Ivana's steps were swift and silent as she left the city, her mind still clouded by her encounter with Edmund. The weight of their words lingered, and despite her best efforts to shake off the feeling, she couldn't erase the memory of his eyes—filled with that familiar blend of challenge and something she hadn't seen in years. She had always been good at building walls, crafting masks, but Edmund had a way of finding the cracks, of slipping through even when she thought she'd fortified herself.
Dante's voice broke into her thoughts as he appeared beside her, a familiar smirk on his face. "I take it the reunion was… eventful?"
Ivana's gaze hardened, though a slight blush rose to her cheeks. "He's as infuriating as ever. Somehow, he always manages to turn up at the worst possible moment."
Dante chuckled, the amusement in his eyes unmistakable. "From the look on your face, I'd say it wasn't all that terrible. You're not fooling anyone, Ivana."
She shot him a glare, though the fire in her eyes didn't quite mask the turmoil beneath. "Don't presume to know my mind, Dante. I know exactly what I'm doing."
"Do you?" He raised an eyebrow. "Because if I didn't know better, I'd say there's something more to this rivalry of yours. Something you both keep dancing around."
She huffed, brushing past him as they navigated the twisting path through the forest. "Edmund's choices are his own, and mine are mine. Whatever bond we shared once is long gone. If he stands in my way, he'll face the consequences."
Dante's expression turned serious, his teasing tone replaced by something sharper. "Be careful, Ivana. Sometimes it's not the enemy in front of you that's the most dangerous—it's the part of yourself you keep trying to bury."
Ivana faltered, but quickly regained her composure. "Then perhaps it's time I dig deeper," she muttered. "If he's hiding something from me, I'll find it out. And if he's a threat to our mission, I won't hesitate to take him down."
---
Meanwhile
Edmund had returned to his quarters in Charles's villa, though his mind was far from the strategic maps laid out before him. Ivana's presence had left a shadow in his thoughts, one that he couldn't quite dispel. She was as fierce and unpredictable as ever, yet there had been a flicker—a moment when he'd seen something beyond her defiance. A crack in her armor that reminded him of who they had once been.
He wasn't a fool; he knew the risks of letting his guard down. But there was something he couldn't shake—something that urged him to look beyond her fierce, unwavering loyalty to her cause. He'd spent years honing his instincts, his ability to read people, yet Ivana had always remained an enigma, her motivations as elusive as her next move.
His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. Christopher, his father's most trusted advisor, entered, his face drawn with tension.
"Edmund," he began, voice low, "we have news. Ivana's mission—she's after more than Charles's allies. She's collecting intelligence, information that could shift alliances. If we let her continue, it could be… problematic."
Edmund nodded, his expression guarded. "I'll handle it."
Christopher studied him, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Just remember where your loyalties lie. This isn't the Ivana you grew up with. She's not the girl you once knew."
A bitter smile touched Edmund's lips. "I think we've both changed, Christopher. But I know where my loyalty stands."
But as Christopher left, a heaviness settled over him. He knew his loyalty was complicated—bound not just to family or cause, but to the memory of a friendship he could never quite shake. He was beginning to realize that confronting Ivana meant confronting a part of himself he'd tried to leave behind.
---
Later That Night
Ivana sat by the flickering campfire, Dante beside her as they poured over the maps and notes. The firelight cast shadows across her face, accentuating the tension that hadn't faded since their encounter.
Dante handed her a flask, a rare moment of quiet between them. "If I may ask, what happens if you can't bring yourself to do it?"
She took a sip, her gaze distant. "I don't know," she murmured, almost to herself. "I suppose that's something I'll figure out if I have to."
He studied her for a moment, his usual banter replaced by genuine concern. "Be careful, Ivana. You know as well as I do that you can't be both a soldier and a friend in this game. Sooner or later, you'll have to choose."
She looked away, watching the embers crackle and rise into the night. She had built her life on duty and loyalty, yet here she was, torn between the call of her mission and the ghosts of a friendship she'd thought she'd left behind.
And as the fire dwindled to embers, Ivana knew that the real battle had only just begun.