The Little Dance

The moon hung low over the darkened city as I made my way to the secluded tower where Seraphina Draven awaited. The events of the court still played in my mind, Alistair's final words echoing, did he figured it out in the end or was just angry with me and just snapped? Knowing him it's probably both, but now was not the time to dwell on the past. I had one more piece to move in this game before the night was over.

Seraphina sat by the grand fireplace, her sharp features illuminated by the flickering flames. The room was bathed in the warmth of the fire, but the air between us was icy, as it always was when we met under these circumstances. She looked up as I entered, a delicate smirk already playing at her lips.

"I hear congratulations are in order," she said smoothly, her voice laced with amusement. "Alistair sentenced to death, the hero's fall orchestrated perfectly. You must be pleased."

I watched her for a moment, taking in the careful elegance of her movements, the way she held herself with the confidence of someone who believed they were always one step ahead.

"I am pleased," I replied evenly, walking closer to her. "Everything went exactly as planned. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

She tilted her head slightly, feigning innocence. "Oh? You're suggesting I had a hand in this? Please, do enlighten me."

I leaned against the mantel, facing her directly. "You've always been clever, Seraphina. You knew the court would come to me for the final judgment. You knew Alistair would fall the moment Evelyn spoke those words. But there's something else you knew, isn't there?"

She raised an eyebrow, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "Do go on."

"You and I both it was not Alistair behind Evelyn's disappearance ," I said, my voice low but firm. "It's wasn't Princess Selene or Princess Adriana. It was you. You were behind Evelyn's disappearance."

For a brief moment, her eyes flickered—just the faintest sign of surprise, quickly masked. Her expression remained calm, but I could feel the shift in the air. She had not expected this.

"You know," she echoed, her tone still smooth, but the edge was there. "That's quite the accusation, Cedric. Do you have proof?"

I smiled coldly. I knew this From the novel. "I don't need proof. I know you too well. You wanted Evelyn out of the way because you saw her as a threat to Alistair. So, you orchestrated her disappearance. You knew that by removing her, you could destabilize him, make him vulnerable. And when she was rescued, you let the blame fall on him, playing it to your advantage. "

"But?" I don't know how but she read my mind.

"But that's not how it would have went. If I didn't reached her, your men wouldn't either. Alistair would have rescued her himself. You thought by bowing seeds of jealously in Princess Selene's heart and mind you would let her do all the work and Princess Adriana enjoys chaos she would help her sister regardless. Both of them didn't expected to get caught. If Alistair Would have caught them he would have imprisoned them and they would have blamed you for making them hate her out of desperation. He would then be vary of you and look out for your schemes and slip up."

Seraphina's smile faded, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You seem so certain of yourself, Cedric. But even if what you say is true, what do you intend to do with this knowledge?"

I stepped closer, locking eyes with her. "I'm not going to expose you, Seraphina. In fact, I'm going to protect you. I want us to win together. But I want you to know that I see everything. I'm not some pawn you can manipulate. I am your equal, and from now on, we move forward as such."

Her lips parted in surprise, but the calculating glint in her eyes never wavered. She studied me, weighing her options, and then a slow, dangerous smile crept across her face.

"You're bolder than I gave you credit for," she said softly. "I underestimated you, Cedric."

I held her gaze, my voice steady. "You did. But now you know. We've both played our parts in this, and we'll continue to do so. But there will be no more secrets between us."

Seraphina stood and approached me, her movements graceful yet deliberate. She stopped mere inches away, her eyes never leaving mine. "Very well, Cedric. No more secrets. But understand this—if we're to be equals, you'll have to keep up. I won't tolerate weakness."

I smiled, feeling the shift in our dynamic. "Neither will I."

For a long moment, we stood there, the fire crackling behind us as the unspoken understanding settled between us. The game had changed once again, and now, Seraphina knew that she could no longer act without considering me.

But more importantly, she knew that I was every bit as dangerous as she was.

One question was looming in my mind Out of curiosity. I waited a moment and at last asked her.

"May I ask why do you hate them?"

"Who?" She asked with an innocemt and clueless look.

"Alistair, Evelyn, Selene, Adriana and so many."

"Why don't you break off the engagement?"

"What?"

"I thought you Were not that smart amd weak to women and so manipulating Would be easy. But recent events have shown otherwise. You have seen right through me. Why don't you break off the engagement then?"

"It would cause separatation between our families. The long alliance and friendship that we have will be turned into enemies."

"You don't care about that. Do you? Evenif you did you could have easily exposed me in The court. The Royal family Would have rewarded you the alliance doesn't matter. You would be free to choose anyone. You have shown you are smart enough manipulate the events. Now tell me why don't you break off the engagement?"

"Because I don't want to?"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

"What is the reason?"

"The reason is what I want, i want it And what I don't. I don't. There is no need to have further reasons for it."

"Excatly."

"What do you mean by exactly?"

"I hate them because I hate them. I don't need reasons to do so either."

I had no words. I just asked out of curiosity but this let me know that there are things I shouldn't push even if a trust established.

"Now," Seraphina said, her voice light but carrying the weight of her power. As she let out her hand asking for mine. I given her my hand as we eld each other and over the moonlight started out little dance. It was her who was guiding me as I matched her steps. Our ears locked on each other.

"What's next in our little dance, Cedric?"

I glanced toward the window, where the lights of the city twinkled beneath the night sky. "The kingdom thinks Alistair's story is over, but the truth is, his downfall has only opened new doors for us. The crown is weaker now. With Alistair gone, the kingdom will need new heirs to the throne. And we will decide who they are."

Seraphina's smile deepened, her eyes glittering in the firelight. "I think I like this new you, Cedric. Let's see how far we can take this."

As the night stretched on, the alliance between us solidified. The fall of one hero had set the stage for something far greater. And with Seraphina by my side, there was no limit to how much we could control.

For now, the heroine was safe, but little did Evelyn know, she was still caught in a much larger game and a much tighten web—one I had spun alongside the villainess.

The game would continue, but now, I played it with both power and precision.