Chapter 10: The Equinox Gambit

The Equinox Gala was a spectacle of Erathia's decadence. Nobles draped in silks and jewels flooded the academy's grand hall, their laughter brittle and eyes sharp as daggers. Enchanted chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, while floating trays of champagne and delicacies weaved through the crowd. At the center of it all stood Liana, her rose-gold hair braided with starlit pearls, her simple gown replaced by a shimmering silver dress Seraphine had grudgingly commissioned.

"Remember," I muttered, adjusting my gloves as we lingered in the shadows of the gallery. "Focus on the crystal. Ignore the vultures."

Liana nodded, her fingers tightening around the relic. "What if I…?"

"You won't." I cut her off, though my own doubts gnawed at me. Lord Lucien's "gift" hummed faintly in her grasp, its purpose still unclear. Trusting him is idiocy, I thought, but we're out of options.

Seraphine descended the staircase, her crimson gown trailing like spilled blood. The crowd parted instinctively, whispers trailing in her wake.

"Showtime," she said, her violet eyes locking onto Liana. "Don't embarrass me."

The demonstration began with a farce. Cedric's court mages performed trivial illusions—floating flowers, harmless sparks—to polite applause. Then, the Crown Prince rose, his voice silken.

"And now, a rare marvel: Miss Liana Hart, a commoner blessed with Arcane Resonance, under the… tutelage of House Valois."

The nobles murmured, their disdain thinly veiled. Liana stepped forward, her posture rigid.

"Begin," Cedric ordered.

She raised the crystal, and light bloomed in her palms—gentle at first, then coalescing into a radiant orb. Gasps rippled through the crowd as she shaped it into a fluttering phoenix, its wings casting prismatic shadows.

Good. Steady.

But then Lucien caught my eye from across the room, his smirk sharpening. He flicked his wrist.

The crystal pulsed.

Liana's phoenix shuddered, its light twisting into jagged spikes.

"Lockhart—!" she choked, her eyes widening in panic.

Quest Alert: [The Villainess' Heart]

Warning: External interference detected!

Objective: Stabilize Liana's magic.

Seraphine was already moving, her hand glowing with violet energy, but Cedric's guards blocked her path. "A Valois failure requires a Valois solution," the prince said coolly.

I vaulted over the balcony, landing beside Liana as the corrupted magic lashed out. The crystal burned in her hand—Lucien's trap.

"Drop it!" I shouted.

"I can't—it's fused!"

The hall erupted into chaos. Nobles scrambled for the exits as the rogue magic shredded tapestries and shattered windows. Seraphine dueled Cedric's mages in a storm of dark energy, her laughter manic. "Is this your idea of protection, Your Highness?"

I grabbed Liana's wrist, channeling mimicry magic into the crystal. The relic's carvings glowed crimson—Lucien's crest. A dual-edged trap. He sabotaged her to weaken both Cedric and Seraphine.

"Focus on my voice," I growled, overriding the crystal's pull. "You're stronger than this."

Tears streamed down her face. "I'm not—!"

"You are." I pressed my forehead to hers, forcing my mimicry to sync with her resonance. "Now crush it."

With a scream, Liana unleashed a shockwave of pure light. The crystal exploded, and the corrupted magic dissolved into stardust.

Silence fell.

Then, applause—slow, reluctant—started in the back of the hall. Lord Lucien, clapping. "Bravo! A truly illuminating performance."

Cedric's face darkened, but Seraphine stepped forward, her smile triumphant. "As you see, Your Highness, House Valois needs no supervision."

The prince's gaze shifted to me, cold and calculating. "Indeed. But perhaps your butler does."

Later, in the ruins of the hall, Liana stared at her hands. "I… I destroyed the crystal. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I said, tossing her the charred remnants. "It was a leash, not a gift. You're better off without it."

Seraphine approached, her gown singed but her poise unbroken. "You saved her. How… quaint."

"We saved your reputation," I corrected.

She hummed, her gaze lingering on Liana. "Regardless, Cedric won't let this go. Nor will Lucien."

"What do we do now?" Liana asked.

Seraphine's smile was razor-edged. "We fight back."

Quest Updated: [The Villainess' Heart]

New Objective: Uncover Lucien Blackthorn's true allegiance.

Reward: Seraphine's Favor +15 (Total: -40 → -25), ???

As we left, I spotted Lucien in the shadows, his emerald eyes gleaming. He raised a glass in mock toast.

Game on, his smirk said.

End of Chapter 10