Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 73: Alliance

Chapter 73: Alliance

Rain had fallen the night before, leaving the cobbled paths of the estate slick and silver under the morning sun. Liora’s gaze lingered on the garden walls as she walked with purpose , not toward Lucien’s study, but toward the west wing, where the estate’s archives were kept. She hadn’t dared enter them until now.

The guard stationed there barely glanced at her. She was Lucien’s concubine, after all and for most, that was enough to make them look away.

But inside, hidden behind ancient tapestries and half-forgotten ledgers, she found a man already waiting.

"Forgive me for intruding, my lady," the stranger said, his voice polite, calm. "I’m Osric Vale. Minister of Military Provisions. Newly arrived from the capital."

Liora blinked. "You’re far from the court, Minister."

He smiled. "And you’re far from where the court believes you belong."

Before she could answer, Osric continued, lowering his voice.

"There are whispers. Of the Queen Dowager’s spies. Of new allies forming behind the backs of both King Alden and Prince Lucien. Do you truly think you are safe here, Lady Liora?"

"I did not ask for safety," she replied. "I only want truth."

Osric’s eyes flickered with a hint of something deeper. "Then perhaps we can help each other."

Back in the royal court, Beatrice paced the velvet-lined corridors outside the queen’s chambers. A letter trembled in her hand not from Queen Dowager Lilian, but from the Duchy of Auvrane, bordering their western flank. Their emissary hinted at a trade alliance... but also mentioned Lucien by name.

Beatrice’s thoughts spiraled. Lilian had tasked her to keep Liora from growing too close to Lucien. But what if the bigger danger wasn’t the girl, but the nobles circling like vultures from beyond?

She didn’t knock. She stormed into the Queen Dowager’s salon instead.

"You need to hear this," Beatrice said, slamming the letter on the lacquered table. "They’re trying to use Lucien. Maybe even pit him against Alden."

Lilian didn’t blink. She picked up the letter calmly, scanned it, then folded it with a measured sigh.

"I expected as much," she said coolly. "The only question left is , who among us is feeding them information?"

Beatrice hesitated. "You think someone in our court is betraying us?"

"I think," Lilian said, her tone colder than the marble under their feet, "that we’re at the start of a war no one sees yet. And Lucien, whether he knows it or not, stands in the middle."

Liora wasn’t sure whether to trust Osric Vale his sudden appearance, his unnerving calmness yet she stayed.

"Say what you came to say," she demanded, crossing her arms.

Osric stepped closer, his boots silent against the stone floor of the archive. "Prince Lucien is being watched. Not by King Alden alone, but by those who whisper in court, and worse — by those beyond our borders."

He paused, examining her face. "You’re not just a concubine, are you?"

Liora gave no answer.

Osric chuckled. "That silence tells me more than words could. I believe you’re invested in his survival. If so... there’s something you need to see."

From within his coat, Osric drew a scroll sealed not with the king’s crest, but with the insignia of the upper council: a fox entwined with thorns.

Liora unfolded it carefully.

It was a letter, brief but damning:A minister, unnamed, was offering to broker Prince Lucien’s support for a false campaign to the east while planning to frame him for treason should the plan fail. The ink was fresh. The betrayal wasn’t just whispered; it had begun.

She looked up sharply. "Who gave you this?"

"I have contacts within the upper court," Osric replied, his voice quieter now. "But I’ve remained silent. Until now."

"And why tell me?"

"Because no one suspects you yet, Lady Liora." His eyes narrowed. "Not fully. Use that to your advantage. If you can win Lucien’s trust fully—and I mean truly you’ll be the only one in his circle untouched by court politics."

Liora’s breath hitched. She was already bound to Lucien by their private deal. But now?

She was being handed a weapon.

At the capital court, Queen Dowager Lilian sat with her fingers steepled beneath her chin. She had summoned Minister Harland Vex, a gray-eyed noble known for his subtle threats and unwavering loyalty , or so it had seemed.

"You summoned me, Your Grace?" Harland bowed low, his voice rich and unhurried.

Lilian watched him like a hawk. "What do you make of the Duchy of Auvrane’s recent letters?"

Harland lifted a brow. "Trade is always welcome. Though their interest in Prince Lucien seems... curious."

"Curious?" she echoed, then rose from her chair. "Or convenient?"

Harland’s smile barely touched his lips. "Are you suggesting I’m involved?"

"I’m stating," Lilian said, circling him slowly, "that your name appeared in one of their letters."

A pause. The first flicker of unease.

"Lies are common in court," Harland replied. "Perhaps fabricated by those who seek to tarnish me."

Lilian’s voice was cold steel now. "Or perhaps they’re truths only fools would ignore."

She moved to the window, staring down at the palace gardens below. "You’ve always liked the color red, Harland. I wonder if you’ll enjoy it so much when it’s on your robes, as a stain."

He bowed again. Slower, tighter. "I serve the crown."

"Then start acting like it."

In Lucien’s estate, Samuel burst into Rowan’s quarters, out of breath and pale.

"You need to come," he gasped. "There’s word from the capital. The queen dowager is tightening her inner circle. Beatrice’s visits might not be as innocent as we thought."

Rowan stood, already slipping on his coat. "We need to tell Lucien."

"And Liora?" Samuel asked.

Rowan hesitated, then muttered, "She might already be involved."

By the time Rowan reached Lucien’s study, dusk had started to bleed across the skies, casting the estate in burnt-orange hues. Samuel followed closely, carrying the scroll they’d intercepted — a coded message written in cipher known only to the Queen Dowager’s inner ministers.

Lucien sat before the hearth, a stack of documents untouched on the table beside him. He did not look up as they entered, but Rowan didn’t wait for permission.

"We have a problem," Rowan said.

Lucien finally turned his head.

"A bigger one," Samuel added, tossing the scroll on the table. "Intercepted from the courier station near the Southern Gate. It’s from Harland Vex."

Lucien’s brow furrowed. "To whom?"

Rowan answered, "To the Duchy of Auvrane. He’s offering a private audience in the capital, and—" he paused, voice tight, "—he speaks of you as if you’re already in his pocket."

Lucien said nothing. He picked up the scroll, eyes skimming the elegant, deceptive strokes.He had known Harland was slippery, but to act this boldly, knowing Lilian watched every move?

Or did he know something they didn’t?

"You need to return to court," Samuel said quietly.

"I will not walk into a lion’s mouth without a dagger in hand," Lucien replied, folding the scroll. "Not unless we know who else is involved."

"Then we start pulling threads," Rowan said.

Lucien looked to the window, to the horizon beyond. "Where is Liora?"

"In her quarters," Samuel answered. "Osric Vale visited her. Privately."

Lucien’s head snapped back.

Rowan raised a hand. "It wasn’t a threat. He brought a letter. From what I gathered, he’s warning her. Or guiding her."

Lucien rose slowly from his seat. "I don’t like games played without my knowledge."

—

Liora sat in her room, the scroll Osric had given her still tucked beneath her pillow. Her heart was caught in a strange tug-of-war — between her desire to help Lucien, and the creeping feeling that she was once again a pawn in someone else’s game.

The knock at her door startled her.

Before she could answer, Lucien entered.

He didn’t ask for permission. He rarely did.

"Osric visited," he said without preamble.

Liora nodded slowly. "He brought a warning."

"And you kept it from me?" His tone wasn’t cold, but it held weight.

"I didn’t want to bring it to you until I was certain it wasn’t a trap," she said, standing. "He showed me a letter implicating Minister Harland. Said someone is trying to frame you using a false campaign in the east."

Lucien watched her, saying nothing.

"You think I’d hide things from you?" she asked softly.

"I think everyone plays for their own side, eventually," he replied, voice unreadable.

Liora moved closer. "Then I’ll prove whose side I’m on."

Lucien stared at her for a long moment before nodding.

"I need you to write a letter," he said finally. "One that appears as if you’re seeking favor with Lilian ask for an audience. She’ll see it as you straying from me."

"A trap?" Liora asked.

"A bait," Lucien corrected. "If she bites, we’ll know how far her reach extends. And if Harland is truly acting with her knowledge, or against it."

"And if she invites me?" Liora asked, her voice quieter now.

Lucien’s expression hardened. "Then you walk into the mouth of the court. But not alone."