Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 186: Infiltration...

Chapter 186: Infiltration...

Damian guided them through the lively ballroom with a calm confidence, his silver eyes carefully observing everything around him. Despite the tension he felt inside, he appeared completely composed.

The whispers of the guests faded as he passed by, and many turned their heads to watch him, but Damian ignored them.

Evelina walked closely beside him, her own graceful presence attracting attention, though she kept her expression neutral. Jasper followed a bit behind, moving quietly and deliberately, blending into the grandeur of the palace with his servant’s demeanor.

As they exited the ballroom, the lively strains of the orchestra faded, replaced by the quieter hum of the palace corridors. The polished marble gleamed under the golden glow of sconces, and the distant echo of guards’ boots created an undercurrent of unease.

Damian glanced back and spoke in a low but firm voice. "We’ll take the eastern stairwell. Fewer guards that way."

Jasper nodded, his green eyes darting ahead as if already calculating their path. "The route should be clear at this hour," he said. "Most of the servants will be tending to the guests in the main halls."

Evelina’s voice was soft but edged with concern. "And if someone does see us? Luther doesn’t strike me as the forgiving type."

Damian’s smirk was faint. "Let them try. If anyone questions us, they’ll answer to me."

Jasper shot him a wry glance. "Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, Your Highness. Subtlety would serve us better tonight."

Damian’s expression softened slightly. "Agreed."

The trio moved swiftly but silently, Jasper leading them down a narrow servant’s corridor that branched off from the grander palace walkways.

Evelina observed how easily he moved through the hallways. It was obvious he had spent years learning the palace’s secrets.

As they neared Luther’s chambers, Jasper held up a hand, signaling them to stop.

He pressed himself against the stone wall, peering around the corner with a practiced caution. After a moment, he turned back to them and whispered.

"There’s a guard at the door," he murmured. "Looks like he’s stationed there for the night."

Eve arched a brow. "When did Luther start stationing guards outside his chambers?"

Damian frowned, his silver eyes narrowing in thought. "We need a distraction."

Evelina tilted her head, a faint smirk curving her lips. "Leave that to me."

Before either man could protest, she stepped around the corner, her expression transforming into one of confusion and distress. The guard straightened immediately, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.

"Excuse me," Evelina began in a slightly trembling voice. "I... I seem to have lost my way. These corridors all look the same, and I was supposed to meet the prince in the east wing..."

The guard hesitated, clearly caught off guard by her sudden appearance.

He recognised her immediately and he quickly bowed his head. "Your Grace, I’m certain the prince hasn’t come this way, but if you’ll allow me, I can help you look for him in the main hall."

Evelina’s smile was apologetic. "Oh, that would be so kind of you. Thank you."

As the guard turned to lead her away, she glanced back over her shoulder, meeting Jasper’s eyes for a fleeting second. He gave a small nod, and she disappeared down the corridor with the guard.

—

Jasper and Damian moved quickly, slipping into Luther’s chambers as the heavy oak door clicked shut behind them.

The room was dimly lit, and the faint glow of the moon filtered through the tall, narrow windows. It was a study, lined with shelves of leather-bound books and scrolls, a massive desk dominating the center of the space.

Jasper wasted no time, heading straight for the desk. "If he’s hiding anything, it’ll be here," he muttered, his fingers deftly working the lock on the central drawer. It clicked open within seconds, revealing a clutter of papers, ink bottles, and sealed envelopes.

Damian moved to the bookshelves, scanning the spines with a discerning eye. He paused, his fingers brushing over a thick, leather-bound tome that seemed out of place.

Pulling it free, he flipped it open—and his breath caught.

Inside, tucked between the pages, was a folded sheet of parchment. Damian unfolded it, his jaw tightening as he read the neatly penned words. "It’s a letter," he said softly. "From one of the guards. Brenton."

Jasper looked up sharply. "What does it say?"

Damian’s silver eyes darkened as he read aloud. "He’s begging Luther to keep his family safe. Says he’s done everything he was ordered to—guard rotations, falsified reports... he’s scared for his life."

Jasper cursed under his breath, returning his attention to the desk. He rummaged through the drawers until he found a small wooden box.

Opening it, he revealed several vials of dried herbs and powders, along with a sheet of parchment covered in Luther’s distinctive handwriting.

"It’s a recipe," Jasper said grimly. "For poison. And these ingredients..." He picked up one of the vials, holding it up to the light. "They’re not just rare—they’re from the palace’s apothecary. Only someone with high-level access could get their hands on these."

Damian’s expression grew colder, his grip tightening on the letter. "This is more than enough to implicate him."

Before they could continue, the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Jasper quickly replaced everything as it was, locking the drawers and ensuring no trace of their presence remained.

Damian tucked the letter and recipe into the folds of his cloak.

—

Jasper motioned for Damian to follow him to a second, hidden exit behind a tapestry.

They slipped out just as the door to the chambers creaked open. The sound of voices drifted behind them, but they didn’t stop, moving swiftly through the servant’s passages until they emerged in a secluded courtyard.

Evelina was waiting for them, her arms crossed and a triumphant smile on her lips. "Took you long enough."

"Did he suspect anything?" Jasper asked, slightly out of breath.

"Not a thing," Evelina replied. Her gaze shifted to Damian. "Did you find what we needed?"

Damian nodded, his silver eyes glinting with determination. "More than enough."

For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, the weight of what they had uncovered settling heavily around them.

"Now," Damian said, his voice low and resolute, "we expose him."

—

As they walked back into the ballroom, they felt the heaviness of their recent discovery but hid it well. The music played, the chandeliers shone brightly, and everyone at the party was unaware of the trouble simmering just below the surface.

The smell of wine, perfume, and candles filled the air, mixed with quiet conversations.

Evelina tried to stay calm as she stepped back into the crowd. Damian walked next to her, carefully looking around the room, while Jasper followed a step behind, appearing relaxed but actually very alert.

"Act normal," Damian murmured under his breath.

Evelina arched a brow, though she didn’t turn her head. "Define normal."

"Not looking like you’re about to start a war."

She gave a soft, mirthless chuckle. "That depends. Are we certain there won’t be one by the end of the night?"

"Let’s hope not," Damian replied.

For a while, it seemed like the evening was progressing well.

But it didn’t take long before someone decided to ruin it for Evelina.

A hush rippled through the crowd as Selene, ever the orchestrator of social spectacle, gracefully stepped forward, her golden gown shimmering under the candlelight.

"Ah, there she is," Selene announced, her voice carrying just enough volume to command attention without seeming forceful. "Our dear Evelina. We were beginning to wonder if you had abandoned us for the night."

Evelina forced a polite smile, though her instincts screamed at her to be wary. Selene never approached without reason. "Not at all. I simply needed a moment to clear my head."

"How fortunate," Selene said smoothly, though her eyes gleamed with something sharper. "I was just about to send for you," Selene continued, tilting her head. "You see, I’ve come across the most delightful news. And I thought—what better way to celebrate than here, among all our esteemed friends?"

Evelina’s stomach coiled with instinctive distrust, but she merely raised a brow. "Selene," she called her evenly. "I’m sure whatever you have to say will be nothing short of... illuminating."

Selene’s lips curved in amusement. "Oh, I do hope so."

Then, in a voice just loud enough to carry across the gathered nobles, she declared, "It seems there’s been quite the rumor circulating tonight. A royal betrothal. Between none other than our lovely Evelina—" she let the pause stretch just long enough for intrigue to bloom, "—and Prince Kyle of Oakenshaw."

A ripple of shocked murmurs swept through the ballroom.

Evelina barely had time to register the full weight of Selene’s words before the crowd responded. The name alone was enough to send a jolt of surprise through her—Prince Kyle? The Oakenshaw heir? She had never tried as much as she could to sway away his advances.

She caught Damian’s sharp glance beside her, his jaw tightening imperceptibly. Jasper, ever attuned to trouble, exhaled softly under his breath, already watching for their best move.

Selene, of course, was reveling in the chaos she had ignited.

"Oh, but perhaps I’ve spoken out of turn," she added with a faux-apologetic tilt of her head. "Evelina, dearest, do forgive me if this was meant to be kept secret. Though I can’t imagine why—after all, an alliance between our two kingdoms would be quite the victory, wouldn’t it?"