The next morning, the palace was alight with preparation. Banners unfurled from high balconies, and servants rushed through the halls carrying trays of crystal glasses and silver platters. That evening, the King would host a grand ball — an event meant to display harmony among the nobility. For me, it was the perfect stage to prove I had changed… or the perfect trap for my enemies to strike.
I felt the tension in the air long before guests arrived. Subtle glances, murmured words cut short when I approached. Lord Cael, standing near the entrance, caught my gaze and gave a slight shake of his head — a silent warning.
The system pulsed:
Quest Triggered: Sabotage Averted
Objective: Prevent the evening's disaster without causing scandal.
Failure Consequence: Reputation -50, Alliance progress reset.
I moved through the glittering crowd, my senses sharpened. Then I saw it — Anna, carrying a tray of sparkling champagne, stepping toward the King's table. My eyes narrowed. Something about the crystal's faint shimmer was wrong. Too wrong.
Without hesitation, I intercepted her, taking the tray with a smile as though nothing was amiss. Guests laughed, music swelled, and I gently set the drinks aside before anyone noticed. A quick glance to the shadows revealed a figure slipping out a side door, just beyond the reach of the chandeliers' light.
My blood ran cold. I didn't know their face, but I knew their intent — and they had just made the first move in a much larger game.
Cael appeared at my side, his voice low. "You've just made a powerful enemy."
I lifted my chin, my voice calm but steady. "Good. Now I know who to watch."
The ball continued, oblivious to the danger just averted. But I could feel it — the war in the shadows had only just begun.