Chapter 38: The Mad Traders

\- Maximus POV -

I woke up from the sudden knock on my door. I looked at the window, the sun is rising.

I saw up, composing myself. Then again, another knock came, louder this time.

“Come in,” I said.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, and Rowan stepped inside. His head was low, and his shoulders were shaking. His hands were nervously twisted together. His fear lingered in the air.

“My Lord,” Rowan said, his voice almost cracking. “T-they’re outside… the traders… at the gates.”

My jaw tightened, “Traders?”

He nodded quickly. “Y-yes, Your Highness. They’re furious. They say their goods vanished in the night. Their crates of silver, blackroot, and wolfskin… were all gone. They think it’s the palace’s doing. They… they blame the royals.

I stared at him. My patience thinned.

“Why?” I asked flatly.

Rowan swallowed hard. “Because the guards were the last ones to clear the border last night. The traders believe the goods were stolen with the palace’s knowledge. They’re demanding answers… or blood.”

For a moment, the room fell silent again. It wasn’t unusual for the Black Market to lose goods, but to blame the royal family so openly… that was bold. Foolish, maybe. But bold.

I rose from the bed, my bare feet touching the cold stone floor. The night air still clung to my skin. Rowan stepped back as I passed him, his head bowing even lower.

“They’re testing me,” I said quietly.

I put on my black coat, the one that carried the crest of the royal house, and left the chamber.

The noise outside the palace was growing louder with each step. The traders had gathered at the gate like a mob and with faces twisted with rage. Their voices broke through the cold morning air, shouting curses and demands.

I stopped near the gate, watching from a distance. My guards, armed and armored, were already trying to hold them back.

And then I saw it.

A guard slammed the end of his spear into a trader’s stomach, forcing the man to his knees. Another guard struck a woman with the back of his hand for daring to shout.

The sound of pain filled the air.

I walked forward slowly. Every step I took, the guards stiffened, and the traders’ shouting faltered. The moment they saw me, the air shifted. It always did. My presence wasn’t warm or welcoming. It was a warning.

“Stop,” I ordered.

The guards froze immediately. None of them dared disobey me. The trader on the ground coughed weakly, clutching his stomach. The woman wiped blood from the corner of her mouth as her eyes were burning with hate and fear.

I turned to the captain of the guard. “Who ordered this?”

The captain lowered his head. “They were being insolent, my Prince. They—”

“They’re traders,” I cut him off. “Not enemies.”

He bit his lip and lowered his head even more.

I stepped closer to the gate and let my gaze sweep over the crowd. Their eyes were wild with frustration, but underneath it… I saw the desperation. They weren’t fools. If they dared to stand here and blame the royal family, it meant they had nowhere else to turn.

“Speak,” I said.

An older man stepped forward, his hands still shaking but his chin lifted in defiance. “Your guards were the last to secure the road. Our wagons never reached the storage point. They vanished. All of them. You rule these lands. You protect them. If our goods disappeared under your watch, who else should we blame?”

I stared at him. His voice was firm, but his eyes, I could see it clearly. He was afraid, and yet he stood. That alone said much.

"We do not steal,” I said slowly. “And I do not tolerate thieves.”

I turned my head slightly. “Caspian.”

Caspian appeared almost silently, his movements were precise and controlled, like a blade sliding out of its sheath. His black butler’s uniform was spotless despite the hour. His face had carried no emotion.

He's a shadow bound to my will.

“Yes, Master,” Caspian said.

“Find the truth,” I ordered. “Who took the goods. Where it went. And who fed lies to these traders.

“Yes.”

I shifted my gaze back to the crowd. “The real thief will pay. If it’s from outside, they’ll die. If it’s from inside the palace…” I paused, letting the weight of my voice sink in. “I’ll make sure their end is slow.”

The traders exchanged uncertain glances. But some of them nodded. They knew my reputation. I didn’t make empty promises.

“Leave,” I said. “and go back to your trade. This will be handled.”

The crowd began to scatter, while the guards stood still, not even daring to speak until I turned away.

Caspian followed behind me as I walked through the palace corridors. His footsteps were soft, almost soundless.

“Suspicions, Master?” he asked.

I didn’t look at him. “Yes. Someone inside is moving against the throne. I can smell it.”

“I’ll find them.”

“I know,” I said.

Caspian never failed me. He was loyal not because he loved the crown… but because his entire existence belonged to me. He would cut down anyone if I gave the word. Even me, if I ever ordered it.

We turned the corner. That was when I sensed it a familiar presence coming closer.

That scent... sweet rose

Lyra.

Even before I saw her, I could feel her heartbeat, steady but nervous. I lifted my eyes and saw her walking down the corridor from the opposite side. Her soft hair caught the faint light rays of the sun. She was heading straight toward me.

She slowed down when she saw me. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something. Damn, those soft lips were so good to mine. Her eyes… gods, those shining silver eyes.

Fck, get ahead of yourself Maximus.

I didn’t let her speak.

I walked straight past her. No pause. No word. My coat brushed lightly against her arm as I passed, not even looking back.

But I felt it, the way the air between us shifted, and the way she stiffened, just a little.

However, I couldn’t let myself stop. Not now.

I couldn’t let her be dragged into this mess. The traitor inside the palace hadn’t shown their face yet. Until I found out who it was, everyone was a suspect. Even the shadows. And she… she was the one person I couldn’t afford to put in danger.

I walked on, but inside, a quiet crack spread through my chest. She had become a wound I chose not to treat.

Caspian glanced at me from the corner of his eye but said nothing. He knew better.

Every guard I passed, every servant who bowed, every pair of eyes that followed me, I watched them back. They didn’t know it, but none of them moved outside my notice.

There was a traitor here. And sooner or later, they’d reveal themselves.

By nightfall, Caspian returned with the first reports. He entered my chamber without a sound, knelt on one knee, and spoke.

“Master, the wagons disappeared near the east forest route,” he said. “No trace of an ambush. It was too clean. Whoever did it knows the patrol schedule.”

I leaned against the table, my hand tightening slightly. “Inside job.”

“Yes.”

“Names.”

“Not yet, Master, ” Caspian said. “But there are whispers among the people. Someone has been feeding information to the traders for weeks. They speak carefully, like they know they’re being watched."

I nodded slowly. “Good. Keep listening.”

Caspian’s cold eyes flicked upward. “What shall I do when I find them, Master?”

I met his gaze. “You don’t ask.”

He gave a slight bow. “Understood, Master.”

The next morning came with whispers like snakes slithering through the palace halls. I heard it in the way the servants lowered their voices, in the way the guards looked away when I passed.

“Hey, I was buying earlier at the market and guess what. They were talking about the king.”

“What about him?" The other asked.

“That... he's cruel and ruthless because he betrayed his own people.”