It was strange for Frida. Back in her old home, when war was declared, the Jarls halls would be empty, with only a few people remaining to look after things. Yet as she walked around, she could see that the Palace was still as alive as it always was. Servants washed things that no one was using anymore, and council members ran around to carry out the orders they had.

It was completely foreign to her. Usually, all the men would have already gone off to fight and just showed another cultural difference between her new home and the one he told. Pushing open the door to the twins’ room, she carried a few things for them. The two looked towards her with bright eyes and quickly ran as fast as their small legs would let them.

"Mom." Astrid blurted out in happiness, hugging Frida’s leg with Balder hugging the other. Her lip twitched slightly, and peeking at Violet, she felt awkward and crouched down.

"I’m not your mother," Frida said casually, as she had done many times before, and she put the things in her hands down, rubbing their heads. Violette eventually stood up and grabbed the children, pulling them away, much to their annoyance.

"The Prime Minister wishes to speak with you. He is waiting in his office." Frida frowned bus said nothing and nodded, leaving as quickly as she came. It was something she had come to notice during her stay there. As she walked past the servants, they looked at her strangely. Like she was an outsider, it wasn’t because she was a foreigner; she knew that much after seeing how they looked at Abu, but instead, she was questioning how she wormed her way into the Palace.

Alfred and his people had suppressed all news of Helga’s arrival in the Empire, adding to this. She had heard whispers of her being a mistress, and the children calling her mother didn’t help. Then, there was the servant who questioned her about her origins.

Ignoring the looks she received had become second nature to her as she marched through the halls. Approaching Issac’s office, two guards stood outside watching like hawks. Seeing Frida, they gave her a glance and opened the door. Inside was a man she had properly only met once, with a woman who looked like him. They spoke casually as he worked on the documents on his table.

It was always surprising to see how young Issac was. While she understood Alfred was young from inheritance, what she knew from his title was that it had to be earned. The de facto second of the Empire. "I greet the Prime Minister." Frida bowed like she had been taught, and finally, the two looked towards her.

"Will speak later, Elizabeth." Frida heard the woman groan but not protest. "Please. Sit." His voice was friendly, and Frida nodded, making a seat before him. Issac looked at her for a few seconds, which made Frida feel weird. No matter how he tried to hide it, she could still sense the coldness behind the friendly face he wore. It was something everyone she had known had some power in the Empire to have, other than Abu. He was the only one who radiated real warmth to her.

"You called for me, Prime Minister?" Frida asked to move on the meeting.

"Yes." Issac grabbed the pipe on his table and lit it, taking a couple puffs. "His Majesty had warned us before he left that the children could face some danger when he is gone. We understood this was always a possibility when he left the Empire, and so I thought it would be good to warn you."

"They are in danger?" Her voice was full of surprises, making Issac chuckle.

"Potentially. It makes sense with His Majesty gone. But there shouldn’t be too much to worry about. The Crown Prince would likely be the target of any hostile entities. I just thought it would be good to warn you. Only let those whom Violette has allowed near them going forward."

Her nervousness was written all over her face, and Issac just sighed. "It’s fine, really. We will have extra guards around the Palace, so don’t worry." Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

"Is that all, Prime Minister?" Frida asked, getting ready to get out of her chair, but Issac stopped her.

"No. Two things. First, I will be bringing my son to the Palace soon. I think it will be good for him to meet the Imperial children. You have no complaints about this?" Frida quickly shook her head, knowing she could not refuse. "Second, the rumours are getting worst."

Frida bit her lip in annoyance and lowered her head. "I can’t do anything, Prime Minister. I have no power over the servants."

Issac squinted his eyes and looked at her. Sighing, he shook his head and took another puff on his pipe. "You really have no sense of how to live in the Palace, do you?"

Frida looked up in shock at his insult, but looking at him, she didn’t see the mocking face she expected, only a form of pity. "Listen. I will tell you this once. These rumours must die, or you will make a very powerful enemy. The Empress has done nothing to dispel the rumours because she was busy preparing for the war, but if she returns and they still exist, then you are in danger. His Majesty has done his best, and I will aswell to kill them, but the servants like to gossip."

"I don’t know what to do," Frida said in defeat. She hated the advice people gave her. They all seemed to think she had more power than she actually had. Issac could see all these worries on her face and smiled.

He opened his mouth, about to say something, but stopped. ’Should I do this? If Esmond or his Majesty find out.’ He wanted to give some advice to help her, but what he said could easily be misinterpreted as him siding with the bastards and not Edward. Thinking about it, he took a deep breath.

"You have to understand. You have something no else does in the Palace. Use it." It was all Issac would say as he lowered his head and worked on the documents again. Frida could tell the conversation was over and got up, bowing towards Issac and quickly leaving. When she left he took a glance at the door and shook his head.

’She still won’t use her relationship with those kids for help.’ It was confusing, but Issac brushed it off, knowing it wasn’t his place to get heavily involved with her. If she wanted to have power, she could easily do it, and it made him wonder what her home land was like for her to not realise this. He had worried about her arrival at first, thinking she might be a wildcard in the Palace’s political system, but he could see otherwise after so long.

Unless something drastic occurred, she had no desire to play their game. His advice was a final test to establish concrete proof of this. Depending on how she reacted, would tell him everything he needed. But it was obvious she was too good and green for the life he and the others lived. The rumours weren’t really an issue. But if Frida managed to destroy them, it showed she had some potential.

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Marcus looked at the messenger’s report. The third fort had fallen. Smiling, he knew what it meant. Grabbing the horn on his waist, he blew it. The sound echoed, and the war council quickly gathered. "Get everyone to mobilise. We will spread out across the forest away from the fort."

Everyone looked at one another, confused, not having been privy to Marcus’s plans. "Are we not gathering in the fort?" One had to ask the question on all their minds.

Marcus looked at them, wondering how much he should say. He didn’t trust any of them. They weren’t his men. What was stopping them from telling the enemy his plan? After all, they were all from the Commonwealth. He was the outside.

But he also knew that his plan could fall apart if he didn’t say anything. ’What should I do?’ It was something Marcus had never encountered. He had always trusted his men, after all. Clicking his tongue, he finally spoke. "We will encircle the enemy as they attack the final fort."

Although it was obvious what his plan was if they thought about it, he actually said it was different. It was proof they could take to the enemy camp. His plan had always been simple. To lure in his enemy and trap them. The forest provided the perfect cover for this and meant that any reinforcement sent to help would be slow.

Everyone before him nodded and quickly left to prepare. Marcus couldn’t help but feel nervous. He never felt it when leading his own men, even into battles he knew many would die. Yet with the rebels, he did. ’It’s fine. It’s too late to change plans now.’ Marcus quietly told himself as he looked out into the forest.