Chapter 3: The First Strike
945 Words
A Game of Shadows Begins
The moment the council meeting ended, I retreated to my private chamber, locking the door behind me. My fingers drummed against the polished wood of my desk as my mind raced. Every move I made from this point forward had to be precise. One mistake, one moment of hesitation, and I could end up like before—betrayed, overthrown, and left to die in disgrace.
Not this time.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. My knowledge of the future was my greatest weapon. I knew who would betray me, who would stand by my side, and who could be swayed. If I played this right, I could strike first before my enemies even realized the game had begun.
But I couldn’t act recklessly. If I moved too quickly, I would raise suspicion. If I was too cautious, I would lose the advantage of foresight. The key was to make my first strike subtle yet decisive—something that would send a message without revealing my hand.
And I knew exactly where to start.
Eliminating the Weak Links
In my past life, Adrian had been able to gather his forces in secret because I had been blind to the cracks within my own inner circle. This time, I wouldn’t make that mistake. I needed to identify the weak links—the spies, the traitors, the men who would turn on me the moment a better offer came along.
I summoned Marcus to my chamber, trusting that his loyalty remained unchanged. He entered quietly, bowing his head. “You called for me, Your Highness?”
I studied him for a moment. He had aged slightly since the last time I had seen him, but the sharp intelligence in his eyes was the same.
“Yes,” I said. “I need a list of every noble, knight, and servant within the palace who has shown even the slightest sign of disloyalty. Anyone who has debts, anyone who has questionable alliances, anyone who might be swayed by gold or power.”
Marcus’s brows furrowed. “That is… an unusual request, my lord.”
I leaned back in my chair, offering him a cold smile. “Indulge me.”
He hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. “Very well. It will take some time, but I will gather the information you seek.”
“Good,” I said. “And one more thing. Make sure no one suspects that I am watching them.”
Testing the Waters
While Marcus worked on gathering intelligence, I decided to test the loyalty of those closest to me. In my past life, my personal guards had been the first to fall, bribed or threatened into turning against me. I needed to ensure that wouldn’t happen again.
I called for Captain Roderic, the head of my royal guard. He was a seasoned warrior, a man of honor—or so I had once believed. But I remembered now how he had stood by, doing nothing, as Adrian had stormed the palace.
When he arrived, he kneeled before me. “Your Highness.”
“Rise,” I commanded. I studied him carefully. “Tell me, Captain, how far would you go to protect your king?”
He straightened his posture. “With my life, my lord.”
“Would you kill for me?” I asked, my voice soft but laced with challenge.
There was the slightest flicker of hesitation in his expression. “If it was necessary, my lord.”
Not the answer I wanted.
I leaned forward. “If I told you that someone in this palace was plotting against me, would you hesitate to act?”
Roderic’s jaw tightened. “I would investigate first, my lord. I would ensure that justice is served.”
Justice. How naïve.
I let silence stretch between us before speaking again. “You may go, Captain. But remember this—hesitation can be more dangerous than treason.”
As he left, I exhaled slowly. I would have to keep an eye on him. I needed guards who would act without question. I needed men who feared me more than they feared my enemies.
The First Pawn Falls
By nightfall, Marcus returned with the information I had requested. He placed a sealed document in front of me. “Everything you asked for, my lord. There are… many names.”
I unrolled the parchment, scanning the list. Some names were expected—Duke Everard, a few lesser nobles with ambitions beyond their station. But one name caught my eye.
Lord Cedric Vaughn.
In my past life, Cedric had been a minor noble, barely worth noticing. But now, I recalled something crucial—he had been the one who had smuggled messages between Adrian and his supporters. A rat hiding in the walls of my own palace.
I smiled.
“Cedric,” I murmured. “How unfortunate for you.”
Marcus hesitated. “What will you do, my lord?”
I met his gaze, my smile turning sharper. “He will meet with an unfortunate accident before he can cause any real damage.”
Marcus stiffened. “You mean to—”
“Kill him?” I finished for him. “No, that would be too obvious. He needs to disappear in a way that doesn’t trace back to me. Perhaps a scandal, or an exile. Something that ensures he can never be useful to my enemies.”
I rose from my chair. “Summon my spies. We have work to do.”
The first strike had been decided.
By the time Adrian realized what was happening, it would already be too late.
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