The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Plan B

Skye’s smirk deepened as he gestured toward a small chest placed at the center of their gathering. With deliberate precision, he opened it, revealing a sleek, black mask adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy. “If the poison doesn’t do the job,” Skye began, his voice sharp with malice, “then Plan B is in order. Lyssira, this mask will ensure you remain unrecognizable when you plunge your dagger into Lucian’s heart.”

Lyssira stepped forward, her silver eyes glinting as she studied the mask. “What enchantments are on it?” she asked, her voice calm but laced with curiosity.

Selinthra answered, her tone brimming with pride. “It’s a veil of anonymity, crafted from the essence of shadows and enhanced by ancient spells. When worn, it conceals your identity entirely—even to those who might use magic to see through it. To the world, you’ll be a phantom, an untraceable killer. No one will know it was you who delivered the blow, Lyssira, not even Lucian in his final moments.”

Lyssira lifted the mask, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. “Perfect,” she said, her tone cold. “Even if their guards manage to stop me, I’ll disappear into the night without a trace. But I won’t fail. Lucian will fall by my blade.”

Skye nodded, pleased with her determination. “Good. You’ll strike during the masquerade ball at Leona’s castle. The chaos of the event will work in our favor—too many faces, too many masks. No one will suspect a thing.”

Selinthra crossed her arms, her emerald eyes gleaming with wicked satisfaction. “And with Lucian out of the way, Aeliana will be easy prey. The elf princess is strong, yes, but she is nothing without her precious dark lord. She’ll crumble, and we’ll have her kingdom under our control.”

Lyssira placed the mask into her satchel, her resolve as sharp as the blade she carried. “Consider it done,” she said, her voice a soft promise of death.

…

Lyssira tilted her head, her fingers brushing the edge of the mask. “What if the enchantment wears off during the mission?” she asked, her tone sharp and precise. Her piercing silver eyes shifted toward Selinthra, scrutinizing the confidence behind her earlier words. “If I’m discovered mid-assassination, this entire plan could fall apart, and I’ll be the one hunted.”

Selinthra, unbothered by the question, waved a hand dismissively. “You’ll have a failsafe,” she said, her lips curving into a smug smile. She reached into the folds of her robe and produced a folded black fabric that shimmered faintly in the dim light of the cave. “This is an invisibility cloak woven from the threads of shadow magic. If the mask fails or you’re cornered, simply use this to shield yourself. With it, not even Lucian’s magic can detect your presence.”

Lyssira took the cloak, her fingers gliding over the silky yet cold material. It felt like holding pure darkness in her hands. She nodded slightly, impressed. “This is a rare artifact. Where did you even find something like this?”

“Let’s just say I have my ways,” Selinthra replied cryptically, her emerald eyes narrowing with satisfaction. “You’ll be untouchable, Lyssira. Lucian doesn’t have photographic memory, and even if he suspects something, he won’t have the evidence to pursue you. Once you vanish, his castle will be in turmoil, and we’ll have the advantage.”

Skye leaned back against the jagged wall of the cave, his arms crossed as he listened. “Selinthra’s right,” he interjected, his voice low and smooth. “Lucian may be powerful, but he’s not omniscient. His arrogance blinds him, and that will be his downfall. As for Aeliana…” His smirk deepened, his dragon-like teeth flashing. “She’ll fall apart without him. One strike is all it will take to break the bond they’ve worked so hard to build.”

Lyssira gripped the cloak tighter and gave a curt nod. “Fine. I’ll proceed with the plan as instructed,” she said, though her voice carried a note of doubt. “But if something goes wrong, don’t expect me to clean up your mess.”

“Nothing will go wrong,” Selinthra assured her, her tone dripping with confidence. “You’re the best assassin in the land, Lyssira. I chose you for a reason. Remember that.”

Skye chuckled darkly. “And if it does go wrong,” he added, “I trust you’ll improvise. After all, the Dark Lord and his little elf princess won’t stand a chance once we’ve cornered them.”

The cave fell silent again, the heavy weight of their plotting settling in the air. Lyssira tucked the mask and cloak into her satchel, her expression unreadable. She didn’t trust Skye or Selinthra entirely, but the reward for taking out Lucian and Aeliana was too tempting to ignore.

The masquerade ball would be her stage, and the game was already set. One way or another, the Dark Lord would meet his end.

..

“I think we’re forgetting something really important,” Skye suddenly interjected, his tone laced with sarcasm. His piercing eyes scanned the group, his claws idly tapping against the hilt of his sword. “How exactly do we get into the castle? I wasn’t invited, in case you all forgot. The Dark Lord and I don’t exactly exchange pleasantries, and crashing a masquerade without a plan is just asking for trouble.”

Selinthra smirked, clearly unbothered by his concern. With a deliberate flair, she reached into her velvet satchel and produced an ornate envelope, its edges gilded in gold and bearing Lucian’s official crest. She held it up for all to see, her emerald eyes glinting mischievously in the dim light of the cave.

“I wasn’t invited either,” she said with a smug grin, “until I made sure I was.”

Skye raised a skeptical brow, stepping closer to examine the envelope. “And how, exactly, did you manage to get one of these?” he asked, his voice dripping with doubt.

Selinthra let out a low, amused laugh as she ran a finger along the embossed seal. “Let’s just say I have my ways,” she replied coyly. “A little charm, a touch of persuasion, and Lucian’s guards are all too eager to share their precious little secrets. An official invitation is easy to come by when you know how to ask for it.”

The others in the group stared at her in awe. Even Lyssira, who was notoriously hard to impress, let out a soft whistle. “You’re full of surprises, Selinthra,” she muttered. “I didn’t think you’d actually manage that.”

“Of course I did,” Selinthra said, her tone filled with pride. “This isn’t my first time infiltrating the Dark Lord’s inner circle. With this, I’ll walk right through the front gates without anyone questioning me. And once I’m inside…” She trailed off, her smile darkening.

Skye folded his arms, leaning back against the cave wall. “Alright, you’ve got an invitation. But what about the rest of us? Or do you plan to stroll into the castle alone while we wait outside twiddling our thumbs?”

Selinthra tapped her chin thoughtfully, then gestured toward Lyssira. “That’s where she comes in,” she said. “Lyssira will use the invisibility cloak to slip in unnoticed. As for you, Skye…” She gave him a pointed look. “You’ll stay back for now. Your presence is too… noticeable. But don’t worry, once we’ve set the stage, you’ll get your moment.”

Skye grumbled under his breath but didn’t argue further. He knew Selinthra was right—his draconic features were far too distinctive to go unnoticed. Still, the thought of waiting on the sidelines didn’t sit well with him.

Selinthra turned her attention back to the group, her expression sharp and determined. “The masquerade is our perfect opportunity. With me inside and Lyssira ready to strike, Lucian and Aeliana won’t see us coming.”

The room fell silent as her words sank in. The plan was bold, almost reckless, but if executed perfectly, it could change everything. Selinthra’s confidence was infectious, and for a moment, even Skye couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Well,” he said finally, his lips curling into a sly grin. “This should be interesting.”

…

The dim light of the cave reflected off the shimmering fabric of her dark emerald gown, which she had carefully selected for the masquerade. The gown hugged her figure perfectly, its intricate gold embroidery glinting like fireflies in the shadows.

“You know,” Skye began, his voice low and smooth, “if anyone is going to steal the show at this masquerade, it’s going to be you, Selinthra. That dress… well, let’s just say it might cause a few wars of its own.” His lips curved into a sly grin, his golden eyes twinkling with playful intent.

Selinthra smirked but didn’t look up from the dagger she was inspecting. “Flattery, Skye? That’s unlike you,” she replied, though there was a faint blush creeping up her pale cheeks. “But I suppose I’ll accept the compliment since it’s coming from the most arrogant half-dragon I’ve ever met.”

Skye chuckled and stepped closer, leaning casually against the rock wall beside her. “Arrogant? Maybe. But you didn’t deny that I’m right,” he teased. “With that look, you’ll have everyone eating out of your hand—priests, nobles, even the Dark Lord himself. Honestly, it’s almost unfair to the rest of us.”

Selinthra finally glanced up, her emerald eyes meeting his. A flicker of amusement there, though it was quickly overshadowed by her usual sharp wit. “Careful, Skye. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to distract me with all this flirty nonsense.”

“And if I were?” he asked, his grin widening.

“Then you’d better try harder,” she said with a smirk, brushing past him as she tucked her dagger back into its sheath.

Skye watched her go, shaking his head with a chuckle. “Confident and deadly,” he muttered to himself. “No wonder she always gets her way.”