I woke up on Day Four feeling like I'd just won the fucking lottery.
No—better than the lottery.
I'd just publicly humiliated the crown prince of Astervane in front of the entire court, and I was STILL ALIVE.
That's not luck. That's POWER.
Nyx was coiled on the pillow beside me, his obsidian scales gleaming in the morning light filtering through the curtains. His red eyes opened as I sat up, and his forked tongue flicked out lazily.
"You're smiling," he observed. "That's either very good or very bad for everyone around you."
"Both," I said cheerfully. "Definitely both."
God, I love this snake.
I got dressed—another dark ensemble, because why the fuck would I change my aesthetic now?—and headed downstairs for breakfast. The servants I passed in the hallways looked at me differently now. Not with pity or contempt, but with something closer to fear.
They heard what I did.
They ALL heard what I did.
News travels fast in noble circles, and I just became the most interesting scandal in the kingdom.
The dining room was empty when I arrived, which was unusual. Mother typically took breakfast early, and I'd expected to find her already seated with her morning correspondence and that terrifying aura of hers.
Instead, I found a note on my plate.
"Library. Now. —L"
Oh, this should be interesting.
Either she's furious that I embarrassed the royal family, or she's pleased that I showed strategic cunning.
Fifty-fifty odds, really.
I grabbed a pastry—because fuck eating a proper breakfast when summoned by the Duchess of Raven—and headed to the library with Nyx draped across my shoulders.
"Your mother wants to see you," Nyx said. "That's either a reward or an execution."
"Again with the optimism," I muttered.
"I'm a realist," he corrected. "There's a difference."
The library was quiet when I entered, the morning sunlight streaming through the tall windows and illuminating the endless rows of books. Mother was standing near the fireplace, her back to me, her posture perfect and controlled.
Here we go.
Time to find out if I'm getting praised or punished.
"You summoned me, Mother?" I said, keeping my voice neutral.
She turned slowly, and I saw her expression—calm, assessing, and utterly unreadable.
Fuck. I can't tell if she's angry or impressed.
This woman has the best poker face I've ever seen.
"Sit," she said, gesturing to one of the chairs near the fireplace.
I sat. Nyx shifted on my shoulders, his weight a comforting presence.
Mother studied me for a long moment, her violet eyes—so like mine—cataloging every detail of my expression, my posture, my demeanor.
Then she spoke.
"That was brilliant theater," she said.
Wait. WHAT?
She's... pleased?
"You humiliated Prince Aldric in front of the entire court," she continued. "You made him look weak, self-righteous, and less intellectually courageous than his fourteen-year-old sister. You attacked his image as the righteous heir without technically breaking any laws or committing treason."
She paused.
"It was vicious. It was strategic. And it was exactly the kind of power play I've been waiting to see from you."
Holy shit.
She's PROUD of me.
The Duchess of Raven—the woman who terrifies half the kingdom—is PROUD of me.
I felt something warm and unfamiliar bloom in my chest. Something I hadn't felt in either of my lives.
Parental approval.
Genuine, unqualified parental approval.
This is... new.
Mother stepped closer, and for the first time since I'd reincarnated into this body, I saw her expression soften. Just slightly. Just enough.
"You've changed," she said quietly. "I don't know what happened to you, Isabel, but whatever it was... it woke something up. Something I've been hoping to see for years."
She reached out and placed a hand on my head—a gesture so unexpected, so gentle, that I froze.
Is she... is she giving me a head pat?
The DUCHESS OF RAVEN is giving me a HEAD PAT?
What the actual fuck is happening right now?
"You're finally becoming what House Raven needs," she said, her voice carrying a warmth I'd never heard before. "You're finally becoming dangerous."
Then she pulled me into a hug.
A HUG.
THE DUCHESS IS HUGGING ME.
I'm being hugged by one of the most terrifying women in the kingdom.
This is the weirdest fucking day of my life.
I stood there, frozen, feeling her arms around me—strong, protective, real. For the first time in either of my lives, I felt what it was like to have a parent who was proud of me. Who saw my potential and wanted to nurture it instead of suppress it.
This is what parental affection feels like.
This is what it's like to be SEEN.
To be VALUED.
Holy shit.
Mother pulled back, and I saw genuine warmth in her eyes. Pride. Satisfaction.
"You're going to be extraordinary, Isabel," she said softly. "I can feel it."
I'm going to cry.
I'm actually going to fucking cry.
Get it together, Isabel. You're a VILLAINESS. Villainesses don't cry over head pats.
But before I could process the emotional whiplash, Mother's expression shifted.
The warmth vanished.
Her eyes went cold.
The temperature in the room dropped.
Oh. Oh FUCK.
There it is.
There's the terrifying Duchess I know.
The air around her seemed to darken, and I felt that familiar pressure—the weight of her presence, the sense that I was standing in front of something ancient and dangerous and absolutely merciless.
Nyx went rigid on my shoulders.
"However," Mother said, her voice now carrying that razor-sharp edge I recognized, "don't let power make you stupid, Isabel."
And there's the warning.
There's the test.
The warmth was gone. The pride was still there, but it was buried under layers of cold calculation and strategic assessment.
"That was brilliant theater," she continued, her tone now clipped and precise. "But can you survive the consequences? You've made an enemy of the crown prince. You've humiliated him in front of the entire court. You've wounded his pride and his image."
She stepped closer, and I felt the temperature drop even further.
"Aldric Solcrest is not a fool, Isabel. He's self-righteous, yes. Predictable, perhaps. But he's also the heir to the throne of Astervane, and he has resources you can't even imagine. He will retaliate. The question is: are you prepared for what comes next?"
Fuck.
She's right.
I was so high on my victory that I didn't think about what Aldric might do in response.
I just assumed he'd sulk and lick his wounds.
But he's a PRINCE. He has power. He has influence.
He has the ability to make my life a living hell if he wants to.
"I..." I started, but Mother cut me off.
"You have power now, Isabel. Real power. Dark magic, strategic cunning, and the ability to manipulate court politics. But power without control is just chaos. And chaos gets you killed."
She leaned in closer, and I felt the full weight of her presence pressing down on me.
"Don't let your victory make you reckless. Don't let your confidence make you careless. You've started something, and now you need to be smart enough to finish it."
She's testing me.
She's seeing if I'm just a reckless idiot who got lucky, or if I'm actually capable of long-term strategy.
This is the REAL test.
Not the magic. Not the public humiliation.
This.
I met her eyes—those cold, calculating violet eyes—and forced myself to stay calm.
"I understand, Mother," I said. "I'm not going to be reckless. I'm going to be strategic."
"Good," she said. "Because if you're not, you'll end up dead. And I didn't invest all this time and effort into you just to watch you throw it away on impulse."
The pressure lifted slightly, and I felt like I could breathe again.
Jesus Christ.
That was INTENSE.
One moment she's hugging me and telling me I'm extraordinary, and the next she's reminding me that I'm one mistake away from getting myself killed.
This is what parental affection looks like in House Raven, apparently.
Warmth followed by existential terror.
I'm not sure if I love it or hate it.
Mother stepped back, and the temperature in the room slowly returned to normal.
"Now," she said, her tone businesslike again. "I assume your... companion has been with you this entire time?"
Oh. Right.
Nyx.
I'd almost forgotten he was there, coiled on my shoulders and absolutely rigid with tension.
"Yes," I said. "Mother, this is Nyx. My familiar."
Nyx's head lifted slightly, his red eyes fixed on the Duchess.
"A Shadowviper," Mother said, her tone neutral. "Interesting choice."
"He chose me, actually," I said.
"Even more interesting."
Mother stepped closer, and I felt Nyx's body tense even further. His scales were cold against my skin, and I could feel the faint tremor running through him.
Wait.
Is Nyx... AFRAID?
The sarcastic, chaos-loving Shadowviper who mocked me for being dramatic is AFRAID of my mother?
That's... actually hilarious.
Mother extended a hand toward Nyx, and I felt him recoil.
Not physically—he didn't move—but I felt the instinctive terror radiating from him.
He wants to RUN.
He wants to get the FUCK away from her.
Then, without warning, Nyx uncoiled from my shoulders and dropped to the floor, slithering toward the door with a speed I didn't know he was capable of.
Oh my GOD.
He's RUNNING AWAY.
My familiar—my SARCASTIC, FEARLESS familiar—is running away from my mother.
"NYX!" I shouted. "Get back here, you coward!"
He paused at the doorway, his head turning back to look at me. His red eyes were wide, and his forked tongue flicked out nervously.
"Your funeral, not mine," he said flatly.
Then he disappeared into the hallway.
I cannot BELIEVE this.
My familiar just abandoned me.
He literally said 'fuck this' and LEFT.
I turned back to Mother, who was watching the doorway with an expression of faint amusement.
"Your familiar has good survival instincts," she said.
"He's a coward," I muttered.
"He's smart," Mother corrected. "Shadowvipers can sense danger. He knows what I am."
What you ARE?
What the fuck does THAT mean?
Is my mother secretly some kind of eldritch horror?
Actually, that would explain a LOT.
Mother's expression softened again—just slightly—and she reached out to pat my head one more time.
"You're doing well, Isabel," she said. "Keep it up. But remember: strategy over impulse. Control over chaos."
"I will," I said.
"Good. Now go. You have a court function to attend this afternoon. The Valdris Empire is sending a diplomatic envoy, and I expect you to make an appearance."
The Valdris Empire?
One of the rival kingdoms?
This just got interesting.
"Understood," I said.
Mother nodded, and I turned to leave.
As I walked out of the library, I found Nyx waiting in the hallway, coiled near the wall and looking thoroughly unrepentant.
"Coward," I said.
"Survivor," he corrected. "There's a difference."
"You literally ran away."
"I made a tactical retreat," he said. "Your mother is TERRIFYING. I don't know what she is, but I know I don't want to be anywhere near her when she's in full Duchess mode."
Fair point.
Even I was terrified, and I'm her DAUGHTER.
"Come on," I said, letting him slither back onto my shoulders. "We have a court function to attend. Apparently, the Valdris Empire is sending someone."
"Oh good," Nyx said. "More politics. More danger. More opportunities for you to make enemies."
"Exactly," I said.
This is going to be fun.
The court function that afternoon was held in the palace's main reception hall—a massive space with vaulted ceilings, marble floors, and enough gold leaf to fund a small army.
Subtle.
Very subtle.
Nothing says 'we're secure in our power' like covering everything in gold.
I arrived fashionably late—because fuck arriving on time like a peasant—and immediately felt the shift in the room's atmosphere.
Everyone's staring at me.
Everyone's WHISPERING about me.
Perfect.
I could hear fragments of conversation as I walked through the crowd:
"—heard she called the prince BORING—"
"—compared him to his sister—"
"—can't believe she's still ALIVE—"
"—House Raven must be protecting her—"
"—she's either brilliant or insane—"
Why not both?
I'm a multitasker.
I found a position near one of the tall windows where I could observe the room without being too conspicuous. Nyx shifted on my shoulders, his tongue flicking out to taste the air.
"Lots of fear in here," he observed. "And curiosity. You've made quite the impression."
"Good," I said. "Fear and curiosity are useful."
"Also lots of anger," he added. "Specifically from the prince."
I followed his gaze and spotted Aldric across the room, standing with a group of nobles and looking... composed.
Too composed.
He's not sulking. He's not visibly angry.
He's just... standing there. Talking. Acting like nothing happened.
That's... not good.
That's a POWER MOVE.
He's showing everyone that I didn't break him. That he's still in control.
Fuck.
Mother was right. He's not going to just roll over and accept defeat.
He's going to RETALIATE.
As if sensing my gaze, Aldric's eyes flicked toward me. For a moment, our gazes locked.
Then he deliberately looked away.
Oh.
OH.
He's IGNORING me.
He's deliberately, publicly IGNORING me.
That's... actually smart.
If he engages with me, he gives me power. He acknowledges that I got under his skin.
But if he ignores me? If he acts like I'm beneath his notice?
That's a counter-move.
That's him saying: 'You're not worth my time.'
Fuck. He's better at this than I thought.
"Your prince is smarter than he looks," Nyx observed.
"He's not MY prince," I muttered.
"You're engaged to him."
"Technically."
"That's still engaged."
"Shut up, Nyx."
Before I could dwell on Aldric's power move, the room's attention shifted toward the main entrance.
A herald's voice rang out: "His Excellency, Prince Riku of the Valdris Empire!"
Oh FUCK YES.
Foreign royalty drama.
This is going to be DELICIOUS.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea, and I felt it before I saw him.
Dark magic.
REAL dark magic.
Not the hidden, suppressed kind that Sister Celeste radiates.
Not the forbidden, secret kind I'm learning from Corvus.
This is OPEN. POWERFUL. UNAPOLOGETIC.
Someone is walking into this light-magic-worshipping kingdom radiating dark magic like it's a fucking FASHION STATEMENT.
I think I'm in love.
Then I saw him, and—
Oh.
Oh FUCK.
Oh this is NOT FAIR.
Prince Riku was tall—easily six feet, maybe more—with dark hair that fell past his shoulders in waves that had NO RIGHT being that perfect. His clothing was foreign, elegant, and clearly expensive: deep crimson and black silk with gold embroidery that caught the light like liquid fire.
He looks like he walked out of a different genre entirely.
Like someone dropped a wuxia protagonist into this European fantasy bullshit.
And I am NOT COMPLAINING.
But it was his eyes that made my brain short-circuit.
Amber. Not brown, not gold—amber. Like liquid honey backlit by fire. Sharp, intelligent, and currently sweeping across the room with the casual confidence of a apex predator cataloging prey.
Jesus CHRIST.
No one should be allowed to look like that.
It should be ILLEGAL.
That face could start WARS.
And the dark magic radiating off him—I could feel it from across the room. Not oppressive like Mother's presence, but intoxicating. Like standing near a bonfire and feeling the heat on your skin.
He's POWERFUL.
He's BEAUTIFUL.
He's radiating DARK MAGIC in a kingdom that BANS IT.
And he's doing it like he doesn't give a single FUCK.
Why the HELL wasn't the original Isabel engaged to HIM?
Why did the game developers match her with the self-righteous light-magic prince when THIS existed?
This is a CRIME against otome game logic.
His gaze swept across the room, and then—
Oh no.
Oh NO.
He's looking at me.
Those amber eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my breath catch.
Fuck.
FUCK.
Why is my heart doing that thing?
Why am I suddenly WARM?
This is NOT how villainesses are supposed to react.
We're supposed to be COLD and CALCULATING and—
He smiled.
Oh, that's just UNFAIR.
That smile should come with a WARNING LABEL.
'Caution: May cause spontaneous combustion and poor life choices.'
Prince Riku crossed the room with deliberate purpose, ignoring the nobles who tried to intercept him, his attention fixed entirely on me.
He's coming over here.
The devastatingly handsome dark magic prince is coming over HERE.
To talk to ME.
Okay. Okay. OKAY.
Get it together, Isabel
You're a VILLAINESS. You just publicly humiliated the crown prince.
You are NOT going to get flustered by a pretty face and some dark magic.
Even if that face is REALLY pretty.
And that dark magic is REALLY intoxicating.
And he's getting CLOSER and I can feel the heat of his presence and—
FUCK.
He stopped in front of me and bowed—not deeply, but enough to be polite. The movement was fluid, graceful, and I caught a glimpse of more gold embroidery on his collar.
Even his CLOTHES are unfairly attractive.
This is a CONSPIRACY.
"Lady Isabel Nyx Raven," he said, and his voice—oh god his voice—was smooth and rich with a foreign accent that made my name sound like a caress. "I've heard... fascinating things about you."
Oh, he's DEFINITELY heard about the Aldric incident.
And he's definitely amused by it.
And I'm definitely BLUSHING.
Why am I BLUSHING?
I don't BLUSH.
I'm a VILLAINESS. We don't blush. We make OTHER people blush.
Get it TOGETHER.
"Your Excellency," I said, and thank fuck my voice came out steady. "I hope the rumors aren't too scandalous."
Good. Sarcastic. Controlled.
He can't tell I'm internally SCREAMING.
"On the contrary," he said, and that smile widened. "They're exactly scandalous enough to be interesting. I heard you compared the crown prince unfavorably to his fourteen-year-old sister in front of the entire court."
Oh, he's got DETAILS.
Someone gave him a full REPORT.
And he's DELIGHTED by it.
"I simply made an observation," I said, trying to sound casual and not like my brain was melting. "It's not my fault if the truth is unflattering."
Riku laughed—actually laughed—and the sound was rich and genuine.
Oh, that's DANGEROUS.
That laugh could make me do STUPID things.
"Most people wouldn't dare," he said, his amber eyes gleaming with something that looked like admiration. "Most people would be too afraid of the consequences. But you..." He leaned in slightly, and I caught the scent of sandalwood and something darker, spicier. "You don't seem afraid of anything."
I'm afraid of how attractive you are.
I'm afraid of how much I want to keep talking to you.
I'm afraid of how UNFAIR it is that you exist.
But I'm not telling you ANY of that.
"Fear is just another word for 'boring,'" I said, and was that my voice getting slightly breathless? Fuck. "People who are truly powerful don't waste time being afraid."
"Spoken like someone who understands power," Riku said, and his gaze dropped briefly to Nyx coiled on my shoulders. "A Shadowviper familiar. Interesting choice. Most nobles in Astervane wouldn't dare bond with a creature of dark magic."
He noticed Nyx.
He RECOGNIZED what Nyx is.
And he's not horrified or disgusted.
He's IMPRESSED.
"Most nobles in Astervane are cowards," I said. "They worship light magic and pretend darkness doesn't exist. It's pathetic."
"Agreed," Riku said, and I felt a pulse of dark magic from him—deliberate, controlled, like he was showing me his hand. "In the Valdris Empire, we don't hide our strength. We don't pretend that power comes in only one flavor. We embrace all forms of magic."
Oh.
OH.
He's not just radiating dark magic by accident.
He's doing it ON PURPOSE.
He's SHOWING me he's powerful.
He's FLIRTING with DARK MAGIC.
This man is going to be the DEATH of me.
I felt my face getting warmer, and I knew—I KNEW—I was blushing.
Goddammit.
This is HUMILIATING.
I'm supposed to be the one making people flustered.
Not the other way around.
"That's a very... enlightened perspective," I managed, trying to sound composed and not like I was internally combusting.
"I prefer to think of it as honest," Riku said, and he was definitely closer now. When did he get closer? "Your prince here seems to prefer propriety over power. Light over darkness. Rules over results." He paused, his amber eyes locked on mine. "But you... you're different. You understand that true power doesn't apologize for what it is."
Stop.
Stop being so PERFECT.
Stop saying exactly what I want to hear.
Stop looking at me like I'm the most interesting person you've ever met.
It's NOT FAIR.
"Propriety is just another word for fear," I said, and my voice was definitely breathless now. Fuck. "People who are truly powerful don't need to hide behind rules."
"Exactly," Riku said, and his smile turned into something more dangerous. More interested. "I think you and I are going to get along very well, Lady Raven."
Oh, this is going to be FUN.
And DANGEROUS.
And possibly FATAL.
A rival prince who RESPECTS chaos and power and dark magic?
Who looks like a fucking FANTASY NOVEL COVER MODEL?
Who's looking at me like I'm something VALUABLE?
The original Isabel should have been engaged to HIM.
FUCK Aldric and his self-righteous bullshit.
THIS is the kind of energy I want.
THIS is the kind of man who wouldn't try to 'fix' me.
He'd just hand me a weapon and ask what I wanted to destroy.
I wouldn't mind being engaged to THIS.
Before I could say something stupid—or worse, something HONEST—I felt a presence behind me.
Cold. Familiar. Carrying the faint scent of incense.
Sister Celeste.
Oh thank GOD.
Save me from myself, Celeste.
I'm about to do something RECKLESS.
"Lady Raven," Celeste said softly, but I heard the amusement in her voice. "Might I have a word?"
She KNOWS.
She can tell I'm flustered.
She's going to MOCK me for this.
Fuck my LIFE.
I turned to Riku and inclined my head, trying to look composed and not like I'd just been mentally undressing him. "Excuse me, Your Excellency. Duty calls."
"Of course," Riku said, and he bowed again—but not before his eyes met mine one more time. "I look forward to our next conversation, Lady Raven. I have a feeling it will be... illuminating."
Oh, that's DEFINITELY flirting.
That's ABSOLUTELY flirting.
And I'm DEFINITELY blushing HARDER now.
I hate everything.
I followed Sister Celeste to a quieter corner of the reception hall, away from the crowd and prying eyes, and I could feel her amusement radiating off her like heat.
She's going to say something.
She's ABSOLUTELY going to say something.
I'm going to die of embarrassment.
We stopped near a pillar, and Celeste turned to face me, her expression carefully neutral but her eyes GLEAMING with mischief.
"Well," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "That was quite the performance."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to sound dignified.
"Oh, you don't?" Celeste's smile widened. "So you weren't just blushing like a maiden at her first ball while talking to the devastatingly handsome foreign prince?"
FUCK.
She NOTICED.
Of course she noticed.
She notices EVERYTHING.
"I was NOT blushing," I said.
"You absolutely were," Celeste said, and now she was openly grinning. "Your face was the color of wine. It was adorable."
"I am NOT adorable," I hissed. "I'm a VILLAINESS."
"A villainess who just got flustered by a pretty face and some dark magic," Celeste said, her tone teasing. "I have to say, Isabel, I'm impressed. I didn't think anyone could make you lose your composure."
I'm going to KILL her.
I'm going to raise her as a skeleton and make her do embarrassing things.
"I did NOT lose my composure," I said. "I was simply... assessing a potential asset."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Celeste laughed. "Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were about three seconds away from forgetting how to speak."
She's RIGHT and I HATE IT.
"He's... strategically interesting," I said weakly.
"He's gorgeous and radiating dark magic and clearly interested in you," Celeste corrected. "And you, my dear wicked friend, are absolutely smitten."
SMITTEN.
She called me SMITTEN.
I'm going to DIE.
"I am NOT—"
"You are," Celeste said, and her expression softened slightly. "And honestly? I don't blame you. That man is... impressive. The way he just walked in here radiating dark magic like it's nothing? In a kingdom that BANS it? That takes either incredible power or incredible stupidity."
"It's power," I said immediately. "Definitely power."
"See?" Celeste's smile returned. "You're already defending him. That's adorable."
I'm going to curse her.
I'm going to learn a curse specifically designed to make her STOP TALKING.
"Can we PLEASE talk about something else?" I said.
"Fine, fine," Celeste said, though she was still grinning. "But before we move on—just so you know—the way he was looking at you? That wasn't just political interest. That was personal interest."
Oh god.
Oh GOD.
She's right.
He WAS looking at me like that.
Like I was something VALUABLE.
Like I was something WORTH pursuing.
And I liked it.
I liked it WAY too much.
"Noted," I said, trying to sound casual. "Now can we talk about literally anything else?"
Celeste's expression shifted, becoming more serious.
"Actually, yes. We need to talk about yesterday."
Oh. Right.
The Aldric thing.
The reason everyone's staring at me.
"What about it?" I asked.
"That was brilliant," Celeste said, and I heard genuine admiration in her voice. "The way you dismantled him in front of the entire court? The way you compared him to his sister? The way you made him look weak and self-righteous and boring?" She shook her head. "That was art, Isabel. Pure, vicious art."
Okay, I'm not going to curse her anymore.
She can STAY.
"Thank you," I said, feeling a surge of pride.
"However," Celeste continued, and her tone grew more serious. "You need to understand something. Aldric Solcrest is self-righteous, yes. Predictable, perhaps. But he's also proud. And you just wounded that pride in front of the entire court."
I know.
Mother already gave me this lecture.
And now Celeste is giving it to me.
Everyone thinks I'm going to get myself killed.
"He's going to retaliate," Celeste said. "I don't know how, and I don't know when, but he will. And when he does, it won't be subtle. It won't be public. It will be calculated."
"I know," I said. "Mother already warned me."
"Good," Celeste said. "Because I'd hate to see you dead before you reach your full potential. Especially now that you have a handsome foreign prince interested in you."
And we're BACK to that.
Of course we are.
"Celeste—"
"I'm just saying," she said, her smile returning. "If you're going to make enemies of the crown prince, you might as well make allies of foreign princes. Especially ones who look like that and radiate dark magic like it's a personality trait."
She's not wrong.
Riku could be a VALUABLE asset.
And not just because he's unfairly attractive.
Though that's definitely a bonus.
"I'll keep that in mind," I said.
"Good," Celeste said. "Now go. Mingle. Be strategic. And try not to blush too obviously when Prince Riku looks at you again."
I'm going to curse her.
I'm DEFINITELY going to curse her.
"I hate you," I muttered.
"No, you don't," Celeste said cheerfully. "You love me because I'm the only person here who appreciates your wickedness."
She's right.
Goddammit, she's right.
Celeste disappeared back into the crowd, and I stood there for a moment, processing everything that had happened.
Mother warned me about consequences.
Celeste warned me about Aldric's retaliation.
And I just got flustered by a foreign prince.
A foreign prince who radiates dark magic and looks at me like I'm something VALUABLE.
A foreign prince who makes me BLUSH.
This is either the best thing that's ever happened to me or the worst.
Probably both.
"You look flustered," Nyx observed from my shoulders. "That's new."
"Shut up, Nyx," I muttered.
"The foreign prince got to you," he continued, his tone amused. "I could feel your heart rate spike. Very undignified for a villainess."
"I said shut UP."
"He IS very attractive," Nyx mused. "And powerful. And clearly interested in you. I approve."
Even my FAMILIAR is mocking me.
This is the WORST.
"Are you actually considering being CAREFUL?" Nyx asked, changing the subject. "That doesn't sound like you."
He's right.
Being careful doesn't sound like me.
But being SMART does.
And right now, smart means recognizing that I've made a powerful enemy and I need to be prepared for what comes next.
It ALSO means recognizing that I've potentially made a powerful ALLY.
An ally who happens to be devastatingly handsome and radiates dark magic.
An ally who makes me blush and forget how to speak.
An ally who the original Isabel should have been matched with instead of boring, self-righteous Aldric.
This version of events is SO much better than the original game.
You want to retaliate, Prince?
I looked across the room at Aldric, who was still deliberately ignoring me, and felt a cold determination settle in my chest.
Fine.
Bring it on.
But I'm not going to make it easy for you.
I'm going to be strategic. I'm going to be careful.
I'm going to be SMART.
And I'm going to have a devastatingly handsome foreign prince as an ally.
Let's see how you handle THAT.
Then my gaze drifted back to where Riku was standing, talking to some nobles but with his attention clearly elsewhere.
His amber eyes met mine across the room, and he smiled.
Fuck.
That smile should be ILLEGAL.
I felt my face getting warm again, and I quickly looked away.
Get it together, Isabel.
You're a VILLAINESS.
You don't get flustered.
You don't blush.
You don't think about how unfair it is that someone can be that attractive AND that powerful.
You definitely don't wish you were engaged to him instead of Aldric.
You DEFINITELY don't imagine what it would be like to—
NOPE.
Not going there.
Focus on STRATEGY.
Focus on CONSEQUENCES.
Focus on literally ANYTHING except how intoxicating his presence is.
I raised my glass in a silent toast—to consequences, to strategy, to the game I'd just started.
And to devastatingly handsome foreign princes who make me forget how to be a proper villainess.
Let's see who's REALLY in control.
Let's see who's better at this, Aldric.
This is going to be LEGENDARY.
And possibly FATAL.
But mostly legendary.