Lilith's heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she hurried after Void—no, Kael. That was the name he'd been assigned in this world, though the problem was that Kael didn't exist in her original novel.
Which meant every single noble in this palace was about to start asking far too many questions.
Void—or Kael—didn't seem to care. He strode ahead with his usual air of invincibility, armor gleaming under the torchlight. His absurdly large sword rested at his hip, as if daring anyone to challenge his presence.
As they exited the secret passageway Void found, they somehow found their way into the main meeting room which was primarily made as the area where the characters would discuss their plan for the war. Lilith sighed, rubbing her temple. This is going to be a problem.
"You," she hissed, catching up to him. "We ended up in the damn war room! Do you even know where we're going idiot?!"
Void retorted back in annoyance, "Well our stories are merged! There's no way it would've been exactly the same!" As they looked behind them, the guards were slowly closing in on them.
Lilith sighed and walked towards the entrance, "When we go in there, do not speak unless I tell you to."
Void raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Lilith lowered her voice. "You're a character that doesn't belong in my world. If anyone starts questioning you, we're both screwed. So from now on, you're my knight."
Void blinked. "Your what?"
"My head knight," Lilith corrected, her mind racing. "One I personally appointed."
He stared at her. "Why would Seraphina—your character—suddenly have a head knight?"
Lilith smirked. "Because no one would dare question me. And if they do, I'll make them regret it."
Void exhaled, clearly unconvinced. "Fine. But if anyone challenges me, I'm not going to just stand there."
Lilith rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, you're a walking cheat code, I get it. Just follow my lead."
-
The tension in the meeting room was suffocating.
A long oak table stretched across the chamber, covered in maps and miniature soldier figures. The nobles seated around it immediately stiffened when Lilith swept in, her heels clicking against the stone.
King Aldric, a man with blonde hair and amber eyes, sat in the middle amongst the nobles. His son, who looked like a younger version of him, Prince Darius, sat beside the king and looked in annoyance as the doors swung open.
Murmurs rippled through the room.
"Why is she here?"
"She's never involved in military matters."
Lilith ignored them, tilting her chin up.
Then, just as she expected—
"And who are you?" King Aldric said as he tapped his foot against the stone floor.
The shift in focus was immediate. Every pair of eyes landed on Kael.
Lilith felt him stiffen beside her. His hand twitched near his sword, but she smoothly stepped forward before he could do anything reckless.
"This," she said, her voice cool and unwavering, "is Sir Kael. My head knight."
Silence.
A very long silence.
Duke Reinhardt—one of the kingdom's most seasoned generals—was the first to break it. His thick brows furrowed as he eyed Kael warily. "I was unaware that Lady Seraphina had a personal knight."
Lilith gave a slow, elegant shrug. "I don't see why I should inform everyone of my personal affairs."
Prince Darius—her supposed fiancé, the man who would eventually betray her—narrowed his eyes. "A head knight? That seems rather sudden."
Lilith turned to him with a sweet, sweet smile. "Oh, my dear prince, I assure you, it is not sudden at all."
Her gaze flickered toward Void, daring him to stay silent.
He did not.
Void took a step forward, inclining his head slightly. "I have served Lady Seraphina in secret for years," he said smoothly. "She wished for my presence to remain undisclosed until necessary."
Lilith barely resisted the urge to kick him.
Show-off.
The nobles exchanged glances.
"She wished for secrecy?" Duke Reinhardt echoed, eyes narrowing. "Why?"
Lilith's smirk widened. "Because I do not trust easily. Considering the betrayals that seem to happen in this court, can you blame me?"
Several nobles stiffened.
Prince Darius clenched his jaw. "Seraphina, what do you mean by tha—"
"Shall we return to the topic at hand?" Lilith interrupted, smoothly shifting the conversation. "You were discussing a battle strategy, yes?"
Duke Reinhardt frowned, clearly unsettled, but nodded. "Yes… we were."
The nobles hesitated, but one by one, they reluctantly turned their attention back to the map.
Lilith hid a victorious smirk.
Kael—Void—exhaled beside her, barely audible.
"I can't believe that actually worked," he muttered.
Lilith gave him a sidelong glance. "You underestimate my ability to lie with confidence."
Void crossed his arms. "I still think it was unnecessary."
"You're unnecessary," Lilith shot back under her breath.
But secretly, she was relieved.
For now, they had dodged the worst of the suspicion.
Lilith sat with perfect posture, hands folded delicately in her lap as the war council droned on. Maps were spread across the table, covered in tiny wooden markers representing the kingdom's forces. The nobles debated strategy, arguing over supply lines and troop movements.
It was all very proper. Very official.
And very pointless.
Because none of them realized they had a literal walking cheat code sitting right beside them.
Lilith resisted the urge to fall asleep on the spot from all of the rambling.
She subtly glanced at Void— or at Kael's face who stood behind her, arms crossed, looking as if he was barely restraining himself from saying something. His sharp blue eyes flickered across the maps, and she could practically see him calculating the most efficient way to obliterate any opposing army.
Lilith leaned slightly toward him, lowering her voice. "You know this entire discussion is a waste of time, right?"
Lilith leaned slightly toward him, lowering her voice. "You know this entire discussion is a waste of time, right?"
Void's mouth twitched. "You don't say."
Lilith smirked. "Then let's make it interesting."
She turned her attention back to the table and cleared her throat.
The room quieted.
King Aldric raised an eyebrow. "You have something to add, Lady Seraphina?"
Lilith's smile was razor-sharp. "Why, yes, Your Majesty. In fact, I have a proposal."
She turned, gesturing gracefully toward Void.
"I believe it's time my head knight proved his worth."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"What?" Void muttered under his breath.
Lilith ignored him.
Duke Reinhardt, ever the skeptic, narrowed his eyes. "You are suggesting that he take the battlefield?"
Lilith placed a hand over her heart in mock surprise. "Why, of course. Is that not what knights are for?"
Darius scowled. "We have no records of this so-called knight's combat ability."
Lilith turned, feigning innocence. "Oh? Are you questioning my judgment, Your Highness?"
Darius hesitated, clearly aware of the trap. "I—"
Lilith pressed on. "Because I assure you, Sir Kael is more than qualified."
Void leaned down slightly, whispering in her ear. "What the hell are you doing?"
Lilith smiled without looking at him. "Fixing our little power imbalance."
Void muttered a curse under his breath, but he didn't refute her claim.
Duke Reinhardt crossed his arms. "If he is as capable as you claim, then he will prove it in the upcoming skirmish against the northern rebels."
Lilith clapped her hands together. "Splendid! I'm sure he'd be delighted."
Void shot her a glare.
King Aldric finally spoke, his tone even. "Very well. Sir Kael, you will accompany the next battalion to the northern border."
Void exhaled through his nose, then straightened. "Understood."
Lilith smirked.
With Void on the battlefield, this war wouldn't just be won.
It would be a massacre.
Lilith strolled through the palace halls, humming to herself.
Void walked beside her, visibly annoyed. "You threw me into a war."
Lilith batted her lashes at him. "Correction: I threw you into a battle."
Void ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "And what exactly do you expect me to do?"
Lilith gave him a knowing look. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe use one of those ridiculously overpowered abilities your story is full of?"
Void narrowed his eyes. "You're using me."
Lilith's smile widened. "Obviously."
He sighed. "And what happens if I draw too much attention?"
Lilith shrugged. "Don't worry about it! Then I'll deal with it."
Void huffed a laugh. "You are way too confident in this plan."
Lilith smirked. "And yet, you're still going along with it."
Before Void could argue, the sound of sharp footsteps echoed behind them.
"Seraphina."
Lilith and Void both stopped.
Prince Darius.
His voice was low and laced with barely restrained hostility.
Lilith turned gracefully, already changing her expression into one of mild amusement. "Ah, Your Highness," she said smoothly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Darius didn't even glance at her. His sharp amber eyes were locked onto Void, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.
Lilith sighed internally. Here we go.
"This is the first time I'm hearing about you having a head knight," Darius said, his tone biting. "For years, not a single person has spoken of this man, and now he appears at your side, claiming loyalty?" His gaze darkened. "How convenient."
Void didn't react. His expression remained unreadable, but Lilith could feel the subtle tension in his stance. He was sizing up the situation.
Lilith tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Are you implying that I would lie, Your Highness?"
Darius scoffed. "I'm implying that you're hiding something."
Lilith sighed dramatically. "Your Highness, I never mentioned Kael because I saw no need to. He was a precaution. A shadow that only I trusted." She smiled, voice dipping into something sweeter. "You, of all people, should know how difficult it is to trust anyone in court."
The Prince's jaw clenched. He did know.
That was why he didn't trust her.
His fingers twitched against his sword hilt. "And yet, despite your supposed precaution, you bring him out now, just when the kingdom is on the brink of war?"
Lilith gave an elegant shrug. "What better time?"
Darius's eyes flickered to Void, cold and assessing. "You. Kael." He practically spat the name. "Where did you come from?"
Void met his gaze evenly. "From where I was needed."
Darius's scowl deepened. "And why, exactly, should I believe that?"
Void exhaled, tilting his head slightly. "You don't have to."
Lilith almost laughed.
Darius, however, did not find it amusing.
His hand tightened on his sword. "If you're deceiving the royal family—"
Lilith cut in smoothly. "Oh, Darius. Do you truly think I would betray you?"
Darius hesitated.
Not because he believed her.
But because, despite everything, Seraphina was still his betrothed. And an accusation of treason wasn't something he could throw carelessly.
Lilith's smile didn't waver. "You may dislike me, Your Highness, but Kael is my knight. His loyalty is mine, and mine alone. If you wish to challenge that…" Her voice dipped lower. "You would be challenging me."
The unspoken warning hung between them.
Darius's expression flickered—anger, distrust, frustration—but he didn't press further.
Instead, he took a step back, eyes lingering on Void one last time before turning sharply on his heel.
"This isn't over," he muttered.
Lilith watched him leave, then turned to Void with a triumphant smirk. "Well, that went well."
Void gave her a dry look. "Oh, fantastic. He definitely wants me dead."
Lilith patted his arm. "Oh, Sir Knight. He already wanted me dead too. Welcome to the club."
Void sighed. "I hate this world. You should rewrite it immediately."
Lilith laughed as she patted his armor-plated back. "You'll get used to it. At least it's way more dramatic than your self insert power fantasy!"
Void scowled at her comment but decided to continue walking instead.
But deep down, she knew—Darius wasn't going to let this drop.
And that meant she had to make sure Void wasn't just useful in battle.
He had to be untouchable.
Lilith kept her gaze on Darius as he stormed off, a faint smirk still on her lips. Void stood beside her, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing as the prince disappeared into the distance.
"That went better than I expected," she said, though the slight edge in her voice betrayed her own unease. "But we both know he's not done with this."
Void's response was dry. "Oh, I'm well aware. He looks like he wants to strangle me with his bare hands." He shifted his weight, his eyes watching the retreating form of Darius. "But I don't think he's stupid enough to make a move without thinking it through."
Lilith laughed quietly, the sound cold. "You're right. He'll want to test your loyalty. The only question is when he'll try it—and how badly he'll fail."
Void raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Ah, so now we're playing the game of 'who will make the first move.' How thrilling."
Lilith's smile widened as she turned to face him. "You catch on quickly. But we need to make sure you're more than just an obstacle. We need to make you untouchable. You're my knight—my most trusted one. And no one—especially not Darius—can question that."
Void scoffed, clearly amused. "Right. So, I'll just waltz around with 'untouchable' stamped on my forehead? Nice plan."
Lilith smirked, unbothered. "Well, you don't have to wear a sign, but you'll be seen as someone no one dares to cross. We'll make sure of it. If we play this right, they'll want you more than they want to fight you."
Void snorted. "So, what? I'm supposed to be the prize everyone's too scared to touch?"
"Exactly." Lilith's tone was light, though there was a dangerous glint in her eyes. "If we make you the ultimate asset, they'll be too busy trying to win you over to even think about challenging you."
He gave her a dry look, clearly skeptical. "And how exactly are we supposed to make that happen? Charm and glitter?"
Lilith chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Not exactly. But we'll make you indispensable. The more they need you, the less they'll want to cross you. And when they do, well…just use your overpowered self insert magic or something" She shrugged casually. "We'll deal with it then."
Void sighed dramatically. "This world is such a pain in the ass. You should've toned down the politics and drama more! Every person we met so far has been an asshole!"
She laughed softly, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Welcome to Villainess isekais, Void—nah, Kael. It's a lot more dramatic than you think."
He shot her a sideways glance. "Yeah, it's real dramatic. I feel like I'm in the middle of a bad soap opera, LadySeraphina."
Lilith grinned. "Well, at least it's a entertaining one. Now, come on. We've got work to do. Darius is just the first obstacle in a much bigger game. Also we better stop calling each other by those names unless we get found out."
Void's expression shifted, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. "True, also you're not just making me untouchable. You're making sure everyone knows it."
"Exactly," Lilith said with a nod. "The moment they think they can touch you, they'll wish they never tried. That's how we win this."
Void gave her a dry smirk. "Right. Let's see how long I can stand being the center of attention, then."
Lilith's eyes gleamed with a wicked smile. "Oh, you'll get used to it. At least, I hope you do."
As Lilith and Void walked down the hallway, their conversation was interrupted by a soft, high-pitched gasp. Before either of them could react, a figure collided with Void—hard.
The impact was so dramatic, it could have been scripted straight out of a romance novel. The girl's body bounced off of him, her eyes wide in shock as she stumbled backward, arms flailing in an attempt to steady herself. Void's eyes went wide for a split second, surprised by the suddenness, but he made no move to catch her.
Instead, she plummeted right into him again—this time, her face smashed into his chest with a muffled thunk.
"Oof!" she squeaked, her face turning an unmistakable shade of crimson. The force of the collision left her standing there dazed for a moment, her hands clutching the front of his armor like it was her lifeline.
Lilith, who had been walking a step behind, froze mid-stride. She blinked, then blinked again, unable to suppress the chuckle that bubbled up from her throat. This was ridiculous. The heroine—the righteous, cute, innocent heroine—had just collided with her knight like a damsel in distress straight out of a generic romance-fantasy web novel.
The girl was about 5'2", with long, light brown hair that cascaded in soft waves down her back. Her features were delicate, framed by wide eyes that were a striking emerald color, glowing with innocence and curiosity. Her skin was fair, with just a faint flush from the collision. She was wearing a simple dress in pastel blue, a color that somehow made her look even more angelic and out of place in the midst of all this chaos.
Void, his arms still at his sides, stared at the girl for a beat before his usual neutral expression cracked just slightly, his brow furrowing. "…Are you alright?" he asked, his voice flat, despite the absurdity of the situation.
The girl, now realizing the intimate position she was in, quickly yanked herself away from him, stumbling back with an even deeper blush. "I—uh—I'm so, so sorry!" she stammered, her voice high-pitched and rushed. "I didn't see you there, I—oh, this is so embarrassing!"
Void stood there, unmoving, his gaze deadpan. "Clearly," he said with the faintest trace of sarcasm.
Lilith, trying to hide her amusement, walked over to the two of them, a sweet smile plastered on her face. "Well, well, what do we have here? The classic 'falling into the strong, silent knight' scenario?"
The girl looked up at her, now visibly panicked. "I—oh no, it's not like that! I didn't mean to—"
"Oh, I'm sure you didn't," Lilith said, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. "But isn't it just the most romantic thing? Falling right into his arms like that…" She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Careful, though. He's not exactly the catch you think he is."
Void shot her a warning glare, but Lilith ignored it. Instead, she focused on the heroine, whose face was now the color of a ripe tomato. "How about we get you a nice cup of tea to calm those nerves?" she offered. "No need to worry, darling. It happens to the best of us."
The heroine's face was a mixture of mortification and confusion. "I really didn't mean—"
Lilith waved a hand dismissively. "Of course, of course. But now that you've met my knight," she said with a grin that was a little too sharp, "I'm sure you'll remember this little encounter forever."
Void let out a low sigh, clearly over the entire situation. He turned to leave, muttering under his breath, "This world's full of idiots."
Lilith, still amused by the ridiculousness of it all, turned back to the heroine. "Shall we?" she asked, offering a polite smile. "Before your heart stops racing, of course."
The heroine nodded frantically, trying to collect herself, but Lilith could see the slight sparkle of fascination in her eyes as she watched Void walk away.
"Uh, I didn't properly introduce myself! I'm Isolde, Isolde Everhart." the heroine stammered as she tried to compose herself, her face still flushed.
"Isolde, hm? How fitting," she said with a knowing glance. "It's a pleasure. My name is Seraphina Valmont."
Isolde's eyes widened in shock, then in fear. "T-the Lady Seraphina?! I-I am so sorry for bumping into you I-I!"
"You do not have to worry Miss Isolde. I won't punish you are anything just for bumping into my knight." Lilith reassured her with a soft smile.
Lilith kept her eye on the girl. Isolde was exactly what she was supposed to be—sweet, innocent, and ridiculously unaware of the storm she was about to walk into. It was like imaginary flowers were blooming around her. And it was that very innocence that made her so dangerous to Lilith's plans.
She couldn't help but notice how Isolde's eyes never left Void as he walked further down the hallway. The spark of admiration was almost too visible.
Lilith turned back as she remembered that Void would mostly likely get lost in the castle if he was gonna leave. Her heels suddenly clacked sharply on the stone floor. With a swift turn, she dashed after him, her movements far quicker than anyone would expect from a woman in heels.
"Did you forget?!" she called out, her voice not quite as sweet as it usually sounded. "You're supposed to be my personal knight! A knight shouldn't leave his lady behind!"
Void halted, his back to her, his shoulders tensing slightly at her sudden approach. He didn't turn around immediately, but his lips quirked just enough to indicate that he knew exactly what she was doing. He didn't even look at her as she caught up to him.
Lilith, now standing right in front of him, placed a hand firmly on his arm, tugging him back slightly. Her expression was playful, but there was an edge to it. "If you keep acting like this, people might start to think you're not actually loyal, Kael," she said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
Void let out an exasperated sigh, though he didn't pull away from her touch. He glanced down at her with a raised brow. "I'm not your servant, Lady Seraphina. I have better things to do than to chase after you."
Lilith's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong. Your purpose is to make me look good. And right now, you're abandoning your duty. Imagine what they'll think of you if I tell everyone you're a knight who leaves his lady behind the moment she needs him!"
He stared at her for a long moment before slowly turning his head to glance back at the hallway where Isolde stood. The girl, still trying to compose herself, watched them curiously, clearly flustered by the whole situation.
"Fine," Void muttered, finally giving in with an almost imperceptible roll of his eyes. "I'm not doing this because of you, but for the sake of whatever image you're trying to maintain."
Lilith grinned, satisfied with his response, but she wasn't about to let him off that easily. "Good knight," she teased, and then with a quick tilt of her head, she started walking away, clearly expecting him to follow.
But just before she turned the corner, she glanced back at him, her voice lowering just a fraction, a hint of seriousness creeping in. "You know… the more you act like you're not a part of my world, the harder you're making it for both of us."
Void's expression remained unchanged as he followed her down the corridor, his footsteps silent against the cold stone. "Is that a threat?"
Lilith shrugged lightly, though there was an edge to her smile. "Consider it advice, Kael. After all, if we want to get through this without raising suspicion, we'll have to stick together. Whether you like it or not."
Void said nothing more, but his gaze lingered on her for a brief moment, his sharp eyes betraying just a glimmer of calculation. This wasn't just a game for her—he could sense that much.
As they continued down the hall, Lilith's thoughts turned back to Isolde. She hadn't missed the way the girl had looked at Void, nor the spark of interest in her eyes. The heroine of the story had made her presence known in the most inconvenient way possible.
That scene where she bumped into Void was a scenario that should have been for the first prince, Darius, but since he left too early Void became the victim of the narrative.
"Well since my knight is now here, we can continue with the tea party! Shall we, Miss Isolde?"
Isolde blinked rapidly, clearly flustered, before quickly curtsying. "I-I appreciate your kindness, Lady Seraphina. B-but please excuse me!" She turned on her heel and hurried away, her steps just shy of running.
"Aww she left out of embarrassment…" Lilith watched her go, her gaze unreadable. The heroine had appeared earlier than expected, but that wasn't the real problem. The real issue was how easily the narrative had shifted to accommodate her presence.
That moment—that accidental meeting—was meant to be a crucial first encounter. Not with Void, but with the first prince. Yet because Darius had left early, the script had forced itself onto the nearest available character.
And that character happened to be her knight.
Lilith turned back to Void, who was watching her with his usual unimpressed stare. His arms were crossed, and there was a distinct Why am I here? energy radiating off of him.
"Well," she said lightly, brushing nonexistent dust off her sleeve, "that was interesting."
Void didn't respond, merely waiting for whatever nonsense she was about to say next.
Lilith sighed. "That girl—Isolde—she's the heroine."
Void's expression didn't change. "And?"
"And," Lilith continued, "the story just tried to force a fateful encounter between the two of you."
Void exhaled sharply through his nose. "Great. Can I leave now?"
Lilith rolled her eyes. "You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you?"
Void finally moved, shifting his weight slightly. "I have no interest in whatever ridiculous romance plot is happening here. If this world wants to throw its clichés at me, it can try. I don't have to play along."
Lilith smirked. "That's what you think."
Void narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"
She took a step closer, her voice dropping slightly. "The story already sees you as part of its cast. Whether you care or not, you were just put in the heroine's path. If you ignore that, the plot will just adjust—and not in ways that are convenient for you."
Void held her gaze for a long moment before sighing. "Let me guess. You have a plan."
Lilith beamed. "Of course I do. If the story insists on making you relevant, we're going to control how."
Void looked like he regretted ever meeting her. "I already hate this."
Lilith patted his arm as if he were a particularly stubborn dog. "You'll get used to it."
Void muttered something under his breath but followed her as she turned back toward the garden.