I woke before dawn to find the system already waiting for me.
```
[DEATH FLAG #4: TODAY]
[SPRING FESTIVAL: 8 HOURS]
[ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: IMMINENT]
[PREPARATION STATUS: COMPLETE]
[FINAL WARNING: No plan survives first contact with the enemy]
[GOOD LUCK...]
```
Today, Hadeon Ravana dies.
Or rather, he's supposed to. I have no interest in dying.
In the original timeline, I die at this festival.
Poisoned by Damian, who Adrian manipulated into thinking he was doing the right thing. Screaming in agony as Shadowbane toxin destroys me from the inside out. A cautionary tale about villains getting what they deserve. The very classic of the hateful villains death.
But this isn't the original timeline anymore.
Damian's loyalty sat at 100%.
The poison in his vial was Marcus's sleeping potion and not lethal toxin.
Lucille's assassins were positioned throughout the festival grounds for me. Ravenna's death-faking spell was ready.
Uncle Victor's knights were on standby.
Every piece was in position and every contingency planned.
So why did I feel like I was missing something?
'...it must be the thought of being in a book that's already planned for my death...'
I shook myself free and dressed myself carefully in formal attire appropriate for the Spring Festival, but with Marcus's poison-resistant amulet hidden beneath my collar. The small crystal felt warm against my skin, its enchantments active and waiting.
It was a comfortable feeling.
"Young Master," Damian entered with breakfast, his expression perfectly neutral. "Adrian Celestius has requested a private meeting before the festival begins."
I forze mid-button, my eyes going wide. "What? When?"
"He sent the message just now and in two hours from now to meet. He said the garden gazebo." Damian set down the tray. "He specifically requested no guards and just the two of you."
A private meeting between us? Right before my scheduled assassination? This was something that does not happen in the book. My actions were changing the plot.
And why did he want to meet with me? It must be part of something bigger on his part. And it didn't take me long to make my decision.
"Tell him I accept," I said. "And Damian?"
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Stay close today, closer than usual."
His hand moved unconsciously to where he kept the fake poison vial. "Always."
The morning sun painted the academy gardens in gold and shadow. Spring flowers bloomed everywhere in the festival's namesake, their petals drifting on the breeze like colorful snow.
It was beautiful and peaceful.
The perfect setting for murder.
Adrian waited at the gazebo, golden hair catching the light like some artist's vision of the perfect hero. He wore formal academy dress, crisp and immaculate. No weapons visible, but with SSS-rank power, he didn't really didn't need any.
I approached cautiously, every sense alert. The poison-resistant amulet thrummed against my chest.
"Hadeon." Adrian smiled as I climbed the gazebo steps. "Thank you for coming."
"You requested a meeting and I'm curious what the academy's golden boy wants to discuss." I stayed near the exit, leaving myself room to move if needed. "Especially today of all days."
"The Spring Festival." His smile didn't waver. "Actually, that's exactly why I wanted to talk. Before the celebration begins and we're surrounded by hundreds of people."
I waited not saying anything to let him make the first move.
Adrian leaned against the gazebo railing, the picture of casual confidence. "I wanted to clear the air between us."
"Clear the air." I kept my voice neutral. "Interesting choice of words."
"I know we've been at odds. The duel, the economic competition, the political maneuvering, the power struggle between us." He spread his hands. "But that tournament match showed me something and I realized that you're actually competent."
"High praise from the SSS-rank prodigy." I said, my face still set in an expressionless mask.
"I'm serious, Hadeon. Most nobles just coast on their family name. You actually try. That's impressive" His expression shifted, becoming more earnest. "That's rare. A bit respectable, even."
```
[ANALYTICAL EYE: ADRIAN CELESTIUS]
[EMOTIONAL STATE: Confident, Calculating, Hiding Something]
[TRUTH VALUE: 30% (mostly lies wrapped in partial truths)]
[OBJECTIVE: Unknown...but definitely not what he's saying]
[RECOMMENDATION: Play along to gather information]
```
"Is this the part where you offer me a subordinate position?" I asked dryly.
Adrian laughed, a genuine-sounding, perfectly. "No. I'm offering a truce. We both want what's best for the academy, right? For the students? Why waste energy fighting each other when we could be working together?"
"Working together." I studied his face, looking for the crack in the mask. "Is this all about the economic fight? Split the market fairly? Stop the sabotage? Focus on our studies instead of faction warfare? Something like that?"
"Exactly." He extended his hand. "What do you say, Hadeon? Can we put this rivalry aside?"
I looked at his outstretched hand. The offer seemed reasonable on the surface and even logical.
Which meant it was absolutely a trap.
The question was.....what kind? Was he trying to stop me from doing something? I don't understand it.
I shook his hand. His grip was firm, confident. The grip of someone who thought he'd already won.
"I'll consider it," I said.
"That's all I ask." Adrian released my hand, smile widening. "Enjoy the festival, Hadeon. Let's celebrate spring together. As fellow students, not enemies."
I left the gazebo with his words echoing in my mind.
'...Let's celebrate spring together...'
As I walked away, the pieces clicked into place.
He wanted witnesses to his peaceful offer.
Proof he'd tried to make amends.
So when I died tonight, when the poison did its work, he'd look like the gracious hero who'd extended an olive branch to the villain who refused it
But isn't it coming a bit too late? That's the problem with heroes, they don't often think things through.
Still....
... clever bastard.
But two could and have played that game.