Chapter 47 – The Cost of Truth

The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth as Seraphina and Adrian rode back from Edric's lodge. The rain had eased, leaving only the occasional drizzle clinging to their cloaks. The weight of Edric's words settled heavily between them, unspoken yet impossible to ignore.

Adrian rode ahead, his posture rigid, his silence even more infuriating than his cryptic responses earlier. Seraphina's mind raced with possibilities. If there was a ledger hidden beneath the royal court, it was their best chance at exposing Laurent and clearing her father's name. But Edric's warning lingered—someone powerful had orchestrated his downfall, someone beyond Laurent.

Who?

And why had Adrian remained silent when Edric looked at him? He knew something. That much was clear.

She pulled her horse to an abrupt stop. "Enough."

Adrian halted as well, turning slightly in his saddle. "Enough of what?"

"You knew," she accused, her eyes flashing in the moonlight. "You knew about Edric. About my father's downfall. You knew more than you let on, and you chose to keep it from me."

Adrian sighed, rubbing a hand across his damp face. "Seraphina, now is not the time for this."

She kicked her horse forward until they were nearly nose to nose. "Then when is the time?"

His jaw clenched. "When it's safe."

Seraphina let out a bitter laugh. "Safe? When has safety ever been a luxury we could afford? If you truly meant to protect me, you would arm me with knowledge, not secrets."

His gaze darkened. "You think knowledge is always power? Sometimes it's a burden. A liability."

"Then let me decide whether I can bear it."

Silence stretched between them, the rain whispering through the leaves. For a long moment, it seemed as if Adrian wouldn't answer. But then—

"I suspected Laurent wasn't working alone," he admitted at last. "But I had no proof. I needed to be sure before I involved you any deeper than you already are."

Seraphina swallowed hard. "And now?"

"Now, we find that ledger."

There was something in his tone—determined, but laced with something else. A hesitation she couldn't quite place. But before she could push further, he turned his horse and rode ahead, leaving her to stare after him, frustration curling through her veins.

She followed, but the air between them remained tense.

---

The Smuggler's Path

By the time they reached the Valemont estate, dawn was creeping over the horizon, casting a dull golden hue over the damp landscape. They had spoken little since their confrontation, but Seraphina could feel the storm brewing beneath the surface.

She dismounted, handing the reins to a waiting stable hand. Adrian did the same, but instead of heading inside, he turned to her. "Meet me in the east wing after you've changed. We'll discuss the next steps."

Seraphina studied him for a long moment, then gave a curt nod before heading inside.

Her mind raced as she changed out of her rain-soaked clothes, donning a fresh gown and fastening her dagger beneath her sleeve. The moment she was ready, she made her way to the east wing, where Adrian was waiting by the fireplace, a map unfurled across the table before him.

"The smuggler's tunnel," he said without preamble, tapping a point on the map. "It leads beneath the royal court, right beneath the archive chambers. If the ledger exists, it'll be there."

Seraphina moved closer, scanning the markings. "How do we access it?"

Adrian's lips curved slightly. "That's where things get... complicated."

"Naturally," she muttered.

He gestured to a section marked in faded ink. "The tunnel is old. Some of it has collapsed, but there's a passage that was used by informants during the last rebellion. It's guarded, but not heavily."

Seraphina arched a brow. "You seem to know a great deal about smuggler tunnels."

His smirk was brief. "I have my sources."

She crossed her arms. "How much risk are we taking?"

"Enough," he admitted. "But it's our best chance."

Seraphina studied the map for a moment longer. "Then we move tonight."

Adrian nodded. "Agreed."

---

A Night of Deception

Night fell quickly, and with it, the weight of their mission settled heavily upon them.

Dressed in dark cloaks, they slipped out of the Valemont estate undetected, riding in silence toward the outskirts of the royal court. There, nestled between abandoned buildings and forgotten alleyways, was the entrance to the tunnel.

Adrian approached first, pressing against the stone wall until a hidden mechanism clicked. The entrance creaked open, revealing a dark passageway beneath.

"Stay close," he murmured before stepping inside.

Seraphina followed, the air growing damp and stale as they descended. The tunnel stretched ahead, narrow and uneven, with only the faintest flickers of torchlight illuminating the path.

"How long until we reach the archives?" she whispered.

"Not long," Adrian replied. "But we won't be alone."

True to his warning, they weren't. As they moved deeper, voices echoed ahead. Adrian motioned for her to stay back before slipping into the shadows. Within moments, the sound of two quick, efficient strikes echoed in the corridor, followed by the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground.

Adrian emerged, adjusting his cloak. "Come on."

Seraphina stepped over the unconscious guards without hesitation, her heart pounding. They were close now.

Finally, they reached a stone doorway, barely ajar. Adrian peered inside before motioning her forward. The chamber beyond was lined with shelves of ancient records, parchments stacked high in meticulous order.

"The ledger," Seraphina whispered, scanning the room.

Adrian moved swiftly, searching through the stacks. The minutes stretched, tense and heavy, until—

"Here."

Seraphina turned as Adrian pulled a worn, leather-bound book from the shelf. He flipped it open, his eyes scanning the contents.

Her breath caught as she moved beside him.

Names. Dates. Transactions. Bribes. Evidence of Laurent's treachery, laid bare in ink.

Seraphina's heart pounded. "This is it. This is everything we need."

But before she could take another breath, a sharp sound echoed from the tunnel—

Footsteps.

Too many.

Adrian's expression darkened. "We have company."

Seraphina's fingers closed around the hilt of her dagger. They had come too far to be stopped now.

The truth was in their hands.

Now, they just had to survive long enough to use it.