Zoe followed her gaze downward. "My father says growth requires sacrifice," she murmured.
"Then perhaps it is time the powerful volunteered," Erika countered.
For the first time, Zoe did not defend her family. She simply watched. The lower quarter lay dim beneath the castle's gilded light.
As evening approached, Erika prepared for the swimming party at 5 PM. Nobles, investors, and visiting dignitaries gathered around the castle pool. Tables overflowed with food, sparkling drinks, and delicate pastries.
Leonardo escorted her, loyal and watchful. He did not yet know all the layers of strategy Erika had set in motion.
The crow perched nearby, vigilant. The black cat slipped silently through corridors. It gathered intelligence and relayed unseen details. Erika smiled faintly. Even magic had allies.
Guests marveled at the duchess's grace. Her posture was perfect. Her laugh echoed without effort. Whispers circulated: who was she? Where had she come from? The answers did not matter. Influence had begun.
Schedules were noted: morning introductions, afternoon tea, private consultations, evening pools, and future ballroom receptions. Every interaction was observed. Every glance cataloged. Every alliance or hesitation remembered.
By nightfall, the castle glimmered under torches and chandeliers. Lanterns in the lower quarter reflected faintly, like distant stars.
Erika adjusted the necklace at her throat. The illusion of Sophia would not last forever. But her plan was already in motion.
She had entered the island disguised. She had observed and learned. She had planted seeds of doubt and awareness in nobles, investors, and royalty alike.
Above, Zoe's sharp eyes traced every movement. She sensed the subtle disturbances Erika had created.
The game was no longer hidden in whispers. It moved under chandeliers and across gardens, pools, and hidden corridors.
Erika, masquerading as the duchess, had arrived. The chessboard was set. The pieces were in motion. Royal Novelty Island would never be the same.
She had come not merely to observe. She had come to influence, shift, and awaken.
In the quiet glow of her father's magical necklace, Erika smiled. The true game had only just begun.
The carriage rolled steadily along the cobblestone streets. The wheels clicked softly under the morning sun.
Duchess Elara — Erika in every detail of her magical disguise — sat upright. She lightly touched the pendant at her throat. The mirror inside her father's necklace shimmered faintly. The spell had held through the night.
Leonardo, her brother and devoted escort, sat beside her. He introduced her to curious onlookers as a distant noble of the Valenwood line. Erika's heart beat with anticipation. She was not afraid. Today, the palace would see her. The game of influence would begin.
The gates of Royal Novelty Island swung open. Guards in polished silver armor saluted. Trumpets announced their arrival. A hush fell over the servants and visitors alike.
Atop the walls, a familiar black crow — Zoe's eyes in feathered form — tilted its head. It sensed the deception before it. Erika allowed a small, controlled smile. Even magic had allies.
Inside the castle, Erika's first task was observation. Leonardo guided her through the household. Maids balanced trays of silverware. Stewards carried ledgers and scrolls. Cooks arranged dishes that smelled of spices and sugar from across the archipelago.
Every room whispered possibilities. The gardens glimmered with fountains and roses. Paths twisted like painted illusions. The ballroom gleamed. Chandeliers reflected sunlight like captured stars. The dining room stretched long and lavish. Crystal goblets and trays overflowed with fruits, pastries, and delicacies.
Even the private quarters — Erika's temporary residence — reflected wealth. Blush silk and delicate embroidery showed the perfect image of Duchess Sophia. She noted the library, stacked floor-to-ceiling with books and scrolls. The ballet studio glimmered under mirrored walls. The meeting room waited for whispered negotiations. The indoor pool shimmered, torchlight flickering along its edges.
Erika memorized every detail. Every corridor could be an advantage. Every room, a tool.
Before settling, Erika invited Zoe for a tea party in the west garden. She played Sophia perfectly: polite, attentive, and gracious.
Zoe arrived in her midnight-blue gown. Diamonds caught the light. Her laughter was careful but polite.
"You have truly arrived, Duchess," Zoe said softly.
"Royal Novelty is not often graced with such elegance."
Erika poured tea with careful movements. She gave a faint smile. "Sophia would have been honored, I assure you."
The black crow circled overhead. It cawed softly. Erika nodded. Magic, discretion, and observation would be her allies today.