The Villainess Wants To Retire-Chapter 276: Threat

"There will be no need for that."

Vetra’s voice carried finality that made Viktor pause mid-agitation. She returned to her desk, settling into her chair with composure that suggested afternoon tea rather than political crisis.

"Tell me, Viktor," she said, arranging papers with deliberate care. "Do you know what Duke Cassius has been doing?"

Viktor spat the name like curse. "That coward? I don’t waste time tracking his movements. Probably cowering in his chambers, sweating through another set of expensive robes."

"He met with Eris three days ago." Vetra’s tone remained conversational. "Agreed to testify against me. Full cooperation in exchange for leniency. He’s currently providing her with details about every meeting he attended, every conversation he overheard, every scheme he witnessed."

The blood drained from Viktor’s face. "How do you... "

"I have spies inside the Duke’s household. His valet reports directly to me." She looked up, meeting his eyes with something approaching pity. "Nothing escapes me, Viktor. Nothing. The moment Cassius accepted that meeting, I knew. The moment he agreed to betray us, I knew. The moment he left her chambers thinking himself safe, I knew."

Gods, Viktor thought, genuine fear cutting through his anger. She really does know everything. How many others report to her? My own servants? My...

"He’s a rat," Viktor managed.

Vetra smiled. "Which is exactly why he’s already marked for death."

The casual delivery made it somehow more chilling. Not rage, not threat, just simple statement of fact. Duke Cassius Argentum was already dead; he simply hadn’t stopped breathing yet.

"What do you plan?" Viktor asked.

"Watch and see."

Evening painted the palace grounds in shades of blue and silver, snow glowing faintly under rising moon. Eris walked the eastern paths with guards following at respectful distance, ostensibly taking air after day of political maneuvering.

In truth, she’d spent the afternoon learning Isolde Ravencrest’s routines. Which corridors she favored, which gardens she visited, what times she moved between Vetra’s chambers and her own quarters. Patterns were predictable once you knew what to look for.

Isolde appeared precisely when expected, emerging from the administrative wing wrapped in expensive cloak that did nothing to hide her cold beauty or colder disposition. She saw Eris and stopped, displeasure flickering across perfect features.

But beneath the hatred, fear.

Just a flash, quickly suppressed, but Eris caught it. Recognized it. Loves the confirmation that Isolde was definitely guilty of something, that the button in Mira’s room connected to larger conspiracy, that her instincts had been correct.

Rather than direct accusation, Eris decided to make Isolde sweat.

"Lady Isolde." She approached with pleasant smile, tone suggesting casual conversation between peers. "How dedicated you are to the Regent Empress. I’ve noticed you practically live in her chambers."

Isolde’s expression remained carefully neutral. "The Regent requires assistance managing household affairs. I’m honored to serve."

What is this bitch up to? Isolde’s thoughts ran wary circuits. She never speaks to me unless absolutely necessary. Why the pleasantries?

"That dress is exquisite," Eris continued, circling slightly, observing details with artist’s eye. "The embroidery along the hem... such intricate work. And the seams... perfectly tailored. Your seamstress must be remarkably skilled."

"Thank you." Suspicion grew with each compliment. "Though I’m surprised you noticed such details."

"Oh, I notice everything." Eris’s smile widened slightly. "The buttons, for instance. Carved with such care. The Ravencrest family crest... three ravens in flight. Must have tremendous meaning and value to your house."

Isolde froze. Just for heartbeat, but enough.

"Of course it does," she said sharply, ice creeping into her tone. "It represents our family’s legacy. How dare you imply otherwise."

"I merely thought so," Eris said with false innocence, "since I found the exact same crest on a button in a servant’s possession. Strange, isn’t it? For something with such value to end up... discarded."

Isolde’s blood turned to ice in her veins. She knows. She KNOWS. But how much? Does she have the button? Does she know where it came from? Play it safe. Deny. Calculate.

"Disrespectful servants often steal," Isolde said with practiced disdain. "They take what doesn’t belong to them, sell it for coin. It’s unfortunate but common."

"Ah." Eris’s expression cleared as though accepting explanation. "Or perhaps I saw it wrong. Maybe it was stolen, as you say."

Isolde latched onto the retreat. "Exactly. The servants here have no concept of proper boundaries. They... "

"Though I’m terribly sad," Eris cut in smoothly, changing direction, "that my personal maid has gone missing. Mira. Sweet girl. Followed me all the way from Solmire out of loyalty I never quite understood."

She paused, letting that settle.

"I’ve questioned other maids about her whereabouts, but they’re remarkably uncooperative. Strange, really. Almost as if someone were making them uncooperative. Threatening them, perhaps. Or paying them to stay silent."

Sweat began forming on Isolde’s forehead despite winter cold. Actual, visible perspiration that made Eris’s smile turn predatory.

"But I’m sure you’ll be cooperative when brought in for questioning," Eris said pleasantly. "After all, you have nothing to hide."

"I have no reason to be questioned!" Isolde’s composure cracked. "I had no business with your servant. I barely knew she existed."

"Suit yourself." Eris turned to leave, then paused. "Though I really do hope the person responsible for Mira’s disappearance doesn’t get caught."

The statement was so unexpected, so contrary to everything logical, that Isolde turned slowly back to face her.

"What do you mean?" Her voice came out strangled, face pale as fresh snow.

Eris walked back toward her with smile that belonged on demon rather than woman. When she spoke, her voice dropped to something soft, almost gentle, which made the words infinitely more terrifying.

"Because if I ever catch the person who took her," Eris said with casual certainty of someone discussing weather, "not even Aenithra herself would save them from what I would do. The hell I would unleash would make Pyronox’s work at the outer districts look like mercy. Like kindness. Like a blessing."

She stepped closer, close enough that Isolde could feel unnatural heat radiating from her skin.

"I would peel their skin away layer by layer, keeping them alive through each strip. Would burn nerve endings one at a time, precise enough to maximize agony without granting death’s release. Would freeze their blood inside their veins then thaw it slowly, over and over, until they begged for oblivion I would never grant."

Isolde had gone white as corpse, trembling now despite every attempt at control.

"Would make them watch as I did the same to everyone they loved. Everyone they’d ever cared about. Would burn their legacy to ash and salt the earth where their house stood so nothing would ever grow there again." Eris’s smile widened. "All for one single person. One shy maid who followed me because she believed I was worth following."

She stepped back, expression clearing like storm passing.

"But I’m sure whoever has her will never be found. Good night, Lady Isolde. Sleep well."

She walked away, leaving Isolde frozen in courtyard, panic rising like bile in her throat.

She knows she knows she KNOWS oh gods what do I do...

Isolde burst into her brothers’ quarters without ceremony, slamming the door behind her with force that made both men look up from their wine and maps.

"What’s wrong?" Daemon asked, hand moving instinctively to sword hilt.

Kael set down his glass, reading panic in their sister’s expression. "Isolde?"

"I suspect Eris might know I took Mira." The words tumbled out rushed, desperate. "She cornered me. Mentioned a button. Talked about questioning. She... she threatened... "

"Let’s kill the maid," Kael said immediately, practical as ever. "She’s useless anyway. Hasn’t told us anything valuable. Cut the liability."

"No." Isolde forced herself to think through fear. "I’m sure she has better use."