The morning air was sharp, biting against the skin as Riven stood on the balcony of the academy's highest tower. Below, the students moved like ants, walking the path that had been carved out for them long before they had stepped foot on these grounds. But for Riven, the academy was no longer a place of learning or camaraderie. It was a battlefield—a chessboard where each move brought him closer to the throne, and every misstep would cost him everything.
The wind tousled his dark hair as he scanned the horizon, where the peaks of the distant mountains glowed faintly in the first light of dawn. There was something about this place, something cold and unforgiving, that felt almost like home.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him—soft, lilting, yet carrying an undeniable weight of authority.
"Planning your next move, or simply enjoying the view?"
Riven turned slowly, his eyes locking onto the figure approaching him with measured steps.
Aria.
She had a way of appearing when he least expected her—like a shadow that crept up unnoticed until it was too late. Her golden hair shimmered in the morning light, and her blue eyes, as piercing as the ocean's depths, fixed on him with a mixture of curiosity and something else he couldn't quite place.
"I don't have time to enjoy the view," Riven replied, his tone as detached as ever. "The game is afoot."
Aria tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Always so serious, Riven. You know, you'd make a terrible king if you can't enjoy the little things."
His gaze hardened. "I don't need to enjoy things. I need to win."
Her smile faded slightly, and she took another step closer. "And you think you can win by isolating yourself from everyone? By keeping everyone at arm's length?"
Riven's lips twitched. "I don't need anyone, Aria. Not in the way you think."
There it was again—her unspoken question. Who would stand beside him when the throne was his? She had asked him that once, her voice full of doubt. As if power could only be sustained by the alliances of others.
Riven had already made it clear: the only person who would stand beside him was the one who had the strength to survive. Anyone else was just a pawn in the game, destined to be discarded when they no longer served their purpose.
But Aria… there was something about her that unsettled him. She wasn't a pawn. No, she was a queen in her own right, and that was dangerous.
"I don't need anyone, Riven," she said, her voice like a quiet storm. "But you might. And that's what makes you weak."
He turned away from her, the weight of her words pressing against him like a physical force. "I don't need your advice, Aria. Not anymore."
She didn't respond immediately, letting the silence hang between them like a thick fog. Finally, her footsteps echoed as she moved past him, her gaze lingering on his back for a moment longer than necessary.
"Don't make the mistake of thinking you're above everyone else. You may be playing this game, but it's the people who surround you that will decide whether you win or lose."
Riven watched her leave, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure. She thought she knew him. But she didn't. And she never would. She was just another piece on the board.
The Council's Web
The days that followed were filled with constant maneuvering. Riven's plan was progressing smoothly, but there were always new challenges to overcome. The Council of Nobles had not yet felt the full force of his manipulation, but it was only a matter of time before the cracks started to appear. Lord Everan's scandal would spread quickly, and Riven had already ensured that the right people were in place to fan the flames.
It was in the midst of all this plotting that he encountered his next obstacle: Lady Selene.
She was a beautiful, poised noblewoman, known throughout Valcrest for her grace and intellect. Riven had met her several times at formal gatherings, but she had never shown more than a passing interest in him. Or so he thought.
But this time was different.
"Riven Vade," Lady Selene's voice was smooth, almost too sweet as she approached him in the academy's courtyard. "It seems the rumors are true. You're quite the ambitious one, aren't you?"
Riven didn't flinch, his eyes never leaving hers. He knew this game. He knew it too well. "I don't deal in rumors. Only facts."
Selene smiled, her lips curling with an almost predatory grace. "Ah, yes. You're always so direct. It's… intriguing."
Riven raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And what does that have to do with you?"
She moved closer, the air around them growing thick with unspoken intentions. "Let's not play coy, Riven. I know what you want. Power. Influence. But there's something more, isn't there? I can help you."
He leaned against the stone pillar, his gaze unwavering. "You can help me? In what way?"
Lady Selene's eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and something darker. "I know people. I know what they fear, what they desire. I can give you access to the right circles. Help you secure the power you crave."
Riven smirked, but it was cold, calculating. "I don't need your help. I've already built my foundation."
Her smile faltered, but only for a moment. She wasn't used to being rebuffed, especially not by someone like Riven. But there was something in his eyes—something that told her he wasn't like the other men who had fallen for her charms. He wasn't a fool.
And yet…
"You're not like the others, are you?" Selene murmured, almost to herself. "You're playing a game no one else can see."
Riven's gaze sharpened. "I don't play games, Lady Selene. I win them."
Her smile returned, albeit with a hint of something more dangerous. "Then perhaps, Riven Vade, we are more alike than I thought."
The Eyes of the Court
It wasn't long before Lady Selene's attempts to manipulate him became more frequent, more direct. She wasn't one to give up easily, and Riven knew that. Her flirtations, her coy smiles, her subtle touches—they were all part of a game, a game she played well. But Riven was not interested in playing her game. He had no need for the distractions that women like her brought.
He wasn't blind, however. He could see how others viewed him—the whispers, the stolen glances, the envy. The women of the academy, the daughters of noble houses, they all wanted something from him. They saw his power, his potential, and they sought to align themselves with it.
But Riven wasn't interested in any of them. Not in the way they thought.
In the days that followed, Riven continued his work behind the scenes, pushing the Council of Nobles to the brink. Lord Everan's fall was only the beginning. There were more targets, more alliances to be broken, more weaknesses to exploit.
And yet, despite his focus on the throne, despite the cold calculation that ruled his every move, there was always that underlying presence. The women, the whispers, the eyes that followed him wherever he went.
He couldn't escape it, no matter how hard he tried. They were drawn to him—some out of genuine attraction, others for the power they thought he could give them.
But Riven had no intention of becoming a pawn in their game.
An Unexpected Ally
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the academy's halls grew quiet, Riven found himself in the library—a place of silence and solitude. It was the one place where he could think clearly, away from the noise and the distractions of the world outside.
But he wasn't alone.
"You've been avoiding me."
The voice came from the shadows, and Riven didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Aria.
"I'm not avoiding you," he replied, his voice steady. "I'm simply busy."
"Too busy for a conversation?" she asked, stepping into the dim light. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes that told Riven this wasn't just another casual meeting.
"Not too busy," he answered. "But I don't have time for distractions."
Aria's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and then, without warning, she moved closer. "Maybe that's your problem, Riven. You think you can do everything alone. But in this game, you need allies. People who will stand with you when the time comes."
Riven looked at her, his crimson eyes boring into hers. "I don't need anyone but myself."
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "We'll see."