The air inside the gala hall was rich with the sound of clinking glasses and light conversation, a vibrant orchestra of pleasantries. But to Seventeen, it was noise, all of it. Meaningless chatter disguising deeper intentions. Her focus remained sharp, like a blade hidden beneath the soft fabric of her smile.
The heirs had formed a loose circle now, most of them engaging in small talk, feeling out their environment and each other. Claus, ever the charmer, was doing most of the talking, spinning stories of the royal court and the extravagant life in Leo's Imperious. Seventeen found his performance amusing—so smooth, so carefully polished, and yet so easy to see through.
He's an open book, she thought, subtly shifting her attention between the others, making mental notes of their interactions. But what about the rest?
She stood at the edge of the group, nodding along to Claus's anecdotes, making sure to give the impression that she was listening with rapt interest. Serena would. Serena was the type who'd be drawn in by Claus's easy charisma, who'd laugh at all the right moments and blush under his charming gaze.
But behind that act, Seventeen's mind was already working. Calculating. Her eyes moved toward Light Valiant, standing across from her, looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else. Light's fiery impatience practically radiated off her in waves, her arms crossed, jaw tight as Claus continued his story. She wasn't here to mingle; that much was clear.
Seventeen tilted her head slightly, adjusting her posture to mirror Light's, allowing her to feel seen in her irritation without directly acknowledging it. A subtle signal, a trick she had learned—people liked those who seemed to understand them without words.
"And then there's the royal ball, of course," Claus was saying, grinning at the group, as though his charm was the only thing holding the room together. "You'll all be invited next year. We'll have to make sure Serena gets an invitation as well."
Seventeen allowed herself to chuckle softly. "Oh, I couldn't possibly—"
"Nonsense," Claus interrupted, his grin widening. "Anyone who works at the hospital you've just joined is practically royalty in Downtown Zodiac. You'll fit right in."
The others murmured in vague agreement, though none of them seemed particularly invested in Claus's words. Seventeen caught Hunter's eye for a brief moment. His lips curled into a lazy smirk, and he raised his glass slightly, as though acknowledging the act they were all playing.
Hunter Hart, she thought. Not as indifferent as he wants everyone to think.
Before she could engage further, Light interrupted, her voice sharp. "Speaking of invitations, where's Draco? He's supposed to be here, isn't he?"
Seventeen's heart skipped a beat, though her outward composure didn't falter. She kept her smile soft, her demeanor light, but inside, her thoughts sharpened. Draco. The one who would be hardest to break. The one who watched her from the shadows, whose suspicion simmered beneath his icy surface.
As if summoned by Light's question, Draco appeared at the entrance of the gala hall. He moved through the crowd with a predatory grace, his eyes scanning the room, assessing everything in a heartbeat. He was dressed in formal wear, his dark suit perfectly tailored, but it was his aura that commanded attention—quiet, controlled, and dangerous.
Seventeen let her eyes flick toward him for a brief moment before averting them, pretending she hadn't noticed him yet. But her pulse quickened slightly. There he was, the most challenging piece on the board. The one who, if she wasn't careful, could unravel everything.
Draco's gaze swept over the group, and for a split second, it lingered on her. She felt it—an electric charge in the air, as though he could see through the mask of Serena. But she smiled, feigning innocence, as though she hadn't noticed his arrival. ["Let him come to me,"] she thought. ["Let him make the first move."]
Light uncrossed her arms and stepped toward Draco as he approached the group. "About time you showed up," she said, her voice holding a sharp edge of irritation. "Claus was just about to invite us all to another one of his royal parties."
Draco raised an eyebrow, his expression impassive. "I'm sure we're all very excited about that," he said dryly, his tone making it clear that he, in fact, wasn't.
Seventeen suppressed a smile. ["Sarcastic, distant. Just as I expected."]
Claus chuckled, unfazed by Draco's remark. "Always a pleasure, Draco," he said smoothly. "Glad you could make it."
Draco didn't respond, his gaze already moving past Claus to the rest of the group. It landed on Seventeen for a fraction of a second longer than anyone else. She met his eyes briefly, then looked away, playing the role of the shy newcomer. ["Let him wonder,"] she thought. ["Let him doubt."]
As the group resumed their conversations, Seventeen stepped back slightly, allowing herself a moment of observation. She was careful to keep her expression relaxed, her posture open. But inside, her thoughts were racing, piecing together the dynamics she had observed.
Light and Draco—both strong, both driven by something deeper than the superficial. They don't waste time with small talk, with masks. Claus—open, eager to please, but naïve in his belief that charm can solve everything. Hunter—watchful, but detached, pretending not to care but seeing more than he lets on. Amelia and Sablina—quiet, calculating, but hiding behind their shared connection. And then there's her.
She suppressed a smile. ["And they think I'm just Serena. The healer. The kind, bubbly girl who doesn't belong in their world of power and politics."]
She glanced toward Draco again, who was now speaking quietly with Light. His expression was calm, controlled, but she could sense the tension beneath the surface. He was on guard. Always.
Seventeen's thoughts sharpened, and a quiet resolve settled over her. She had time, but she needed to start weaving her web more carefully now. Draco wasn't someone she could fool easily—he would need more than just Serena's warmth to break through his walls. He would need something real. Something that made him question his instincts.
And she would give it to him.
But first, she would plant the seeds.
Stepping forward, she approached Draco and Light, her expression bright and unassuming. "Draco, right?" she said softly, as though she hadn't known his name long before tonight. "I've heard a lot about you."
Draco's eyes flicked toward her, his gaze steady and unreadable. "And you are?"
"Serena D'Angelo," she said with a light laugh, offering her hand. "I'm new in the city. I just started at the hospital."
He didn't take her hand, and for a moment, the tension in the air thickened. But Seventeen didn't falter. She kept her smile gentle, her eyes soft.
After a beat, Draco nodded slightly, acknowledging her presence but nothing more. "Welcome to Downtown Zodiac, then."
"Thank you," she replied, her tone warm. But inside, her mind was already calculating. ["He's testing me. Let's see how far this goes."]
Light, clearly uninterested in the exchange, gave Seventeen a half-hearted smile before excusing herself to rejoin Claus. As she walked away, Seventeen focused her attention entirely on Draco.
"You're not much of a talker, are you?" she asked, her voice playful but careful, as though she were making a lighthearted observation. "I can respect that."
Draco's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't respond. Seventeen tilted her head, studying him for a brief moment before continuing, "I've always found that the quiet ones are the ones with the most interesting things to say. When they decide to speak, that is."
He remained silent, his gaze hard. But Seventeen could sense something beneath that cold exterior. Something deep and locked away, hidden under layers of control.
["I'll get there,"] she thought. ["But not tonight. Tonight is just the beginning."]
She smiled again, bright and unassuming. "It was nice to meet you, Draco. I'm sure we'll see more of each other."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked back toward the rest of the group, leaving Draco standing there, watching her. She could feel his gaze on her back, could feel the tension that still hung between them.
Let him think about it, she thought. Let him wonder.
As she rejoined the group, Claus offered her a drink, his smile easy and welcoming. It was one of the ten most famous cocktail from Imperious, the Lion district, she noticed, the Royal Flame, a fiery blend of whiskey, cinnamon syrup, and a splash of ginger bear, garnished with a candied ginger slice. And he had gotten the same for himself. "You survived Draco's icy stare," he joked, handing her the Royal Flame. "Most people don't get past a hello."
Seventeen laughed softly, accepting the drink. "Oh, he wasn't that bad," she replied, her tone light. "I've met worse."
Claus raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You're braver than most, then."
She smiled, taking a sip of the cocktail. But her mind was already miles ahead, plotting, calculating. Each of them had their vulnerabilities, their weaknesses. And she would exploit them all, one by one.
Tonight was just the first step.
The real game had only just begun.