A Game of Love and Revenge

"Let's see what I can do," I murmured under my breath, a sly smile tugging at my lips. Closing my eyes briefly, I began to whisper the ancient chant, a spell so subtle and powerful it would divert his attention to him without him realizing. It wasn't an ordinary spell—this was advanced magic, weaving through the air like an invisible thread, gentle yet impossible to ignore.

I opened my eyes just in time to see Prince Kalix being stopped by two girls. I recognized them instantly—dukes' daughters, and Samuel's maternal cousins. They were frequent visitors at his estate and, coincidentally, also Prince Kalix's cousins on his mother's side.

He looked like he doesn't want to talk to them. He stood there out of obligation, his dark eyes scanning them with disinterest, his posture stiff and unyielding.

Perfect timing.

As I uttered the final words of the spell, the air seemed to hum faintly around me before settling into an eerie stillness. I held my breath, watching intently.

And then it happened.

As if out of boredom his head turned not him realizing the spell weaving around him, his gaze cut through the crowd, his eyes found me in the sea of people, and I instinctively looked away, refusing to grant him any attention.

I broke the spell as soon as his attention was on me. Yet, his gaze lingered— even if only for a fleeting moment. It was a moment longer than he looked at anyone else, and that fleeting second felt electric, every inch of my skin prickling under the weight of his attention. A shiver ran through me, subtle but undeniable.

How could they not? I had come fully prepared to attract him.

Every detail of my appearance was meticulously chosen. Amidst the throng of students milling around us, I stood out effortlessly. In the snowfall, I wore red—a bold, vibrant contrast against the pristine white backdrop, designed to draw his eyes irresistibly.

I wanted to look at him, to meet his eyes and gauge what he was thinking, but I refrained. Instead, I held my composure, ignoring the pull. When his attention shifted elsewhere, I felt the absence acutely. It left me cold, as though something vital had been taken away. The strange, hollow sensation gnawed at me.

I turned in time to see him walking away.

"I should never have doubted you." Samuel chimed in from behind me.