Vivienne's Hidden Strength

The library was quiet, the heavy velvet curtains drawn to block the morning sun. Dust motes swirled in the beams of light that managed to sneak through, creating an almost ethereal glow around the rows of bookshelves. Leona had been searching for Vivienne since dawn. After the events of the previous night with Duke Magnus, she needed to focus on her next task: guiding the heroine back to her destined path.

But Vivienne was nowhere to be found in the manor. She wasn't in the solarium sipping tea, or in the music room practicing her harp, as Leona had assumed she would be.

Then, by pure chance, Leona overheard a pair of maids gossiping near the kitchens.

"Lady Vivienne's been slipping out again," one whispered.

"Slipping out?" the other asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.

"Aye, to the old storage house on the edge of the estate," the first maid replied. "She spends hours there. Strange, isn't it?"

Leona's interest piqued. She didn't recall anything about a storage house in Destined Hearts, let alone Vivienne sneaking out to it. Whatever Vivienne was up to, it clearly wasn't part of the original storyline.

She slipped away from the kitchens and followed the winding path through the estate gardens. Her footsteps crunched softly on the gravel, and the morning air was cool and crisp. At the edge of the grounds, she found the storage house the maids had mentioned.

The wooden building was weathered, its paint peeling and windows dusty. But inside, the faint sound of clashing metal reached her ears. Leona's brows furrowed. Metal?

Quietly, she pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside.

Vivienne stood in the center of the room, her pale blue dress traded for a practical pair of breeches and a tunic. Her golden hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her usual soft demeanor had been replaced by fierce determination.

In her hands was a sword, its blade glinting as she sparred with a tall, broad-shouldered woman who looked like a retired knight. The clang of their weapons echoed through the space, and Vivienne's movements were sharp, deliberate, and filled with purpose.

Leona's jaw dropped. This was not the demure, helpless heroine she'd read about in the novel.

The sparring ended with a final strike, Vivienne parrying her opponent's blade and stepping back, panting but triumphant.

"Well done," the woman said, her tone approving. "Your form is improving, my lady."

Vivienne's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. "Thank you, Sirena. I couldn't have done it without you."

Leona chose that moment to step inside. "I had no idea you were a swordswoman, Lady Vivienne."

Both women whirled around, Vivienne's face paling. "Leona?" she stammered, lowering her blade.

The retired knight, Sirena, crossed her arms and studied Leona warily.

"I didn't mean to intrude," Leona said quickly, holding up her hands. "I was looking for you and overheard you might be here. But… I must admit, I wasn't expecting this."

Vivienne flushed, looking away. "It's not something I advertise."

Leona stepped closer, her curiosity outweighing her surprise. "Why? You're incredible, Vivienne. Why keep it a secret?"

Sirena gave a soft snort. "Because society doesn't take kindly to noblewomen wielding swords, let alone the future Duchess of Wynthor."

Leona frowned. "That's absurd. A woman should be able to protect herself, especially someone in Vivienne's position."

Vivienne's gaze softened as she looked at Leona. "You think so?"

"I know so," Leona said firmly.

As Vivienne set her sword aside and wiped her brow, Leona felt a strange pang of pride. This wasn't the heroine she had read about, but perhaps that was a good thing.

"You're strong, Vivienne," Leona said, her voice gentle but insistent. "You've been through so much, but instead of breaking, you've grown. That strength is exactly what this world needs from you."

Vivienne blinked, taken aback by Leona's words. "What do you mean?"

Leona hesitated. She couldn't reveal the truth about the novel or the mission assigned to her, but she could nudge Vivienne in the right direction.

"I mean that you're meant for more than hiding in the shadows," Leona said. "You have the power to change things—to stand up for yourself and for others. Don't let anyone take that away from you."

The robotic voice chimed in her head:

"Positive influence detected. Heroine alignment progressing."

Leona resisted the urge to roll her eyes. At least the system wasn't yelling at her this time.

Vivienne studied her, a flicker of something—hope?—crossing her face. "You really believe that?"

"I do," Leona said. "And I'll help you in any way I can."

Sirena, who had been watching the exchange silently, cleared her throat. "She's right, my lady. You've got more potential than most knights I've trained. It's time to stop hiding it."

Vivienne bit her lip, clearly torn. "It's just… after what happened with Magnus, I don't know if I can trust myself to face him—or anyone."

Leona's heart ached at the vulnerability in her voice.

"You don't have to face him alone," Leona said softly. "But you do have to face him. Magnus isn't the man he once was, and someone needs to hold him accountable. Why not you?"

Vivienne's eyes widened, and for a moment, Leona worried she had pushed too far. But then Vivienne straightened her shoulders, a spark of determination lighting in her gaze.

"You're right," Vivienne said. "I can't let him intimidate me forever. I won't."

Leona smiled, relief flooding her. "That's the spirit."

Sirena clapped her hands together. "Well, then. If you're serious about this, my lady, we've got a lot of work to do. And you"—she pointed at Leona—"could use some training yourself. No offense, but you don't look like you'd last five seconds in a fight."

Leona blinked. "Me? Oh, no, I'm just—"

"Helping Vivienne?" Sirena interrupted. "Then you'll need to be ready for whatever Magnus throws your way."

Leona hesitated, then nodded. If she was going to survive this world, she couldn't rely on Cedric or Vivienne alone.

"All right," she said. "Let's do this."

The next few hours were grueling. Sirena put them both through their paces, correcting their stances and drilling them on basic techniques. Leona's arms ached from swinging the wooden training sword, and she was sure she'd have bruises by morning.

But despite the physical strain, she felt an odd sense of accomplishment.

Vivienne, too, seemed more at ease. She moved with confidence and precision, her natural talent shining through with every swing of her blade.

Leona couldn't help but admire her. This was the heroine she had been sent to guide, and for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope that they might actually succeed.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the storage house in warm, golden light, Sirena called for a break.

"Well done, both of you," she said, nodding in approval. "You've earned a rest."

Leona collapsed onto a nearby bench, wiping sweat from her brow. "I don't know how you do this every day," she said to Vivienne.

Vivienne laughed, a light, genuine sound that made Leona smile. "It's not as hard as it looks. You'll get the hang of it."

The moment of levity was cut short as the robotic voice echoed in Leona's mind:

"Critical update: Antagonist alignment worsening. Time remaining: 36 hours."

Leona's stomach twisted. She couldn't let herself relax—not when the clock was ticking so quickly.

"Vivienne," she said, her tone serious. "We need to talk about Magnus."

Vivienne's expression darkened. "What about him?"

Leona hesitated, then decided to be honest. "He's spiraling, and it's only going to get worse unless someone stops him. I think that someone has to be you."

Vivienne's hands clenched into fists, her earlier confidence faltering. "I don't know if I'm strong enough," she admitted.

"You are," Leona said firmly. "You just need to believe it."

Vivienne met her gaze, and for a moment, Leona saw the uncertainty warring with determination in her eyes. Then, slowly, Vivienne nodded.

"I'll do it," she said. "But I'll need your help."

"Always," Leona promised.

As they sat together in the fading light, Leona felt a renewed sense of purpose. Vivienne was on her way to becoming the heroine this world needed, but the journey was far from over.

And with Magnus growing more dangerous by the hour, there was no time to lose.