Capítulo 12: Day One And...
"How convenient," Eve said, holding up the book to display the jagged edge of the missing page. "The exact page we need? Gone. Very original."
Damian frowned as he leaned closer to inspect it. "Torn out deliberately," he muttered. "Whoever did this didn't want anyone finding out about the Sable Lily."
"Obviously," Eve replied with a wry smile. "Now, if we had forensic labs, we could easily pull fingerprints from this and run them through a database to figure out who touched it last."
Damian frowned as he tilted his head. "Fo-forensics? Database? What are you talking about?"
Eve sighed, rubbing her temple. She had almost forgotten he knew nothing about the modern equipment for solving crime. "Never mind. It's not something you'd understand."
Damian didn't push further; instead, he gestured toward the far side of the library. "I'll have the librarian compile a list of everyone who's accessed this book in the past week. That's a start."
Before Eve could respond, Jasper appeared in the doorway, looking unusually serious. "Your Highness, your presence is required in the fields. It's urgent."
Damian's jaw tightened, and he glanced at Eve. "Come on, let's go."
Eve shook her head, already grabbing another book that mentioned Yellow Wolfsbane. "Pass," she simply said. "I'm busy trying to find a way to clear my name, remember?"
"I wasn't asking," Damian replied firmly.
"In case you are unaware, I'm on the clock. 30 days to prove my innocence, so no time to play shadows."
"Well, it's still day one."
Eve rolled her eyes. "Exactly, Damian, it's day one. Do you really expect me to spend it trailing after you when there's a killer out there framing me—and might still be planning another attack?"
Damian's eyes narrowed. "So, which is it? Are you trying to clear your name, or are you trying to prevent another attempt on my life?"
Eve scoffed, flipping a page in the book. "What do you think? Don't get your hopes high, though. Just let me remain here and figure something out."
Damian's lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine. Jasper, stay here and keep an eye on her. Don't let her out of your sight."
Eve smirked faintly as Damian turned and strode out.
When the door closed, Jasper let out a low whistle. "I have to give it to you. You've got guts. Talking to him like that? Not many people do."
Eve shrugged. "I've got bigger problems at hand."
"Bigger than worrying about angering the crowned prince?"
"It seems so." A moment of silence passed between them before Eve broke it. "How long have you been in the palace, Jasper?"
"As long as I can remember," he said with a grin. "My parents worked here, and when they passed, I stayed. Had nowhere else to go."
"Hmmmm…" Eve leaned forward slightly. "Do you know where someone might get Yellow Wolfsbane or Sable Lily? Are there merchants who deal in that kind of thing?"
Jasper's easy smile faded into a serious expression. "Both are banned in the kingdom, but they're still smuggled in occasionally. Yellow Wolfsbane can only be found growing in the South, and Sable Lily only grows in Shadow Vale or its neighboring regions. Only merchants brave—or foolish—enough to travel those routes might deal in them."
Eve's eyes brightened. "Then let's go to the market. I want to talk to some merchants."
Jasper hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't think I'll allow that. The prince said to keep an eye on you."
Eve smirked. "Exactly. He said that. But then, it's not about what he said… instead, it's about what he didn't say."
"What do you mean?" Jasper asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He said to keep an eye on me and don't let me out of your sight. He didn't say you need to keep an eye on me IN the library. Meaning, I can leave here and wander off, you just need to keep an eye on me."
Jasper was still sceptical, shaking his head. "I still don't agree to this."
"I wasn't telling you to agree or not. You have two options: either you accompany me and keep an eye on me as he requested, or you abandon me and run the risk of not completing your task. Your choice."
Jasper groaned. "You're trouble, you know that, milady?"
"Let's go," Eve said, already heading for the door.
***************
The bustling market was filled with the scents of spices, the chatter of merchants, and the clinking of coins.
With Jasper on her heels, Eve moved through the crowd, directing her to the right place. Finally, they stopped at a stall… the head of merchants.
According to Jasper, he would have an idea of the activities of the other merchants.
As they walked in, he was in the process of arranging his wares with the help of his aide. "I need information about recent shipments—specifically anything from the South or Shadow Vale." Eve said, walking in.
The merchant's eyes darted nervously from Eve to Jasper. He obviously recognized her from the look in his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Something flickered in Eve's eyes. In her previous life, she was used to people treating her like that when they did not know who she was until she made a name for herself and got the scientific recognition she deserved.
She inhaled and put on a brilliant smile, one that told the merchant she was not going anywhere until she got the answer she wanted.
"Don't play coy," Eve said sharply, advancing toward him in slow strides. "Do you see him?" She halted and gestured toward Jasper. "He works directly for Prince Damian and that's to tell you I'm on a royal assignment, with royal backing."
Eve smirked seeing the influence her words were already having on the man's tensed shoulders and trembling fingers.
"Let's not forget, I'm the prince's mate. So tell me," she drawled, her fingers lightly grazing one of his shipped goods, "...do you really want to take your chances?"
The merchant swallowed hard, his reluctance fading under the threat. "Fine. We keep records of all imports and exports. You can look through them, but only from the last 30 days."
Eve's lips twitched into a victorious smile. "That'll do."
Relia's voice purred in her mind. "You're getting awfully comfortable using Damian's name, aren't you?"
Eve rolled her eyes internally. "It's called being resourceful."
"Sure," Relia teased. "Resourceful. Or maybe you just like having a little of his power rub off on you."
Eve ignored her wolf, focusing on the ledger the merchant handed over. She scanned the list quickly, looking for anything that stood out.
Most of the entries were ordinary goods—silks, spices, and jewelry—but she noticed a few traders who had recently returned from Shadow Vale. Narrowing it down, she found four merchants who had arrived in the capital three days before the poisoning.
Eve scanned the ledger repeatedly, her brows furrowing in frustration. None of the four traders who had recently arrived from Shadow Vale listed any suspicious goods.
No mention of Yellow Wolfsbane, no Sable Lily.
Nothing to even hint at illicit activity.
She groaned aloud, dropping the ledger onto the merchant's counter with a thud. "Dead end."
Jasper leaned over, giving the pages a quick glance before shrugging. "Maybe not."
Eve arched a brow, scepticism clear on her face. "What do you mean, maybe not?"
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