Chapter 3 - First Duel

I shove the ballroom doors wide open. The music cuts off, and all talking dies as silence falls, as every head turns towards me. I take a deep breath and stop myself from listening to my instincts to just run back to my room. So they wanted a villainess, I’ll give them a villainess.

I look around the room until I spot my victim and walk straight to her.

“What do you want now, Leanan Viermont?” she sneers. She spits out my name as if it tastes of poison. Her hazel eyes crawl up my black lace gown, lingering on my freshly brushed white hair. Emily had fussed over every tangle, muttering the whole time about wanting to slip poison into someone’s punch, which I tried to ignore.

“Aren’t you doing enough damage,” the girl spits, “just by existing at this academy?”

I laugh, making it the sharpest and cruellest I could manage, a true villainess’s laugh. My eyes lock on hers. “Who are you to tell me where I should or shouldn’t be?”

She opens her mouth, but then falters and closes it again. Her weight shifts back, one dainty slipper sliding half a step behind the other. Sweat beads at her hairline. Pathetic. I almost laugh again, but manage to hold it back. I can’t go and scare my guinea pig off before I can test my shiny new stats, now, can I?

“Well, w…what are you doing here?” she stammers, voice cracking halfway through.

I let my lips curl into a vicious smirk. “I just thought I’d thank you for that delicious drink earlier.”

Her face twists, a look half between anger and fear. “What do you mean by that?”

I take a step forward and raise my hand. She flinches like I’ve already struck her. Instead, I make a show of sliding off one long white glove, finger by finger, before flicking it towards her. The silk hits her in the face before dropping to the ground. “I, Leanan Viermont, am challenging you, Lavinia Ravinne, to a duel.” I silently thank Emily for informing me about the important people’s names while she fussed over my hair and makeup.

Lavinia’s gaze darts around the room, as if seeking help. It lands on the blond boy from before. He nods once. That smug tilt of his chin tells me everything I need to know. Of course, he’s encouraging her.

She turns back to me with a tremulous smirk. “It would be my honour to utterly humiliate the demon of Duke Viermont.”

I groan loudly and move my gaze back to the boy. Emily’s briefing resurfaces in my head: Crown Prince Adrian Kaedania. Of course, it had to be a prince, because what would a villainess story be without a golden, heroic prince bringing the villainess to ruin?

I look at his perfect face and imagine how satisfying it would be to smash my boot into it.

“I, Lavinia Ravinne, accept your duel,” she announces, her voice full of confidence. She turns towards Adrian and gives him a sweet smile. “Your Highness, would I be able to trouble you to arrange the duelling arena?”

“Of course,” Adrian says, his lips curling into a smile that dimples his right cheek. “It would be my honour.”

He claps once, and the room stirs to life. Servants flood in. They scurry to clear tables and chairs, rolling up rugs until nothing remains but the polished marble floors.

“Sorry,” Adrian says smoothly, “but this is the best we can do without sanctioning an official duel.” His eyes slide to Lavinia. “But, I’m sure you don’t need a proper arena to do what needs to be done.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” She bows her head like a loyal dog.

I let out a very audible groan and roll my eyes dramatically. Then I saunter into the cleared space, skirt swishing at my legs, chin held high. I turn to face Lavinia and crook a finger, beckoning her. “Well? Are we going to start, or do you need more time to gather your courage?”

She lets out a forced laugh, holding a hand in front of her mouth, which makes her look more like a villainess than me. “I’m glad to see you’re so eager to be humiliated.”

We face each other, the nobles circling us like vultures. At some point, someone started calling out betting odds, and the belief they had in me had me nearly tearing up. 100 to 1. What sort of odds are they?

I turn my attention back to Lavinia, feeling my heart pound and my hands grow clammy. Okay, let’s see what these skills can do. “So, are we going to—”

My words cut off as a fireball hurtles straight at my face.

I duck sideways with a curse. So much for starting signals. The blazing sphere slams into a barrier at the edge of the makeshift arena, rattling the chandeliers overhead. Guess someone set wards in advance. Lucky me.

Lavinia doesn’t pause. She launches another fireball, then a second, twin comets shrieking towards me.

“Really? Spam-casting? That’s your big strategy?” I mutter under my breath. My heart slams against my ribs, but adrenaline sharpens all my senses—the shimmer of heat waves, the acrid stench of smoke, the scorching flames flying towards my head.

Skills… skills work whenever you want.

So, how the hell do I use these skills? I don’t exactly have a manual. Still, I shut my eyes for a fraction of a heartbeat and will something—anything—to happen.

Heat surges through me, not just from the damn fireball getting closer. Something inside me thrums like a plucked string. I fling up my hand, and light particles dance across my fingers. I will the particles to move. They shudder and jolt, but I manage to force them into a translucent disc in front of my body.

The fireballs smash against it, exploding into crackling bursts. The shield flickers, threatening to shatter, but it manages to hold.

My breaths come out ragged and sweat drips down my cheek, but I force myself to stand tall and not show how bloody hard that was. Instead, I grin. “Not bad.”

My fingers brush against the cool metal hidden at the belt at my waist. The dagger I had grabbed just before leaving my room. I draw it free, grip reversed as I held it in front of me. “Now, it’s my turn.”

I launch forward.

Another barrage—three more fireballs screaming through the air. Seriously, does she only know the one spell? I manipulate my mana into a second shield. It splinters under the impact but buys me cover as the blasts erupt in smoke.

Perfect.

I dive low, cutting through the haze. In one breath, I’m behind her. In the next, my dagger kisses her throat.

“Do you yield?” I snarl into her ear, low and venomous.

“I’m not done y—”

Her words choke off as I press harder. A bead of scarlet wells at the tip of the dagger.

“I said…” I shove the steel closer, letting her feel its bite. “Do. You. Yield.”

Her entire body trembles. She can’t even open her mouth. I feel my lips curl into a smirk as I feel the power I wield over her.

“That’s enough.” The prince’s voice cuts across the hush. He steps forward, every inch the self-righteous hero. “We’ve seen enough of your dirty tricks.”

I tilt my head toward him and give him a confused look. “Oh, Your Highness. I’m not sure I understand what you mean about dirty tricks.”

“Bringing a dagger to a magic duel,” he snaps, eyes hardening. “You should be ashamed.”

“Did I ever say it was a magic duel?” I ask sweetly, twisting the blade just enough to make Lavinia squeak.

“That’s enough!” Adrian’s voice cracks like a whip. “Leave at once.”

I stare at him for a moment before letting out an exaggerated sigh. Oh well, the fun has to come to an end. I’ve figured out my skills, and that was the goal for tonight anyway. I don’t want to push things too far and maybe trigger an execution event on the first night.

I withdraw the dagger, then drop into an exaggerated curtsey. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

The instant the blade leaves her skin, Lavinia bolts towards Adrian. I expect her to collapse in his arms, weeping. Instead, she spins to face me and hurls another fireball.

Instinct takes over. I whip the dagger up in a clean arc. Steel cuts through flame. The spell shatters, bursting apart in a spray of dying embers.

My hand shakes with the effort. I hide it behind a smirk. “If you want to continue, then I’d be delighted to entertain you.”

Lavinia squeaks and scurries behind Adrian. Other nobles gape, faces pale, mouths slack.

The thrill rushes hot through my veins. Exhilarating. Terrifying. They fear me. And damn, it feels so good. I raise the blade. I raise the blade. Lavinia’s blood streaks the edge. Without thinking, I drag my tongue along it. Copper floods my mouth, sharp and metalling.

Gasps echo around the room as everyone takes a step away from me.

“Leave immediately,” Adrian says, folding his arms in front of his body.

“Well then,” I purr, “I’ll take your advice and leave for the night. Thank you for your time.” I give another deep curtsey, just like a villainess would do.

The crowd parts like I carry the plague as I stride towards the exit.

Cool night air slaps my face when I step outside. I draw a long, shuddering breath. Being feared is intoxicating. But the tremor in my hand betrays me. Villains don’t get to win. Not for long.

Still, if I’m destined to die a villainess, I’ll make sure my descent to hell is spectacular.