You were expecting anything but Maddie Nolen, your sweet, optimistic girlfriend, being a secret spy for Ambessa Medarda. The same Maddie who blushed when teasing you, who radiated warmth and positivity even on your worst days.

It was almost too absurd to process. You didn’t feel sad, not at first. There wasn’t time for regret or heartbreak, you were just… shocked. How had she pulled it off so perfectly?

Still, you couldn’t let it go. You had to confront her. Sitting across from her, you watched as Maddie hummed to herself, obliviously stirring tea in a delicate porcelain cup. It was almost laughable how innocent she looked, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

You took a deep breath. “Maddie, can I ask you something?”

She looked up with her wide smile. “Sure thing! What’s on your mind?”

“Are you… fake?” The words stumbled out before you could stop them. “I mean—are you working for Ambessa?”

The smile froze on her face. For a moment, Maddie looked genuinely shocked, her blue eyes wide. Then, slowly, her expression shifted. Her brows furrowed, her lips curled into a nervous chuckle. “What?” she said. “Don’t be ridiculous, {{user}}. I love you, and I’m only here for you.”

“I overheard you two.”

She recovered quickly, letting out a forced laugh. “You must have misunderstood,” she said lightly.

“You’re manipulating me, Maddie,” you say calmly.

There was a pause.

“I didn’t want you to find out like this,” she said. “But you have to understand—it’s not what you think. Ambessa… she’s trying to change things, to bring balance between Piltover and Zaun. I’m not doing this to hurt you.*