Chapter summary
Chapter 3
Evie follows The Villain from the hallway onto the parapet walk, where she is visibly embarrassed and flustered. The Villain, emotionless at first, opens the doors to the view and comments on the scenery, prompting Evie to reminisce about her forest‑border village. He tells her he brought her out “to keep prying ears away” and hints at a grave matter. Their banter devolves into a nervous, rambling explanation from Evie about a “dirty dream” involving mud, which the Villain dismisses as unrelated.
The Villain then, with a cold smile, announces his intention to arrange Evie’s marriage to a river gremlin to secure safe passage for their shipments. Evie protests, but he remains unmoved, displaying his ruthless authority. He briefly jokes about humor, revealing a rare, unsettling grin and a dimple, then shifts the conversation back to business.
He explains that three shipments have been compromised in the past two months. The first loss involved Valiant Guards—King Benedict’s elite troops—who intercepted a cargo of four crates of royal weapons; only two were recovered by the Malevolent Guards, the manor’s own violent enforcers. He emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and hints that a traitor within the manor is responsible.
The dialogue moves to the manor’s internal staff. Evie mentions Rebecka Erring, a co‑worker who constantly antagonizes her, and the office pixies that mischievously scribble self‑portraits. Rebecka’s disdain for Evie is highlighted, as is her role in managing office drama. Evie also references the interns, Scatter Day challenges, and the dangerous games the Villain forces them to play, including a recent chase across the courtyard.
Throughout, The Villain’s demeanor oscillates between detached cruelty and occasional sardonic humor, underscoring his moral code: he values efficiency, loyalty, and the elimination of perceived threats. He ends the conversation by asking Evie how she can help uncover the traitor, leaving her to contemplate the growing list of suspicious employees she has been compiling in her gold‑foiled journal.