The winding tunnel spat me out near the edge of the palace gardens. Moonlight, sharp and silver, filtered through the tangled, twisted branches of ancient trees and tall, neatly trimmed hedges. Beyond the manicured lawns, a dark silhouette loomed against the night sky: Viremont, Duke Cassian's estate. An obsidian tower, its sharp angles softened by the thorny embrace of unseen vines, rose like a silent sentinel. Mystery clung to it like a second skin.
Warning: Trespassing will initiate first contact.
Relationship Meter with Duke Cassian: UNKNOWN
Passive Skill Activated: "Dramatic Entrance" (+15 Charm, +10 Plot Protection on first encounters)
I moved with the practiced ease of a shadow, slipping through the moon-dappled darkness of the garden. The air grew heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and something else, something subtly metallic and cold, like distant thunder. The garden gate, an intricate wrought-iron design, creaked open with a soft, mournful groan as I pushed it inward.
I stepped onto a wide balcony, its stone balustrade draped with the velvety, dark petals of black roses, their fragrance a morbidly sweet perfume. And there, standing by a tall, arched window, illuminated by the pale moonlight, was Duke Cassian. He was engrossed in a letter, the parchment a stark white against the dark fabric of his clothing. His profile, sharp and aristocratic, was etched in shadow and light.
As if sensing my presence, he slowly lowered the letter. His head turned, the movement deliberate, unhurried. His eyes, the color of polished silver, locked onto mine. They were sharp, piercing, and utterly unreadable. A small, chilling smile, barely a shift in his lips, played at the corners of his mouth.
"So, the dead have risen," he said, his voice a low, melodious hum that sent a shiver down my spine, not entirely from fear. "And the whispers were true. Seraphine Valtara. Or should I say... something new?"
I met his gaze, my "Innocent Mask" skill now completely off, replaced by a surge of audacious confidence. The dramatic entrance had activated; it was time to play the part. My heart hammered, a mix of adrenaline and a strange, thrilling excitement.
"A woman needs her beauty sleep, don't you think your grace," I quipped, my voice steadier than I expected, a touch of sarcasm lacing the words. "This 'death' was exhausting."
A low chuckle, a rich, rumbling sound, escaped his throat. It was unexpected, almost disarming. "Indeed. Death is rarely so... vibrant." He gestured with a graceful hand to a plush velvet armchair opposite his expansive, dark wood desk. "You must have quite the tale to tell." He paused, his silver eyes never leaving mine. "Care to elaborate? Or perhaps, tell me who you truly are?"
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Charm stat increased!
Relationship Meter: Duke Cassian - Neutral (Slightly Amused)
New Mini-Quest: "Unmasking the Disruptor" (Optional, High Risk)
Reveal your true nature (isekai/system) to Cassian.
Success: Potential powerful ally. Failure: Immediate capture or hostile response.
I considered my options, the system's warning flashing through my mind. Full truth? Too risky. A grand lie? He seemed too shrewd for that. I settled on a carefully crafted half-truth, a tantalizing hint.
"I am Seraphine Valtara," I stated, my voice firm, holding his gaze. "A new Seraphine. And I believe you know why."
His silver eyes gleamed, a flicker of genuine intrigue in their depths. "Indeed. A new Seraphine... and a more interesting one, it seems." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, silken purr that was both captivating and dangerous. "The old Seraphine was a foolish girl, consumed by petty grudges. You, however... you escaped the Royal Crypts with a Spectral Warden on your heels. That is no small feat."
He straightened, a thoughtful expression on his face. "And you appeared just as my agents reported... anomalies in the magical currents surrounding the capital."
"Anomalies?" I pressed, curiosity overriding caution. "What kind of anomalies?"
He rose, moving with a fluid grace to a large, ancient map that covered an entire wall of his study. It wasn't a geographical map, but a complex web of glowing, intricate glyphs and faint, pulsing lines. He pointed to certain intersections, his finger tracing ethereal pathways. "Spikes in raw Aether. Disturbances in the Ley lines. It's as if... something foreign was introduced to the very fabric of our world." He turned back to me, his gaze piercing, leaving no doubt as to whom he referred. "Like a stone dropped into a calm pond. And that stone, I believe, is you."
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Cassian's Intelligence: HIGH. He's close to the truth.
System Protection: Engaged (prevents direct system reveals unless chosen by player).
Relationship Meter: Duke Cassian - Intrigue (Favorable)
Dang! This jerk, got brain!
A long moment stretched between us, filled only by the soft glow of the moon and the hum of the subtle magic in the room. He watched me, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
"What I plan to do?" he finally replied, picking up a gleaming silver letter opener from his desk and idly turning it in his fingers. "I'm not entirely sure yet. Anomalies, after all, can be a great source of power... or great destruction." His eyes, like twin slivers of moonlight, fixed on me once more. "They can also be... quite illuminating. For instance, you know things you shouldn't, Seraphine. Things about the Crown Prince, about the recent deaths, perhaps even about the Crown of Swords and Silk."
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Cassian's Intel Gathering: HIGH. He's fishing for information.
Current Objective: Protect System Information.
Relationship Meter: Duke Cassian - Calculated Curiosity (Still Favorable)