Alopex Klein and the young woman walked into the small living room to the right of the entrance hall. The rays of the morning sun shone through the windows and spread across the bluish walls, creating a soft, light atmosphere. The furniture was simple and unadorned and, being a lighter blue, it matched the walls perfectly.

Four armchairs surrounded a coffee table in the center of the small room. Alopex Klein and the young woman sat down on two of them so that they were facing each other.

“I'm surprised to see you," she began.

“I was chased out of the palace.”

“What?" she exclaimed.

“As soon as the divorce was finalized, my ex-wife forced me to leave the palace, claiming that I had inherited my brother's mansion and therefore had no business in her imperial apartments.”

“What a charming woman but- “

The young woman realized what he had just said.

“You inherited your brother's mansion?”

“Our hitman failed in his assassination attempt and revealed Baron Klein's name. Marshal Mei then executed him.”

The young woman turned pale and held her head in her hands.

“Oh no...”

Alopex Klein let her accept the news. He knew she was devastated because his brother had been like a father to her. After a long silence, she finally opened her mouth:

“So you're divorced now.”

“Yes, I am.”

“It's pretty logical. How do you feel?”

Alopex tried not to think about Duna's kiss again. Without success.

“No regrets.”

“You really are resilient.”

“You could say that,” he bitterly said.

In order not to talk about his feelings, he chose to take out of his pocket a key and a sheet of paper that he put on the coffee table.

“At least I was lucky enough to get the key and the map of the palace barracks this morning. Now we can go get the weapons.”

“Did you see our informant last night? Are you sure nobody saw you?”

“I met him this morning in the gardens. No one could have seen us.”

“All right. Did he give you the times of the rounds?”

“Yes, he did. The guards are changed at one o'clock in the morning.”

The young woman calmed down in her armchair. She rested her head on her left arm and her left arm on the armrest.

“It's better to infiltrate the barracks around two a.m. then. The time that all calms down and that the guards are the most vulnerable.”

Alopex Klein nodded his head in agreement. He remained silent for a moment.

“Stephana?”

“Yes?”

“Aren't you afraid?”

“Of course, I am.”

Stefana bent down and took the map of the barracks.

“The weapons store is in the basement.”

“Yes, and he told me that the corridor also connects to the prisons.”

“It's not marked on the plan.”

“Because it is a secret passage. It is located at the end of the corridor. You have to operate the lever on the right of the door in the recess of the wall.”

“Is it big enough? Because I will have the swords with me.”

“I don't think so. I’m giving you this information in case things go wrong.”

“Thank you very much," Stephana sarcastically said, “Didn't your informant give you any other advice?”

“It's not exactly advice. He told me that he drew your seal on the hitman's forehead.”

This sentence drew a satisfied smile on Stephana's lips.

“That's great news. It's good to start worrying my dear aunt.”

Stephana put the plan back on the coffee table.

“Will you come with me to get the swords?”

“I don't think it's a good idea for both of us to go. We're more likely to be spotted.”

“Do you want to stay outside the enclosure?”

“Yes.”

Stephanie looked up at the ceiling.

“This is the best. I hope I'll have time to go back and forth twice.”

“Don't overdo it, Alopex Klein warned her, if we have around fifteen swords, it will be more than enough. First, let's have enough to arm a dozen people to imagine bigger actions. Let's go step by step.”

“You are refraining me,” Stephana said, smiling.

“We made a mistake last night. There's no need to do another one again.”

Alopex Klein looked at Stephana with a certain tenderness. He recognized in her the ardor of youth and fight.

Judging that the plan was well thought out, Stephana got up and headed for the exit. Alopex Klein held her back and said:

“Did anyone know you were in this house?”

“No one.”

“Then we must give you a cover. Let's say you'll be my servant for the strangers.”

“Yes, let's do that.”

Alopex Klein sighed as she left the room. She did not like orders and having others decide for her.

A characteristic of tyrants.

He had never had any desire to rebel against power and had no grudge against the Empress or his ex-wife. He knew well that the exercise of power implied acts that were not in accordance with morality.

This state of mind was in direct contradiction with the fact that his brother had died and had put the daughter of his dead friend on his back. Honor demanded revenge and although Alopex hated to fight, he had no choice but to plunge into rebellion.

However, he was not afraid because he perfectly remembered the coup d'état which took place seventeen years ago and the decisive steps to take power. He also knew the flaws of the current government.

The Empress was manipulative and did not hesitate to sacrifice her closest collaborators to ensure the stability of the Akar Empire and her own throne. She had surrounded herself with ministers as ambitious as herself.

Except for one.

Except for one, who naively followed her out of loyalty, not power. 

Except for one.

The Minister of Defense and Security.

Alopex knew that Duna was the weak point of this government, but not because she oversaw the army and the police, and he was sure that Louise was also aware of it.

To destroy the Empress, he had to destroy Marshal Mei.

Alopex Klein gave a promising smile.

“Should I reconsider your proposal?”

To be continued