Chapter 65 Chapter 65: Victor Privileges
Senna’s POV
The paperwork arrived in a box. I was sitting at the dining room table nibbling on fresh fruit when the servant came in.
It wasn’t a folder or a thin stack of documents tied neatly with ribbon. It was an actual box. It was large enough that the servant carrying it had to brace it both hands. He entered without meeting my eyes and set it carefully on the table in front of me.
“Victor privileges,” he said stiffly. Then he left before I could answer.
The door clicked shut behind him. I set down my fruit and stared at the box for a long time.
It looked expensive. It was made out of dark polished wood with brass corners. The crest of the Capital carved neatly into the lid. Verity stirred uneasily beneath my skin.
“I don’t like it,” she said.
“I know,” I muttered.
Slowly, I lifted the lid.
Inside, the documents were arranged with care. They were separated into sections by thin dividers. Every page was crisp. Someone had spent a lot of time making this look clean. It was all very…official.
My mouth tightened as I pulled out the first section.
Estate Allocation: Sector 3
I leaned back against the table as I read through the documents. The details of the estate were exhaustive, right down to square footage and staffing allowances. It listed everything, from land ownership rights to assigned household staff. There was security personnel and resource access.
This was my reward package for winning the games.
The document described an estate in Sector 3 large enough to house several families comfortably. There were sketches attached near the back. I stared at the stone terraces, private gardens, servants’ quarters, and of course, training grounds. It was everything I’d spent my life hating wrapping up in an expensive box.
I remembered the houses back home. It wasn’t uncommon for five people to share rooms that were too small to breathe in properly. I remembered patched heating systems that failed every winter and the ration lines that stretched for blocks.
This estate had its own garden.
My fingers tightened against the edge of the paper.
“No,” I said quietly. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t what I wanted. I set the document aside without signing them.
Then I picked up next section. It was thinner.
Stipend Allocation.
I almost laughed when I saw the numbers.
It was more money than I’d ever had in my entire life. Hell, it was more than most people in the sectors would ever see. It listed the monthly transfers. The emergency accounts. The open access lines approved directly through the Capital treasury.
I sat at the figures while unease twisted low in my stomach. Money like this changed people. I had seen it happen before. But refusing it outright felt dangerous too.
The Capital noticed refusals. This was what they wanted. This was what the winners got. The nobility wanted this for the winners. It was their way of acting like they were at least giving the winner something. Like the games did, in fact, come with a prize.
I wouldn’t sign this yet though. I would let it sit untouched until I figured out what to do. Verity stayed silent, but I felt her attention sharpen as I reached for the next divider.
Broadcast Tour Authorization.
Right. That.
I scanned the pages slowly, and my irritation grew with every line. The wording was polished and pleasant in the way that made me angry. The document was full of phrases like ‘civic outreach’ and ‘victor appearances’.
There were schedules already drafted for appearances across the sectors. My appearances. They had public interviews arranged. Ceremonial events. Broadcast dinners. The documents went on to list restrictions on travel routes. As well as restrictions on speaking topics.
It was all decided for me. They were going to parade me around through the districts whether I liked it or not.
The final page offered destination preferences. Which sector or sectors would I like to visit? I was a bit surprised that I had a choice in that. My hand stilled over the page. A strange tightness settled in my chest at the sight of it.
Sector 6. My home. I hadn’t seen it since the Games. I hadn’t let myself think too hard about what waited there now.
The pen hovered above the paper for only a second before I marked the selection.
Sector 6.
That decision came easier than the others. Because no matter what the Capital wanted from the tour, I needed to go home at least once. I had to see my home again with my own two eyes. Of course, I’d be heavily supervised while I was there. But it was still better than nothing.
Glancing into the box, I saw that there was one more file. It rested at the bottom of the box. It was thicker than the others.
A cold feeling slid through me before I even pulled it free.
Tribute Nomination: Next Games
My stomach tightened instantly. For a moment, I didn’t open it. I already knew what was inside.
Victors were allowed to nominate names for future Games selections. I opened the file.
Inside sat a single sheet of paper. At the center was one blank line.
It was waiting. Waiting for me to nominate someone. The room felt suddenly too quiet. I stared at the empty space longer than I should have. I could write any name. Someone I hated. Someone innocent. The Capital wouldn’t care. That was the point.
The Games survived because of this. Because of the people who were bought and forced into the games, like I’d been. And because of nominations. Whoever I nominated would have no choice. They would have to play. Those were the rules.
Verity stirred again, restless and angry beneath my skin.
That was not something I could do. I could never send another person to that island. I didn’t care what the rules were.
Unless…
One name did come to mind. The name of the man who had sent me to the games in the first place.
Kalen.
The man who had betrayed me. He’d taken all my money and sold me. Could I put his name down? He deserved it. But I wasn’t sure if I could do that.
It was something I’d have to think about. I slid the paper back into the box unsigned and untouched. But I didn’t close the lid.
Not yet.
Because the more I thought about it, the more I knew, deep down, that sending Kalen into the games would give me the vengeance I so desperately wanted.
He had made his bed. Nominating him for the games would make sure he had to lie in it.