Chapter 13: The Fractured Crown

The aftermath of the siege left Erathia's nobility in disarray. Cedric's forces retreated to the capital, their ranks bloodied and pride shattered, while House Valois's allies—opportunists and sycophants alike—swarmed the scorched estate like vultures. Seraphine, ever the tactician, hosted a council of surviving nobles in the half-collapsed grand hall. The air reeked of smoke and ambition.

"We must strike now," barked Lord Garrick, a minor baron with delusions of grandeur. "Cedric is weakened. March on the capital and claim the throne!"

Seraphine lounged in her salvaged chair, her violet eyes sharp as shattered glass. "And hand Erathia to the next fool with a sword? How… quaint."

I stood at her side, my arms crossed, scanning the room. Liana lingered near the back, her fingers absently tracing the crystal shard at her neck. Since the battle, she'd been quieter, her gaze distant.

"What do you propose, Lady Valois?" asked Duchess Elara, her voice cool. "The Crown Prince brands you a traitor. Every hour we delay, his propaganda poisons more minds."

Seraphine smirked. "Let him talk. Words are the weapons of the powerless."

The doors burst open. Lucien strode in, his emerald cloak billowing, flanked by two shadowy mercenaries. The nobles recoiled, hands flying to weapons.

"Apologies for the interruption," he drawled, "but I bring gifts."

He tossed a scroll onto the table. It unfurled, revealing a map of Erathia marked with crimson Xs.

"Cedric's supply routes," Lucien said. "Cut them, and his army starves. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to keep debating like frightened hens."

Seraphine's smile was venomous. "How generous. What's the price?"

"A seat at your council." His gaze flicked to me. "And your butler."

The room erupted.

"Outrageous!"

"He's a Blackthorn—a voidspawn sympathizer!"

Seraphine raised a hand, silencing them. "Leave us."

The nobles hesitated, then fled, shooting Lucien murderous glares. Only Liana stayed, her presence unnoticed in the shadows.

"Well?" Seraphine said, leaning forward. "Speak plainly, Lucien. Why do you want him?"

He grinned. "Because Priam Lockhart is the only one here who doesn't bore me. And because Cedric isn't the true enemy."

I stiffened. "Explain."

Lucien's smirk faded. "The Voidspawn wasn't just a weapon—it was a message. Something ancient is waking, drawn by Liana's resonance. Cedric's playing kingmaker while Erathia burns."

Liana stepped forward, her voice trembling. "What does it want?"

"You," he said simply. "Or rather, the power in your blood."

Later, in the estate's ruined library, Liana confronted me. Her hands glowed faintly, casting jagged shadows on the cracked walls.

"Tell me what he meant," she demanded. "What's in my blood?"

I hesitated. The truth was a knife—one that could cut her or save her.

Quest Alert: [The Villainess' Heart]

Objective: Reveal Liana's lineage.

Risk: Liana's Loyalty -30% if mishandled.

"The Blackthorn Vault held more than relics," I said, pulling a scorched journal from the shelves. "It held records of a noble house erased from history—the Hartwells. They were custodians of the Void, tasked with sealing the rifts between worlds."

She paled. "Hartwell… like my mother's name."

I nodded. "The crown hunted them down, fearing their power. Your mother fled, hid you among commoners. But the Void never forgot its guardians."

Liana's light flickered erratically. "So I'm… what? A key to unleashing it?"

"Or locking it away," Seraphine said, stepping into the room. She held a dagger—the same one that had nearly killed her in the siege. "Power is a choice, girl. Wield it, or be devoured by it."

Liana stared at the blade, then at her hands. "What if I can't control it?"

"Then you'll die," Seraphine said bluntly. "But if you do…" She sheathed the dagger, her gaze piercing. "You'll reshape this world."

Liana's Loyalty: +10% (Crisis of Identity Resolved)

The next morning, I found Lucien in the courtyard, feeding scraps to a skeletal raven.

"You knew about her lineage all along," I accused.

"Of course." He didn't look up. "Why do you think I saved her at the gala? Sentiment?"

"Revenge. Against Cedric's family for destroying yours."

He laughed, sharp and hollow. "Cedric's a puppet. The real enemy is the thing that's been pulling his strings for centuries—the true ruler of Erathia."

The raven cawed, its voice echoing unnaturally. Lucien's eyes darkened.

"The Voidspawn are just the beginning. The Abyssal Sovereign is coming, Lockhart. And when it arrives, you'll need every weapon you can grasp—even me."

That night, Cedric made his move.

A messenger arrived, bloodied and breathless, bearing a sealed letter. Seraphine broke the wax crest—a serpent devouring its tail—and read aloud:

"Lady Valois,

Surrender the girl and the traitor Blackthorn by dawn, or watch your precious academy burn.

-Cedric, First Son of the Abyssal Crown."

Lucien snorted. "Dramatic as ever."

Seraphine burned the letter, her smile feral. "Prepare the carriages. We attack at dawn."

Quest Updated: [The Villainess' Heart]

Final Objective: Defeat Cedric and sever the Abyssal Sovereign's hold on Erathia.

Warning: Point of no return.

As the others readied for battle, I slipped into the chapel ruins. Beneath the shattered altar, I'd hidden the Blackthorn Vault's last relic—a dagger forged from voidsteel.

Item Acquired:

Voidrender Dagger: A blade that can sever magical bonds. Durability: 1/1.

Liana found me there, her resolve steeled. "I'm ready."

I handed her the dagger. "This is your legacy. Use it well."

She gripped it, her light merging with the blade's darkness. "We end this together."

End of Chapter 13