Page 112 of Knot My Wonderland

Seth's dark eyes studied the device with professional interest. "Clever. Though I assume it has limitations."

"Everything has limitations, Your Majesty," I said, winding the music box component until it began playing an ethereal melody that seemed to bend reality around its notes. "This particular device can only distinguish between natural void magic and corrupted void magic—it won't tell us if someone's been influenced through shadow manipulation rather than blood magic directly."

Seth's shadows coiled tighter as he processed the implications. "The Red Queen wouldn't use blood magic on a void wielder—the two forms of corruption repel each other. But she might attempt more subtle forms of coercion."

"Precisely," I said, adjusting my hat as it threatened to tumble off entirely. "Blackmail, threats to loved ones, carefully crafted lies—all much harder to detect than direct magical corruption." I gestured expansively at my collection of devices. "These beauties can tell us who's been magically compromised, but they can't reveal who's been emotionally manipulated."

Seth moved to the workshop's crystalline window, his form partially dissolving into the shadows that clung to the frame. "Which brings us to the real challenge—Martha may be clear of corruption, but that doesn't eliminate the possibility that someone close to her has been turned."

I paused in my tinkering, wild eyes focusing with unusual sharpness. "You suspect the corruption is being used to monitor rather than control."

"A listening post rather than an active agent," Seth confirmed, his shadows flowing across the window's surface like liquid night. "Someone positioned to overhear conversations, observe strategic planning, report back without ever needing to actively betray anyone."

"Diabolically efficient," I admitted, setting down my tools to give the conversation my full attention. "The Red Queen gets her intelligence without risking the psychological strain of forcing direct betrayal. Much more sustainable than traditional blood magic manipulation."

Seth's form solidified as he turned back toward me, dark eyes carrying centuries of strategic calculation.

"And much harder to detect through conventional means," Seth added, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "A passive observer could feed information for years without anyone suspecting betrayal."

I adjusted my hat thoughtfully, considering the implications. "That would explain why the corruption signatures are so clean—they're not fighting against the magic, just... carrying it. Like a magical recording device embedded in their consciousness."

"The question becomes whether they're aware of their role," Seth mused, shadows coiling restlessly around his feet. "Conscious cooperation is one thing, but unwilling surveillance..." He trailed off, the darkness around him deepening with his distaste.

"Either way, we'll need to be exceptionally careful during testing," I said, returning to my detector array. "If our passive observer realizes they've been discovered, they might activate emergency protocols. Send a final intelligence burst to the Red Queen before we can contain them."

Seth's shadows flickered ominously at my words. "Which means we need a containment strategy before we begin testing. Someone who tests positive can't be allowed to communicate with anyone outside the Sanctuary."

"Magical isolation chamber," I suggested, making a mental note to prepare one. "I can modify one of the lower crystalline rooms to block all external magical signatures. No blood magic in or out."

"And physical restraints for those who might have other means of communication," Seth added, his voice cold with pragmatism. "We can't risk even a moment of unsupervised contact."

I twisted another dial on my primary device, watching as the crystalline components stabilized into a steady pulse. "Do you think Heart is prepared for what we might discover? If it's someone close to him..."

"No one is ever prepared to discover betrayal in their inner circle," Seth replied, his shadows momentarily revealing ancient pain before dissolving back into controlled darkness. "But Heart has survived worse. His capacity for adaptation is... impressive, even if his strategic thinking sometimes leaves much to be desired."

I chuckled, adjusting my hat as it threatened once again to slide off entirely. "Such high praise from the King of Spades. I'm sure he'd be absolutely thrilled to hear it."

Seth's lips curved in what might have been a smile. "There's a difference between respecting someone's resilience and approving of their methods. Heart's resistance has survived this long through sheer determination rather than tactical brilliance."

"And yet they've managed to thwart your manipulations on more than one occasion," I pointed out, unable to resist needling him. "For someone who claims to see twelve moves ahead,you've been surprisingly ineffective at bringing the resistance under your control."

Seth's shadows stilled completely, his dark eyes meeting mine with dangerous precision. "Perhaps because I never intended to control them."

I raised an eyebrow, my wild eyes gleaming with skeptical amusement. "Oh, how wonderfully altruistic of you. The great manipulator claims pure motives."

"Not pure," Seth corrected, his shadows beginning to flow again. "Practical. A resistance under my direct control would be useless—predictable, sterile, lacking the organic growth necessary to truly threaten the established order." His form shifted, becoming more solid as he spoke. "Heart's unpredictability is precisely what makes his movement valuable."

I set down my tools completely, giving him my full attention. This was a side of the King of Spades few had ever seen—strategic honesty rather than calculated misdirection. "You've been... cultivating chaos."

"I've been allowing natural patterns to develop while preventing total collapse," Seth replied, his shadows forming brief geometric patterns before dissolving. "The resistance needed to believe in itself rather than rely on external guidance. Direct intervention would have weakened their resolve."

I laughed, the sound echoing off the crystalline walls with manic glee. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! You've been playing puppet master by refusing to pull the strings." I adjusted my hat, which had somehow migrated to an entirely new angle. "No wonder Heart finds you so infuriating—you help him by staying away."

"Among other reasons," Seth said dryly, though I caught the flicker of something more personal in his expression. "Hishatred keeps him focused, gives him clear opposition to rally against. Very useful for maintaining morale."

"And what happens when Alice completes the pattern?" I asked, returning to my devices with renewed interest. "When the bonds are formed and Wonderland begins reunifying? Will you still be content playing the helpful enemy?"

Seth's shadows writhed with uncomfortable tension at my question. "The pattern will determine what role I serve," he said carefully. "My personal preferences have always been secondary to Wonderland's needs."

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