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Chapter 9 - the poisoned pawn

The annual hunting gala was a spectacle of tweed and leather, a jarring contrast to the ballroom's silk and lace. It was held on the Archduke's sprawling estate, a place where nobility played at being rugged outdoorsmen. Selena, dressed in a practical but elegant riding habit, felt the familiar dread settle in her stomach. This was where the System had planned her downfall.

Her body felt like a marionette with a single, frayed string. She could feel the subtle pull, the constant pressure from the System to lead her toward her supposed fate. But this time, she had an accomplice.

"The clockwork heart wants a villainess," Liam had explained back in the aviary, his eyes focused on the intricate plot map he'd drawn. "It wants you to poison Iris and make it look like a tragic accident. The Duke will be horrified, and your reputation will be destroyed."

But Liam wasn't just a theorist; he was a master of misdirection. He had observed the manhwa from the sidelines for years, charting its every twist and turn. He had an intimate understanding of its loopholes and a quiet, unassuming skill with animals.

Their plan was simple in its elegance. They wouldn't stop the plot; they would simply swap the players.

As the gala began, Selena found herself constantly glancing toward the sky. The System's gaze was fixed on the ground, on the movements of its main characters. It wouldn't notice a tiny white finch circling high above, a silent signal of Liam's presence.

The first step was to acquire the poison. The System would ensure it appeared in her hands, a fatal, convenient tool. As she walked through the crowded halls, a servant carrying a tray of drinks stumbled, and a small, corked vial fell from his pocket, rolling to a stop right at her feet. It was a classic System plot device. She stooped to pick it up, and for a fleeting moment, a screen flashed in her mind:

"Task Progress: 20%. Tool acquired."

She could feel the compulsion to use it, to seek out Iris and fulfill the wicked command. But just as she felt the tug, a tiny finch landed on her shoulder, giving a soft, melodic chirp. The compulsion broke. The feather's warmth, a lingering gift from their last encounter, had been a promise. Liam was here.

Instead of hiding the vial, Selena slipped it into the pocket of her riding habit. The System expected a clandestine act, a secret crime. She would give it something else entirely.

Later that afternoon, the hunt was in full swing. Duke Cedric and Iris were a picture of romantic bliss, walking through the woods together. The System wanted her to find them, to seize this moment. And so she did.

She approached them, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and cold resolve. "Duke Cedric," she began, her voice steady. "I have something to show you."

She pulled the vial from her pocket. Iris's eyes widened in alarm, a reaction the System had undoubtedly scripted. Duke Cedric, too, looked wary, ready to protect his love interest. This was the moment for the false accusation, the dramatic confrontation that would ruin her.

But Selena's words weren't aimed at Iris. They were aimed at the Duke.

"This is not for Iris," she said, her voice clear and strong. "It's for you. The Archduke's prize-winning hound, Lord Tiberius, fell ill this morning. I believe he may have been poisoned."

Duke Cedric's brow furrowed in confusion. This wasn't the script.

"I found this vial in a servant's pocket," Selena continued, lying with the practiced ease of a master manipulator. "I believe someone is trying to frame you for an act of cruelty against the Archduke. A commoner poisoning a noble's dog is one thing, but a Duke? That could lead to a scandal that would bring down a noble house."

Duke Cedric took the vial from her, his gaze intense. His shock was genuine; this was completely off-script. The System's plot to frame him for a minor crime had been foiled by a simple, truthful statement. The vial was a prop, not a weapon. The System wanted drama and accusation. She had given it collaboration and a shared purpose.

A screen flashed in her mind, not red this time, but a deep, frustrated blue.

"Warning: Plot Deviation Detected. Target of villainy shifted. Recalibrating mission parameters."

Her heart soared. It was furious, but it was adapting to her, not the other way around.

That evening, a new screen appeared.

"Task: Publicly disgrace yourself at the gala. Reward: 100 points."

This was the punishment. The System wanted to regain control, to force her to fulfill her role as a villainess, and it wanted to do so in the most direct way possible. There would be no room for nuance, no chance for her to use "creative villainy."

Selena looked up at the moon. A tiny white finch was silhouetted against its glow. She had saved the Duke for now. But what could she possibly do to avoid publicly disgracing herself? The System was a persistent and powerful enemy. And this time, she was truly alone in the ballroom.

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