.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.Chapter 21: Lucien’s Secret Mission.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.

Marlene walked through the palace corridors, a sense of unease still lingering in her chest. Rumors slithered like snakes among the maids and gentlemen: Valeria had organized a private dinner with Dante, Max, Adrian, and… Lucien. That name resonated in her mind with an unsettling echo.

Lucien Devereaux. The young strategist who, despite not having a title as high as a duke, moved with a cold, calculating elegance. He was known for his ability to read people as if they were open books, extracting secrets with a single glance.

[Kira: New mission unlocked. Objective: Get to know Lucien Devereaux. Task: Initiate direct contact and obtain at least one significant personal detail from him. Rewards: +2 Cunning, +1 Charisma, unlock potential future alliances. Difficulty: High. Lucien does not trust easily. Caution required.] [Mission progress: 50%]

“Lucien…” Marlene whispered, frowning.

As she made her way toward the palace gardens, Dante appeared in her path, visibly weary.

“Marlene, did you hear?” his voice was serious. “Valeria is playing a dangerous game. That dinner isn’t just a matter of courtesy. She wants to divide us, to test us… and perhaps to test Lucien as well.”

“I imagined as much.” Marlene lowered her voice. “What kind of man is he?”

Dante looked at her intently before replying.

“An enigma. He has the talent of a general and the coldness of a merchant. And, most dangerously… he never fully reveals what he’s thinking.”

Before he could continue, Max appeared, interrupting with a restless air.

“Don’t speak of him so enigmatically, Your Highness Dante!” he exclaimed with annoyance. “In the end, Lucien is just another man Valeria is trying to trap. Yes, he’s skilled, but… he’s also human.”

“Human, but dangerous,” Dante retorted sharply.

The exchange between them was growing increasingly tense until Kira interfered with a warning that flashed before Marlene:

[Kira: Player, be careful. The tension between Dante and Max can be used by others. If you don’t control their emotions, Valeria will have the advantage.]

Marlene took a deep breath and raised her hand, imposing calm.

“Enough. We can’t argue with each other when that is exactly what Valeria is trying to do: divide us.”

Both fell silent, and although their glances crossed with sparks of distrust, they obeyed.

That same night, unable to stay still, Marlene decided to follow her intuition. She couldn’t allow Valeria to get ahead in everything. She made her way out of the main halls and headed toward the residence where Lucien usually retired.

The atmosphere there was different. More sober, more cold. The walls were covered with ancient tapestries that showed maps and constellations, symbols of a man who sought knowledge, not adornments. An oil lamp illuminated the main gate.

[Kira: Alert. This is unknown territory. Stealth recommended. Possible penalties if you are discovered under suspicious circumstances.]

Marlene gently pushed the side door, which was not entirely closed. A silent corridor welcomed her, with shelves full of rolled parchments and an aroma of fresh ink mixed with melted wax.

“So you decided to come…” a deep, serene voice stopped her.

Lucien was sitting in an armchair, in front of a table covered with papers. He didn’t seem surprised, as if he had anticipated her arrival. His eyes, gray as steel under the moon, were fixed on her.

“They say that curiosity is a virtue in the wise… and a sin in the naive.” He set his quill aside. “Which of the two are you, Lady Marlene?”

Marlene swallowed. She hadn’t exactly planned how to begin this conversation.

“Perhaps… a little of both.” She tried to smile gently. “Or perhaps just someone who wants to better understand the man Valeria is trying to pull into her game.”

A flicker crossed Lucien’s eyes.

“Valeria believes she can manipulate me.” His voice was a firm whisper. “But her strategy is too loud. True power always moves in silence.”

[Kira: Opportunity detected. Push the dialogue toward the personal. Objective: significant detail.]

Marlene took a step forward, stopping in front of the table.

“Then what are you looking for, Lucien? If it’s not power, what drives you to play this dangerous game?”

He observed her as if he were analyzing not just her words, but every beat of her heart. Finally, he leaned back in his chair and replied with an icy calm:

“What I’m looking for… is memory. The memory of what we were, of what was lost in wars that no one remembers. Everything you see here…” he gestured to the parchments, the maps, “…are not plans of conquest, but pieces of a puzzle older than the kingdom itself.”

For a moment, Marlene thought she perceived a vulnerability in his gaze. Something hidden beneath layers of coldness.

[Kira: Significant personal detail obtained. Mission progress: 100%. Rewards applied.]

Marlene smiled slightly.

“Then you are not as much of an enigma as they say.”

Lucien arched an eyebrow, but his voice was softer as he replied:

“Be careful, Lady Marlene. Sometimes, discovering too much about someone can be more dangerous than ignorance.”

The silence between them stretched, charged with tension and curiosity.

Before he stood from his chair, Marlene allowed herself to observe him in more detail. The dimness of the mansion played with Lucien’s features: his eyes seemed to hold an ocean of thoughts he never fully shared, his posture was relaxed but not careless, as if even in stillness he measured every move. There was no doubt: this man could be a valuable ally, but also an adversary of relentless cunning.

“A dangerous ally…,” Marlene thought, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

Although inside, Marlene knew her vigilance had to be twofold: Lucien could open strategic paths, but a minimal error in front of him would mean getting caught in an invisible web.

[Kira: Warning. Player, you have completed the objective, but the relationship with Lucien has been left open. He could become an ally… or an even greater risk.]

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