A Villainess's Hand Behind The Curtain

The quiet hum of the Academy settled into the night as I returned to my quarters, my mind still replaying the scene from earlier. Saving Lady Evelyn from those bullies had set a series of events in motion—events that hadn't been in my control. But now, I knew better. The story was shifting more quickly than I had anticipated, and it was time to get ahead of it.

As I closed the door behind me, I felt a faint but familiar presence in the room. A soft rustling of fabric, a deliberate movement. My gaze landed on the figure reclining in one of the velvet chairs near the window, her silhouette illuminated by the moonlight.

**Seraphina Draven**, the villainess—my fiancée.

Her lips curled into a sly smile as she observed me, her deep violet eyes glinting with amusement. "Quite the performance today, Lord Cedric."

I stiffened slightly, though I had expected her to know. Nothing happened at the Academy without Seraphina hearing of it first. She was always two steps ahead, her webs of influence spread so far and wide that even I had to tread carefully.

"I take it you're referring to the incident with Lady Evelyn?" I replied, crossing the room and pouring myself a glass of wine from the decanter. I needed to stay calm, composed.

"Who else?" Seraphina purred, rising from her seat and gliding toward me with an elegance that was as dangerous as it was mesmerizing. "You see, I knew you'd get involved. You couldn't resist stepping into the hero's shoes, could you?"

Her words were laced with mockery, but I knew better than to let them get to me. Instead, I smiled over the rim of my glass. "I wouldn't call it playing the hero. More like… adjusting the story to fit my needs."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

I took a sip of the wine, letting the rich taste linger on my tongue before speaking. "Those two boys who cornered Lady Evelyn today—they didn't act on their own, did they?" I asked, locking eyes with Seraphina. "It was you who sent them."

A slow, predatory smile spread across her face. "You always were perceptive, Cedric." She stepped closer, her hand lightly trailing along the edge of my sleeve. "Yes, I arranged for those little pests to test her. I wanted to see how far she could be pushed before someone stepped in. I thought it would be Alistair who'd play the gallant knight, but it seems… I underestimated you."

I wasn't surprised. Seraphina had always been calculating, always looking for ways to exert control over those around her. But there was more to this than her usual games. She had anticipated that someone would step in to defend Evelyn, but she hadn't counted on it being me.

I set the glass down and turned to face her fully. "I saved Evelyn to win her favor. I'm not interested in playing hero. It's part of a larger plan."

Seraphina's eyes glittered with amusement, though there was something sharp in her gaze. "And what plan would that be, my dear Cedric?"

I let the silence linger for a moment, drawing out the tension. This was the crux of it—the part Seraphina didn't see coming. I had no intention of letting Evelyn fall into Alistair's arms. No, if I was to maintain any semblance of control in this spiraling story, I had to be the one who held the heroine's trust.

"The plan is simple," I said, stepping closer to Seraphina. "Gaining Evelyn's trust is the key to destroying her. You and I both know she holds sway over Alistair. If she remains loyal to him, she'll guide him, make him stronger. But if she trusts me instead, I can slowly undermine her, pull her away from him."

Seraphina's lips parted in a silent laugh, her amusement clear. "You're more devious than I gave you credit for, Cedric. You intend to destroy her from the inside, using her own trust against her."

"Exactly," I said, my voice low. "By winning her favor, I'll make her dependent on me. She'll confide in me, seek my advice. And when the time comes, I'll ensure she's so entangled in our world that Alistair's influence over her is all but severed."

Seraphina circled me slowly, her fingers grazing the edge of my sleeve as she walked. "And then what? What do you gain from tearing down the heroine?"

I smiled darkly, knowing exactly what I would gain. "Evelyn's trust is a weapon I can use. By controlling her, I can manipulate Alistair's actions from the shadows. He won't realize it, but he'll be fighting battles on my terms. All while thinking he's making his own choices."

Seraphina stopped in front of me, her expression one of approval. "You've certainly grown, Cedric. Perhaps there's more to you than just my obedient fiancé after all."

"I've always had a plan, Seraphina," I said, meeting her gaze evenly. "And that plan requires us to be smart, to play both sides. By getting close to Evelyn, I'm giving us leverage. When the time comes, we'll control both the hero and the heroine."

For a moment, Seraphina regarded me in silence, her eyes gleaming with admiration and calculation. "And here I thought I'd have to keep a closer eye on you," she mused. "But it seems you're more capable than I imagined."

She stepped even closer, her hand lightly brushing my shoulder. "Very well, Cedric. I'll let you continue with your plan. But remember… Evelyn is just a piece in this game. Our real enemy is Alistair. Make sure you don't lose sight of that."

"I haven't forgotten," I assured her, my voice steady. "Evelyn is just a means to an end. Once I have her trust, we can dismantle everything that gives Alistair strength."

Seraphina's smile returned, sharper than ever. "Good. Then let the game continue."

With that, she turned and left the room, her presence lingering in the air like a shadow. I watched her go, my thoughts racing.

Everything was falling into place, but I couldn't ignore the growing sense of unease gnawing at me. The story was shifting in ways I couldn't fully predict, and while I had managed to manipulate events so far, there was no guarantee things would continue to go my way.

I had successfully gained Evelyn's favor, but at what cost? Could I truly maintain control over this tangled web, or was I merely delaying the inevitable?

As I stared out into the night, one thing was certain: the game was far from over. And now that Seraphina was fully aware of my intentions, the stakes had only gotten higher.

I would have to tread carefully. Because in this twisted story, even the slightest misstep could mean the difference between victory and ruin.