The following days unfolded like clockwork. Seventeen moved through her routine at the hospital, managing to slip between her role as Serena and her true identity with perfect ease. Her plan was progressing as expected. Every interaction with the six heirs brought her closer to her goal, but she could feel Draco's eyes lingering, watching her like a hawk. His steady gaze followed her whenever she was near, but he remained distant, unwilling to engage in more than polite conversation. The tension simmered beneath the surface, a dangerous game she was becoming more entangled in.
It wasn't until a quiet afternoon at the hospital that her plans were challenged again.
Seventeen had just finished her rounds, her hands carefully tending to the last patient of the day, it was a case of Arrowhead overdose. Arrowhead was a dangerous drug, sold in the black market and produced in Seekerland, one of the twelve most used drugs in Zodiac, but one of the most dangerous to the body.
The rich and those in power had a bad habit of consuming drugs, Seventeen had noticed that, she had come to tend at least three cases a day. In this case, it was a liquid drug injected directly in the bloodstream, Arrowhead heightens the senses, agility, and reflexes, giving users a sense of sharpness and awareness. Those addict in it become hyperactive and restless but eventually burn out physically and mentally. But the side effects couldn't be ignored, it went from extreme anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, to severe nervous system damage.
It had been a girl this time, only daughter of one of the most famous people from Seekerland, one that she had seen trying to flirt with Hunter and being let down the other day. But it didn't surprise her.
When she was finally done and back in her office, a sudden knock echoed from the doorway. She glanced up, surprised to see Amelia Saint-Montclaire standing there, arms crossed, her expression thoughtful.
"Amelia," Seventeen greeted her, smoothly shifting into Serena mode. "What brings you here? You're not hurt, I hope?"
Amelia smirked, pushing off from the doorframe and stepping inside. "No, nothing like that. I just... wanted to talk to someone close and older than me."
["Imagine if she knew I'm not 25 but 21,"] she mused in her thoughts. ["I'll be turning 22 soon, the grimmest time of the year is just around the corner. I'm the youngest of the seven of us. Of course it doesn't show it, I'm far more experienced than the six of them together. Far more powerful."]
The magic she was constantly using to keep the physical disguise up also hide her youthful looks, it was necessary or it would raise suspicions over her age, over her entire story. She couldn't afford that. But it's not like her appearance as Seventeen was as truthful as she made everyone believe, she was far too used to using her illusion magic to wave different appearances in the eyes of others, it was an unconscious activity now, all for survival. All to keep her secrets buried.
Secrets that only Noah Whitlock, her adopted father and the leader of Serpentpire, knew. He was the one who saved her when she most needed, who guided her, who grounded her, who taught her most of the things she learned. More than anything, he understood her without judgement, they were in this together, he had vowed to take her secrets to his grave and she trusted him like she trusted herself.
["Draco was right,"] she thought. ["Some secrets are better left buried."]
"Of course," Seventeen replied, the softness of her Serena persona in action, motioning for Amelia to sit. "Is everything alright?"
Amelia glanced around the room before settling down across from her. "I wanted to ask you about something... personal." She hesitated, as if gauging whether or not she could trust Seventeen.
Seventeen's instincts flared—this was an opportunity. "You can talk to me about anything, Amelia. I'm here to help."
Amelia shifted, clearly uncomfortable, but after a beat, she spoke. "It's about Hunter... and Sablina." Her voice was quiet, as if she was confessing something she didn't quite want to admit aloud. "I... I'm in love with both of them, and I don't know what to do."
["Interesting."] Seventeen kept her expression soft, masking her curiosity as she considered Amelia's dilemma. A part of her had been expecting one of the three to come to her because of this. This could work to her advantage if she played it right. "That's a tough situation to be in," she said carefully. "Have you talked to either of them about how you feel?"
Amelia's frustration was evident in the way she rubbed her forehead. "No. Hunter thinks we're together, and Sablina... she's just so guarded. I don't want to hurt either of them, the six of us are childhood friends, but more than anything, Hunter and Sablina are my best friends. I feel like I'm drowning trying to please them both, walking on eggs, scared of my own feelings."
She knew Amelia and Sablina were close from the beginning, but she hadn't imagined that Hunter was that close to them. He didn't show that so clearly when she was around.
Seventeen leaned forward slightly, her voice filled with concern. "Amelia, I can't imagine how difficult that must be for you. But you deserve to be honest with yourself, and with them. It sounds like they both care about you deeply. Maybe the answer isn't choosing between them but finding a way to... reconcile these feelings."
Amelia looked at her, uncertainty clouding her expression. "Reconcile? You mean, like a... a relationship with both?"
Seventeen shrugged, keeping her tone neutral. "It's not impossible. But whatever you choose, you have to be honest with them—and yourself. That's the only way not to avoid hurting the three of you."
Amelia seemed to mull over her words, her tension easing just a fraction. "I don't know if I'm ready to do that... but thanks, Serena. I think when people grow older, they really have a different perspective of things, don't they?You've given me something to think about."
["Did she just call me old? She's the old one."]
Seventeen smiled kindly, but behind her eyes, she was already thinking about the implications. Amelia was torn, and if that wedge grew, it could fracture their unity. That would give her space to fit herself right there, maybe try engaging a friendship with Hunter. Exactly what she needed.
"I'm always here if you want to talk," Seventeen said as Amelia stood to leave. "Take care of yourself."
Once Amelia left, Seventeen's smile faded, her mind shifting gears. This love triangle was a distraction, one that could either strengthen or weaken the group. Her job now was to make sure it weakened them. The division was subtle, but with enough pressure, it could become a crack wide enough to exploit.
※※※
Later that evening, the tension with Draco reached a new level.
Seventeen found herself in Imperious, more precisely, in the palace gardens, having accepted Claus's offer for a private tour. The magical system of trains that connected all the districts underground was useful for quick transport, though she still preferred travelling through the seas that danced around the districts within the Zodiac Archipelago. She enjoyed boats quite a lot. There were also the stone bridges connecting each of them, but that was for the common people, everyone who was important enough to make it to Downtown Zodiac, got a free pass in the trains.
The flowers in the gardens were in full bloom, the mixed scents of marigolds, sunflowers, and Lion's tails thick in the air as Claus led her through the winding paths, showing her the various statues and fountains that dotted the landscape. He was charming as always, his flirtation easy and pleasant. But Seventeen's mind was elsewhere—on the unseen eyes watching from the shadows.
Draco.
She felt his presence long before she saw him. It was as if the air itself tensed, a subtle shift that warned her he was near. And sure enough, as they rounded a corner, Draco stood by one of the fountains, his arms crossed, watching them with an unreadable expression.
Claus, oblivious to the tension, smiled at his cousin. "Draco! I didn't know you'd be out here. I thought you'd be going back to Whiteland this afternoon."
Draco's gaze flicked to Claus, then back to Seventeen. "Mother decided to stay longer with aunt Seraphina. I needed some air," he said simply, his voice cool and controlled. "I didn't realize you'd be giving tours, Claus."
Claus laughed lightly, brushing off Draco's tone. "Serena hadn't seen the gardens yet. I thought I'd show her around. Care to join us?"
Seventeen glanced between them, keeping her smile in place, though her mind raced. This was a delicate situation—two princes, both with their own agendas. And while Claus was easy to manipulate, Draco was not. She needed to tread carefully.
"I wouldn't want to intrude," Draco said, his eyes never leaving Seventeen.
"You wouldn't be intruding," Claus insisted, clearly trying to diffuse whatever tension was brewing. "Besides, you know the history of this place better than anyone. You could help me give a better tour."
["Claus can't be so blunt, can he?"] Seventeen thought, frustrated with the idea of Draco butting in her plans to tighten her control around Claus, but she didn't show it. Serena was okay with the situation, she was kind, with not seconds and thirds and fourths intentions, no hidden agenda.
For a moment, Draco said nothing, his gaze still locked on Seventeen as if searching for something. Finally, he sighed and stepped forward. "Very well."
The three of them continued through the gardens, the conversation light but strained. Seventeen kept up her role as Serena, laughing at Claus's jokes, admiring the beauty of the palace grounds. But she could feel Draco's eyes on her the entire time, his suspicion growing with every passing moment.
As they reached the heart of the gardens, where a massive fountain stood surrounded by marble statues of ancient rulers, Draco finally spoke again, his voice low and quiet.
"Serena," he said, drawing her attention. "What do you think of the our districts so far? You've been given the exclusive opportunity of visiting freely. Has it lived up to your expectations?"
Seventeen smiled, her tone as light as ever. "It's more than I could have imagined. The architecture, the history... it's all so rich and fascinating. I feel very fortunate to be have been given such privilege."
Draco nodded slowly, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that made Seventeen's pulse quicken. He wasn't asking about Imperious or Downtown Zodiac. He was asking about her.
["You're fishing for something, but you won't find it,"] she thought, her smile never wavering.
"I'm glad to hear that," Draco said, his tone still measured. "Imperious, and especially Downtown Zodiac, can be... overwhelming for newcomers. It takes a while to get used to its pace."
Seventeen met his gaze, her expression soft. "I'm sure I'll adapt. Everyone has been so welcoming."
Draco's lips quirked into a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes... very welcoming."
The tension between them was palpable now, a silent battle of wills playing out beneath the surface. Seventeen knew that Draco was testing her, trying to find cracks in her facade. But she wasn't about to let him see anything. Not yet.
※※※
That night, after coming back to Downtown Zodiac, as Seventeen lay in her room, staring up at the ceiling, she allowed herself a moment of frustration. Draco was proving to be more of a challenge than she'd anticipated. His suspicion was growing, and while she had managed to keep him at bay, she couldn't afford to let him get too close. He was too perceptive, too dangerous in more than just a couple of ways.
["He knows something's off,"] she thought, her mind racing. ["But he doesn't know what. Not yet."]
She would have to be careful, more careful than she had been. The game was growing more dangerous, and the stakes were higher than ever.
But Seventeen was no stranger to danger. She had lived in the shadows for most of her life, and she knew how to play this game better than anyone.
["I'll win, Draco,"] she thought as she closed her eyes, her resolve hardening. ["You just don't know it yet."]