I woke up on Day Ten with a sense of impending doom that had absolutely nothing to do with dark magic and everything to do with the fact that tonight was the state dinner.
The state dinner.
Where Prince Riku is being HONORED.
Where I have to sit through HOURS of diplomatic bullshit.
Where Aldric will be forced to be CIVIL to me because international relations.
Where I will have to NOT make a scene.
FUCK.
"You're panicking," Nyx observed from his position coiled around my bedpost. "I can feel your heart rate from here."
"I am NOT panicking," I said, throwing off the covers. "I'm just... strategically concerned."
I'm PANICKING.
I'm panicking because Riku is going to be there.
And I'm going to have to look at his FACE.
And his EYES.
And smell that sandalwood and dark spice scent that makes my brain SHORT-CIRCUIT.
FUCK.
"You're blushing," Nyx said helpfully.
"I am NOT—"
I caught sight of myself in the mirror.
I'm blushing.
I'm blushing at SEVEN IN THE MORNING just THINKING about him.
This is a DISASTER.
"I hate you," I told Nyx.
"You hate yourself," he corrected. "I'm just observing."
Accurate.
Painfully accurate.
I spent the entire day in a state of barely-controlled chaos. Training with Corvus? Distracted. Practicing illusion magic? Kept accidentally creating images of Riku's face. Curse work with Elara? Had to stop three times because I couldn't concentrate.
This is PATHETIC.
I'm a DARK MAGE.
I'm supposed to be TERRIFYING and POWERFUL.
Not... whatever THIS is.
By the time evening arrived, I was a complete mess.
Mother appeared in my doorway as I was getting dressed, looking immaculate in midnight blue silk with silver embroidery that looked like frost.
She looks like winter personified.
Cold. Beautiful. Deadly.
"Isabel," she said, and her tone was... amused?
Oh no.
She KNOWS.
"Yes, Mother?"
"The Valdris prince will be seated near our family tonight," she said. "As a gesture of diplomatic courtesy."
NEAR our family.
NEAR ME.
OH FUCK.
"How... diplomatic," I managed.
Mother's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Indeed. I trust you'll represent House Raven appropriately."
Translation: Don't embarrass us.
Also translation: I know exactly what's happening and I'm ENJOYING watching you squirm.
"Of course, Mother."
She left, and I turned back to the mirror.
Deep breaths.
You can do this.
You've faced down Aldric in public.
You've learned NECROMANCY.
You can handle one dinner with a devastatingly attractive foreign prince.
WHO AM I KIDDING.
I'M GOING TO DIE.
The Royal Palace's grand dining hall was exactly as obscenely opulent as I remembered from the game.
Crystal chandeliers the size of CARRIAGES.
Gold leaf on EVERYTHING.
Tapestries that probably cost more than most people's HOUSES.
Subtle.
The room was already filling with nobles when we arrived. I spotted Celeste near one of the windows, looking serene and terrifying in her white priestess robes.
My ally.
My terrifying dark magic nun ally.
Thank the gods.
And then I saw him.
Riku.
Standing near the head table, talking to some Astervane nobles, looking like he'd stepped out of a fever dream.
FUCK.
He's wearing BLACK.
Deep, rich black with gold embroidery that catches the light.
His hair is perfect.
His smile is DEVASTATING.
I'm going to COMBUST.
"Breathe," Nyx whispered from my shoulder. "You're turning red."
I KNOW.
I KNOW I'M TURNING RED.
SHUT UP.
I forced myself to walk calmly toward our assigned seats, keeping my expression neutral.
Neutral.
Composed.
NOT like I'm internally SCREAMING.
Mother and Father took their seats at the high table—we were positioned near the royal family because of course we were.
I found my namecard.
Lady Isabel Nyx Raven.
Positioned between—
OH NO.
OH FUCK NO.
To my left: an empty seat with a namecard that read Prince Riku of the Valdris Empire.
To my right: another empty seat, probably for some minor noble I could ignore.
He's sitting NEXT TO ME.
He DELIBERATELY arranged to sit NEXT TO ME.
This is STRATEGIC.
This is a POWER MOVE.
This is—
"Lady Raven," a voice said behind me, warm and amused and making my spine tingle. "What a fortunate seating arrangement."
I turned.
Riku was standing there, smiling that dangerous smile, his dark eyes gleaming with something that made my heart do a very stupid thing.
Sandalwood and dark spice.
He smells like sandalwood and dark spice.
WHY does he smell so GOOD.
"Prince Riku," I said, and I was proud that my voice came out steady. "How... diplomatic of the palace staff."
Good.
Sarcastic.
Controlled.
He can't tell I'm DYING inside.
"Diplomatic," he agreed, pulling out my chair. "Though I may have made a small suggestion to the seating coordinator."
HE BRIBED THEM.
HE ACTUALLY BRIBED THE SEATING COORDINATOR.
THAT'S—
That's actually kind of impressive.
I sat down, trying to ignore the way my skin felt too warm, the way my heart was racing.
Compose yourself.
You're Isabel Nyx Raven.
You're a DARK MAGE.
You're TERRIFYING.
You're—
Completely losing your mind over a foreign prince.
FUCK.
Riku sat down beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him.
Too close.
He's sitting TOO CLOSE.
There's like six inches between us.
That's not enough space.
That's NOT ENOUGH SPACE.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said quietly, leaning slightly toward me.
STOP.
STOP LEANING.
STOP BEING SO—
I felt heat flood my cheeks.
I'm blushing.
I'm blushing AGAIN.
I HATE THIS.
"You're very... diplomatic tonight," I managed, reaching for my wine glass.
Good deflection.
Very smooth.
He definitely can't tell I'm COMBUSTING.
Riku's smile widened. "I'm being honest. There's a difference."
STOP.
STOP SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT.
Across the table, I caught Celeste's eye.
She was smiling.
That KNOWING smile.
That 'I see EXACTLY what's happening' smile.
I'm going to curse her.
I'm going to curse her SO HARD.
The dinner began with the usual ceremonial nonsense—toasts to the Valdris Empire, speeches about diplomatic relations, blah blah blah.
I tried to focus on the food.
Roasted pheasant.
Looks delicious.
Tastes like... something.
I can't taste ANYTHING.
I can't concentrate on ANYTHING except the fact that Riku is RIGHT THERE.
"You're not eating," Riku observed.
Because I'm too busy trying not to STARE at you.
"I'm pacing myself," I said. "It's a long dinner."
Good excuse.
Very reasonable.
Totally believable.
He leaned closer, and I caught another wave of that sandalwood and spice scent.
STOP.
STOP SMELLING GOOD.
"In the Valdris Empire," he said quietly, his voice low enough that only I could hear, "we value honesty over protocol. Strength over pretense."
He's doing it again.
He's saying exactly the things I want to hear.
STOP IT.
"How refreshing," I said, trying to sound sarcastic instead of breathless. "Here in Astervane, we value... excessive formality and repressed emotions."
Riku laughed—a genuine, warm laugh that made something in my chest do a very stupid flip.
STOP LAUGHING.
STOP BEING CHARMING.
STOP—
His hand brushed against mine on the table.
Casual.
Accidental.
Except it WASN'T accidental.
That was DELIBERATE.
I pulled my hand back, reaching for my wine glass again.
Smooth.
Very smooth.
He definitely didn't notice that.
"You're nervous," Riku said, and there was something almost... delighted in his tone.
I am NOT—
Okay, I'm ABSOLUTELY nervous.
But he doesn't need to KNOW that.
"I'm cautious," I corrected. "There's a difference."
"Is there?"
YES.
THERE IS.
SHUT UP.
I glanced toward the head table and immediately regretted it.
Aldric was watching us.
Oh FUCK.
He's WATCHING.
He looks... uncomfortable.
Good.
EXCELLENT.
Let him be uncomfortable.
Let him watch me having a perfectly civil conversation with a foreign prince.
Let him STEW in it.
But there was something else in Aldric's expression—something that looked almost like... concern?
Wait.
Is he WORRIED?
About what?
That I'm going to cause a diplomatic incident?
That I'm going to—
"Your prince is watching us," Riku said, following my gaze. "He looks... displeased."
Displeased.
That's one word for it.
"He's always displeased," I said. "It's his natural state."
Riku's smile turned sharp. "In the Valdris Empire, we don't waste time on princes who can't recognize strength when they see it."
STOP.
STOP SAYING PERFECT THINGS.
I took a long drink of wine.
This is FINE.
Everything is FINE.
I'm just having dinner with a devastatingly attractive prince who keeps saying exactly what I want to hear.
While my technically-fiancé watches from across the room.
While my mother silently judges my composure.
While Celeste SMIRKS at me.
TOTALLY FINE.
"Tell me," Riku said, leaning even closer, "what's the most dangerous spell you've learned so far?"
Oh.
OH.
He wants to talk about MAGIC.
Dark magic.
He wants to talk about the thing I'm actually GOOD at.
I felt some of my panic ease, replaced by genuine interest.
This I can do.
This I can talk about without COMBUSTING.
"Curses," I said. "Specifically, curses that target the mind rather than the body."
His eyes lit up. "Psychological warfare. Elegant."
He thinks it's ELEGANT.
He understands.
He GETS it.
"The body heals," I said, warming to the topic. "But the mind? The mind remembers. The mind breaks in ways that can't be fixed."
"Exactly," Riku said, and there was something almost hungry in his expression. "Power isn't just about destruction. It's about control. Understanding. Precision."
STOP.
STOP UNDERSTANDING ME.
STOP BEING PERFECT.
I realized I was leaning toward him, drawn in by the conversation, by the way he looked at me like I was saying something fascinating instead of terrifying.
This is dangerous.
This is SO dangerous.
He's making me WANT things.
Things I shouldn't want.
Things that complicate EVERYTHING.
"You're blushing again," he said softly.
FUCK.
I AM.
I'M BLUSHING AGAIN.
"It's warm in here," I said defensively.
"Is it?"
SHUT UP.
SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP.
I felt a presence behind me and turned to find Celeste standing there, her expression serene but her eyes absolutely GLEAMING with amusement.
Oh no.
Oh NO.
"Lady Raven," she said sweetly. "Might I borrow you for a moment?"
THANK THE GODS.
ESCAPE.
I NEED TO ESCAPE.
"Of course, Sister Celeste," I said, standing up perhaps a bit too quickly.
Riku stood as well—perfect manners, perfect posture, perfect EVERYTHING.
I hate him.
I hate him SO MUCH.
Celeste led me to a quiet corner near one of the windows, away from the crowd.
"So," she said, and her smile was absolutely WICKED. "You're smitten."
WHAT.
NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
"I am NOT—"
"You absolutely are," Celeste said. "You've been blushing for the past twenty minutes. You can barely form coherent sentences. You keep touching your hair."
I do NOT keep touching my—
I realized my hand was in my hair.
FUCK.
"This is a DISASTER," I hissed.
"This is HILARIOUS," Celeste corrected. "The terrifying dark mage who faced down the crown prince is completely undone by a foreign prince with nice eyes."
They're not just NICE.
They're—
STOP.
Don't make it WORSE.
"I'm not undone," I said. "I'm just... strategically flustered."
Celeste laughed—actually LAUGHED. "Strategically flustered. That's a new one."
I hate her.
I hate her SO MUCH.
"He's dangerous," I said. "He's intelligent, he understands dark magic, he's politically connected, and he's—"
"Devastatingly attractive?" Celeste supplied.
YES.
EXACTLY.
THAT.
"I was going to say 'a complication,'" I said.
"He's both," Celeste said. "And you're absolutely smitten with him."
I'm going to curse her.
I'm going to curse her SO HARD.
Maybe something that makes her hair fall out.
Or gives her hiccups for a WEEK.
"I need to get through this dinner without causing a diplomatic incident," I said. "Can you help me with that or are you just going to mock me?"
Celeste's expression softened slightly. "You're doing fine, Isabel. Better than fine. Your mother approves—I saw her watching you. You're maintaining composure while clearly intriguing the Valdris prince. That's exactly what you should be doing."
Mother approves.
That's... something.
That's GOOD.
"But?" I prompted, because there was definitely a 'but' coming.
"But," Celeste said, "you need to decide what you actually want. Because that prince isn't just flirting for fun. He's genuinely interested. And you're engaged to Aldric, even if it's a political arrangement."
I know.
I KNOW.
That's the PROBLEM.
"I don't want to be called a cheater," I said quietly. "Even if the engagement is bullshit. Even if Aldric despises me. I don't want to be THAT person."
Celeste nodded. "Then you need to be careful. Enjoy the attention, use it strategically, but don't cross lines you can't uncross."
Strategic.
Careful.
Controlled.
I can do that.
Probably.
Maybe.
FUCK.
We returned to the table, and I slid back into my seat beside Riku.
He looked up at me, and there was something almost... concerned in his expression.
He noticed I was flustered.
He KNOWS.
GREAT.
"Everything alright?" he asked quietly.
"Perfectly fine," I said, reaching for my wine glass again.
This is FINE.
Everything is FINE.
I'm just going to get through this dinner.
And then I'm going to go home.
And NEVER think about his eyes again.
Or his smile.
Or the way he smells.
Or—
FUCK.
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of conversation and barely-controlled panic. Riku was charming, intelligent, and absolutely RELENTLESS in his attention.
Every time I thought I'd regained my composure, he'd say something that made me blush again.
Every time I tried to focus on my food, I'd catch him watching me with those dark, knowing eyes.
This is TORTURE.
This is actual TORTURE.
By the time the dinner finally ended, I was exhausted.
Emotionally exhausted.
Mentally exhausted.
Completely and utterly DONE.
Riku stood as I prepared to leave, catching my hand gently.
His hand is WARM.
Why is his hand so WARM.
"Lady Raven," he said quietly. "Thank you for a fascinating evening."
Fascinating.
He thinks I'm FASCINATING.
STOP.
"The pleasure was mine, Prince Riku," I managed.
He lifted my hand to his lips—a formal gesture, perfectly appropriate.
Except it doesn't FEEL appropriate.
It feels DANGEROUS.
His lips brushed against my knuckles, and I felt that touch all the way down to my toes.
FUCK.
FUCK FUCK FUCK.
"Until next time," he said, releasing my hand.
I fled.
Gracefully.
Strategically.
Definitely not FLEEING.
Okay, I was absolutely fleeing.
Back in my room, I collapsed onto my bed and stared at the ceiling.
Nyx slithered up beside me. "So. That was interesting."
"Shut up."
"You were blushing for THREE HOURS."
"SHUT UP."
"He's definitely courting you."
I KNOW.
I KNOW HE'S COURTING ME.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I covered my face with my hands.
This is a disaster.
This is a COMPLETE disaster.
I'm supposed to be becoming LEGENDARY.
I'm supposed to be TERRIFYING.
I'm not supposed to be... whatever THIS is.
"You like him," Nyx observed.
I don't—
Okay, I do.
I REALLY do.
FUCK.
"He's dangerous," I said. "He's intelligent. He understands dark magic. He's politically connected. And he's—"
"Devastatingly attractive?" Nyx supplied, echoing Celeste's words.
Everyone is MOCKING me.
EVERYONE.
"This complicates everything," I said.
"Or," Nyx said thoughtfully, "it makes everything more interesting."
Interesting.
That's one word for it.
I thought about Riku's smile, his eyes, the way he'd looked at me like I was something fascinating instead of terrifying.
He sees me.
He actually SEES me.
Not the villainess.
Not the dark mage.
ME.
And that's...
That's dangerous.
That's SO dangerous.
But also...
Maybe that's exactly what I need.
I smiled—that sharp, dangerous smile.
Alright, Prince Riku.
You want to play this game?
Let's play.
But on MY terms.
Always on MY terms.
Nyx laughed. "This is going to be entertaining."
"Shut up," I said, but I was smiling.
This is going to be LEGENDARY.
Or a complete DISASTER.
Probably both.
But mostly legendary.