"I can't even tell if this is Aurora's Deck or yours, Melusine," Jiang You quipped. Melusine's one-sided bond was so strong that Aurora's cards could summon her at will. However, the summoned Flame Calamity wasn't the Melusine standing beside Jiang You; it was just an empty, mindless shell.
A slender black dragon descended onto the field, its abruptly halted wings unleashing a powerful gust of wind. The immense pressure forced many of the watching Fairies to stumble back.
"Dragon Fairy Lancelot looks like that?! And she's the Flame Calamity?!"
While Melusine knew her true identity, the other Fairies did not. If they had, they would have immediately kept their distance.
"The Calamity was right beside me?!"
Aurora wasn't concerned about Lancelot's identity being exposed. She was too busy trying to save herself to worry about such things. In fact, this turn of events was actually beneficial for her. If Melusine were ostracized, she would become even more dependent on Aurora. All Aurora would have to do later was offer a few comforting words, and that foolish girl would forget everything and continue following her. She might not even need to offer any comfort at all.
Aurora's current dilemma was her hand. After drawing a massive number of cards, she now held seven, many of which were "evidence of her guilt." Playing them would only bolster Fairy Tristan's position. Aurora still wanted to make her exit in a blaze of perfect glory.
After much hesitation, she decided not to play those cards. Using Melusine's cards alone would be enough. Judging by their effects, Woodworth was no match for them.
"Next, I activate [Birth of the Dragon Fairy]! By discarding one card from my hand, I can Special Summon one [Fairy Knight Lancelot] from my Deck! Come forth, my proudest Knight!"
Besides strengthening her board presence, Aurora also intended this move as a signal for Melusine to return quickly and carry her away.
The petite knight answered the call, descending onto the battlefield.
[Fairy Knight Lancelot] Attack Power: 2800.
Jiang You felt the space before him empty—this time, it was the real Melusine who had been summoned away.
"Lady Aurora..."
Melusine found herself summoned into the duel by Aurora. She desperately wanted to explain everything but didn't know where to begin.
"Where on earth did you run off to?"
Aurora knew perfectly well that even if she won this duel, Morgan would never spare her. Melusine was her only lifeline. Swallowing all her frustration, she spoke with a gentle, pleading tone. "Please, come back! I need you!"
Before Melusine could respond, Jiang You leaned in with a wicked grin.
"Melusine, refuse her!"
Aurora glared at the self-important human. Who does he think he is, interrupting our conversation? "As if she'd ever listen to you!"
To her utter astonishment, Melusine's body trembled, and she agreed to his demand.
"I understand!"
"Melusine! What are you doing!?"
Aurora finally lost her composure. Melusine was her last lifeline, always utterly obedient. Why would she betray her for some strange human male? "Do you even know what you're saying!?"
"I'm sorry, Lady Aurora... I can't defy him..."
This blatant act of betrayal, happening right before her eyes, sent tremors through Melusine's entire body. She was on the verge of tears.
"Because..."
"Don't say it. Let her guess."
This concerned the setup for Fairy Tristan's role as the Savior, and Jiang You couldn't let Melusine reveal the details. He issued another command.
Melusine obediently shut her mouth. Though her expression was filled with reluctance, she executed Jiang You's order without hesitation.
Sensing Aurora's growing instability, Jiang You decided to fan the flames.
"Melusine, tell everyone the real reason you left Aurora's side! Let them all see the true face hidden beneath the glamorous exterior of Britain's most dazzling star!"
Such a one-sided account wouldn't be decisive on its own, but it was more than enough to be the final straw.
"Lady Aurora, I'm sorry!"
Tears welled in Melusine's eyes. With a choked cry, she reluctantly pulled the curse medium Aurora had given her from her robes. The black curse flowing across its activated surface made every fairy's legs go weak. "Lady Aurora ordered me to spread Mors' Curse outside to disrupt the Child of Prophecy's announcement ceremony. Because Tristan truly has a magic workshop underground dedicated to researching Mors' Curse, she planned to reveal both facts simultaneously. That way, Tristan's image as the Savior would crumble on its own."
"See? Tristan is researching Mors' Curse! I was just exposing her true nature!" Aurora struggled, but no one wanted to hear her excuses anymore.
"So, you're the one who unleashed Mors' Curse outside?!"
"Oh, by the way," Jiang You interjected smoothly, "nothing actually happened outside. Mors' Curse was never spread. Melusine refused to do it and told me everything."
Jiang You planned to separate Melusine from Aurora, so Mors' Curse absolutely could not be spread by her.
"The soldier who brought the news was an actor I hired," Jiang You explained. "The goal was to create chaos and bait Aurora into making her move, so we could expose her true nature to everyone! And it worked. The woman really is all looks and no brains—she couldn't resist taking the bait for a moment of satisfaction."
"You tricked me!"
Aurora's eternal smile finally shattered. With Melusine's betrayal, all her efforts had become worthless. She abandoned her carefully crafted persona and burst into laughter. "And you, you worthless lump of flesh! To betray me for a human male! Is it because spring has arrived and you're desperate to breed?"
At that moment, Aurora realized something. Her brilliance had always been about attracting attention, which was why she eliminated any obstacle in her path. Even someone as powerful as Morgan hadn't stopped her from plotting to pull her down from her pedestal. But shining brightly wasn't the only way to command everyone's gaze. Dominating the world like Morgan could also make all humans and fairies look up to her.
So she made her decision.
She would become the most wicked of fairies, her fangs gleaming with the most malevolent hue!
"It doesn't matter," Aurora declared. "Then you'll all get a good look at me! I'm raising the stakes of this Shadow Game!"
Aurora decided to rely on herself and the sinful history she had created.
"If I win, Tristan, you will strike down Morgan. If Morgan tries to stop you or attacks me, you will kill yourself! I want to see just how important you are to Morgan! Does she love you more, or does she love this throne more?"