen to princesses without proper protection. Especially ones who make enemies of everyone who could defend them."
It wasn’t quite a threat. But it was close enough.