Rory's heart pounded like a drum in her chest, each beat screaming run as Lord Calen's words echoed in the courtyard. "Sign tonight, my lady. We wed tomorrow." His smile was all teeth, his gold robes glinting under the sunlight like a warning. The silver ring on his finger flashed, same as the freckled maid's, same as the dagger in the grove. Her stomach twisted. This guy wasn't just a creep; he was connected to the threat that nearly killed her.
The novices stood frozen, their whispers gone silent. Mistress Veyra's sharp eyes flicked between Rory and Calen, like she was waiting for a fight. Romeus, still gripping his wooden staff, stepped closer to Rory, his presence a quiet anchor. His grin was gone, replaced by a hard look that made her wonder what he was thinking.
The System pinged, its blue panel popping up in her vision: Quest Update: Avoid Lord Calen's Proposal. Objective: Don't sign the contract tonight. Reward: Freedom Perk (Illusion Magic). Penalty: Wedding Tomorrow. Odds of Success: 48%.
"Forty-eight percent?" Rory muttered under her breath, wiping sweaty palms on her tunic. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, System." She forced her face into a smile, the Charm Boost from last night making it easier to fake calm. "Lord Calen," she said, voice steady despite the panic clawing her insides, "that's, uh, quite an offer. But I need time to think. Big decisions, you know?"
Calen's smile didn't waver, but his eyes narrowed, sharp as the thorns in the grove. "Time is a luxury, Lady Juliette. The alliance between House Sylvana and House Valen waits for no one." He held up the parchment, its wax seal glinting like a trap. "Your father agrees. Sign now, and we seal peace tonight."
Rory's throat tightened. She glanced at Romeus, whose hand twitched toward his staff, like he wanted to smack the parchment out of Calen's hand. She couldn't let this happen. Not in a week, not tomorrow, not ever. "I'll… consider it," she said, stepping back. "But I'm not signing anything standing in a sweaty courtyard."
Calen's laugh was smooth, like oil on water. "Very well. We'll discuss it at tonight's state dinner. Your father insists you attend." He bowed, too low, too mocking, and strode off, his robes swishing like a snake slithering away.
Rory let out a breath, her knees wobbly. Romeus leaned in, his voice low. "You're playing with fire, princess. Calen's not the type to take no for an answer."
She glared at him, the nickname grating on her nerves. "Stop calling me princess. And what's your deal? You're my bodyguard, not my life coach."
His lips twitched, almost a smile. "Just trying to keep you alive. You're making it harder than it needs to be."
The System pinged: Quest Progress: Delayed Calen's Proposal. Reward Unlocked: Freedom Perk (Illusion Magic). Activate to create minor visual deceptions. Cost: Two Mana Points.
Rory's eyes widened. Illusion Magic? That could be her ticket out of this mess. She glanced at the parchment in Calen's hand as he disappeared through the courtyard gate. If she could fake a signature, maybe she could buy time. But she needed to see that contract first.
The state dinner was in Sylvana Manor's grand hall, a cavern of white marble and glowing chandeliers that looked like trapped stars. Rory stood in front of a mirror in her room, tugging at the emerald-green dress the maids had forced her into. It hugged her curves, the silk cool against her skin, but the low neckline made her feel like a display piece. Her scabbed hands looked out of place against the delicate fabric, a reminder of the grove's thorns. She tied her silver hair into a messy bun, muttering, "If I have to play princess, I'm doing it my way."
The freckled maid, Lyssa, hovered nearby, adjusting Rory's sleeves. No silver ring on her finger now, just a faint red mark where it had been. Rory's gut twisted. Definitely suspicious. "Lyssa," she said, keeping her voice casual, "where's that ring you were wearing yesterday?"
The maid's hands froze, her eyes darting to the floor. "Lost it, my lady," she mumbled. "Clumsy of me." She scurried out before Rory could press further.
"Lost it, my ass," Rory whispered. She needed to keep an eye on Lyssa. That ring tied her to Calen, to the grove, to the note. But right now, she had a dinner to survive.
Romeus was waiting outside her room, his red Draconis tunic swapped for a black one with silver embroidery, his sword still at his hip. He looked… good. Too good. The way his tunic hugged his shoulders made her mouth dry. She shook it off, blaming the Charm Boost for messing with her head.
"You clean up nice," she said, smirking to cover the heat creeping up her neck.
He raised an eyebrow, his scar catching the torchlight. "And you look like you're planning trouble. Don't make my night harder than it already is."
She laughed, falling into step beside him as they headed to the hall. "No promises. Got any tips for dodging creepy fiancés?"
He glanced at her, his gray eyes serious for once. "Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Calen's got a temper under that smile."
"Noted," she said, but her mind was on the Illusion Magic perk. If she could get her hands on that contract, she could fake a refusal and stall this wedding nonsense.
The grand hall was packed, elves and humans mingling like oil and water. The air smelled of roasted meat and sweet wine, heavy with the buzz of politics. Rory's father, Lord Sylvana, stood at the head table, his gold-trimmed robe screaming authority. Calen was beside him, his silver ring glinting as he sipped from a goblet. Rory's skin prickled. That ring was everywhere.
Romeus guided her to a seat near the back, his hand brushing her lower back for a second. The touch sent a spark through her, and she shot him a look. "Watch it, bodyguard."
He smirked, leaning closer as he pulled out her chair. "Just doing my job, Juliette. Don't get any ideas."
Her face heated, but she sat, focusing on the table to hide it. The System pinged: Tip: The contract is on Lord Sylvana's table. Use Illusion Magic to access it. Mana: Seven of Ten.
Rory scanned the head table. The parchment was there, folded beside her father's plate, its wax seal mocking her. She needed a distraction. Across the room, a human noble was arguing loudly with an elf, their voices rising over the harp's music. Perfect.
She leaned toward Romeus, keeping her voice low. "I need you to start a scene. Nothing big, just enough to pull eyes away from my dad's table."
His brows shot up. "You're insane. What are you planning?"
"Something stupid," she said, grinning. "Trust me?"
He stared at her, then sighed, rubbing his neck. "Fine. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."
He stood, striding toward the arguing noble with that cocky swagger that made her heart do stupid flips. He "accidentally" bumped into the elf, spilling wine on his robe. The elf shouted, the noble laughed, and half the room turned to watch. Rory seized her chance.
She slipped through the crowd, her dress swishing against her legs, and reached the head table. Her father was distracted, talking to a stern-looking human. Calen was charming a group of elves, his ring flashing with every gesture. Rory's fingers trembled as she grabbed the parchment, tucking it under her sleeve. She ducked behind a pillar, heart racing.
The System pinged: Activate Illusion Magic? Cost: Two Mana Points. Y/N.
She jabbed "Y." A warm hum spread through her hands, like holding a hot mug. She focused on the parchment, imagining a scrawled refusal in Juliette's name. The air shimmered, and the ink shifted, forming her words: I, Juliette Sylvana, refuse this betrothal. It looked real enough to fool anyone who didn't squint.
She slipped the parchment back onto the table, her pulse pounding in her ears. The System pinged: Quest Progress: Contract Altered. Mana: Five of Ten. Odds of Success: 65%.
Rory returned to her seat just as Romeus came back, his tunic slightly wrinkled from the scuffle. "You owe me," he muttered, sitting beside her. "That elf wanted to gut me."
She grinned, adrenaline buzzing. "You're a big boy. You handled it."
His eyes narrowed, but there was a spark of amusement there. "You're trouble, you know that?"
Before she could reply, Calen's voice cut through the hall. "Lady Juliette," he called, standing at the head table, holding the altered parchment. Her heart stopped. Had he noticed? His smile was still slick, but his eyes were cold. "I trust you've had time to consider my proposal."
Rory stood, the Charm Boost keeping her voice steady. "I have. And I've made my decision." She nodded toward the parchment, praying her illusion held.
Calen unfolded it, his smile faltering for a split second. He cleared his throat. "It seems… there's been a misunderstanding. We'll discuss this further." He sat, his ring glinting as he gripped his goblet too tightly.
Rory's knees nearly buckled with relief, but she kept her face neutral. Romeus leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "What did you do?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," she whispered, her heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with Calen.
The dinner dragged on, plates of spiced meat and glowing fruit piling up. Rory barely ate, her eyes flicking between Calen's ring and Lyssa, who was serving wine nearby. The maid's hands were bare, but Rory couldn't shake the feeling they were linked. She needed to find out how.
As the night wound down, Lord Sylvana stood, his voice booming. "My daughter's betrothal is a matter of peace," he said, his eyes locking on Rory. "Lord Calen will court her for three days. If she refuses him publicly after that, House Sylvana risks war with House Valen."
Rory's stomach dropped. Three days? The System pinged: Quest Updated: Survive Calen's Courtship. Objective: Find a way out in three days. Penalty: War. Time Limit: 72 hours.
The hall buzzed with whispers. Calen's smile returned, sharper now. Romeus's hand clenched into a fist under the table, his knuckles brushing hers. The touch was brief, but it burned.