The Empire Begins to Crumble

Olivia's War Room

The safehouse had transformed overnight.

Maps, ledgers, digital blueprints, and red strings connecting names like Aurelia Vespera, Markus Elden, Council of Nine were pinned across one wall. Olivia stood at the center, barefoot, hair tied up, eyes sharp as glass.

Damon entered with coffee, stopping in his tracks.

"You built a war room," he muttered.

"I built an execution list," she corrected.

She crossed out Rane's name with a thick slash of black marker.

"One down. Eight to go."

He handed her the coffee.

"You're colder than I thought."

She turned, stepping closer. "You like that."

He didn't deny it.

Markus in Chaos

Markus slammed the file across the table. Rane's death photo stared back at him—eyes wide, neck snapped, a bloodied playing card shoved into his mouth.

A queen of hearts.

"She's mocking me," he growled.

Aurelia stood across the room, arms folded, calm as a grave.

"She's making her move. And Damon's helping her."

"I should've killed him when I had the chance."

"You did." She smiled coldly. "You just didn't do it well enough."

Markus turned on her. "Don't you dare play games with me."

"Who said I was playing?" she purred. "You wanted an heir. She's becoming a queen."

The Confession

Later that night, Olivia leaned against the window, watching rain drizzle across the glass.

Damon approached her slowly.

"I need to tell you something."

She turned, wary.

"The man who killed your father…" he hesitated. "It was me."

Silence.

His voice cracked. "Markus gave the order. I was the weapon. I thought… I thought it was just another hit. But when I saw your father's eyes—he knew me. And I saw you in him."

He dropped to his knees.

"I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I couldn't lie anymore."

She stared at him.

Then walked to him. Knelt down.

And whispered, "Then help me kill the man who made you a weapon."

Aurelia's Warning

Aurelia stood before the Council of Nine.

"She's not the threat you should fear," she said.

"She's a girl with grief and a grudge."

"No," Aurelia replied coldly. "She's the reaper with your bloodline on her list. And if you underestimate her again, she'll do more than kill."

"She'll take your throne."

The council murmured. One leaned forward.

"And you? Whose side are you on?"

Aurelia smiled faintly. "The winning one."

The Power Move

Olivia walked into her family's old estate at dawn, alone, in a blood-red blazer and heels that echoed across the marble.

The Eldens' security stopped her. She didn't blink.

"Tell Markus," she said, "his daughter has come to collect."

Meanwhile — Damon's Past Revealed

Back at the safehouse, Damon entered his old encrypted vault and cracked open a sealed file left by his mentor.

Inside: a photo of a woman holding a baby.

The woman: Aurelia Vespera.

The baby: him.

Beneath it, a note.

"He'll never be loyal to you, Markus. He's mine."

The truth hit harder than any bullet.

Aurelia was his mother.

And Olivia?

Wasn't the only heir in this war.