The art of Scheming

Elara leaned against the hallway wall, her mind racing as Eirik's smug expression lingered in her thoughts. She could practically hear the arrogant I'm-better-than-you tone of his voice taunting her.

[You look like someone who just got steamrolled by a romantic cliché,] the System chimed in, unhelpfully. [Don't tell me you're giving up.]

"Giving up?" Elara hissed under her breath. "Not a chance. But I need a plan."

[Oh, you have a plan? Please tell me it's better than the one where you stand here glaring at the air like a lunatic. That one's not working.]

Elara ignored the jab, straightened up, and began pacing. Eirik wasn't an idiot. Okay, he was, but in that infuriating, conniving way that made him just competent enough to be a problem. If she wanted to get close to Amara, she'd have to get rid of him first.

And she knew exactly how.