Rika's fingers hovered over the war strategy map, her mind working in overdrive. The weight of the situation was suffocating. Elias Drayven, the villainess, had always been the mastermind behind the empire's military strategies in Kingdom of Ashes. Yet, Rika knew that following the same path as Elias in the game would lead her straight into the executioner's hands. She had to make her move—and fast.
The council would soon be expecting her presence, but she was nowhere near ready to face them. Rika needed time to think, to map out her next steps. She looked up at the grand window of the war room and watched the light dim as the storm clouds rolled in over the battlefield beyond the castle walls.
"Lady Elias?" The voice of Kael, her ever-loyal knight, broke her train of thought. "The council is waiting in the war chamber for your presence."
Rika sighed, straightening her back. "Tell them I will be there shortly."
Kael nodded and exited, his heavy footsteps echoing in the corridor. She had to find a way to navigate the council meeting without raising suspicion, and that meant pretending to be the same ruthless strategist Elias was in the game. But beneath that veneer, she had to quietly begin laying the groundwork for something else.
The war map in front of her beckoned again. She could feel the pulse of the game's narrative coursing through her veins, each move and counter-move crystal clear. But she wasn't playing a game anymore—this was real. The lives of countless people hung in the balance.
"Do I really have to keep fighting?" she murmured, looking at the enemy territories marked in red. "Maybe there's another way to win this."
Rika reached for the chess piece on the desk—an ivory knight—and rolled it between her fingers, as if searching for a piece of clarity in the strategy that had consumed her new life. In the game, Elias had always pushed for war, expansion, and dominance. But in this moment, Rika wondered if those same goals could be achieved without bloodshed.
She could already feel her strategy shifting. Instead of pressing on with the war, she could sow confusion within the enemy ranks, turning them against each other. If she subtly disrupted supply lines, planted misinformation, and manipulated alliances, it could result in a stalemate—or perhaps even force a ceasefire.
Her strategy wasn't about winning a war—it was about outsmarting everyone involved.
"I'll do it my way," Rika declared with newfound conviction.
---
The war room was grand, with high ceilings, banners lining the walls, and long, imposing tables filled with maps and intelligence reports. The council members, including generals and high-ranking officials, stood in waiting as Rika entered. She took her place at the head of the table, her sharp gaze scanning the room.
"Lady Elias," General Falken said, his voice deep and respectful. "The enemy has fortified their defenses at the Southern Border. We'll need to mobilize our forces within the week to prevent any breakthroughs."
Rika nodded slowly, taking in the information. Her mind ran through possible scenarios, analyzing every piece of data. In the game, the Southern Border had always been the focus of Elias's plans. But now, she saw it differently. This wasn't just a point of conflict; it was an opportunity.
"We will do no such thing," Rika said, her voice cutting through the air with unexpected authority. "Instead, we'll wait."
The room fell silent. The generals exchanged confused glances, unsure if they had heard correctly.
"You're suggesting we wait?" General Falken asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Rika replied, her crimson eyes unwavering. "We'll allow them to waste resources, to believe they have the upper hand. But in the meantime, we'll secure our own borders, reinforce our alliances, and wait for their overconfidence to become their downfall."
The generals shifted uncomfortably, but none dared question her further. Rika could feel the tension in the room, but she held firm. She knew that the more unpredictable she was, the more likely they were to underestimate her.
As the council meeting continued, Rika laid out her plan. She would deploy covert spies to spread rumors, create dissent, and capitalize on the chaos of the enemy's inner circle. Meanwhile, her kingdom would prepare for any eventuality—without raising the stakes too high.
Once the meeting adjourned, Rika returned to her chambers. Her mind buzzed with the first pieces of her larger plan. But there was something else weighing heavily on her heart.
"Why do I feel so conflicted?" she muttered, staring out at the stormy sky once again. The image of Princess Seraphina, the heroine, flashed in her mind. In the game, they had been enemies. But now, Rika couldn't shake the feeling that things were not as they seemed.
Seraphina was more than just a figurehead. She was a symbol of everything Rika was trying to avoid—war, bloodshed, and sacrifice. And yet, there was an undeniable pull. Could they work together, despite their roles in the game? Could she rewrite the ending not just for herself, but for everyone involved?
Rika didn't know the answer yet. But for the first time since her reincarnation, she felt the stirrings of hope.
And in this world, that was a dangerous thing.