Episode 9: A Dangerous Game
"A king wages war with armies. A queen wages war with silence. And the deadliest queen of all? She does both."
Seraphina was beginning to understand something about Xavien Draethis.
He did not like being ignored.
And yet, that was exactly what she planned to do.
Because the moment she acknowledged him—truly saw him—was the moment she lost.
And Seraphina Elyssar did not lose.
The invitation arrived at dusk.
A single parchment, sealed in black wax, delivered by a silent attendant.
She unrolled it slowly, eyes scanning the words written in an elegant, precise hand.
'You will join me for dinner.
Tonight.
Do not be late.'
No signature.
None was needed.
Seraphina exhaled.
So.
It had begun.
She arrived at the emperor's private dining hall at precisely the right time—not too early, not too late.
The doors opened silently before her, revealing a long table set with golden plates, flickering candlelight, and—
Xavien.
Dressed in black, his golden eyes catching the firelight as he leaned back in his chair.
Alone.
Waiting.
He did not stand when she entered.
Did not greet her.
He only watched.
Seraphina stepped forward, keeping her posture straight, her expression calm.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
Xavien's lips twitched slightly.
"Summoned?" he echoed. "An interesting choice of words."
She didn't respond.
She simply took the seat across from him, lifting her chin ever so slightly.
A challenge.
Xavien's gaze darkened.
He poured a glass of wine, sliding it toward her.
"Drink."
Seraphina didn't move.
Silence stretched between them.
A test.
A game.
And she would not be the first to break.
So instead of reaching for the glass, she tilted her head.
"Are you trying to poison me?"
Xavien laughed softly.
"If I wanted you dead, Seraphina, you would not be sitting here."
Her fingers curled against her lap.
He was right, of course.
Xavien Draethis did not play with his enemies.
He destroyed them.
And yet—
Why was she still standing?
Dinner was slow, deliberate.
Each bite, each glance, a carefully measured move in a game neither had acknowledged but both were playing.
And through it all, Xavien studied her.
Watched the way she ate.
The way she spoke.
The way she met his gaze without fear.
Or at least, without showing it.
And for the first time in a long time, he felt something other than cold calculation.
He felt intrigued.
She was not what he had expected.
Not docile.
Not weak.
And that bothered him.
Because he was starting to wonder—
Had he underestimated her?
Seraphina placed her fork down, wiping her lips carefully before meeting his gaze.
"Why did you call me here?" she asked.
Xavien leaned back, studying her for a long moment before answering.
"Because I wanted to see what you would do."
Her heartbeat quickened, but she forced herself to remain still.
"And?"
A slow, dangerous smirk.
"You amuse me, little wife."
Seraphina's fingers clenched.
Because she knew what that meant.
He was no longer ignoring her.
No longer treating her as nothing.
And in this court?
Attention from the emperor was the most dangerous thing of all.