Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 7
Overview
Evie’s resurrection is revealed as part of a planned deception involving sleeping-death fruit, but Evie abandons secrecy when King Benedict moves to expose Trystan. By publicly defending Trystan, wounding Benedict, and triggering the hidden Malevolent Guard’s reveal, Evie transforms herself from presumed victim into an active threat.
The chapter shifts the balance of power in the ballroom: Benedict’s staged triumph collapses, Trystan regains hope, and Evie proves that the king’s underestimation of women may be fatal.
Summary
Evie reveals that her apparent death was caused by a rare magical sleeping-death fruit Becky procured, and that its cure was supposed to wake Evie before King Benedict displayed her in the ballroom. After escaping clumsily from the propped-open coffin, Evie intended to hide in the shadows while her plan unfolded, but seeing Trystan about to be unmasked makes Evie step into the light instead.
The nobles panic and accuse Evie of necromancy and witchcraft, but Evie enjoys being seen as dangerous rather than weak. Evie addresses King Benedict with open defiance, and Trystan, still chained and masked, visibly revives when Trystan sees Evie alive and hears Evie speak.
King Benedict grabs Evie and tries to reframe Evie’s survival as proof of another Villain trick, claiming Trystan manipulated Evie and made Evie The Villain’s final victim. Evie refuses that label, draws a hidden dagger, holds it to King Benedict’s throat, and declares, “I. Am. Not. A. Victim.”
King Benedict mocks Evie’s choice to save Trystan, asking whether Evie believes it is good or just. Evie embraces the accusation by calling it an evil choice, then slashes King Benedict’s cheek and demands that Benedict release Trystan and Arthur Maverine in exchange for everyone else’s lives.
When King Benedict and the guards laugh at Evie’s threat, Evie stalls long enough to remind Benedict that many members of The Villain’s Malevolent Guard are women. Tatianna emerges from the crowd and launches a pocket light, signaling hidden female members of the Malevolent Guard throughout the ballroom to reveal themselves in uniform.
King Benedict realizes that his assumptions about women have allowed The Villain’s forces to infiltrate the gathering. Evie sees fear replace condescension in Benedict’s eyes and ends the chapter by warning that whatever happens next is on him, because Evie tried to warn King Benedict.
Who Appears
- Evie SageReveals her fake death, chooses Trystan, defies Benedict, and springs the Malevolent Guard ambush.
- King BenedictTries to expose Trystan, dismisses Evie, and is wounded and outmaneuvered.
- TrystanChained and masked captive whose hope returns when Evie appears alive and defiant.
- TatiannaHidden among the nobles, releases the pocket-light signal for the Malevolent Guard.
- Arthur MaverineNamed captive whom Evie demands Benedict release alongside Trystan.
- The Malevolent GuardFemale infiltrators hidden among the guests, revealing themselves after Evie’s signal.
- The Valiant GuardsBenedict’s guards surround Evie and prepare to seize her on the king’s orders.