Chapter thirteen: The Queens Gambit

The morning sun poured through the villa like molten gold, touching marble and stone with the warmth of peace.

But Serena Vale knew better.

There was no peace here.

There was only strategy.

Only war waiting to unfold.

She made her way to the rose garden, trying to gather her thoughts.

She sat alone on the edge of the rose garden, dressed in white linen, hair braided loosely down her back. She looked every bit the helpless bride, lost in thought, soft around the edges.

But inside, her mind moved like a blade.

Enzo was going to try something soon.

She could feel it

She’d heard him through the vents. Heard him say it out loud.

"I’ll deliver her myself."

Now, she just had to let him think she was ready to be taken.

She needed to get to the bottom of this.

Fast.

---

It started with a whisper.

“Lady Serena?”

She turned at the sound of Pietro’s voice. He stood near the gate, a bouquet of morning roses in hand. His cheeks tinged with red as she smiled at him.

“I thought you might want these,” he said sheepishly. “You seemed sad yesterday.”

Serena accepted them, letting her fingers brush his on purpose.

“Thank you, Pietro. That’s sweet.”

He ducked his head. “You’re different from what I expected.”

“Is that good or bad?”she asked.

“I haven’t decided yet.” Pietro replied, with a cheeky grin plastered on his face.

She laughed softly, the kind of laugh that made men lean closer without realizing they were already falling.

And just over Pietro’s shoulder, she saw Enzo watching.

His mouth tightened into a grim line.

Perfect.

She smiled wider.

Let him think Pietro had feelings.

Let him think she could be lured with kindness, tempted into slipping past Matteo’s shadow.

Let him underestimate her.

That was how kings fell.

---

Later that afternoon, she asked Matteo for a walk along the southern ridge.

He refused at first.

“There’s too much heat right now,” he said. “I don’t trust the perimeter, what if something happens?.”

She touched his chest, eyes wide. “I trust you, i know you wouldn't let anything happen to me”

He stared at her for a long moment.

Then nodded once.

But when they walked together through the gardens, she noticed something strange. For the first time in days, Matteo didn’t take his gun. Didn’t even wear a blade. That seemed very odd to her.

“Did something change?” she asked casually.

Matteo’s eyes scanned the horizon. “No. But someone in this house needs to believe I’ve dropped my guard.”

Her heart skipped.

“You know the traitor is someone in your circle?”

He didn’t look at her.

“Not yet. But I know you know something you haven’t told me.”

She looked away, guiltily.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not angry.”He replied.

She turned to him.

“You should be.”

He shook his head. “I’d rather you hunt with your own mind than follow mine blindly. So go on, Serena Vale. Finish your game. You seem confident about whatever you know and i don't want to disrupt any of your plans”

Her throat tightened.

“You trust me that much?”

He stepped closer and stared deeply into her eyes, placing a kiss on her forehead.

“I trust you more than I trust anyone else in this world.”

---

That night, Serena moved like clockwork.

She ate dinner late. Alone. Her mind racing with thoughts on how to trap Enzo and expose him.

She asked for tea on the east veranda, where the walls were thinnest.

She had a feeling Enzo would come to her.

She let her robe slip slightly off her shoulder when Enzo passed through the hall.

She left her balcony doors open, just enough to catch his attention.

And at exactly 2:17 a.m., she heard it—

A click.

Footsteps on the tile.

She lay still, pretending to sleep.

She felt the shift in air as someone stepped closer to her bed.

She felt it when they reached out to touch her.

And then—

“Looking for something?”

Her voice was a whip in the dark.

Enzo froze.

She sat up slowly, a pistol already in her hand, leveled at his chest.

His eyes widened.

“Serena—wait—”

Behind him, a second click.

Mara stepped from the shadows.

Gun drawn.

“No more waiting.”

---

The room was immediately filled with tension.

Enzo’s hands rose, but his voice was sharp with fury.

“You don’t understand. I did what I had to. For all of us.”

Serena stood. “Selling me to the Council’s enemies is not protection.”

“It wasn’t the Council,” he snapped. “It was someone bigger.”

“Who?”

He hesitated.

Then spat, “Someone who’ll take back the crown the right way.”

Serena’s stomach turned. “Arturo.”

“No.” His eyes flickered. “Someone worse.”

“Who?” Mara demanded.

But Enzo shook his head. “I talk, I die.”

Serena stepped forward.

“You already chose death, Enzo. The only thing you get to decide now is whether it means something.”

His jaw clenched.

Then, slowly, he said one name.

“Lucien.”

---

The floor seemed to drop out from beneath her.

Lucien.

Matteo’s uncle.

One of the Council heads.

A man Matteo still called blood.

Serena’s hand tightened on the pistol. “What does he want?”

“Power. Legacy. Control of both lines. He never wanted you married to Matteo. Said you were a liability. Said you were a curse.”

“And you believed him?”

“I believed he’d win.”

A minute passed between them.

Then Serena said softly, “So you were going to hand me over?”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

Mara’s voice was ice. “There’s always a choice.”

---

In the end, Matteo came in without a word.

He looked at Enzo once.

No fury. There was expression visible on his face.

Just a long, slow silence.

Then he said, “Take him to the storm cellar. I’ll deal with him in the morning.”

Enzo didn’t speak.

Didn’t beg.

He just bowed his head and let himself be led away.

Serena didn’t watch.

She couldn't watch.

Lucien of all people? It was very hard for her to believe.

---

When the door shut behind them, Matteo turned to her.

“You were right,” he said. “You saw it before I did.”

She stepped forward. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“I’m not,” he said quietly.

She blinked.

“I needed to see what you’d do when the threat came close. And you didn’t just survive it.” His voice was low. “You played it like a queen.”

---

That night, they stood at the edge of the cliff behind the villa.

The sea churned below.

Waves crashing against the rocks like the beat of a war drum.

Matteo slid his hand into hers and rubbed circles on her palm

“Lucien is building something,” he said. “He’s not working alone.”

“Then we burn it down,” she replied.

He turned to her.

His eyes were dark

“You’re not the captive bride anymore.”He said softly.

She smiled faintly.

“No,” she said. “I’m the dangerous one.”