That evening, a package arrived.
It was delivered by a courier in Valdris colors—deep purple and silver—and addressed to me in elegant script.
Oh.
Oh, this is from RIKU.
This is another gift.
He's PERSISTENT.
I opened it carefully, half-expecting another black rose or something equally dramatic.
Instead, I found flowers—but not roses. These were strange, exotic blooms I'd never seen before, with petals that shifted between deep blue and purple depending on the light.
They're beautiful.
They're STUNNING.
What are these?
The petals seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, creating an almost hypnotic effect. They looked like they belonged in a fairy tale—the dark, twisted kind where the princess makes deals with demons.
Perfect.
Absolutely PERFECT.
There was a note tucked among the flowers, written in that same elegant script:
"For the woman who doesn't fear princes.
These are midnight orchids, native to the Valdris Empire. They bloom only in darkness and wither in direct sunlight. I thought they suited you.
I hope you've recovered from your recent... exhaustion. I look forward to our next conversation.
— R."
I stared at the note, feeling that warm, uncomfortable twist in my chest again.
He sent me flowers from his homeland.
He sent me flowers that bloom in DARKNESS.
He's paying attention.
He KNOWS me.
This is DANGEROUS.
He understands what I AM.
This is SO dangerous.
Nyx peered at the orchids, his red eyes gleaming. "Those are rare," he said. "Very rare. They're notoriously difficult to transport because they die if exposed to too much light. He would have had to arrange special containers, specific timing, probably bribed half the shipping guild."
So he went to considerable effort to send these.
He PLANNED this.
He's being STRATEGIC.
Just like me.
We're playing the same game.
I carefully placed the orchids in a vase, positioning them away from the window where they'd be in shadow.
I'm keeping these.
I'm definitely keeping these.
But I'm not responding yet.
I need to be strategic about this.
I need to show restraint.
"You're not going to write back?" Nyx asked.
"Not yet," I said. "Let him wonder. Let him wait."
Let him think about me.
Let him be the one who's uncertain.
That's how you maintain power in a relationship.
Strategic.
Calculated.
PERFECT.
Nyx laughed—that soft, hissing laugh that meant he found something genuinely amusing.
"You're playing a dangerous game with that prince," he said.
"I know," I said, looking at the midnight orchids. "But dangerous games are the only ones worth playing."
He's interesting.
He's intelligent.
He's DANGEROUS.
And I'm going to figure out exactly what he wants from me.
But on MY terms.
Not his.
I looked at the black rose from before, still sitting in its vase, and then at the new midnight orchids.
Two gifts.
Two very deliberate, very thoughtful gifts.
He's courting me.
The prince from the Valdris Empire is COURTING me.
While I'm technically engaged to the crown prince of Astervane.
This is either going to be LEGENDARY or a complete DISASTER.
Probably both.
The midnight orchids seemed to pulse with their own inner light, dark and beautiful and absolutely perfect.
He chose these specifically.
He thought about what would appeal to me.
He UNDERSTANDS me.
That's... that's actually kind of terrifying.
Because understanding means POWER.
And he's giving me power over him by showing he understands.
But he's also taking power by making me WANT his understanding.
This is COMPLICATED.
I smiled—that sharp, dangerous smile I'd been practicing.
Bring it on, Prince Riku.
Let's see who wins this game.
Let's see who breaks first.
Let's see who falls.
Because it's NOT going to be me.
I'm Isabel Nyx Raven.
I'm the villainess who destroyed the crown prince.
I'm the dark mage who practices forbidden magic openly.
I'm the woman who turned a crown princess into a dark magic practitioner.
And I'm going to figure out exactly what you want.
On MY terms.
Not yours.
The midnight orchids seemed to shimmer in agreement, their dark petals catching the candlelight.
Perfect.
Absolutely PERFECT.
This is going to be LEGENDARY.