Chapter 96: I’ll trust you to do it
After the king dismissed them, he turned away in silence and left the grand throne room through the gilded doors that led to his private chambers. His thoughts were heavy, burdened by the weight of uncertainty and the knowledge that the very foundation of his court might already be compromised. The golden hem of his robe swept over the polished floors, disappearing behind the closing doors.
Lucas and Henrietta walked slowly through the dimly lit halls of the palace, the silence between them filled with unspoken thoughts.
Henrietta finally broke the silence, "I’m going to start putting more eyes on Marquess Scott. Every movement, every conversation, every subtle shift in his behavior. I want to know about it."
Lucas glanced at her briefly and gave a slight nod. "That’s smart," he said, his tone even and thoughtful.
Henrietta didn’t respond immediately. She looked ahead, her thoughts racing, then slowly turned her gaze toward him. There was a softness in her eyes, a rare moment of warmth that rarely broke through her usually sharp exterior.
"You’re such a young boy," she said, almost in disbelief. "And yet, you carry yourself with the calm and focus of someone who has walked these halls for decades. You have great talents, Lucas. Not just in cultivation, but in your mind, your restraint, your ability to see ten steps ahead. You’re scaling up the ranks in the Royal Court faster than anyone I’ve seen."
Lucas remained silent for a beat, absorbing the words with the quiet humility he always maintained. He looked ahead, past the towering arches of the corridor, and replied with quiet conviction, "I’m only doing my best for Valerion."
Henrietta’s eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, then turned back ahead. "Good," she said simply, before her voice shifted into a more cautious tone. "But you should be careful at the Alchemic meeting. You’ll be among men and women who have studied the art longer than you’ve been alive. Elders who believe alchemy is their dominion alone. They’ll look down on you, question your presence, and make it known that you don’t belong. Most of them don’t believe there’s a place for someone your age among them."
Lucas didn’t flinch. He had expected as much. "I appreciate the warning," he said sincerely. "But I know how this game is played. I’ll respect them, even when they don’t respect me. But if they try to belittle me, I won’t argue. I’ll let my alchemy speak for me. That’s the only language they understand."
Henrietta allowed herself a faint, approving smile, and they continued walking through the long corridors of the palace.