We started meeting in public after that garden talk.
Not because we trusted each other—no, that would be stupid.
But because it looked good.
The nobles loved it.
The hero probably hated it.
And Seraphine and I… we smiled like we invented peace.
She sat there stirring her tea like she practiced elegance in her sleep. The wind moved her hair, sunlight doing its dramatic 'main character glow' thing.
I almost rolled my eyes. Almost.
"Are you going to drink the tea or stare at it?" she asked, still smiling that polite, noble smile.
I leaned back on the chair. "Thinking if it's poisoned."
She blinked once. "Did you poison yours?"
"Haven't decided yet."
We both sipped at the same time.
Wonderful. Two psychopaths enjoying jasmine tea.
A group of noble ladies whispered nearby. One of them even giggled. They already shipped us, probably.
If only they knew.
"So," I said, tapping the cup twice with a finger, "tribute festival next week."
Big event. Big plot point. Huge disaster incoming.
Seraphine nodded slowly. "Mm. The 'accident' in the arena."
There it was again—casual knowledge no one should have.
I sighed like a tired man babysitting destiny. "We stopping it or pretending we didn't read the script?"
She smiled. Not wide. Just enough.
"We can stop it," she said, leaning slightly forward, "but we should benefit from it too."
Of course.
There she goes, five steps ahead and emotionally unavailable.
"And how exactly do we do that?" I asked.
"You distract the hero," she said simply. "I'll handle the rest."
I raised a brow. "That sounds like one of those plans where I do all the dying."
"No dying," she said. "Just, you know… inconvenience."
"Comforting."
Silence between us. The kind that talks more than words.
She looked at me then. Really looked. Soft eyes, hard intentions.
"Kael," she said gently, "we're good at this, aren't we?"
Lying through our teeth?
Yeah. We deserved trophies.
I grinned. "Two professionals."
We clinked our cups like allies.
Total garbage. Both of us.
But that was the deal now.
Fake friends by day. Escape room
partners in a burning timeline by night.
And honestly?
I kinda loved it.
🛡️ End of Chapter 11