Chapter 4: The Midnight Pact

The northern border was nothing like the capital.

There were no glittering chandeliers, no music drifting through grand ballrooms, and no nobles hiding daggers behind polite smiles. Here, there was only darkness, mist, and the biting cold of the night.

The wind swept across the abandoned watchtower, carrying the scent of snow and iron. Evelina stood at the edge of the ruined stone structure, her black fur-lined cloak wrapped tightly around her body. Loose strands of her hair danced against her cheeks, but she made no attempt to fix them.

She had come alone.

Exactly as the letter had demanded.

Her amber eyes remained fixed on the mist below as a shadow slowly emerged from the darkness.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Steady.

Unhurried.

Evelina's hand instinctively moved toward the dagger hidden beneath her cloak.

Then the figure stepped into the pale moonlight.

Duke Lucien Valemont.

He wore dark armor beneath a long military coat, the metal plates catching faint silver reflections from the moon. A heavy sword rested against his hip as naturally as though it were merely another accessory.

But it was his eyes that Evelina noticed first.

Ice-blue.

Sharp.

Unforgiving.

They found hers almost immediately.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Lucien stopped a few feet away.

“You actually came.”

His voice carried easily through the cold air.

“Alone.”

Evelina lifted her chin.

“I don't need bodyguards, Duke.”

Her voice was calm, almost indifferent.

“Bodyguards can be bribed. They can also be frightened into betrayal. I prefer relying on my own judgment.”

A faint smile touched Lucien's lips.

“You're either remarkably confident or completely reckless.”

“I've been called worse.”

Lucien gave a quiet laugh.

Then he reached inside his coat and pulled out a tightly rolled parchment.

Without another word, he tossed it toward her.

Evelina caught it effortlessly.

Her eyes narrowed.

“What is this?”

“A requisition order.”

Lucien moved toward a broken stone pillar and leaned against it, his arms crossing over his chest.

“It bears the signature of your former fiancé, Prince Cedric.”

Evelina's expression changed slightly.

She immediately unrolled the parchment.

Lucien continued.

“Tonight, Cedric is sending elite royal soldiers toward the Rosenthal borders.”

Evelina's eyes moved rapidly across the document.

“He intends to raid our territory?”

“Not exactly.”

Lucien's voice became colder.

“He intends to create evidence.”

Evelina stopped reading.

“What kind of evidence?”

“Forged records suggesting that your family has been secretly smuggling forbidden dark-magic artifacts.”

For the first time that night, the coldness in Evelina's eyes deepened.

Lucien pushed himself away from the pillar.

“By sunrise, your father will be arrested. The Rosenthal estate will be placed under royal investigation, and your family's assets will be seized by the Crown.”

Silence followed.

The wind howled around them.

Evelina looked down at the parchment once more.

A translucent screen appeared before her eyes.

[SYSTEM ANALYZING...]

[Document Authenticity: 100%.]

[Current Danger Level: CRITICAL.]

[QUEST TRIGGERED: Stop the Framed Raid.]

[Time Limit: 3 Hours.]

[Reward: Secret Guild License +200 Magic Points.]

Evelina's fingers tightened around the parchment.

Three hours.

That was all she had.

Yet instead of panic, a strange calm settled over her.

“Cedric moves quickly when his pride is wounded.”

She folded the parchment.

“Unfortunately for him, he still hasn't learned that wounded pride makes people careless.”

Lucien watched her carefully.

“You're not frightened.”

“Should I be?”

“Most people would be.”

“I'm not most people.”

A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.

Evelina stepped closer.

“Tell me something, Duke.”

Lucien raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you helping me?”

She held his gaze.

“You're not known for mercy.”

“Mercy has nothing to do with this.”

Lucien's expression turned serious.

“Cedric is expanding the royal army's influence into the North. If he succeeds, the balance of power will shift in the Crown's favor.”

His eyes hardened.

“I have no intention of allowing that.”

Evelina understood immediately.

“So you want the royal family weakened.”

“Yes.”

“And I want them destroyed.”

Lucien's lips curved slightly.

“Then we have a shared enemy.”

Evelina studied him for several moments before stepping even closer.

“An alliance?”

“Business partnership.”

Lucien closed the distance between them until only a breath separated their bodies.

The dark aura surrounding him was powerful enough to make the air feel heavier.

Yet Evelina didn't move.

Lucien's gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

“I lend you my Shadow Knights,” he said quietly. “They will help you crush Cedric's raid tonight.”

“And what do you want in return?”

“When you secure complete control of the Rosenthal estate, I want exclusive rights to the northern trade routes owned by your family.”

Evelina considered the offer.

It was expensive.

But it was worth it.

A slow, satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

“Deal.”

She extended her gloved hand.

“But I have one condition.”

Lucien looked at her hand, then back at her face.

“A condition?”

“Your knights follow my orders tonight.”

His eyebrow rose.

“Not mine?”

“Not yours.”

Evelina's smile sharpened.

“I don't intend to merely stop Cedric's trap.”

Her amber eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight.

“I intend to turn his trap against him.”

For several seconds, Lucien simply stared at her.

Then a deep, dark laugh escaped his throat.

He reached for her hand.

His gloved fingers closed firmly around hers.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION.]

[Alliance Formed: Duke Lucien Valemont.]

[Lucien's Favorability: 30%.]

[Warning: Target's obsession tendencies detected.]

Evelina's eyes flickered toward the notification.

Obsession?

She barely had time to process the meaning before Lucien leaned closer.

“Lead the way, my dangerous lady.”

His voice dropped into a quiet whisper.

“Show me how a villainess plays.”

Evelina's smile widened.

Behind them, the distant sound of horns suddenly echoed across the northern hills.

The royal soldiers had arrived.

Their game had begun.

And tonight, Evelina would make sure the first move was their last.