Chapter 2 : Shadows in play; A prelude to the fateful event

The dimly lit room was adorned with the flickering glow of candles, casting an ethereal glow on the young lady seated at the antique wooden desk. It was March 20th Year 853, a day before the fateful event that changed Luke's life forever. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders like a river of gold, and her ruby eyes sparkled with a cunning intelligence that belied her youthful appearance.

Before her lay a parchment carrying news. Bishop Lawrence Whitman, a trusted spy under her employ, had been transferred to the Abyssal Borderlands. The name Abyssal Borderlands itself invoked a sense of foreboding. It was a region far in the frontier, ensnared by the looming threats of two hostile enemy kingdoms and a dense forest notorious for its relentless monster activity.

A cunning smile graced her lips as her gaze shifted to the chessboard before her. Each piece symbolized a carefully chosen player in her grand design. The transfer of Bishop Lawrence to the volatile frontier was not a mere twist of fate; it was a move calculated over the past week, a strategic play that unfolded as seamlessly as the opening of a chess game. D4, she declared silently, her fingers making the corresponding move on the chessboard. The pawn shifted, a reflection of the intricate dance of power she orchestrated.

In the silence of her contemplation, the young lady was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. The room held its breath as if anticipating the next move in the unfolding game of shadows.

"Come in!" the blonde lady beckoned, her ruby eyes glinting with a controlled intensity. The door creaked open, revealing a mysterious woman with an air of secrecy that clung to her like a second skin."It is as you anticipated, master. Luke DeMontfort was challenged to a duel," the mysterious woman reported with a bow, her voice hushed but confident as she added, "There should be no need for Heir DeMontfort to accept such a ridiculous proposal as this duel."

A subtle smirk curved the corners of the master manipulator's lips."Very well. You may leave," she waved dismissively, her gaze fixated on the chessboard once more. As the mysterious woman exited the room, the door closed with a soft click, leaving the blonde lady alone with her thoughts.

The room seemed to exhale as she leaned back in her chair, her fingers delicately dancing over the chess pieces. "It looks like it's time for me to make the next move," she mused softly. With a calculated finesse, she moved an enemy piece on the chessboard to D5, an act that mirrored the unfolding of the current situation in the academy.

"Looks like it's time to give some instructions to the Duke," she exclaimed, a calculated gleam in her ruby eyes as she decided on her next move. Deep down, she knew that Luke would accept the duel. There was no doubt about it. Her attempts to test the waters on Luke's feelings towards his fiancée, in addition to keeping tabs on the Sterlings over the past few years, had yielded valuable insights.

The Sterlings, one of the richest families in the kingdom, their wealth second only to the royal family, played a pivotal role in the stability of the realm. The engagement of Vivienne Sterling to Luke was not merely a romantic union but a strategic move. It was a measure to ensure the unwavering support of the Sterling family, a force capable of preventing the fracture of the kingdom through the Dukedom of DeMontfort.

As she contemplated the unfolding events, the actions of Vivienne, the orchestrated challenge by Serge Von Flakenberg claiming to protect Vivienne from her perceived abusive fiancé, and most notably, the Sterling family's conspicuous silence over the entire ordeal, only confirmed her suspicions. The chessboard of power was set, and it was time to make her move.

An evil smile crept across her face as she started writing a letter, penning instructions that would set the stage for the next act in her intricate play. The Sterling family would soon receive an offer that would be too tempting to resist, a deal that, unbeknownst to them, would sow seeds of consequences in due time.

With a deliberate touch, she moved her pawn to C4 on the chessboard, each piece on the board mirroring the calculated steps she took in the grand game of manipulation and power.