Chapter 134 --134
Elara almost smiled. "Come. We have work to do. The evidence against Eleana needs to be organized into formal presentation. The Emperor will want comprehensive documentation, not just scattered proof. And we need to anticipate Eleana’s counter-arguments so we can refute them preemptively."
They worked late into the night, preparing the case that would destroy First Princess Eleana’s succession chances and eliminate Elara’s strongest remaining competitor.
Outside, the palace slept.
But inside Duke Romian’s estate, the Fourth Princess and the Third Princess’s alliance was just beginning.
And the succession battle was about to enter its final, bloodiest phase.
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Three Days Later - The Emperor’s Private Study
Elara and Sera entered together, carrying the evidence about Second Princess’s death.
The Emperor sat by his fireplace, looking older and more tired than Elara had seen since the trial. The First Consort’s arrest had aged him visibly.
"Fourth Daughter. Third Daughter." He gestured to chairs. "Sit. I’m told you have evidence about Second Princess Sera’s death three years ago."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Sera said. She laid out the documents systematically. "Witness testimony from the servant who sabotaged her carriage. Financial records showing payment from First Princess Eleana’s accounts. Magical analysis proving the ’accident’ was deliberately caused."
The Emperor read through everything slowly. His expression didn’t change much, but his hands tightened on the papers.