The House of Merinth had long stood as the Crown Prince's strongest financial backer—wealthy, connected, and obsessed with maintaining an image of moral purity. If Seraphina was going to start collapsing the Crown's support, they were the first domino to tip.
She didn't need to kill them.
She only needed to ruin their name.
---
> Quest Update: Collapse the Noble Circle – Stage 1
Target: Duchess Calenia Merinth
Objective: Sabotage her reputation at the Grand Moonlight Banquet
Reward: Shadow Council Invitation
---
The Grand Moonlight Banquet was held in the capital once every year under the first full moon of summer. Normally, Seraphina would never receive an invitation—exiled, married to a "traitor," and labeled a fallen noble.
But Kaelrith had ways of bending the rules.
She arrived dressed in red silk laced with dark silver. Her hair was woven into a crown of black roses. And as she stepped into the marble hall, silence fell.
The other nobles parted like a sea before her.
"Lady Seraphina Valebourne," the herald announced, almost choking on the name. "Wife of the Black Warlord."
---
> Reputation Increased: +10 (Fear, Curiosity)
Title Modified: The Crimson Wife → Crimson Strategist
---
Duchess Calenia, regal and severe in a high-necked gown, stood at the far end of the ballroom. Her cold eyes widened ever so slightly when she spotted Seraphina.
"Uninvited guests must truly be in fashion," Calenia said, lifting her wine.
"Forgive me, Duchess," Seraphina said sweetly. "I thought this was a gathering for nobles, not relics."
A sharp intake of breath from nearby nobles.
The duchess's smile twitched.
"Brave words from a traitor's bride."
Seraphina leaned in, her voice a low whisper.
"Tell me, Calenia. How did it feel when your third son disappeared the same day your servant girl was seen weeping with a swollen belly?"
The Duchess's hand jerked, spilling wine onto her glove.
Seraphina tilted her head.
"Perhaps we should compare family scandals."
---
> Court Manipulation Check: Passed
Calenia's social confidence reduced. Political rumors initiated.
---
That night, Seraphina slipped the Memorybane potion into a decanter she knew the Duchess favored. Just a few drops—enough to unnerve, not kill.
By midnight, Calenia was murmuring to herself and staring at shadows that weren't there.
Nobles whispered. The heir to House Merinth looked panicked.
"Mother," he hissed, dragging her away from the crowd. "Are you unwell?"
"Do you see them?" she whispered. "The child… the servant… they're all here."
The rumors spread like wildfire.
By morning, three families had sent formal notices withdrawing their alliances from House Merinth "until further clarity on recent behavior."
---
> Quest Complete: Collapse the Noble Circle – Stage 1 Complete
Reward Gained: Shadow Council Invitation
Favorability with Kaelrith: +15 → 68
New Trait Unlocked: Queenmaker
---
When Seraphina returned to Blackspire Keep, Kaelrith was waiting.
He didn't say anything at first. Just looked at her, a strange glimmer in his dark eyes.
"You enjoyed it," he said at last.
She didn't deny it.
"She was cruel," Seraphina replied. "She laughed when they sentenced my father to exile. Called me a whore in public. I enjoyed watching her tremble."
Kaelrith stepped forward. "Then enjoy this too."
He handed her a scroll. It bore the seal of the Shadow Council—an ancient circle of powerful families who controlled the kingdom's underbelly.
They wanted to meet her.
---
> System Alert: Path Split Available
Choice: Join the Shadow Council?
🢂 Yes: Unlock espionage network, gain covert power, become true queenmaker.
🢂 No: Remain independent, preserve morality, avoid system corruption penalty.
---
"Would you join them?" she asked Kaelrith.
He shrugged. "I lead them. But they've never seen a woman stand at their table."
Seraphina smiled.
"Then it's time they did."