The king’s spy
368 Words
Lord Marius had served King Aldric faithfully for decades.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
He had advised the king through two wars, three treaties, and countless political disputes.
But Marius had learned an important lesson during his years at court.
Loyalty was useful.
Power was better.
For months, he had been secretly communicating with several nobles who believed the king had become too weak.
They wanted influence.
Marius wanted something greater.
He wanted control.
The princess was supposed to marry Prince Lucien.
That marriage would strengthen the royal family and make Marius’s position more secure.
But Adrian Vale threatened everything.
A common soldier had no place beside a princess.
Marius could not allow such an example to spread.
So he began watching.
He noticed the garden meetings.
The secret conversations.
The looks.
He also noticed Adrian’s growing reputation among the soldiers.
That made him even more dangerous.
One afternoon, Marius summoned a palace clerk.
“I need access to the military records.”
The clerk bowed.
“Of course, Lord Marius.”
“And I need the records of Commander Vale.”
The clerk hesitated.
“Is there a problem?”
Marius smiled.
“Not yet.”
That night, a document disappeared from the military archives.
It contained information about troop movements along the northern border.
The following morning, another document was removed.
Then another.
Marius arranged for copies to be placed where Adrian would eventually be blamed.
He knew accusations worked best when they contained enough truth to sound believable.
Adrian had access to military information.
He had recently returned from the north.
He was close to the princess.
It would not take much to convince the council that he was a traitor.
Marius only needed patience.
Meanwhile, Adrian noticed strange things happening around the palace.
Guards were being questioned.
Records were disappearing.
Messages were arriving without proper seals.
He reported everything to Captain Rowan.
Rowan listened carefully.
“You think someone is preparing something.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Adrian looked toward the palace windows.
“I don’t know.”
Rowan sighed.
“Then find out before they find you.”
Neither man knew that Marius had already begun preparing Adrian’s downfall.
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