Chapter 186 --186
Elara had been working for exactly two hours and thirteen minutes when the knock came—not at her chamber door, but at the entrance to the small administrative office she’d claimed three weeks ago.
"Enter," she called without looking up from the supply requisition she was annotating. The numbers didn’t match the actual delivery logs, which meant someone was either incompetent or embezzling. She’d determine which.
The door opened. Demerti’s voice, familiar and efficient: "Your Highness, Lord Castor and Lady Revine have arrived for the scheduled meeting regarding the eastern trade routes."
Elara glanced at the timepiece on her desk. "They’re four minutes early."
"Lord Castor’s habit, Your Highness. Shall I have them wait?"
"No. Show them in. I’m nearly finished here." She made two final marks on the document, set it aside in the "investigate further" pile, and straightened in her chair.
Demerti stepped aside, and two nobles entered—Lord Castor, a portly man in his fifties with elaborate silver embroidery on his coat, and Lady Revine, younger, sharper-eyed, dressed in deep green silks that probably cost more than most families earned in a year.
Both bowed. Castor’s bow was deep and respectful. Revine’s was technically correct but carried the barest hint of condescension—old nobility looking at a "minor" princess who’d suddenly started interfering in trade policy.
"Your Highness," Castor said warmly. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. The eastern merchants have been quite concerned about the new inspection requirements—"
"The inspection requirements are non-negotiable," Elara cut in smoothly. "Three poisoning attempts on palace officials in the past four months. Two successful. Security takes precedence over convenience."
Castor’s smile wavered. "Of course, Your Highness, no one would argue with security measures. However, the delays are costing—"
"Approximately six thousand gold marks per week in delayed shipments," Elara said. "I’ve reviewed the numbers. However, the cost of successfully poisoned officials is significantly higher when you factor in replacement training, information loss, and political destabilization." She tilted her head slightly. "Unless you’re suggesting merchant profits outweigh human lives?"