Chapter 9: The Whisper Broker

The alley smelled like damp wood, old iron, and secrets.

Antoinette kept her head low, the borrowed servant's uniform helping her blend into the shadows. Her movements were slow, deliberate—too fast, and she'd look like she didn't belong. Too hesitant, and she'd draw the wrong kind of attention.

Ahead, nestled between two decrepit buildings, was a small wooden door with no markings. A place that only existed if you knew where to look.

This was where she'd find Raven.

Antoinette rapped her knuckles against the wood—three short taps, then two slow ones. A pattern she'd learned from her past life, a subtle signal among informants.

A moment later, the door cracked open. A pair of sharp amber eyes studied her through the gap before the voice of a woman, smooth but edged like a blade, spoke.

"You lost, palace girl?"

Antoinette didn't flinch. "I'm looking for a woman who trades in whispers."

The door swung open. No hesitation. That meant Raven was either expecting company or didn't fear whoever walked through her door.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, cluttered but deliberate. Papers, maps, and a dagger with a worn handle sat atop an old wooden desk. A woman lounged in a chair, legs crossed, swirling a glass of deep red wine. Dark hair, sharp features, and a gaze that saw too much.

Raven.

She raised an eyebrow as she studied Antoinette. "Well, well. I expected a noble's lapdog, but you… you don't move like one."

Antoinette lowered her hood slightly but kept her face covered. "I move like someone looking for answers."

Raven smirked. "And what makes you think I have them?"

Antoinette pulled a coin from her sleeve, letting it clink onto the table. "A hunch."

Raven leaned forward, considering her. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she snatched the coin. "Alright, princess. Let's play a game. You get three questions. I'll answer truthfully, but if you waste them, that's on you."

Antoinette nodded, already knowing her first question. "What do you know about the Trial of the Crown?"

A slow smile spread across Raven's lips. "Now that's interesting. A palace servant asking about royal succession?"

Antoinette didn't take the bait. She simply waited.

Raven exhaled, swirling her wine. "The Trial of the Crown is an ancient test of wisdom, strength, and leadership. It's supposed to prove the future ruler's worth. But this time? It's a damn performance."

She leaned forward. "The nobles have already decided who they want on the throne. This 'trial' is just a way to make it look legitimate."

Antoinette's mind raced. So the fix was in. Thea—or one of her step-sisters—was already the planned winner.

Her second question came easily. "Who benefits the most from rigging it?"

Raven's smirk returned. "You're sharper than you look." She tapped her fingers against the table, considering her answer. "If the 4th Princess was never meant to win, the easiest way to remove her would've been through marriage or exile. But someone wanted her out permanently."

She leaned closer, voice lowering. "That means it's not just a political move. It's personal."

Antoinette clenched her jaw. Personal.

Someone wasn't just trying to keep her from the throne—they had a grudge.

Her past instincts kicked in. In the mafia, when someone's death becomes personal, it's usually because they're a threat in ways they don't even realize.

Was Antoinette a bigger danger than even the king realized? Or did someone suspect there was more to her than met the eye?

Her third question had to count. "What's the most interesting thing you've heard about the 4th Princess?"

Raven tilted her head, studying her. Then she smiled. A slow, knowing smile.

"Oh, that one's easy," she said. "The 4th Princess was found unconscious in the streets."

Antoinette stiffened.

"She had been abducted. No one knows by who or why," Raven continued, swirling her wine like this was a casual conversation. "One moment, she was in the palace. The next, she turned up outside the walls, unconscious like someone had tossed her away."

Antoinette gritted her teeth, masking her reaction.

This was new.

In all the memories she had sifted through, there was no recollection of being abducted. The real Antoinette had no memory of what happened that night.

Was that because she hadn't woken up again? Because Ethan Perez had taken over at that exact moment?

She didn't like the implications.

And if Raven knew this, it meant the story was being whispered among the streets—but not inside the palace. Someone wanted it buried.

Raven finished her wine and set the glass down. "That's your three. Unless you're willing to pay for extra time."

Antoinette slid another coin across the table. "What do you know about Ethan Perez?"

For the first time, Raven hesitated.

Her playful smirk faded for a fraction of a second, replaced by something unreadable. Her fingers grazed the coin but didn't take it.

Antoinette's pulse pounded. She recognized the name.

She covered it quickly, shrugging. "Never heard of him."

Liar.

But why lie?

Antoinette leaned forward. "You hesitated."

Raven clicked her tongue. "Now you're just fishing, princess."

Antoinette narrowed her eyes. She had two options—press harder, or back off for now.

Pressing could spook her. Make her shut down or worse, see her as a threat. But backing off might mean losing a valuable lead.

She exhaled and pulled her coin back. "Fine. Another time."

Raven grinned, the smirk returning. "Smart girl."

She stood, stretching. "I like you, mystery royal. Tell you what—if you need more… insights, I'll be around."

Antoinette stood, her mind still racing. "One last thing."

Raven raised an eyebrow.

"What would it take for someone to survive the trial—even if it's rigged?"

She chuckled. "Oh, that's easy."

She stepped past Antoinette, brushing against her shoulder as she moved toward the door. "Be the monster they fear."

She shot her a knowing look. "You think like a survivor. Maybe it's time you act like one."

The door swung open, and Antoinette stepped out into the alley. The night air was cold, but her blood burned.

She had her answer.

The Trial of the Crown was already decided. The court expected a fragile, timid princess to crumble.

But that wasn't who they were getting.

They were getting Ethan Perez.

And she played by her rules.