Chapter 17: The Snare Tightens

A hunter does not chase the prey.

He waits.

And when the moment is right—

The trap closes.

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Setting the Trap

I had spent days watching. Studying every move, every whisper, every shift in the shadows.

The rogue mage was careful. Too careful.

They moved like someone who had played this game before. Someone who understood the weight of secrets.

But they made one mistake.

They thought I was only watching them.

What they didn’t realize was—I had already set the snare.

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The Night of the Capture

The rain poured heavily, washing the streets in silver and shadow.

I stood hidden in an abandoned alley, my presence concealed, waiting.

The rogue mage moved swiftly, their cloak drenched, their magic pulsing faintly beneath the fabric.

They believed themselves unseen.

They were wrong.

The moment they stepped past the marked threshold, I whispered the incantation.

The air collapsed inward.

Chains of dark energy erupted from the ground, snaring their wrists and throat before they could react.

A strangled gasp. A flare of resistance.

But my spell held firm.

The hunt was over.

I stepped forward, my gaze cold.

“Struggling is pointless,” I murmured. “Speak, or perish.”

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Interrogation in the Shadows

They thrashed once, then went still.

A wise choice.

I crouched beside them, watching as their hood fell back.

A woman.

She had sharp, intelligent eyes—and no fear.

I arched a brow. “You expected to be caught.”

She smiled faintly. “By the kingdom? No. By you?” Her gaze darkened. “I knew it was only a matter of time.”

Interesting.

I leaned closer. “Who sent you?”

She exhaled slowly. “No one.”

A lie.

I grabbed her throat, pressing just hard enough to make a point. “You have one chance to tell the truth.”

Her lips parted, but instead of fear—she laughed.

“Kill me if you wish, Prince,” she whispered. “But that won’t change the fact that I already know what you are.”

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The Unspoken Truth

Silence.

The rain pattered against the stones, the cold wind cutting between us.

I didn’t flinch, but inwardly, I understood.

This was no ordinary spy.

She wasn’t just searching for secrets. She had already found them.

I eased my grip, eyes narrowing. “What do you think I am?”

She tilted her head, a slow, knowing smile forming.

“Something that doesn’t belong in this world.”

A dangerous statement.

One that I should have silenced immediately.

But instead—I let her speak.

Because for the first time since my reincarnation—I wasn’t certain how much my enemy knew.

And that made her valuable.

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Evelyn’s Relentless Hunt

Elsewhere in the palace, Evelyn was moving.

She had been relentless these past days, following every whisper, every strange occurrence.

And now?

She stood before the Grand Librarian, demanding answers.

“There is something happening in this court,” she said firmly. “And I intend to find out what.”

The librarian hesitated. “Lady Evelyn, I assure you—”

She leaned in, her voice a quiet blade.

“You don’t need to assure me.” Her violet eyes burned. “You need to tell me everything you know.”

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The Shadow of the Past

Back in the darkened alley, I crouched beside my captive, studying her.

“Why now?” I asked. “Why reveal yourself now?”

She exhaled. “Because you were never meant to be here.”

Not in this palace. Not in this life.

And in that moment—I realized something.

She didn’t just know my secret.

She knew the past.

My past.

The life I had lost.

I inhaled slowly. “You will tell me everything.”

She smiled faintly. “If you let me live.”

A bargain. A risk.

And yet—one I couldn’t ignore.

The snare had tightened.

But I had just realized—I might not be the one holding the rope.

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