Her Game

I sat beside him at the table, watching as he sipped his coffee, his gaze fixed upon me with a gravity I had never before witnessed. For the first time, the Duke of the North, Edmund Everidge—the empire’s most composed and formidable noble—looked upon his wife with an intensity that unsettled even me.

His voice broke the silence, low and resonant.“Vanessa, spill the tea,” he said, his countenance marred by a severity that sent a shiver through the room.

A hollow laugh slipped from my lips as I rose, spinning gracefully until I stood before him— not as Vanessa Everidge, the Duchess, nor as the scandalous “madwoman” whispered about in parlours and salons—but as something else entirely.

“Edmund,” I began, my voice firm, my gaze steely. For once, he saw in me not mischief but danger.

“What is it?” he asked, lifting a brow and folding his arms across his chest. I caught the slight movement of his throat as he swallowed, the shift in my demeanour clearly not lost on him.

“Are you familiar with the Vipers?” I asked, my fingers idly tracing the edge of his desk. “The clandestine guild said to govern the black market—perhaps even more feared than the Crown?”

“Of course I am,” he replied, rising to his feet, perplexity shadowing his features. “The most elusive syndicate in the empire. They know every whisper, every secret, even within the Emperor’s own court. Not even His Majesty dares to provoke them. But what has that to do with you?” His brow arched further. “Even as my wife, you would never be granted access to their intelligence. I pay them handsomely, and still, I—”

I laughed again, this time low, deliberate, wicked. I stepped closer, locking eyes with him, my smile that of a victor claiming her prize.

“Is this some devil’s game you’re spinning?” he muttered, confused.

“I am their leader, Edmund,” I whispered at his ear. Then I withdrew, wearing the most angelic, innocent expression I could muster.

His eyes widened, and a disbelieving chuckle escaped him before he began to laugh—deep, wild, unrestrained. It was the laugh of a man teetering on the edge of reason.

“Unbelievable,” he said between gasps of laughter.

I raised an eyebrow, amused.“Have you finally lost the last shred of your mind, my dear? If so, I suppose that means the duchy is mine now,” I teased with a smirk.

He calmed, though the grin lingered at the corners of his mouth.“In this moment,” he said, voice steady, “I am more certain than ever. I married well.”

“You mean just moments ago, when you nearly shattered the stone walls over my so-called misconduct?” I rolled my eyes. “A reminder—the Erola Gem rightfully belongs to me.”

Still smirking, he turned to his desk and withdrew a small box, presenting it to me.“Open it,” he said.

I eyed the box warily. “What is this?”

“See for yourself,” he replied, leaning back against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, watching me with amusement.

Curious, I opened it—only to gasp. My eyes darted from the gem nestled inside to the duke’s face, widened with disbelief.

“What is the meaning of this?” I breathed, a smile tugging at my lips.

“Remember, you are still my wife,” he said smoothly. “And when the wife of the most deranged duke in the empire sets her heart on something, it becomes hers.”

My eyes sparkled with delight as I looked down at the gem, radiant and unmistakable.“You didn’t,” I whispered.

He nodded, pleased with my reaction.“The day following my request for the gem, the Crown Prince submitted one of his own—meant for his sister. He intended to strong-arm the merchant into surrendering it. But once he discovered I was the one who had claimed it... well, I imagine you, of all people, would be aware of the unspoken agreements between us. After all, the Vipers see everything, do they not?”

I glanced up at him, grinning knowingly.

“He had a duplicate crafted. Indistinguishable, yet utterly worthless. He gifted it to the Princess, and none were the wiser. After all, if His Highness says it is genuine, then so it must be—at least to her and her ladies-in-waiting.”

A laugh escaped me as I lifted the gem from the box, admiring it under the light. I could feel his gaze lingering on me.

“You could’ve secured it yourself,” he remarked, raising a brow.

I smirked. “A husband’s gift holds more meaning than any self-earned prize. Besides, I may parade it before the wolves of high society. Proof of my husband’s devotion.”

He stepped forward, his eyes searching mine.“So then, Vanessa—no, Viper,” he said, his voice laced with equal parts intrigue and amusement, “shall we strike a deal?”

“And should I be comforted,” he added, grinning, “that all my coin has found its way into your pockets?”

I tilted my head, returning his grin. “Indeed you should, my love.”

“Then…” I extended my hand toward him. “Shall we negotiate?”

He took my hand with a smirk and a nod, guiding me to the sofa as he summoned a servant to bring tea. And so, husband and wife—duke and duchess, Viper and noble—began to broker a new accord, not just of strategy and power, but of something far more dangerous…

Understanding.