.•:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:•. Chapter 4. Trust and Threat.•:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:•.

The scream still echoed in her ears as Marlene hugged herself, trying to regain her composure. The hall was in a silent chaos: guards ran back and forth, nobles and servants watched with fear, and the chandeliers flickered with the trembling light of the candles. The music had stopped, leaving only hurried footsteps and the murmur of confusion. Every sound seemed amplified, and Marlene felt her heart pounding, mixing fear and adrenaline.

[Kira: Human, decide now. This is the moment to entrust your first truth to someone who can protect you.]

Marlene swallowed and took a deep breath. Her eyes met Dante’s, and for the first time, she felt she could share something genuine without compromising her role as a villainess. Her heart raced, a mix of fear, excitement, and a strange sense of security that only he conveyed. Her hands trembled slightly, but she managed to maintain her composure.

“Your Highness…” she whispered, just loud enough for only him to hear. “There is something… I must entrust to you. But only to you.”

Dante arched an eyebrow, remaining composed, but with a gleam of interest and caution in his eyes.

“I trust that whatever it is, it will remain between us.”

Marlene took a deep breath and told him a small secret, disguised as an anecdote from the Volkov family, which allowed her to get closer to him without breaking her character. Every word was measured, carefully crafted, and as she spoke, she felt a weight lift from her chest.

“I will tell you, Your Highness… the truth is, although everyone thinks Volkov is cold and calculating, there are times when… I simply wish to be heard, even if no one notices,” she whispered, her voice laced with a sincerity that didn’t reveal too much.

Dante listened attentively, and Marlene noticed the tension in his shoulders ease as he nodded slightly.

[Kira: Excellent! Affinity with Dante +10. Your secret is safe… for now.]

The system emitted a discreet flash, confirming that the trust mission had been successfully completed. Marlene felt a fleeting relief, but she knew the most urgent problem remained: the intruder.

From inside the hall, a tense whisper alerted everyone. An unknown man, covered by a dark coat and with a confident stride, advanced with determination. His eyes seemed to scan every corner, looking for something… or someone. Marlene knew immediately that her identity was at risk. Her breathing quickened and her mind began to devise possible escape routes.

“Someone is trying to enter the hall without permission!” a guard shouted, alerting everyone.

Dante acted without hesitation. He took Marlene’s hand firmly, leading her toward a barely lit side corridor.

“Follow me,” he said, and his voice was low, firm, and protective.

Marlene felt a shiver run down her spine. For the first time, she wasn’t alone in the face of imminent danger. Dante was her ally, and she could trust him. Their fingers intertwined, and the simple contact gave her the strength to face what was coming.

[Kira: Maximum priority: protect identity. Use your wits and Dante’s help.]

Together they advanced, hiding among columns and curtains, assessing the situation. Each step was measured, each breath held. From their hiding place, Marlene could see the intruder inspecting the hall, approaching dangerously close to where Dante and Max were. Her heart pounded.

“Who is he?” she whispered, holding back her fear.

Dante looked at her gravely.

“I don’t know. But he knows what he’s looking for. And if he finds us… we won’t be able to control the situation again.”

Marlene nodded. The warmth of his hand on hers gave her confidence. Together, they devised a quick plan: pretend she was being escorted to another hall, while Dante diverted the intruder’s attention with his authority as prince. The tension kept her on high alert; every shadow and every movement could give her away. The Kira system meowed softly, indicating that every move had to be exact.

“On the count of three,” Dante whispered. “One… two… three.”

With coordinated movements, Marlene and Dante moved between shadows and columns, remaining calm. The intruder seemed confused for a moment, losing the trail of the villainess Volkov. Marlene felt a momentary relief, although she knew the danger was not yet over.

[Well done, your identity is secure… but don’t let your guard down, human. This is only the beginning.]

Marlene breathed deeply. Her hands were still intertwined with Dante’s, and for an instant, the danger and romantic tension mixed in a whirlwind of emotions. Her heart pounded, and a blush spread across her cheeks. She allowed herself a small sigh, feeling that for the first time, she could trust someone in this dangerous and strange world.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said, in a voice she barely dared to utter.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Dante replied with a half-sigh.

From a distance, Max watched them, clearly worried. He said nothing, but Marlene felt the pressure of his warm gaze. She knew he would also want to protect her… later, when the immediate danger had passed.

The intruder finally backed away when several guards surrounded him, frustrated, as they checked every corner of the hall.

“Stop right there!” one of the guards shouted, raising his spear. “No one enters without royal permission. Who dares to break into this hall?”

The dark man looked at them with a cold smile, crossing his arms.

“I’m just… looking for something that belongs to me. There’s no need to be alarmed.”

“Your search ends here!” another guard replied, approaching firmly. “Accompany us to the courtyard immediately, or you will face consequences.”

Dante, who was watching from his position, frowned but remained calm.

“Maintain your composure. We don’t know how dangerous he might be, but no one will get hurt while I am present.”

The intruder scoffed and raised his hands in surrender, backing away slowly as the guards escorted him toward the exit.

“This isn’t over…” he whispered, with a look that promised future trouble.

Marlene and Dante returned to the center of the hall, mingling among the nobles. The atmosphere was beginning to calm down, although the tension still lingered in the air. Each step Marlene took reminded her that she was developing in the novel in a much more dangerous way than she had imagined.

[Kira: First trust mission completed. You have secured your identity. Next mission: decipher who this intruder is and what he wants. Maintain your character and your wits, human.]

Marlene took a deep breath. Her first truth had been entrusted, and her secret protected. But she knew this was only the beginning of a much more dangerous game, full of intrigues, passions, and decisions that could change everything.

The game had just begun, and she was ready to face it.

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