Aria/Seraphina Voss
The ballroom looks like someone exploded a jewelry store inside a cathedral. Crystal chandeliers, gold everything, and enough silk to clothe a small country. The kingdom's elite are packed in here like sardines in designer clothing, all waiting to witness the engagement that will secure the Voss family's position at court.
Too bad I'm about to burn that security to the ground.
The System screen is still flickering in my peripheral vision, but I ignore it for now. Whatever game this thing thinks I'm playing, I make my own rules.
Prince Damien stands at the center of the room, looking every inch the perfect royal heir. Dark hair perfectly styled, military dress uniform with enough medals to stop a bullet, and that commanding presence that probably makes lesser nobles wet themselves. He's talking to some duke about trade agreements, and I can see why the original Seraphina was obsessed with him.
Unfortunately for him, I'm not sixteen and desperate for validation.
Duke Voss leads me through the crowd, and I watch the reactions. Whispers follow in our wake—surprise at my appearance, speculation about my unusual confidence. The original Seraphina would have been giggling and clinging to her father's arm like a scared child.
"Lady Seraphina looks different tonight," someone murmurs.
"More mature, somehow."
"Perhaps the engagement has given her some sense."
If only they knew.
We reach the prince, who turns with a polite smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Lady Seraphina. You look lovely this evening."
"Your Highness." I curtsy because protocol demands it, but I meet his gaze directly instead of doing the demure downward glance expected of noble ladies. "Thank you for honoring our family with your presence."
Something flickers across his expression. Interest? Confusion? Hard to tell with these royal types—they're trained from birth to keep their emotions locked down tighter than state secrets.
The king appears beside us, looking older and more frail than I expected from the novel's descriptions. His illness is clearly progressing faster than anyone wants to admit, which explains why everyone's so eager to get this engagement locked down.
"Ah, Lady Seraphina," the king says, his voice warm but strained. "Are you ready to make your announcement?"
The crowd has gone quiet, sensing the importance of the moment. This is it—the point where everything changes. In the original story, Seraphina would have blushed and stammered her way through accepting the prince's proposal, sealing her fate as a future corpse.
Instead, I step forward and project my voice like I'm addressing a board meeting.
"Your Majesty, honored guests, I am deeply grateful for the consideration shown to our family." I pause, letting the anticipation build. "However, after much reflection, I must respectfully decline this engagement."
The silence that follows is deafening. You could hear a pin drop in a snowstorm. Then the whispers start, building into a roar of shocked conversation.
"Did she just—"
"Refuse the Crown Prince?"
"Is she insane?"
Prince Damien's face is a mask, but his eyes have gone sharp and calculating. This clearly isn't what he expected from tonight's performance.
"Lady Seraphina," the king says carefully, "perhaps you misspoke—"
"I did not, Your Majesty." I keep my voice steady, professional. "I believe both His Highness and I deserve partners who choose us for ourselves, not for political convenience. A marriage built on mutual respect and genuine affection will serve the kingdom far better than one based solely on alliance."
Duke Voss is staring at me like I've grown a second head, but there's something else in his expression—approval, maybe? Or at least intrigue.
Prince Damien steps closer, lowering his voice so only I can hear. "Are you trying to manipulate me, Lady Seraphina? Playing hard to get to increase your value?"
I almost laugh. "Your Highness, if I wanted to manipulate you, you wouldn't see it coming. This is honesty, which I realize must be unusual for you."
His eyebrows rise slightly. For just a moment, the royal mask slips, and I see genuine surprise underneath.
The crowd is getting louder, the whispers turning into open speculation. Some of the older nobles look scandalized, while others seem fascinated by the unexpected drama. The younger courtiers are practically vibrating with excitement—this is the kind of gossip that will fuel conversations for months.
"Furthermore," I continue, raising my voice again, "I believe it's time the noble families of this kingdom focused on strengthening our economy and infrastructure rather than simply shuffling marriage alliances like playing cards."
Now I have everyone's attention. The merchants in the crowd are nodding, while some of the more traditional nobles look like they're about to faint.
The System screen pulses brighter in my vision: [MISSION COMPLETE: BREAK ENGAGEMENT PUBLICLY. REWARD: +100 REPUTATION POINTS. NEW MISSION LOADING...]
I blink hard, trying to clear the distraction. Whatever this thing is, it can wait.
"Lady Seraphina," Prince Damien says, his voice carrying clearly across the now-silent ballroom, "your... perspective is certainly unexpected. Perhaps we should continue this conversation privately?"
"I think we've said everything that needs saying, Your Highness. I wish you the very best in finding a partner who truly appreciates what you have to offer."
The dismissal is clear, and the crowd knows it. I turn to my father, who looks like he's trying to decide whether to be furious or impressed.
"Shall we go, Father? I believe I've made enough of an impression for one evening."
As we walk toward the exit, the whispers follow us like a tide. Some shocked, some approving, all fascinated. I've just become the most interesting person in the kingdom overnight.
But as we reach the doors, Prince Damien's voice stops me cold.
"Lady Seraphina. One last question."
I turn back, meeting his gaze across the crowded ballroom.
"What exactly do you think you're playing at?"
His tone is pleasant, but there's steel underneath. This is a man who doesn't like surprises, and I just gave him the biggest one of his life.
I smile, the same polite expression I used in hostile merger negotiations.
"I'm not playing, Your Highness. I'm just getting started."
The System screen flares: [WARNING: PRINCE DAMIEN INTEREST LEVEL CRITICAL. PLOT DEVIATION DETECTED. UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES IMMINENT.]