Unexpected joy at dawn

Chapter Five: The Trap

The morning after the royal ball was quiet. The palace had returned to its normal routine, and the guests who had filled the halls the previous evening were already gone. Eliora entered her office early and began sorting through the government records. She had barely started when she noticed a sealed folder lying on her desk, certain it had not been there before. After looking around the empty office, she opened it carefully. Inside were confidential military reports and information about government meetings. Eliora immediately knew she had never requested any of the documents. Someone had deliberately placed them there.

Before she could investigate further, she heard footsteps approaching. Several royal guards appeared at her door and ordered her to come with them by the King's command. Eliora followed them through the palace with a growing sense of unease. When she entered the King's office, she found the King standing behind his desk with Charles and several ministers. The atmosphere was nothing like their previous meetings. No one greeted her. No one asked her to sit. The King simply looked at the folder in the guard's hands.

"A confidential file was taken from my private archives last night," he said.

Eliora looked at the folder.

"I found it on my desk this morning."

The King opened it and examined the documents.

"And you expect me to believe that you had nothing to do with it?"

Eliora stared at him.

"I have no reason to steal your documents. You gave me permission to investigate the government records."

One of the ministers stepped forward and placed another document on the desk.

"This was found among your belongings."

Eliora looked down and immediately recognised several names on the page. They were names she had seen in the records connected to the suspicious payments and secret meetings.

"I have never seen this before."

The minister looked at her coldly.

"Yet it was found in your room."

Eliora looked towards Charles. His expression was difficult to read. She could see that he was trying to understand what was happening, but she could also see the doubt in his eyes. That doubt hurt more than she expected. Only the previous night they had stood together at the ball and spoken like two people slowly beginning to understand each other. Now he was looking at her as though he was not certain who she really was.

The King picked up another document.

"This report claims that you attempted to obtain confidential military information without authorisation."

Eliora looked at the signature beneath her name. It was hers, or at least it looked like hers. Someone had forged it.

"I did not write this."

One of the ministers shook his head.

"You have been given access to sensitive information. You have been investigating government records without understanding who you may be dealing with. Now confidential military documents have appeared in your office, and a list of suspicious names has been found in your room. How many explanations are we expected to accept?"

Eliora's voice remained steady.

"You are not supposed to accept an explanation. You are supposed to investigate the evidence."

The room became silent.

She looked towards the King.

"Someone is trying to frame me."

The King studied her.

"Do you know who?"

Eliora hesitated. She knew who she suspected, but suspicion was not proof, and if she accused the wrong person, she could make everything worse.

"No."

"Then you have no evidence of your claim."

Eliora looked at Charles. He finally spoke.

"If she is telling the truth, then someone inside the palace planned this."

Eliora turned towards him. Charles met her eyes.

"But we cannot ignore what has been placed in front of us."

Eliora swallowed the disappointment rising inside her.

"I understand."

She looked around the room again. Then her eyes stopped on Minister Adrian Vale. He stood quietly near the window and had barely spoken since she entered. Eliora remembered seeing his name in the secret records, the strange meeting that was supposed to happen, and the warning written on the back of the document.

The King will fall from within.

Adrian noticed her staring at him, and for a brief moment their eyes met. Then he looked away. Eliora knew she could not accuse him without proof.

The King turned towards the guards.

"Take her into custody."

Eliora did not resist when the guards approached her. She looked towards Charles one last time, but he remained silent. She had wanted him to believe her. Instead, she was being taken away like a criminal while the person who had created the entire trap remained inside the palace.

As the doors closed behind her, Eliora kept her face calm. They had taken away her freedom and her position in the investigation. But they had made one mistake: they had left her with her intelligence. And Eliora had no intention of letting them win.