There was a sudden shift in the carriage as it came to a jarring halt without warning. Ravina barely had time to steady herself when the door swung open, and the driver offered his hand. She took it, stepping down into what she could only describe as a neglected, crumbling district.

The buildings around her were dilapidated, cracked and peeling. Broken windows and sagging rooftops lined the narrow, uneven streets, littered with debris. The air was thick with the sense of decay, that forced her to cover her nose with a hand. It was as though this part of the city had been forgotten for decades, left to rot.

“Is this it?” Ravina asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty. A profitable venture didn’t look like this—it looked like it had been stripped of all value. But she trusted Rupert. Surely he saw something she couldn’t, though she was beginning to suspect he might not be able to smell.

“Yes,” the driver responded curtly, his tone lacking the deference one would expect from a noble's servant. “This way.” He gestured forward, leading her into the crumbling building without a second glance at her pace.

Ravina followed, feeling a growing sense of unease as they descended a dark, narrow flight of stairs. Just as the air thickened with tension, she spotted her love standing at the bottom with that familiar, charming smile.

My Lady,” Rupert called, his voice warm and inviting. “Thank you for coming all this way.” Any tension Ravina had melted pleasantly as she gazed into his striking green eyes.

“Rupert,” she began with a light laugh, “I must say, the choice of location is rather... odd.”

“Ah, yes,” he replied with a smile, “but don’t worry, you’ll understand everything soon enough. But first, I have a gift for you.”

Her curiosity piqued, Ravina smiled as he handed her a small box. “A gift?” she asked, surprised.

“A special item, custom ordered just for you. Go ahead, open it,” he encouraged, his tone filled with anticipation.

“Alright,” she agreed, untying the delicate bow and removing the string. Opening the box, she found a pair of silver bracelets resting inside. As soon as her fingers brushed the metal, she felt a subtle arcane pulse.

“They’re beautiful,” she said with a smile, though her words didn’t match the unease stirring in her. In truth, the bracelets were plain and heavy—hardly something a woman would typically desire. But they were enchanted, that much she could tell. Perhaps they had more function than form? She looked up at Rupert, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

“These,” Rupert said smoothly as he pulled the bracelets out of the box, “are magical items. I know you’ve been learning magic at the White Tower, and I thought these could help.” He fiddled with them, causing the bracelets to open, and without hesitation, he placed them on her wrists while she still held the box.

“They’ll keep you safe,” he continued, his voice soft but firm. “After all, magic can be very dangerous, and we wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt.”

Ravina glanced down at the heavy silver bands now clasped around her wrists, an unfamiliar tension creeping into her chest. The arcane energy she had felt earlier thrummed faintly beneath the surface of the metal, but something about them felt... off.

“I, um... I’m skilled enough not to hurt anyone,” Ravina offered hesitantly, trying to shake the strange feeling that was creeping into her thoughts. “I don’t know what you think, but I’m in the second year.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about that,” Rupert replied casually, already turning away. “Anyway, this way!” he called over his shoulder, his voice light. “I have something special to show you.”

Ravina ignored the twisting in her stomach and followed him, the box slipping from her fingers as her attention shifted to the bracelets on her wrists. As she examined them more closely, her unease deepened—there didn’t seem to be an obvious way to remove them.

“Uh, Rupert, what exactly do these bracelets do?” Ravina asked, her voice betraying a hint of worry as she rushed to keep up with his quickened pace.

“Well, you are a bright woman,” Rupert laughed, glancing back over his shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Then again...” His tone shifted, a mocking edge creeping into his words. “You are a woman, so perhaps you’ll need some help.”

“Rupert?” Ravina’s brow furrowed, confusion and unease mixing in her chest.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“I mean, the audacity...” he muttered, his voice lowering as they reached the end of the dim, unfriendly hallway. He pushed open a heavy door, and the overwhelming stench hit them like a wall—rot, filth, and decay. Ravina froze, her stomach twisting at the rancid smell. Before she could react, Rupert spun around, grabbing her roughly by the upper arm and dragging her inside.

“I mean seriously.” His grip tightened as he pulled her into a room filled with cages. The sight was horrifying—humans, or what was left of them, lay crumpled inside the cages, some barely clinging to life, others little more than husks of their former selves. A few still retained their humanity, fearfully pressing themselves against the bars, their eyes wide with terror.

Ravina’s heart raced as she struggled to understand what she was seeing, but Rupert’s voice cut through her thoughts, dripping with venom. “You’ve pissed me off since the day I met you.”

Her eyes widened in shock, but he continued, his words laced with bitterness. “What kind of woman wastes her time learning about law and other nonsense? If you’re a noble bitch, then be a prized bitch. All you had to do was sit there, smile, and look pretty while I handled everything.”

Ravina’s pulse pounded in her ears as his words sank in. The man she had trusted, the man she thought she loved, was revealing himself for what he truly was.

Rupert sneered, his grip on her unrelenting. “But no, you wanted to help. Seriously you and your opinions, how could a noble ever think those fucking commoners needed help, they exist to elevate us, to enjoy the feeling of crushing them on your heel but just my luck you a worthless bleeding heart… gods above, you’ve been a thorn in my side since the day we met. Really now. you should’ve known your place.”

Ravina trembled as Rupert pushed her past cage after cage, her mind barely able to process the horrors around her. The cold, damp air pressed in on her as they finally reached a cage against the wall, a dim, barred window above offering the faintest hint of light. Without hesitation, he threw her inside, her body crumpling to the ground as her dress tore against the rough floor. The clang of the gate echoed in her ears as he closed it behind her.

On her hands, she barely managed to lift her head, her voice trembling. “Rupert?”

“Gods above, you really are a dull thing,” he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. “But most women are, aren’t they? Do you remember what I wrote to you?” He sneered, leaning closer to the bars. “For fuck’s sake, I spelled everything out for you clear as day.”

Ravina blinked, her thoughts racing, unable to comprehend. “You... can’t mean—”

“Oh, come on, girl. Use that brain of yours,” Rupert mocked, his eyes once vibrant and alluring turned dull empty, their opal-like shine replaced by a twisted, cruel emptiness. “Suppose not,” he laughed coldly. “You might not be a prized bitch, but when I sell you, you’ll be a good little dog.”

The words hit her like a blow, her mind spiraling in fear and disbelief. “Y-you can’t,” she stammered, her voice cracking. Her mind was blank, consumed by the overwhelming betrayal. She had planned to give everything to this man, to be his partner, but now... why? Why had he done this?

“I-I’m the daughter of a powerful noble family!” she cried, half-afraid that, somehow, he knew. The fear gnawed at her—could he know the truth? That she was a replacement, meant to hush the whispers for the Count so he wouldn’t have to remarry and produce an heir? It shouldn’t have been possible, but Baron Maklerin had made it clear they dealt with all kinds of information.

She should have been smarter, should have paid more attention, read the documents, learned about the family before she got involved. God, she thought, how could I be so stupid?

Ravina’s gaze fell to the bracelets on her wrists—the chains she had so willingly allowed Rupert to place on her. “Ah,” Rupert said with a mocking smile, “looks like you’ve finally worked it out.”

She had, but despite the realization, she tried anyway. Summoning her mana, she felt it twist within her, only for the bracelets to greedily suck it in and then blast it back in a violent, thunderous wave. Pain surged through her body, and she let out an audible yell, wincing as the arcane backlash tore through her.

Rupert’s eyes lit up with twisted delight. “Dumb bitch,” he sneered. “That’s right, those little things cost me a pretty penny, but don’t worry—I’ve got more than a few buyers lined up for you.” He spread his arms wide, mocking her with a grand display. “Congratulations on getting your own private auction! The prize?” His grin turned sinister. “The last daughter of the Ravenshield family.”

He continued, his voice dripping with malice. “Oh, don’t worry about repercussions. This little operation is supported by the royal family, and I know more than a few people outside the country who’d love a taste of you.” His smile twisted into something darker. “I’d break you myself, but that would only lower your value.

Gotta say, the Ravenshields have quite the collection of enemies. Both in and outside the kingdom.”

With a gesture, Rupert motioned for his cronies to join him, flanking him at his sides. “Don’t worry though, those cuffs make it impossible for you to use magic, and while I myself am not a mage I have more then enough money to cover that.” He snapped his fingers, and the men raised their arms, casting a spell.

Jets of water shot toward Ravina, tearing through her dress and flesh, while the arcane energy in the bracelets turned the pain into something far worse, sending wave after wave of negative energy crashing through her body. Each pulse seemed to strip away more of her strength, more of her will. Rupert’s sickening laughter echoed in her mind, searing deeper into her soul, twisting the agony even further.

“Don’t worry,” Ravina thought she heard him say, his voice carrying over the roar of her own pain. “I’ve got a few mages skilled at healing. But I have to say...” He paused, his words dripping with venom. “The look suits you.”

With a snap of his fingers, another barrage of freezing cold water struck her with brutal force, pinning her to the wall. The relentless pressure and biting cold stole her breath, her body trembling violently as she struggled to withstand it. There was no relief, no mercy—only the cruel, mocking laughter of the man she had thought she loved.