Lyra laughed, but it was a laugh without joy, without warmth.
— If I'm more than that, then prove it. — Her gaze intensified. — Because so far, al
I remained si
She had always been more fragile than she appeared, but her strength was there—in th
And maybe that
My smile
— Very well.
I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. She instinctively stepped back, her eyes widening slightly.
— You want me to prove it? Then come with me to the ball.
The silence that followed was almost palpable.
Lyra blinked, confused.
— What?
— You heard me. You'll be my companion. — I leaned in slightly, letting my voice take on a suggestive tone. — Or are you afraid of what the crown prince might think?
Her eyes widened for a second before narrowing in pure suspicion.
— Is th
— No. I'm seri
I leaned in even closer, close enough to see the tension forming in the line of her jaw.
— We'll show them that you're not just an orphan.
She hesitated,
Her gaze flickered over me, as if trying to see beyond my words, beyond the game
— Why are you doing this? — Her voice came out softe
My smile widened.
— Because, Lyra, sometimes the best way to win a game is to change the rules.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with tension.
Then, finally, she sighed, defeated.
— Fine. But if this is just another one of your manipulations, I swear I'll—
— Relax. — I raised my hands in a gesture of surrender. — Trust me, it'll be fun.
She didn't look convinced in the slightest, but after one last wary glance, she turned and walked away down the corridor, her steps quick and determined.
I watched until her figure disappeared into the distance.
And then, a satisfied smile spread across my lips.
The ball was about to become even more interesting.
And Bianca?
Well… perhaps it was time to see just how far her supposed passion could go.
I stopped in front of my bedroom door and pushed it open slowly, feeling the solid wood creak softly under my touch. The warmth of the fireplace enveloped me instantly, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows across the room. The scent of burning wood mixed with the faint aroma of leather from the furniture and the distant perfume of the night air drifting through the slightly open window.
I stepped inside at a leisurely pace, my eyes gliding over the impeccably arranged space. The dark upholstery, the luxurious rug beneath my feet, the books lined perfectly on the shelves… everything was meticulously organized, just the way I liked it.
Sinking into the leather sofa, I lazily swirled a glass of wine in my hand. The deep red liquid reflected the amber glow of the fire, twisting in slow spirals within the fine crystal. It was hypnotic.
The ball was only a few days away.
And every detail had to be executed to perfection.
Lyra would be my companion, which alone would be enough to unsettle Bianca and, hopefully, draw Cassius's attention. But what truly interested me wasn't just provoking the imperial siblings—it was the opportunity to shift the gears of the empire's power structure.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of boots echoing down the corridor.
— Mateus! — I called without taking my eyes off the wine.
The door opened instantly, and he stepped inside, his posture as rigid and disciplined as always.
— Yes, Master?
— I need information. — I stood, walking over to the large map of the empire spread across my desk. My fingers traced the worn edges of the parchment, feeling the texture of the aged paper beneath my skin. — I want a full list of everyone attending the ball. Nobles, councilors, generals. Every single one.
Mateus clasped his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly.
— I'm already working on it.
— Good. — My gaze moved over the map to the mark bearing the imperial symbol. With the tip of my finger, I traced an invisible line from the palace to my estate. — But there's something else I need to know.
I pointed to a name engraved near the palace's illustration.
— Cassius.
Mateus followed my finger, pausing briefly before nodding.
— You want information on his health.
— Exactly.
His hesitation was almost imperceptible, but I noticed it.
— I'll prepare a detailed report.
— Excellent. — I smiled, satisfied. — Now go.
He gave a brief bow before leaving, shutting the door behind him.
Silence reclaimed the room, broken only by the soft crackling of the fire.
But it didn't last long.
The door opened again, and this time, Lyra stepped inside.
I had been expecting this.
Her face was still slightly flushed—probably from our earlier conversation. Her expression wavered between determined and hesitant, as if she was still debating whether she should have come at all.
Leaning against the desk, I raised an eyebrow while taking another sip of wine.
— Decided to show up, huh?
Lyra crossed her arms, her gaze locked onto mine.
— I just want to make something clear.
She didn't move further into the room, standing firmly in place as if afraid that taking another step would entangle her even deeper in my web.
— I don't think going to the ball with you is a good idea.
A small smirk played at the corner of my lips.
— You don't? — I tilted my head slightly. — Why? Are you worried about what the crown prince will think?
She scoffed, irritated.
— This isn't about him. This is about you. — Her voice carried frustration, but also something deeper. — Zephyr, you never do anything without a reason. Why are you pushing this?
I lowered the wine glass onto the desk, finally giving her my full attention.
— Because you deserve to be seen as more than just an orphan.
I took a step toward her, my tone turning serious, almost intimate.
— Or do you not want to prove that to them?
Lyra hesitated, biting her lip. Her eyes locked onto mine, as if trying to decipher the truth behind my words.
— That's not it. — Her voice came out quieter. — I just don't want to be used.
I leaned in slightly, reducing the space between us.
— Used?
My voice dipped into a careful whisper.
— Lyra, you're not a piece in my game. — A slow smile appeared on my lips. — You're my ally. And if we play this right, we can win together.
She stayed silent, but the internal battle was evident in her eyes.
— I don't want to be your ally in anything that involves the crown prince. — Her expression hardened, as if she were trying to convince herself of that fact.
I sighed.
— Alright, then.
I stepped back, picking up the wine glass again as if I had already lost interest.
— But if I find out you're manipulating me, I swear—
— I've heard that before. — I smirked, swirling the wine. — Trust me, Lyra. It'll be fun.
She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed, but didn't argue. She simply turned on her heels and walked out, her hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor.
I waited until the sound of her steps faded before shifting my focus back to the map before me.
My fingers traced over Cassius's name once more, following the path between the imperial palace and my estate.
A slow smile curled on my lips.
— Cassius…
I murmured to myself, eyes narrowing.
— Let's see who really controls the game.
The ball would be more than just a party.
It would be the beginning of something far greater.
There was much to be done.
My fingers drummed lightly against the armrest as I sat back.
The ball wasn't just a celebration.
It was a chessboard.
And every guest…
A piece.
The only question was:
Who would I move first?