Kai stared at Veridia, eyes widening before he caught himself and forced his expression into something neutral. What was she doing here?

She hadn’t been invited—he was sure of it. She wasn’t like Count Blackbough, whose presence could at least be tolerated for the sake of appearances. No, Duke Blackwood would never have allowed her name on the list.

So why was she here?

Even she had to know that her sudden arrival would ignite a fresh wave of rumors. This was a banquet meant largely for his supporters—nobles who had either already pledged themselves to his cause or were leaning in that direction. Veridia’s presence would muddy the waters. Yet she didn’t seem concerned in the slightest. Not at all.

In a way, he wouldn’t know. Her face was as unreadable as ever. Calm eyes, straight back, and her pointy nails caressing the fur in her cloak. She crossed the threshold like she had every right to be here, and the room responded as if she did. Conversation stuttered and shifted toward her, the nearest nobles immediately moving to greet her.

Before he could blink, she was at the center of a growing circle, surrounded by bows and curtsies.

He knew that her official title was a ‘Baron’, but “Magus of Lancephil” carried enough power to bend protocol. Even Counts were expected to offer her respect. Perhaps that explained why Count Blackbough, after glancing briefly at Kai, gave a curt nod and moved to greet her instead.

Good save, he felt, but at what cost?

When countless men and women spoke to her, addressing her presence, Veridia returned gestures with the barest of nods, speaking to the gathered nobles in clipped exchanges. But Kai could see the faint, telltale tightness in her shoulders, the subtle way her gaze flicked toward the doors. She wasn’t here for idle chatter. If given the choice, she’d carve her way out of this crowd in a blaze of magic rather than endure the politeness surrounding her.

“What’s she doing here?”

Leopold’s voice cut into his thoughts, quiet but edged with wariness.

Kai turned, catching Francis and Killian wearing nearly identical expressions, displeasure thinly veiled under practiced civility. They all wanted to know what Magus Veridia was doing, or trying to do.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Duke Blackwood didn’t invite her, right?” he asked, fully knowing the answer.

“No,” Leopold replied without hesitation. His eyes didn’t leave her. “I believe she came in uninvited. For what reason… I have no idea.”

Even if none of them had a specific idea, Kai had a feeling she was here for him.

Her arriving unannounced, when no one expected it, was all too familiar—it was exactly how she had appeared back in the Archine Tower, the day she had decided to interrogate him without warning.

Back then, he’d been a weak Second Circle Mage, someone who had to tread lightly in every exchange with her. Now, he was far more than that, and more than capable of giving it back if she tried anything.

But was she going to?

He didn’t get his answer immediately.

After exchanging polite words with the surrounding nobles, Veridia began to move. She cut through the hall with the same unhurried stride she’d entered with, her fur cloak trailing just enough to catch the light.

Her path led straight to Duke Blackwood.

If the Duke was surprised to see her, his face didn’t betray it. His face stayed locked in its usual fortress of stoicism, not a muscle shifting out of place. Whatever passed between them was short, pared down to essentials—a few words, perhaps a courteous inquiry and an equally curt reply. No smiles. No signs of warmth.

Within moments, Magus Veridia stepped away again, her expression unchanged.

A liveried server crossed her path, silver tray in hand. Without breaking stride, she took a crystal glass, the motion so fluid it almost seemed rehearsed. She didn’t thank him, merely lifted the wine to her lips for a small sip. Her gaze wandered, not settling on any single person, but always seeming to take in more than it revealed.

It didn’t take long for the nearest nobles to start peeling themselves from their seats. They approached her in small numbers—ones and twos—drawn in by that gravitational pull she seemed to carry. Even when their faces were wreathed in smiles, their eyes carried a shadow of caution.

Kai found himself still watching her. The clink of goblets, the muted hum of conversation, even the subtle perfume of the hall faded into the background. For a heartbeat, he forgot the role he was meant to play here.

He hadn’t planned for this. Not for her to walk into this banquet, of all places. The idea of mingling with nobles while having to glance over his shoulder for her movements was… less than appealing.

“What are you going to do, Lord Arzan?”

Killian’s voice pulled him back to the present.

Kai glanced at him, his jaw tightening just slightly. “I don’t know. But I surely can’t let her stay here without knowing her purpose.”

Leopold gave a short, dry hum. “Do you think she just came here because she’s bored? I don’t think she has any family to keep her company… and she doesn’t strike me as the type to have friends.”

Kai turned his head, meeting his gaze. “Do you really think so?”

Leopold shrugged. “Just a guess.”

Kai turned his gaze back to Veridia, weighing his options. There were only two paths here—wait for her to show her hand, or force her to reveal it.

The former meant patience. It meant letting her dictate the pace, and Kai knew she was perfectly capable of dragging this out for the entire evening if she wanted to. And unfortunately for her, he had no interest in spending the banquet glancing over his shoulder.

So even if the idea felt rushed, his decision was made. He didn’t need to think more.

“I’ll go see why she’s here,” he said, glancing briefly at the others. Leopard opened his mouth, but Kai was already on his feet, moving through the spaces between tables.

The nobles that had been clustered around Veridia noticed his approach almost at once. The conversations faltered mid-sentence until a ripple of silence settled over that part of the hall. All eyes tracked the meeting that was about to unfold.

Kai stopped directly in front of her. She plastered a smile on her face and looked at him with the same determination he had. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel⦿fire.net

“Magus Veridia,” he said, inclining his head just enough to acknowledge her presence. “It’s been a while.”

That alone was enough to make several nobles nearby lean in, watching more closely. Unlike the others, he hadn’t bowed. He had simply nodded, something one didn’t do unless they considered themselves on the same footing.

Veridia noticed, her eyes moved toward his attire and back up again, maintaining the smile on her face.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s been a while. Last I saw you, you were… stumbling around, here and there. But now—” her eyes swept briefly across the hall, “—you’re hosting banquets with a Duke. You’ve risen in rank quickly, Mage Arzan. A good kind of surprise, always.”

“Yet,” Kai replied evenly, “But I don’t think I invited you.”

That earned more than a handful of gasps.

Even politically, it wasn’t a risk. Everyone knew she backed the first prince. A public rivalry with her wouldn’t cost him the nobles he needed, and might even strengthen some of his other alliances.

They weren’t around her out of respect.

They were there because of fear.

“Yes, you didn’t invite me,” she said in a clipped tone. “But I found the whole thing… interesting. And I had things I wanted to discuss with you. I’ve been losing patience quickly these days, and I didn’t know if I’d get your time anytime soon.”

So you barged into an important event, Kai thought, keeping his expression still.

He was almost certain she’d done it purposefully—some game Regina had set in motion, with Veridia merely playing her part. The more he considered it, the more he was convinced: Veridia was a puppet, and this was her master’s hand at work.

“What do you want to talk about?” Kai asked plainly.

Her gaze drifted over the nobles clustered around them, eyes sweeping slowly as though chewing over every one of them. “I’d like to do it when it’s just the two of us,” she said at last. Then she turned that same voice outward, addressing the onlookers with a courteous curve of her lips. “Why don’t you all go back to enjoying yourselves? The banquet looks wonderful, and the dancing hasn’t even started yet.”

A few exchanged quick glances, as though silently debating whether to stay. Their smiles wavered, the curiosity in their eyes almost solid enough to touch. But one by one, they began to move, some taking an extra heartbeat too long to turn away, others pretending they weren’t still straining to hear.

Kai didn’t bother watching them go. Without sparing the crowd a second glance, he fell into step beside Veridia, and together they crossed the floor toward the balcony.

Their passage left a ripple in the room—a hush at first, then the noises of voices blooming behind them, hushed words passed like contraband. He could almost feel the shape of the rumors forming, threads twisting together before the night had even ended.

And throughout his walk, he felt eyes on his back.

Reluctantly, he ignored them.

The instant they stepped outside, the winter night wrapped around him.

Veridia shut the balcony doors behind them, the heavy latch falling into place with a muted click. The music and laughter inside were reduced to a muffled in an instant. Kai gave a single glance at that and turned to look at her.

Veridia was watching him with a smirk, as if savoring the ripple of reactions she’d left behind. For a moment, Kai’s nostrils filled with her… perfume. Too strong, suits her.

“You are the last person I thought I’d see tonight. If I could, I wouldn’t see you ever.”

Her brows lifted slightly, and a faint, amused curve touched her lips. “Aren’t you cold towards me? Valkyrie and I used to be friends, you know.”

“And I had a brother who tried to kill me,” Kai replied flatly. “Relations break and change over the years. You know that better than most. So tell me why you’re here. I know there’s a reason.”

Veridia’s tongue brushed over her lips leisurely, as though she was weighing her words, or perhaps just trying to draw out the moment to see if she could unsettle him. Knowing her, it was likely the latter.

Kai didn’t give her the satisfaction. He simply leaned back against the balcony railing, crossing his arms, his gaze never leaving hers.

“I was given the task to kill you. By Regina.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but she lifted a hand lightly and continued. “She wants you gone before the assembly, especially after you refused her offer. And I think she’s given up on anyone else in the kingdom being able to do it besides me.”

That Regina wanted him dead wasn’t a revelation. She’d tried enough times already. What was surprising was how frankly Veridia admitted it, as if they were discussing the weather.

“Don’t trust the Assembly to just hand me a death sentence for kin-killing,” Kai said in a dry tone.

Veridia shook her head, a grimace flashing across her face. “The Assembly of Judgment is a variable. You can’t control it. And she doesn’t like variables.” Her gaze sharpened, and there was a faint edge of satisfaction when she added, “Princess Amara is slowly moving toward that list too. If she wasn’t already tangled in so many… delicate matters, Regina would have already done things best left unsaid.”

Kai wondered if it was meant as a threat. It certainly sounded like one—using Amara’s name as a pressure point—but the more he thought on it, the less unlikely it seemed.

Amara had sought his support. She hadn’t gone all out, but she’d made her attempts, banquets where she’d praised him in front of others, quiet meetings to angle for votes. Regina would know of it. And if Veridia was telling the truth, she could certainly target her.

There was a reason Amara wasn’t here tonight.

The risk was too great. Even with his Watchers in the city, they hadn’t been able to slip directly into the castle. Amara was a Mage, but that wouldn’t stop Regina from trying something after the assembly, especially if she failed to get her way. If Veridia was right, it wasn’t a matter of if, but when.

Pushing the thought aside, Kai brought them back to the matter at hand. “I’m guessing she’s the one who sent the assassins after my witnesses and me. Or was that you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never sent any assassins.”

“I doubt you don’t know about it.”

“Knowing about something,” she said smoothly, “is different from accepting that I did it. I didn’t send anyone after you.”

Even a child, with only a fraction of the information he had, could see she was lying. No one else in the kingdom was more capable of orchestrating those attempts than her. But he understood the game—admitting to something she had failed at would make her vulnerable.

Talking about orders to kill him was safe; those hadn’t been carried out yet, and he could do nothing to punish her for them. But failed operations? Those were best left in shadow, with blame safely diffused elsewhere.

It was the sort of thing many high-circle Mages would do, especially those who enjoyed holding power. Twist the truth, dodge failure, and only admit to what could not be used against them.

The wind turned sharper, and Kai let it carry his thoughts for a moment. Was she going to attack him right here? He doubted it, but the way Veridia stood, calm and self-assured, gave him no real answer.

So he decided to simply ask. “You said you’re here to kill me. Are you planning on an attack? If so, I would like that after dinner.”

Veridia chuckled, the sound low and faintly amused. “I said I was ordered to kill you. Trust me, I don’t want to. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper fight, and even if I hate your guts, I don’t kill people I have something to gain from.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want from me?”

“I’ll come to that,” she murmured, turning away from him.

Her gaze drifted over the skyline, over the clusters of noble estates, their windows spilling golden light into the night. Banquets were being held all across the city tonight; laughter and music would be echoing in other halls just as it was here. But her attention didn’t linger there.

It shifted, inevitably, to the royal castle. Towering, lit up and visible from anywhere in the capital, it loomed in the distance, lit like a beacon.

“She wanted me to send assassins after you,” Veridia said, her voice almost idle, as if discussing the weather. “But I thought they would fail. So I assumed a duel would be a better way to finish you off. Mages like going down in honour, after all. But you don’t have any family left for them to tell the tale to… do you?”

Kai paused, not because of her mention of a duel. Fighting her didn’t worry him; with his current level of power, he had no reason to fear her in a direct match.

No, it was the rest of her words. Arzan did still have family. One of his brother was alive. But she didn’t seem to be hinting at killing him.

Her meaning was… different.

He stared at her, and Veridia met his eyes with a faint, knowing smirk.

“I think you understand what I’m saying,” she said softly. “I know you’re not Arzan.”

***

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