That gained Atheline’s attention, and he turned slightly towards her.

"What?"

Lilith folded her arms.

"Zelpher found something."

He frowned but his curiosity couldn’t be hidden.

"What kind of something?"

Her expression remained thoughtful.

"He wasn’t certain."

That wasn’t encouraging in the least. It meant they weren’t sure or something far worse. She rarely used that tone.

Atheline waited for her to continue explaining.

"Several unusual reports arrived from one of our central territories a few months ago," she said," I sent him to investigate personally."

Central territories were smaller cities and towns near the Court, but still a distance away not to be considered part of the Court.

Atheline instantly understood, that meant it was serious. Lilith trusted very few people with independent investigations. Zelpher was one of them.

Atheline asked, "And?"

She shook her head.

"He returns tomorrow."

He looked at her in both frustration and confusion. No one appreciated being left in the dark.

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

He stared at her, willing her to reveal what she was hiding but it was useless. She remained calm. He laughed out loud.

"You’re doing that on purpose. You’re leaving me hanging on purpose."

Lilith looked innocent. Atheline wouldn’t have believed that look even if he were given the whole world’s wealth. He pointed it out.

"You know more."

"I do," she responded honestly, much to his surprise.

"And why won’t you tell me?"

"Patience. You have to be patient, there are a few things that need to be confirmed first"

Atheline clicked his tongue then turned to look outside. She smiled. A few moments later, he leaned back again into her touch.

"Fine... I’ll wait."

She nodded and continued to massage him.

"Good."

.

.

.

Morning arrived beneath a sky of pale gray clouds. Snow continued falling over the Court. Normally, Atheline enjoyed mornings like this; warm tea and a quiet breakfast. Perhaps a few hours pretending reports didn’t exist.

Unfortunately, this morning was different. Zelpher had returned, earlier than even Lilith expected, which meant whatever he had discovered was very important.

He sat inside Lilith’s private study, a room few people ever entered without invitation. The large fireplace burning nearby made the room more habitable with all the unexplained tension in the air.

Lilith sat behind her desk while Atheline occupied a chair nearby. Tea rested between them, untouched. That alone demonstrated the seriousness of the situation.

Zelpher stood opposite them. Unlike most of her personal advisers, he carried himself more like an intelligence officer, because in many ways, he was.

Lilith trusted him enough to conduct investigations independently and that alone spoke volumes. He placed several folders on the desk.

His expression remained calm but Atheline noticed something unusual. He seemed to be satisfied with something. This was the look of someone who had finally solved a puzzle.

Lilith noticed it too.

"You found something."

He nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The room became still. Atheline leaned forward slightly. Zelpher opened the first folder.

"Three months ago, city guards reported several incidents involving illegal enhancement potions."

Atheline frowned. That didn’t sound particularly alarming, illegal potions existed in every kingdom. Most were scams while others were dangerous, but hardly unusual.

Zelpher continued.

"Initially the incidents appeared unrelated."

He added several reports.

"Different districts, different sellers, different customers."

Lilith listened quietly. Zelpher placed several papers across the desk.

"The substance was marketed as a bloodline enhancement potion."

Atheline immediately paid attention. Bloodlines were serious business, especially among nobles. Lilith had also faced the same problem with people saying she wasn’t a pure royal since her mother was a maid.

Zelpher continued.

"The advertisements claimed users could strengthen inherited traits and remove any form of dirtied blood."

He provided another document.

"It will also improve magical potential from the one you’re born with. An E rank can become an S rank with enough potions"

He added another detailed document.

"It can also awaken dormant abilities. Especially for those who do not have a core"

Atheline sighed.

"That sounds fake."

Zelpher nodded.

"It was."

Lilith folded her arms.

"What did it actually do?"

Zelpher’s expression darkened slightly.

"It produced temporary improvement."

Silence filled the room. Atheline frowned. He had at least expected it to work, but temporarily, that was far worse.

Zelpher continued.

"Users experienced short-term increases in physical strength, Aether output, and blood loss which is termed as purification."

Atheline immediately understood the problem, if it worked even briefly, people would buy it. Zelpher nodded as though catching his thought process.

"As expected, demand increased rapidly."

Lilith asked the obvious question.

"The cost?"

Zelpher opened another report.

"Addiction."

The room grew quiet. Atheline leaned back on his chair causing it to scrape on the floor.

Zelpher continued right after.

"The improvements fade within days. Withdrawal symptoms begin shortly afterward," he said then paused for a moment, "The user becomes dependent on additional doses."

Atheline leaned forward slowly placing his chin in his hand. That was the real business model.

Zelpher continued.

"The substance gradually damages Aether paths. Causes emotional instability. And eventually weakens the very blood it claims to strengthen and purify."

Lilith’s eyes hardened. Atheline understood why, this wasn’t merely illegal, it was predatory. The potion targeted ambition, desperation, and hope.

The desperate are likely to seek improvement and they are most vulnerable to exploitation.

Zelpher opened another folder.

"At first, I believed it was ordinary criminal activity."

Atheline nodded, that was a reasonable assumption.

Zelpher continued.

"Then I found something unusual."

Now the room became completely silent. He placed a small ledger on the desk. At first glance, it looked insignificant, almost boring. Atheline knew that meant it was important.

Zelpher tapped one line.

"This merchant was arrested six weeks ago."

He pointed at another line.

"This one disappeared."

He pointed at another.

"This distributor died during an unrelated investigation."

Atheline frowned. It was clear that a pattern was slowly being formed.

Zelpher nodded, confirming their assumptions.

"All dead ends."

Lilith remained silent. Zelpher took that as a sign to continue.

"Every trail ended abruptly."

Atheline understood. Someone was cleaning up evidence. Zelpher opened another report.

"My breakthrough came from a mistake."