Chapter 12: The General’ s Observations

General Aldric stood in the middle of the Empress’s private chambers, his arms crossed over his chest as he supervised the servants packing her belongings. Trunks were being filled with gowns, jewels, and various other luxuries that would be required for her journey to Shadow’s Edge.

He still couldn’t quite believe what was happening.

The Empress is going on a voluntary trip with King Leonidas. The same Empress who spent years weeping in her chambers over his rejection. The same Empress who starved herself for scraps of his attention.

It was surreal to say the least.

Aldric’s family had served the imperial family for over a decade. He had watched Karina de Laurentis transform from a bright-eyed, hopeful bride into a hollow-eyed, desperate shell of a woman. He had seen her beg, cry, and degrade herself for men who didn’t deserve the dirt on her boots.

And now....this.

She’s different, he thought, his gaze following the Empress as she swept through the room, directing the servants with a confidence that seemed entirely new. She’s more confident. More aware. More... present.

It was like someone had replaced the old Karina with a stranger wearing her face. A stranger who smiled easily, laughed genuinely, and looked at her children with eyes filled with love.

Aldric didn’t know what had caused the change. Maybe she had finally snapped. Maybe the years of rejection had broken her mind, and this strange, assertive version of the Empress was the result.

Or maybe, just maybe, she had simply decided to stop being a victim.

Whatever the reason, Aldric found himself cautiously optimistic. The old Karina had been a liability. A weakness that the other kingdoms could exploit. This new Karina? She was a puzzle. An unknown variable. And that made her dangerous in ways the old one could never have been.

He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. But he was determined to help her as best he could. She was his Empress, after all. Loyalty was not something he took lightly.

His gaze drifted to the window, scanning the courtyard below. His eyes narrowed.

Leonidas.

The Panther King was standing near the edge of the garden, speaking with one of his personal guards. He was dressed in his usual fashion, fitted black tunic, gold accents, his raven hair tied back in a braid. Even from this distance, Aldric could see the arrogance in his posture.

He had never liked Leonidas.

It wasn’t just the way the Panther King treated his wife. It was the way he treated everyone, as if they were beneath him, unworthy of his attention. He was handsome, powerful, and he knew it. Every woman in the capital, beast or human, seemed to fall at his feet the moment he entered a room.

Stupid beautiful face, Aldric thought bitterly. Stupid charming lips. Stupid perfect jawline.

It was infuriating.

Aldric was tall and broad-shouldered himself. He had a strong jaw and sharp blue eyes that many women found appealing. But next to Leonidas, he was a common soldier. A footnote. An afterthought.

Not that he cared. He was a general, not a peacock. He had better things to do than compete with arrogant beast kings for attention.

Focus, he told himself, turning his gaze away from the window. The Empress needs you to be sharp. Not envious of a man who doesn’t deserve her.

He turned his attention back to the packing, his mind already cataloging the supplies they would need for the journey.

~

An hour later, Aldric was walking through the eastern corridor of the palace, his mind still churning with logistics. Food, clothing, guards, transport. The list was endless.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he almost didn’t hear the voices around the corner.

"...is she thinking? Going to Shadow’s Edge with the Panther King? She’ll make a fool of herself again, mark my words."

"Did you see the bump on her forehead? She probably walked into a door. That woman is hopeless."

"I heard she’s been spending time with the cubs. Can you imagine? The Empress actually acting like a mother for once. It’s laughable."

Aldric froze.

The voices belonged to a group of court nobles, the ones who had been hanging around the palace for weeks, trying to present their daughters to the Beast Kings. Aldric recognized them instantly. Opportunists, the lot of them.

He should step forward. Confront them. Remind them that speaking about the Empress in such a manner was treason.

But before he could move, a familiar voice spoke from behind him.

"Shhhhhh."

Aldric nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun around, his hand flying to his sword—

And found Empress Karina standing directly behind him, a finger pressed to her lips and a wicked grin spreading across her face.

"Your Imperial Majesty!" Aldric hissed, his heart pounding. "You—how—"

"Shhhh," Karina repeated, her eyes dancing with amusement. "I want to hear what they have to say."

Aldric stared at her. "You... you want to hear them insult you?"

"Absolutely." Karina leaned against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest. "Information is power, General. The more I know about what people think of me, the better I can plan my next move."

"Don’t worry," she whispered. "I have an idea."

She stepped around him, taking cautious steps. Her heels made no sound as she approached the corner.

Aldric watched, his eyes wide, as the Empress peered around the corner at the gossiping nobles. Her smile sharpened, taking on a dangerous edge.

Then, she stepped into view.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," she said brightly. "I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about me."

The nobles turned to statues, their faces draining of color. The woman who had been speaking, a plump, overdressed lady with too many jewels, looked like she was about to faint.

"Y-Your Imperial Majesty!" the woman stammered, dropping into a clumsy bow. "We—we were just—"

"Discussing my many failings?" Karina finished sweetly. "Yes, I heard. Walked into a door, did I? That’s rich. It was a chandelier, actually. Much more dramatic."

The noblewoman’s face went from pale to beet red. "I—I didn’t mean—"

"Of course you didn’t." Karina stepped closer, her smile never wavering. "Here’s the thing, my dear. I don’t actually care what you think of me. You’re a minor noble with too much time on her hands and too little sense in her head. Your opinion is worth less than the dirt on my slippers."

The woman’s eyes widened with outrage. "How dare you—"

"How dare I?" Karina laughed, the sound cold and sharp. "How dare I remind you of your place? Let me be very clear. I am the Empress of Zyleria. I hold the crown. I hold the power. If I find out that you or anyone else has been spreading rumors about me, I’ll have you stripped of your titles and thrown out of the palace. Do you understand?"

The noblewoman fell to her knees, her face ashen. "Y-yes, Your Imperial Majesty. I apologize. Please, forgive me—"

"Forgiveness is earned," Karina said flatly. "Leave my sight. And pray I forget your face."

The nobles scrambled away like startled mice, their silks rustling as they fled down the corridor.

Karina watched them go, her smile finally softening into a more genuine one. She turned back to Aldric, her eyes bright with satisfaction.

"Well," she said, "that was fun."

Aldric stared at her. "You... you just threatened a dozen nobles."

"I did."

"And you enjoyed it."

"Immensely." Karina smoothed down her gown, her smirk widening. "Now, let’s go. We have a trip to prepare for, and I want to make sure Valen’s room is packed with enough sweets to last the journey."

She swept past him, her heels clicking against the floor.

Aldric remained frozen for a long moment, his mind reeling.

What just happened?