Lilith raised an eyebrow.

"A mistake?"

Zelpher nodded.

"One shipment... Only one," he emphasised then continued, "The paperwork used the wrong seal."

Atheline was slightly blindsided. He hadn’t expected that at all.

’That was it?’

Zelpher nodded as if he had read his thoughts.

"It should have been meaningless."

Lilith leaned slightly forward, now interested. Zelpher continued.

"The seal belonged to a minor trade warehouse."

Another report appeared.

"The warehouse belonged to a merchant company."

He pointed at a specific part in the next report.

"The company was owned by a holding group. The holding group was funded by a noble investment account."

Atheline instantly knew it. He had stumbled upon a tiny and insignificant chain that would have been ignored. It turned out to be traceable.

Zelpher continued.

"Someone forgot to remove a connection."

The room remained silent. Zelpher opened the final folder, then placed a single document on the desk.

Both Lilith and Atheline looked down.

There was only a name, nothing else. The study became completely still. They just stared at the documents, neither spoke for several moments.

They recognized their name immediately. It was a councillor they were familiar with, especially Lilith. He wasn’t one of the loud ones or the ambitious ones or even an obvious political player.

He was one of the quietest men in government and that was why he had managed to survive the purge. He was the kind of person most people forgot existed and she had been one of the people.

Zelpher finally broke the silence.

"He owns the investment account."

Atheline slowly looked up. Zelpher continued.

"The account that financed the holding group. The holding group that financed the merchant company. The merchant company that supplied the warehouse and the warehouse that distributed the potion."

Silence filled the room. The chain was complete. Lilith’s eyes narrowed.

"Evidence?"

Zelpher nodded.

"Enough for arrest."

Atheline felt a chill. It wasn’t because of the discovery but of who it was. The councillor had attended meetings, offered advice, and participated in governance since before Lilith took the throne.

Atheline had even though his son would make a good friend. Now it seems he was probably being assessed.

All of this had taken place while secretly operating an illegal distribution network.

Lilith spoke quietly.

"How much money?"

Zelpher handed over another document. She scanned it, then her expression darkened. Atheline noticed her change which was never a good sign.

"What?"

Lilith passed him the report. Atheline read the report then just stared at it. The profits were enormous. It wasn’t noble-level wealth but Kingdom-level wealth. The operation was massive, far larger than anyone expected.

Zelpher nodded.

"We believe the network extends beyond the kingdom. "

Atheline exhaled slowly. Of course it did, operations this large rarely stayed local.

Lilith remained silent, clearly thinking and calculating. Both men recognized the expression that someone was about to have a very bad day.

Zelpher continued.

"There is another problem."

She looked up. Zelpher’s voice remained calm.

"He doesn’t know we’ve found him."

Atheline knew what that meant for both parties. It was both good and bad. Good because they retained the initiative and bad because timing suddenly mattered.

Zelpher continued.

"If he notices surveillance... He may flee," he quietly said,"... Or kill himself."

The room grew quiet again. Atheline nodded slowly, that was a reasonable concern. Traitors often preferred death to interrogation, especially experienced ones.

Lilith folded her hands together.

"When was your last observation?"

"Two hours ago."

She nodded.

’Good, he’s still in position’

Zelpher continued.

"He follows a predictable schedule."

Atheline looked toward the map table, already planning.

Lilith spoke.

"No public arrest."

Zelpher nodded immediately. He understood that public arrests created attention, and that created risk.

She continued.

"No warnings, no summons, and no formal investigation."

Zelpher nodded again while Atheline smiled slightly. The councillor had no idea what was coming.

Lilith looked toward him. Atheline already knew that expression.

"What?"

Lilith’s eyes narrowed.

"You wanted excitement."

Atheline blinked.

"That was a joke."

She ignored him. Zelpher wisely remained silent. Atheline sighed in defeat.

"You’ve been waiting to say that."

"Yes."

He looked betrayed while she looked satisfied. This small banter broke the tension that was about to spill over.

Her expression became serious once more. She stood, instantly, and the atmosphere shifted. Plans were going to become actions.

Zelpher straightened. Atheline rose as well. Lilith spoke calmly.

"We move today."

Zelpher nodded.

"Understood."

She looked toward the city visible through the study windows. Snow continued falling beyond the glass. The court appeared peaceful, quiet, and normal.

Yet somewhere within that city sat a man who believed his secrets remained hidden.

A man connected to treason, criminal networks, and someone who had spent years hiding behind silence and respectability.

Lilith’s eyes hardened.

"Before sunset... He will be in chains."

Zelpher bowed. Atheline looked toward the falling snow. For some reason, he almost felt sorry for the councillor. Then he remembered everything he had done, especially betraying Lilith after she had spared him and the feeling vanished.

.

.

.

White covered the noble ring, the second-highest floor, where some of the oldest and wealthiest families of the kingdom maintained their homes.

From the outside, the councillor’s residence appeared no different from the others; Elegant, respectable, and ancient. Belonging to one of the oldest bloodlines in the Dark Elven Kingdom.

This was a house built for prestige and apparently treason.

Inside the palace, Lilith finished reading the final report gathered by her Zelpher.

The room was silent. Atheline sat nearby, also reading. Zelpher stood beside the desk. Several intelligence officers waited near the wall, having been called in after the decision was made.

Lilith closed the folder.

"Confirmed?"

Zelpher nodded.

"Beyond doubt."

Silence followed. Atheline had expected anger but she wasn’t angry, she looked disappointed.

Zelpher continued.

"We’ve maintained surveillance since dawn. There has been no unusual movement, attempts to flee, or signs that he suspects discovery."

Lilith stood.

"Good."

The room immediately became tense. Everyone present understood what that meant. The hunt was over and now came the capture.