In Viscine's central academic laboratory, on the outskirts of town, Princess Denise drew back from her neural interface console, a satisfied smile playing at her lips. The quantum echoes of her conversation with Vincent still rippled through her technological network.
"They took the bait," she said to the empty room. Or seemingly empty – shadows in the corners began to move, taking shape as her most trusted inner circle emerged.
Dr. Reyes stepped forward, neural nodes at her temples glowing with an internal light. "The degradation in our systems was detected exactly as planned. Queen Eleanor's crystal egg responded precisely as your models predicted."
"And my brother?" Denise asked, turning to face a darker shadow that materialized into Dr. Volkov.
"Prince Vincent's psychological patterns remain consistent with your analysis," Volkov confirmed. "His protective instincts override his strategic judgment when it comes to you, Princess."