.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.Chapter 27: Unexpected Rescue.·:¨¨ ≈☆≈ ¨¨:·.

The air in Eveline’s small mansion was thick with tension. Marlene remained tied to a chair, her wrists and ankles firmly bound, holding her breath as she assessed every possible move. Facing her, Eveline held a jar of flammable liquid, the candlelight reflecting a mixture of fury and obsession in her eyes.

“You’ll never be with them, Marlene!” Eveline shrieked, her voice breaking with rage and desperation. “They… are mine! I won’t let you interfere!”

Marlene, with feigned calm and a hint of sarcasm in her voice, replied, “My, Eveline… your love is so intense it burns more than your jar, don’t you think?” she whispered, measuring each word to provoke her. “Do you really think possession is love?”

Eveline scowled, clenching her teeth. A drop of liquid slipped from the jar, ready to fall on Marlene. The heat of the danger made Marlene’s adrenaline spike as Kira issued an urgent alert:

[Kira: Maximum alert! Player in danger. Analyze Eveline’s behavior to find a weak point. Progress: +2 Cunning, +1 Courage.]

Just then, a loud bang echoed at the front door. Lucien’s firm, icy voice was heard from the other side: “Eveline! Get away from her!”

The impact of his presence was immediate. Eveline faltered, startled by Lucien’s natural authority. The jar trembled in her hand as she assessed who had burst into her sanctuary.

Before Eveline could react, Dante and Max burst through the side windows, shattering the calm with their explosive entry. Max strode forcefully toward the table where the flammable liquid was, while Dante positioned himself between Marlene and Eveline, his gaze a silent warning.

“Drop that jar, Eveline!” Dante ordered firmly. “You won’t play with anyone else’s life.”

The chaos intensified when Adrian appeared from the back door, emerging from the shadows with that enigmatic and dangerous aura that always accompanied him. No one knew if his intention was to protect or to evaluate the situation, but his mere presence increased the pressure on Eveline.

“This… this can’t be happening,” Eveline murmured, her hands trembling as she looked at everyone present. “They… they can’t take them away from me!”

Marlene, still tied up, began to analyze every movement, every breath of Eveline’s. Kira whispered:

[Kira: Weak point detected: excessive emotionality and fear of direct confrontation. Use verbal provocation and strategic movements to buy time.]

In a soft but defiant voice, Marlene said, “Eveline, look at them all. They aren’t here to play your games, or to obey your whims. Your anger is predictable; your fear, obvious. You’re nothing more than another person with too much desire for control.”

Eveline roared in frustration, raising the jar as if to throw it. But just as she was about to act, Lucien advanced with feline calm, his steps measured.

“Drop the jar, Eveline.” His voice was cold, sharp, and relentless. “You have no power over them or this situation.”

The effect was immediate. Eveline hesitated, her confidence waning. Max and Dante took advantage of the distraction to get closer and finally neutralize the threat of the flammable liquid, taking the jar firmly and placing it out of reach. Adrian remained alert, observing every detail, evaluating Eveline with an analytical gaze, as if measuring her next move and everyone else’s.

Marlene, still tied up, began to subtly twist her torso and use the pressure of her legs to loosen the ropes. Kira emitted an encouraging meow:

[Kira: Player, liberation opportunity detected. Mission progress: +3 Cunning, +1 Courage. Potential reward: successful escape.]

[Mission progress 100%]

With a quick and calculated move, she managed to slip one wrist and then the other, feeling her freedom gradually return. Before Eveline could react again, Marlene stood up, her head held high, showing that calm and cunning could overcome fury.

Eveline, out of resources, took a step back, breathing with difficulty. Her gaze flickered between fear and contained rage. Lucien, Dante, and Max strategically positioned themselves around Marlene, ensuring Eveline had no opportunity for an additional attack. Adrian remained watching from the doorway, evaluating allies and enemies, as the tension slowly began to dissipate.

“This isn’t over,” Eveline whispered, her voice trembling with contained fury. “This is just the beginning…”

Marlene smiled calmly, catching her breath and composure. Kira blinked softly in front of her:

[Kira: Objective completed: successful escape from kidnapping and neutralization of immediate threat. Rewards: +3 Cunning, +2 Courage, +1 Carisma. Evaluation: Eveline identified as the main antagonist, vigilance required in future encounters.]

[Congratulations, human, for completing some missions. This system gives you an item so you can hide from your enemies!]

As the reunited protagonists assessed the situation, Marlene understood that she had not only survived, but had also gained ground: she had identified Eveline’s emotions and weaknesses, consolidated her alliance with Lucien, Dante, Max, and Adrian, and laid the groundwork for future confrontations.

The mansion of Eveline was left behind, with its darkness and extinguished candles, as Marlene took a deep breath, aware that this victory was just one of many trials she had to overcome in the labyrinth of intrigues, emotions, and strategies that the court had in store for her.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥to be continued˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥