Kapitel 5: Allies in the shadows

(Lina)

I took a deep breath, straightening the collar of my leather jacket. This was it. No more hiding behind Isabella's shadow.

I was ready to become the fighter she had always wanted me to be, even if it meant jumping right into the messy world of palace secrets.

"Okay, Lina," I said to myself, pulling open the door with more flair than necessary. "Time to channel my inner spy. Just think of it as a game of hide and seek, except the prize is my freedom and not a game of tag."

As I stepped into the hall, I kept my eyes open for any signs of Nicholas. I wasn't naive enough to think he'd just let me walk away after our little showdown. He'd be lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike. "Probably plotting something sinister," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Classic villain behavior."

I moved down the corridor, trying to project confidence, even as I felt the pressure of my mission settles around me. "Find out who Nicholas is connected to and make some friends—easy peasy, right?" I continued my monologue, my voice echoing slightly in the emptiness. "What could go wrong?"

Turning a corner, I spotted a pair of guards stationed near a set of double doors. I quickly ducked behind a marble pillar, peering around its edge like a character in a royal drama. "They really should have put a 'No eavesdropping' sign on these doors. Maybe a cute little warning label: 'Danger! Secrets inside!'"

I chuckled to myself, then quickly stifled the sound as one of the guards shifted his stance. "Focus, Lina," I reminded myself, getting rid of the distractions. "You're here to gather information, not entertain yourself."

I slipped away from my hiding spot, taking advantage of the guards' momentary lapse in attention. A glance down another hallway revealed a small, unguarded door. "Opportunity knocks," I said with a smirk, heading toward it.

As I entered the room, I found it filled with stacks of old documents and a large wooden desk cluttered with scrolls. "Well, this looks promising," I whispered, eyeing the papers. "This must be where they hide all the juicy gossip."

I began rifling through the documents, my heart racing with excitement. "Let's see what Isabella had to deal with. Did she have a 'royal drama' folder? Ooh, maybe a 'things I wish I could say to my family' drawer?"

I pulled out a scroll, squinting at the ornate script. It was a list of nobles attending the next court gathering, along with their relationships. "Score!" I exclaimed quietly. "Connections galore. This is like a family tree, but much messier. I need to remember this."

The system's voice echoed in my mind, encouraging me to find allies.

"Right, I need to figure out who could help me." I scanned the scroll for any mentions of potential allies. "Ooh, Lady Marisol. I've recalled from Isabella's memory she's sharp and knows how to move around these waters. Plus, she doesn't seem to have ties to Nicholas."

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching. "Crap! Time to go!" I hissed, shoving the scroll back onto the desk. "I've got enough information to start a gossip column, but I'd rather not end up as the main story."

I slipped out of the room just as the door creaked open, and a guard stepped inside. "Just another day in the life of a wannabe spy," I mumbled, racing back down the hall. My heart thudded in my chest, but there was a thrill in my veins. This was the kind of life I wanted—dangerous and exciting, not stifled by the burden of expectation.

Once I was far enough away, I leaned against a wall to catch my breath. "Alright, Lina, task one down. Let's not trip over ourselves on task two," I reminded myself, glancing at my hands as if they were guilty. "Gather intel about Nicholas and his connections. Shouldn't be too hard, right? It's not like he has a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card or anything."

I started making my way back to my quarters, thinking about the possibilities of who might be willing to help me. "Alright, I need someone resourceful, maybe a little sassy. Like a partner-in-crime. Anyone but Nicholas, please."

As I reached my room, I took a moment to compose myself. "Look at me," I said with a grin, "going from princess to detective in record time. Who needs a fairy godmother when you've got determination and a closet full of leather?"

I tossed my jacket onto the bed, feeling a surge of energy. "Next up, find out how to get Nicholas off my back. It's time to poke around and see who's willing to talk. I might just need to turn on the charm," I declared, clenching my fist in a gesture of triumph. "Or maybe a well-placed bribe. Can't hurt to try, right?"

I headed out into the palace once more, ready to uncover secrets and forge my path to freedom. "Bring it on, Nicholas. Do you think you can keep me down? You have no idea who you're dealing with."

As I walked through the halls, I passed several courtiers who barely glanced my way. "Just another day at the castle," I whispered, rolling my eyes. "Isn't it nice to blend in?" But inside, I felt the stirrings of power, a rush of energy that urged me to break the mold.

I decided to head to the library, a place I had often avoided in my previous life as Isabella. It felt heavy with secrets, and I needed all the knowledge I could get. "Maybe I'll find a book on espionage," I joked to myself as I navigated the labyrinth of shelves, hoping to uncover something useful.

The library was quiet, the air filled with the scent of aged parchment and dust. I ran my fingers along the spines of the books, scanning titles. "How to Win Friends and Influence Nobles?" I read aloud with a smirk. "Sounds like my kind of read!"

I pulled a few books off the shelf, flipping through their pages. "Hmmm, history of court politics? Boring. How to play the royal game? Intriguing. Ah, here we go—'Secrets of the Elite: understanding Power Dynamics.' Now that's what I need!"

Settling into a cozy reading nook, I immersed myself in the book. It outlined strategies for gaining influence and building alliances. "Alright, so step one: flattery. Step two: find a common enemy. Step three—don't get caught." I jotted down notes, excitement bubbling inside me. "This is better than any reality show."

As I read, I heard a soft rustling nearby. I glanced up to see a figure behind a shelf. "Hello? Who's there?" I called out, instinctively straightening my posture.

A young woman stepped out, her face a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Your Highness! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. I was just… um, looking for a book."

"Right," I said, raising an eyebrow, trying to maintain a balance between authority and approachability. "In the section for royal drama? I won't tell anyone if you won't."

She chuckled nervously. "I'm not into drama. I promise."

"Good, because I've had enough of it for a lifetime," I replied, folding my arms.

"You're not in trouble with Prince Nicholas, are you?" She asked, glancing around as if expecting him to jump out from behind a bookshelf.

"Let's just say we disagreed," I said, keeping my tone light. "But I'm more interested in finding allies than enemies right now. Do you know anything about Nicholas's connections?"

She hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "I might. But it's risky to talk here."

I leaned in, lowering my voice. "Risky is my middle name. How about we find a more private spot?"

"Okay," She said, glancing back at the shelves. "Follow me."

'Maybe this is what the system meant by allies,' I thought, excitement bubbling in my chest. 'Maybe I'm starting to figure this out after all.'

We settled in a small alcove hidden by thick curtains. "So, what do you know about Nicholas?" I asked, eager to hear her insights.

"He's got connections everywhere," she whispered. "People in high places, loyalists who will do anything for him. But he's not as untouchable as he thinks. There are whispers of discontent among the nobles."

I raised an eyebrow. "Discontent? This sounds promising."

"Yes, but be careful Princess Isabella." She cautioned. "If Prince Nicholas catches wind of this, you could be in serious trouble."

"Trust me, I'm used to trouble," I replied with a grin. "But I appreciate the heads-up. What's your name again?"

"Clara," she said, her expression softening. "It's Clara, your Highness."

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