Summoned Villainess: Rise of an Extra

After everything had settled down in the throne room and Rinley had taken her place. The queen leaned forward and tilted her head, her gaze scanning the young woman carefully, something she did not had the chance to do on their very first meeting. 

"You stand before the Court of Valderyn with no proof of lineage, summoned through a ritual that was never meant for you. Your body carries a different type of energy but no orgin. You speak our tongue, but you were not raised in our lands."

Her gaze narrowed in suspicion.

"Tell me, what are you?"

A hush fell over everyone within the room, even the banners seemed to still.

Rinley took a breath, not shallow or hesitant, but slow. She scanned the court, there were dozens of nobles, dressed in jewels and judgment, waiting to see whether she would grovel, lie, or break.

However, even in this situation she was not weak, so she did none of those things.

"I am what's left of a mistake you made during the summoning," she said, voice even. "I was supposed to be dead; this is my body, but not the same. I didn't ask to be here. But I am and I do not intend to be forgotten again, just because some of you may wish it in the future." 

A noblewoman gasped and a deep voice near the back chuckled in disbelief. The queen didn't blink. The king didn't move.

But Saela's lips quirked—barely at Rinley's audacity.

"So," the queen said, "yes, you were summoned here, but we did a few checks; your body looks an awful lot and carries the presence of a villainess, once known. Do you admit to being connected to her in a way, which could be why the ritual went wrong?"

Hearing that, Rinley looked confused; she had heard them referring to her like that, the servants and all, but she had no idea who that was and why they thought she was somehow connected to her. 

"I don't admit," Rinley replied, "because I do not know what you are talking about. Whoever she was, whatever she did or didn't do, I do not know. And I remember nothing of her crimes. I am me, the one you summoned. I had no connection here before now."

Whispers flared again at her statement, since it seemed that her looks made them all think she was someone, she never even heard of, someone whom they saw as a criminal.

"Then you could be lying," the King said bluntly.

"I could," Rinley agreed. "But if I was connected to this criminal or whatever, then why would I kneel? I didn't ask for your trust. I am not even asking for mercy; you all saw me from the summoning."

She shifted her weight, subtly drawing their eyes again to her leg, marked by intricate etching she didn't recognize, glowing faintly now under the court's light.

"I am asking," she said quietly, "what are you guys planning?"

"Exile," the queen stated and her eyes widened. 

The chamber erupted, not with shouting, but with stunned, confused voices crashing together like a tide of disbelief.

"Exile?"

"Without proof? Madness—"

"Is it a trap—"

But the queen raised her hand and in an instant silence returned.

"We see you as a villain because of the face, the unusual face you carry and you are weak. Before things change that and you become a threat, we think it is best—better than death. Will you walk willingly into the Wastes of Dareth?"

Her eyes widened and she glanced at Saela, who nodded. She did not know what the place they mentioned was, but at least it would be better than death. She did not know why this was happening out of nowhere, but clearly there was some sort of misunderstanding. 

However, she had no proof, nor was she sure either, since the minute she came to this world, the reality shifted, so maybe... maybe... 

"Yes," she whispered, having no choice ahead of her. 

"There is no protection there. No alliances. No royal funding; we do not want to even hear a whisper of you again," the king said, his eyes narrowed and fixed on her.

"I figured."

The king leaned forward. "Then why agree so easily?"

And this time, Rinley smiled, not sweetly. Not bravely. Just enough to crack the surface of her stillness and fear they all expected from her.

"Because your court already decided what I am. A threat. An error. An unwanted return, when I am not, be careful; fate tends to bite you in the ass."

Her eyes swept over them, noble after noble, faces both afraid and curious.

"So let me go where no one expects anything of me. Where I don't have to pretend to be what this body once was or whatever the hell you think it is."

Another pause.

"And if I survive there," she added softly, "then maybe next time… it'll be on my terms and you are the one who will be regretting it."

The queen's eyes widened; in one way or another, that was a threat. She sighed and sat back, gaze unreadable. The king looked at her, a silent question passing between them.

Finally, the queen spoke.

"Very well."

A golden scribe stepped forward, ink already wet.

"Let it be written: the one known as Rinley, form unknown, origin unclaimed, is granted controlled exile to the Southern and maybe even the Northern Wastes."

The penscratched and Rinley stood in the center of the chamber, watching as her fate was sealed with perfect clarity and royal calligraphy.

"You will be escorted," the queen continued. "And watched."

"I expected as much; just do not regret jumping to your own conclusions," Rinley said.

"We will not; you are not what we wanted; your presence is now a matter of national observation," the king added. "Whether you become an ally or a danger… we'll see."

She dipped her chin in response.

And just like that, her second life began, not as a prisoner, not as a pawn… but as a gamble with an identity crisis and mystery to be solved.

And Rinley had never been one to play safe; she would not let them have their way, nor would she play by rules. She will survive how she knows best.