.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.Chapter 19: The Dinner of the Lady of Shadows.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.

Valeria’s smaller mansion wasn’t as majestic as the main court palace, but its design conveyed exactly what she wanted: exclusivity. Crystal chandeliers projected warm lights, the walls were adorned with hand-embroidered tapestries, and a long oval table, covered with a crimson tablecloth, awaited her guests. This wasn’t a simple dinner; it was a trap wrapped in silk.

Valeria, dressed in a black gown that hugged her figure and left her shoulders bare, seemed to be the embodiment of control. Her smile was a weapon and her perfume, a calculated spell.

The guests arrived one by one. Dante was the first, impeccable in his military bearing, with a firm gaze and restrained stride. Next, Max entered, elegant but with a relaxed air that contrasted with his evident physical strength. Adrian Blackthorn arrived shortly after, surrounded by an aura of mystery; his dark suit and aristocratic demeanor made him stand out effortlessly. Finally, Lucien, a young noble with a reputation as a cold strategist, appeared, his mere presence adding a subtle tension.

“Gentlemen,” Valeria greeted with a perfectly calculated curtsy. “It is an honor to have you at my table.”

The dinner began with a scarlet wine served in crystal goblets. The atmosphere was infused with spices, soft lute music, and an air of dangerous intimacy.

Valeria was quick to start her game. Her first prey was Dante.

“Prince Dante,” she said as she leaned toward him, delicately placing a hand on his arm, “always so serious, so loyal to your causes. Do you never allow yourself a moment to breathe? A man of your stature deserves more than just duties and wars.”

Dante held her gaze but didn’t pull his arm away. His eyes were a mix of hardness and caution.

“My responsibilities don’t allow for unnecessary luxuries,” he replied calmly, though Valeria noticed the slight tremor in his voice: she had touched a sensitive spot.

Not satisfied, she turned to Max, who had already raised an eyebrow in disdain.

“And you, Max…” her tone became playful, almost feline. “You always seem to have the strength of a warrior, but also that rebellious spark that awakens curiosity. Don’t you fear that your loyalty to Marlene will chain you, when you could have the world at your feet?”

Max laughed softly, though his voice turned firm.

“What you call chains, I call choice. And I am not interested in worlds that come with poison hidden in wine glasses.”

Valeria wasn’t offended; on the contrary, her lips curved into a wider smile. Rejection only made the game more interesting.

Determined to move on, she placed her attention on Adrian Blackthorn. Her tone changed to one that was softer, almost confidential.

“Duke Adrian, they say you’re a man of secrets. The rumors about you always spark fascination… what’s true about you preferring the company of shadows over the light?”

Adrian raised his glass, his gaze deep and inscrutable.

“Rumors are like broken mirrors, my lady. They reflect fragments, never the whole. But… “—his voice lowered, enveloping the room with mystery—” I admit that shadows are better at keeping my thoughts than well-lit halls.”

Valeria shivered slightly, aware that she had hit an impenetrable wall.

Finally, she turned to Lucien, the young noble who was observing everything with cold distance.

“And you, Marquis Lucien, have nothing to say?” she asked, tilting her head like a predator evaluating her prey.

Lucien looked at her calmly, without a hint of a smile.

“I don’t speak when there’s nothing to say. But I observe. And what I observe, Lady Valeria, is that you are trying to light flames in four different fires. And when one plays with fire… they always end up getting burned.”

The comment caused an uncomfortable silence. Max hid a smile in his goblet; Dante tensed even more. Adrian only arched an eyebrow, amused by the young noble’s audacity.

Valeria, far from being annoyed, laughed softly, as if even that warning had been part of the spectacle she had planned herself.

“Perhaps you’re right, my dear Lucien. But isn’t life more entertaining when one risks the flames?”

The dishes continued to arrive: spiced meats, exotic fruits, and elaborate sweets. But the real battle was fought with glances, words, and silences. Valeria leaned in strategically to show the line of her neck, brushed hands while passing glasses, and asked questions designed to sow discord.

At one point, she stood up with a goblet in her hand and walked around the table, stopping first behind Dante, letting her breath brush against his ear.

“You could have so much more if you would just let go of the weight of duty a little…”

Then she leaned in behind Max, whispering in a honeyed voice:

“And you, how long can you resist what you know could be yours?”

When she reached Adrian, she paused, lowering her voice to a seductive whisper:

“You understand secrets… perhaps together we could keep a few.”

Finally, she approached Lucien, but he only looked at her coldly, without moving.

“What I try to keep,” he said in a clipped voice, “is not for sharing.”

The atmosphere was heavy, dense. Valeria had deployed all her weapons, but the men’s responses showed that their wills were not so easily broken. However, she had achieved her main purpose: to divide, provoke tension, and make them, even if they resisted, think of her.

When the dinner ended, the lady stood up with a satisfied smile.

“It has been a… delightful evening. I hope you remember it as much as I will.”

As they left, the four men remained silent for a few moments, each one processing what had happened. And in that silence, one thing was clear: Valeria had not fully conquered any of them, but she had planted seeds that could germinate in doubt, intrigue, and forbidden desire.

[Kira: Warning. Player detects a high threat. Valeria is increasing her influence on the board.]

[Valeria’s social influence: +3. Protagonists’ emotional tension: +2.]

                                                                                                                      ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥to be continued˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥