The Moth-Silk Stratagem
By @john1208
On a blood-soaked deathbed, the timid handmaiden Veska performs a forbidden flesh-weaving ritual to assume the identity of her dying mistress, Lady Marova. Her goal is absolute, cold-hearted vengeance against the noble house that destroyed them. But Veska possesses a contraband chronomantic novel detailing this world's future, warning that 'Lady Marova' is destined to be the first victim of the kingdom's apex predator: Lord Commander Drastan. To avoid him, Veska fakes a pathetic engagement to a disgraced drunkard and hides inside a hideous, oversized ceremonial moth-silk cloak. Her brilliant plan crumbles when that very cloak accidentally entangles a magical assassin’s blade, saving Drastan's life. Instead of ignoring her, the terrifying commander becomes magnetically fascinated by this supposedly clumsy, shy noblewoman. Despite her desperate, misguided attempts to repel him, he realizes she is hiding sharp teeth beneath her timid facade. In a shocking twist, Drastan willingly locks a magical Penitent's Choker around his own neck, handing Veska the key to prove he will never harm her. With the apex predator now her voluntary shield, can Veska complete her ruthless revenge without becoming the monster she's hunting?
3
