71 Results in the "A Weave of Ambition" category
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Chapter
Chapter 35 – Deals and Illusions
In the evening, the inner circle had gathered as usual. Valentina leaned relaxed in the duke's arms while he gently played with a strand of her hair. They had found their way back to a new, cautious familiarity over the last few weeks. The rest of the inner circle also lounged about on the divans. Baron Sebastian shared a couch with Lady Vivienne, while Lady Celestine snuggled close to Master Bloomfield. Master Amadou and Countess Rosamere were engrossed in a whispered conversation. The doors opened and…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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A black… thing… shot out of the shadows, so fast that it was barely more than a dark streak in the air. Valentina felt the back of her neck tense. She knew this cat, but not like this. Not in this form. It was still a normal-sized cat, but any natural movement had given way to an abnormal smoothness. Its eyes glowed with an inner, hellish fire, and as it snarled with a hair-raising howl, it revealed several rows of needle-sharp teeth dripping with a corrosive venom. The first Emberwarden didn't…
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459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 16 – A Day in the City
Valentina woke up from Jenny's excited chatter before Vyxara could wake her. "Oh, my lady, what an exciting day for you!" The young maid limped herself quite excited through the room and drew open the heavy curtains. "His Grace wants to accompany you to the city in person! I've heard he wants to take you to Master Silkhand, the best tailor in all of Dusktown!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Even the Duchess has her dresses made by him." "Jenny," Valentina gently interrupted her maid's torrent…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 45 – The First Blow
By midday, one of the auditoriums on the first floor, normally a place of lively debate about Essence Theory, had been transformed into what everyone assumed to be basically a torture chamber. The Emberwardens had pushed the benches and tables against the walls and turned the room into a makeshift interrogation room. Heavy curtains had been drawn in front of the high windows, allowing only a few strips of light to penetrate. The smell of incense and a bitter herb that was supposed to ward off demonic…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 26 – The Theater
Jenny hurriedly helped Valentina to change for the theater performance. The maid had already prepared a lavender-colored silk dress, one of the new gowns the duke had gotten her. "You should hurry," warned Vyxara. "After that little interlude in the garden, we don't want to keep the duke waiting too." Valentina tried to block out the memory of Lorenzo's near-kiss while Jenny helped her put on the dress. Her lips were still tingling from the anticipation of his touch. The duke's private theater hall was…-
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The news spread like wildfire through the university one evening, that the Illuminator had searched Professor Horne's private library again and found a hidden collection of erotic literature. Worse still were his handwritten fantasies about female students, which he had scribbled in the margins of the books. "They found several notebooks," Crispin told Valentina scandalized. "Full of... details. About his female students." Fear gripped Valentina. She knew exactly what and about whom Horne had written in…
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459.3 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 36 – A Different Touch
Lady Celestine's townhouse was situated in one of Dusktown's most elegant streets, surrounded by manicured gardens. Music drifted softly from the open windows. Valentina hesitated outside the gate, her heart beating faster at the thought of what she was about to do. "Nervous, little Weaver?" Vyxara's voice sounded amused. "Yet you weren't usually so shy with a little tenderness in your illustrious inner circle. Not even at the beginning with Master Bloomfield." "This feels a bit different," thought…-
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When it got dark, Valentina wrapped her darkest cloak around her and pulled the hood low over her face. She had bought the cloak at the market a few months ago to get incognito to Violet Delights, a simple but well-made piece without any conspicuous features. Perfect for not standing out at night. "A few extra precautions can't hurt," Vyxara muttered in her head. "The Emberwardens may think they've caught their evildoers, but never underestimate the vigilance of fanatics." Valentina nodded silently…
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Chapter
Chapter 17 – Opening Moves
The duke's private dining room was smaller but exquisitely elegant. The walls were covered in dark red brocade and a black marble fireplace provided cozy warmth. Instead of the usual Essence lamps, candles in silver chandeliers lit the room. The table was set for two, with the finest silver cutlery and cut crystal glasses. "Intimate," purred Vyxara. "Candles instead of Essence lamps, very atmospheric." A servant helped Valentina to her chair. She was grateful for the new lavender grey dress, it gave her…-
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Chapter
Chapter 46 – Loose Ends
News of the room searches quickly spread through the university like wildfire. Valentina heard the first rumors at lunch, when students were whispering about Emberwardens ransacking rooms, slashing mattresses, confiscating books and destroying personal belongings. "They took all of Oleanne's correspondence with her betrothed," a third-year student hissed, over her soup plate. "Private letters! Imagine what a scandal it could be if they read them." Valentina exchanged a worried glance with Innogen. "Are…-
459.3 K • Ongoing
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