Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 300

Chapter 300: Princess in need VII

As the door softly clicked shut behind Princess Lirael, Aiden’s smirk deepened, his thoughts racing ahead to the next phase of his carefully orchestrated plan. The bait had been laid, and now all he needed was to let the princess fall deeper into his web.

From the shadowed corner of the room, where light dared not touch, a figure materialized—graceful, silent, and nearly ethereal. Lunara stepped forward, her form shimmering briefly as the intricate illusion that had kept her hidden dissolved. She had been with him the whole time, watching, listening, and ensuring that no one else had taken notice of their meeting.

“She took it,” Lunara whispered, her voice smooth as silk, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “You are great master.”

Aiden glanced over at Lunara, his smile never faltering. “Of course she did. How could she resist?”

Lunara crossed the room in a few graceful steps, her presence both comforting and dangerous. With her abilities in illusion and manipulation of dreams and minds, she was the perfect companion for Aiden, the perfect secret weapon. While others moved in plain sight, Lunara was always there, unseen, and yet, her influence touched everything.

“I could feel her thoughts shift as you spoke,” Lunara said, settling into a chair across from Aiden. “She’s intrigued but still cautious. She’s stronger than most people here, especially with her family’s bloodline. But her pride may be her weakness. You were right to appeal to it.”

Aiden nodded thoughtfully. “She’s powerful, yes, but even the strong can be led when their pride is at stake. She doesn’t want to become just another pawn in her family’s game. She needs an ally who sees her as more than a bargaining chip.” His eyes glinted with a predatory sharpness. “And that’s where I come in.”

Lunara smirked, a playful but knowing look in her eyes. “And I assume you’re counting on me to ensure no one interferes? The court is a dangerous place, after all.”

“Precisely,” Aiden said. “Your illusions will keep us one step ahead of anyone trying to pry too deeply into our business. Keep their eyes where we want them, and their minds clouded with doubt.” He paused, his tone turning more serious. “And if anyone gets too close… well, you know what to do.”

Lunara’s smile was sharp, predatory. “Consider it done.”

She leaned back in her chair, her violet eyes gleaming as if reflecting the very mist that surrounded Moon City. “And the princess?” she asked. “What happens when she starts realizing what you truly want?”

Aiden’s smile faded into something colder, more calculating. “By the time she realizes my true intentions, it will already be too late. She’ll be too deep in, with no way out but to stand beside me. I will be her only option.”

Lunara chuckled softly. “You’ve always been good at making people think they have a choice when they don’t.”

“People like to believe they’re in control,” Aiden said, his voice taking on a amusing tone. “It’s human nature. I just give them enough rope to tie themselves up.”

For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint rustle of the morning breeze through the curtains. Aiden stood near the window, looking out over the city that would soon be his. He was patient, and patience was his greatest weapon. Every step, every move had been carefully calculated. Soon, the kingdom would be his—through Lirael, through manipulation, through the very system that thought it could control him.

Lunara stood beside him, her presence a constant reminder that while the rest of the world was unaware of the strings being pulled, Aiden had already won half the battle by simply staying ahead.

The mist that surrounded the city was no match for Aiden’s vision. He saw beyond it, into the heart of power, the seat of control that he would soon claim for his own. And with Lunara at his side, hidden in plain sight, no one would see him coming until it was too late.

“Let the games begin,” Aiden whispered, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

Lunara smiled, her ethereal form blending into the mist once again. “As you wish.”

Lunara vanished seamlessly into the mist, leaving Aiden alone in the temporary residence he had taken up within Moon City. Her ethereal presence faded like a ghost, invisible to anyone who might be watching. With her disappearance, she moved swiftly toward a secret location—an old forest clearing that once served as a den for bandits. But now, under Aiden’s influence, it had become something far more dangerous: a haven for those loyal only to him.

The clearing was no longer the wild, lawless place it had once been. Instead, it thrived as a secret stronghold for Aiden’s growing influence. People he had saved, outcasts who had been given a second chance, and those bound by loyalty gathered there. Every one of them knew their purpose, and each was dedicated to Aiden’s plans without question. The forest provided them shelter, and under Lunara’s illusionary protection, no outsider could penetrate their sanctuary.

As Lunara approached the clearing, her presence signaled a shift in the air. Shadows danced along the trees, bending to her will. She moved toward the heart of the clearing, where a grand, elegant mansion stood—one she had created to house Aiden’s most trusted allies and servants. The building was concealed from all who might try to seek it, shrouded in layers of illusions and powerful wards that only she could control.

Upon entering the mansion, Lunara’s ethereal form solidified, and she ascended the steps with quiet grace. She entered the main hall, and without a word, she signaled for a meeting. Immediately, the call was answered.

Nine women entered the room, all of them deadly and loyal to Aiden. Six of them were Aiden’s personal maids, each one possessing a unique set of skills, handpicked and summoned by Aiden himself. They moved in perfect synchronicity, their expressions calm and composed, ready for whatever orders Lunara had for them.