Camilla vs Noble consort

The cold blade of the guard's sword brushed against the skin of Camilla's throat.

"Audacious slave!" the guard hissed, his eyes wide with fury. "How dare you speak in the presence of the Noble Consort!"

The air in the Jade Pavilion froze. The stringed music died instantly. The eunuchs and maids stared at Camilla as if she were already a corpse.

"Wait."

The Noble Consort's voice cut through the silence like breaking glass. She stood up, her gold and violet robes rustling against the stone floor. She bypassed the trembling court scholars and walked right up to the ornate wooden screen, looking down at Camilla, whose blue eyes didn't falter or blink at the sight of the blade on her throat.

The Noble Consort smiled. "A laundry maid who reads the grid? That's intriguing. If you are right, you will take his place and play against me. But if you are wrong... you won't need to worry about scrubbing clothes ever again." She said as she looked at the guard, and he reluctantly withdrew his sword.

"Step inside, CEO," the fox's voice purred in Camilla's mind. "And try not to get your tongue cut out. I hate the sound of gagging."

Camilla adjusted her grip on the heavy wooden basin, stepped past the guard, and entered the lavish pavilion. The scent of burning lotus incense hit her nose, thick and heavy. She handed the basin to the maid who stood at the corner and bowed before the Consort.

"You say the game will end in five moves?" The Noble Consort said with a soft smile.

"I only spoke what the board revealed, Your Highness," Camilla said, her voice smooth and calm as she continued to bow.

"We shall see," the Noble Consort said, gesturing to the massive slate board. The court scholar scrambled away from the cushions, his face pale with shame. "Sit," she commanded.

Camilla took her place on the silk cushion. Across from the Noble Consort, the grid was a chaotic mess of black and white stones. The black stones, representing the court scholar's territory, were being strangled from the margins.

"It is black's turn," the Consort said, leaning back on her chaise lounge, a silver cup of plum wine in her hand. "You have five moves to reverse black's loss. Begin."

Camilla's eyes scanned the board. Her modern, executive brain automatically translated the stones into a corporate battlefield. The scholar had been playing defensively, trying to preserve his core assets while the Consort systematically cut off his supply chains.

'He's trying to build a wall. But walls can be bypassed,' she pondered.

She reached into the bowl of black stones. Her raw, lye-burned fingers contrasted sharply with the polished obsidian.

Camilla wasn't trying to save the trapped black stones in the center; she was using them as bait. While the Noble Consort focused on crushing the center, Camilla's corner pieces had silently linked up, surrounding the Consort's main vanguard from behind.

Move five. Camilla clicked a black stone firmly into the slate.

"That's very good, CEO. One more move and you have won. Just place your black piece there and it's game over for the Consort," Skye said.

Camilla grabbed another piece of black stones, about to score, when she looked at the Noble Consort's face. Her face showed a mix of amusement, shock, and a hint of anger or jealousy. The Noble Consort stared at Camilla, accepting her defeat, but then Camilla placed the last piece in a different spot, losing the game.

"What is wrong with you? I know you are dumb, but I didn't expect you to be this dumb! Now you've lost, and she will order your execution," Skye snapped.

'Relax, Skye, I know what I'm doing. Trust me,' Camilla thought to herself.

The Noble Consort played her last piece and won the game.

"Game over. I win," the Noble Consort said.

Claps began to erupt from the crowd of servants.

"That's our mistress. She's so talented and unbeatable," one maid said, praising the Noble Consort.

"Of course, she is the unbeatable champion. How dumb of that lowly maid to think she could actually defeat Her Highness," another maid mocked Camilla.

"Your Highness, you are truly as wise and unbeatable as the rumours say. I'm honoured to have been able to play a match with you. Now I can die in peace with no regrets," Camilla bowed her head.

"What did you say your name was again?" the Noble Consort asked.

"Camilla, Your Highness, but you may call this lowly servant whatever pleases you," Camilla said, still bowing her head.

The Noble Consort picked up her teacup and drank slightly from it so elegantly that her lips barely touched the cup.

"I enjoyed my game with you today, and I would love to play with you again. Maybe we could learn a thing or two from each other."

The Consort slowly set her cup down.

"From this day on, you are no longer a laundry maid," the Consort declared, her eyes gleaming with genuine satisfaction. "You will be my personal attendant in the inner court. You will manage my activities and play against me every evening."

"It is such a great honour. Thank you, Your Highness," Camilla said, bowing low, as a soft smile spread across her lips.

[Side Quest: Get selected as the Noble Consort's maid, completed.]

[Total Points: 500]

[Skills Unlocked]

[Skill: Agility (Level 1)]

[Skill: Cold Composure - Emotional fluctuations suppressed by 40%]

[System Shop: Basic Tier Unlocked]

"Not bad, CEO," Skye's voice chimed in her mind.

"You just bought yourself a ticket out of the dirt. How did you know losing the game would work?"

'Well, it's thanks to the book you gave me last night. I learnt that the Noble Consort was able to catch the King's heart and become a Noble Consort by defeating not just the King but also a rival from another kingdom. That's when she got the name "Unbeatable Queen of Go." If I had won against her now, it would have taken away her title, and she would have been ashamed. And if she really does have the type of temper the book says she has, I would have been headless by now,' Camilla thought to herself.

"I guess you aren't as dumb as I thought you were after all," Skye replied.

'Of course. Being at the top for so long, I know the one thing that matters to people with power is pride. If I take that away from her, what else would she have?' Camilla responded.

"Smart, really smart," Skye praised.

The system interface suddenly popped up and glowed red.

[Urgent Quest Triggered]

[Quest: Save the Noble Consort…]

[Reward: 2,000 Points]

[Failure to Complete: Death]

'What? Protect the Consort from what? Death?' Camilla thought to herself.

"Your Highness, look out!"

A sudden, terrified scream brought Camilla out of her thoughts. From the roof of the pavilion, three shadows dropped down like falling leaves.

They were dressed in black clothes, their faces masked. The lead assassin lunged straight towards the Noble Consort, his long dagger aimed directly at her throat. The nobles widened their eyes in surprise. There was no time to react.

Panic surged through Camilla's body as she took in heavy breaths.

'If the Consort dies here, my ladder to the King will be gone, and I will be killed again. I don't want to die…'

"Camilla, do something." Skye's voice roared in Camilla's mind, bringing her out of her thoughts.

Camilla flinched as she came out of her thoughts. She scanned the place and saw the wooden basin. With her newly added agility, she grabbed the heavy wooden basin filled with wet, heavy crimson silks and flung it with all her might straight into the assassin's path.

The heavy basin struck his chest, exploding into a wave of wet fabric that tangled around his arms and threw off his balance. The dagger sliced through the air, missing the Noble Consort's throat by mere inches.

"Guards!" the Consort screamed, stumbling back.

The assassin snarled, ripping the wet silk away. His cold, dark eyes locked onto Camilla with absolute murderous intent. He raised his dagger again, stepping over the ruined Go board, lunging straight for her heart.

Camilla froze. She had no weapon, and her back was pressed against the pavilion wall.

The assassin's blade lunged forward, closing the distance between them.

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