The arena was still buzzing with energy after their victorious final trial. The air was thick with excitement, the crowd's cheers still echoing in her ears. As the seven of them stepped down from the platform, she couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. They had proven themselves, and the bond they shared had deepened in ways she had never anticipated.
"Did you see that?" Light exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "We actually did it!"
Draco smiled, a genuine look of admiration crossing his face. "I knew we could. We're stronger together, and that's all that matters."
As they made their way through the throngs of people, Seventeen felt a rush of warmth from their camaraderie. They were a team, united by shared struggles and triumphs. But beneath the surface, an unsettling sense of unease began to settle within her, tightening her chest as the rulers of the Zodiac Archipelago prepared to approach them.
It would be the first time since she arrived at Downtown Zodiac as Serena D'Angelo that she would formally meet all the leaders of the twelve districts, all twenty four of them. That she would have their focus on her.
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Draco could sense the palpable tension in Serena's posture. As they gathered for the rulers' celebration, she stood slightly apart from the group, her body rigid. It was unusual—she had been so confident during the trial aside from the two challenges that forced them to face their fears, yet now she seemed withdrawn.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, stepping closer to her. "You look a bit… stiff."
"I'm fine," she replied, her smile tight and unconvincing. "Just… a bit overwhelmed."
He nodded, but his concern lingered. Something wasn't right. He glanced back at the other rulers as they approached. The twelve couples, representatives of each district, were adorned in regal attire, their presence commanding respect.
※※※
As the rulers began to congratulate them, Seventeen felt a chill run down her spine. Their eyes—especially those of the Gemini rulers of Twinscott—seemed to linger on her for just a moment longer than necessary. She forced herself to remain composed, but an old instinct urged her to retreat.
"Congratulations on your victory!" Jove de Lavissaye said, his voice booming as he stepped forward with Astraea beside him. "You've all shown tremendous strength and unity."
The other rulers followed suit, showering them with praise and rewards. But amidst the flattery and cheers, Seventeen's heart raced as she caught a glimpse of the Gemini leaders, their expressions a mixture of intrigue and recognition.
["Please, no. No. No. No. It's too soon."]
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He noticed how Seventeen's smile faltered when the Gemini rulers approached. Their gaze had turned to her, curiosity flickering in their eyes. Draco felt a pang of unease; he had never seen her react this way before.
"Who is this, De Lavissaye?" Zane Doom asked Draco's father, his tone almost contemplative. "This young woman certainly has a remarkable presence."
Draco's brow furrowed slightly at the familiarity in the way Zane spoke. He exchanged glances with Claus and Hunter, who appeared equally puzzled. What did they know that they didn't?
Why were they acting as if they didn't know who she was when she had been presented as Dr. Serena D'Angelo countless times?
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As the rulers continued to congratulate them, Seventeen struggled to maintain her composure. The lingering gazes of the Gemini leaders ignited a spark of anxiety deep within her. She could feel the weight of their gazes, the unspoken questions hanging in the air.
"I appreciate the recognition," she said, forcing a smile as she stepped forward to receive a reward—a shimmering pendant representing Cancer, the symbol of healing and emotional connections. "It means a lot."
"Your strength and resilience are admirable," Gwyn Vaughn added, her voice warm but sharp, as if she were trying to see past the facade Seventeen wore.
["I feel faint."]
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Draco noticed how Serena's voice wavered, just slightly, as she spoke to Gwyn. The disconnect between her confident demeanor during the trial and her present unease nagged at him. "Serena, are you sure you're alright?" he pressed, his concern deepening.
"Really, I am," she insisted, though the tightness in her smile betrayed her.
He watched as their eyes met briefly, a flicker of understanding passing between them. But then the moment was gone, replaced by the cheerful chatter of their friends and the rulers.
※※※
As they continued to mingle, Seventeen felt increasingly aware of the rulers of Twinscott watching her. She tried to brush it off, focusing on the celebration around them, but it was hard to ignore the feeling of being dissected. It was almost as if they were trying to place her, trying to remember a face that had long since faded into memory. Zane's amethyst and Gwyn's emerald eyes watching her so intensely it made her want to hide, want to run, to avoid them from looking at her for too long.
She knew they were feel familiar, but she didn't expect them to gaze her so shamelessly in the open. ["You're making it difficult for me here, fuck, stop looking. I can feel your eyes burning my skin at the back of my neck."] But they couldn't hear her, so they didn't stop, unable to control their curiosity, the sense of deja vu that looking at her gave them.
The tension mounted within her until she felt ready to explode. "I think I need some air," she murmured, slipping away from the group before anyone could stop her.
※※※
"Wait, Serena!" Draco called, but she was already weaving through the crowd. He exchanged worried glances with the others. "We should follow her."
As they hurried after her, Draco couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper lay beneath her unease, something that connected her to the Gemini rulers in a way he didn't yet understand.
※※※
Finding a quiet corner away from the noise, Seventeen leaned against a cool stone wall, taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention, yet here she was, standing on the edge of a precipice, teetering between her past and the present.
"Why can't I just let it go?" she muttered under her breath, closing her eyes.
["I would be screwed if Samantha had come with them. She wouldn't have any doubts. I wish Corvos was here, I would have a reason to hide in the shadows, away from their gazes."]
She felt a presence beside her and opened her eyes to find Draco standing there, concern etched on his face. "I just wanted to check on you. You seemed—"
"—off?" she finished, a bitter smile creeping onto her lips. "I don't know, maybe I am."
"Talk to me, Serena," he urged, stepping closer. "You don't have to carry this alone."
As she looked into his ice-blue eyes, she saw sincerity and a growing bond that reassured her. "I just… sometimes the past has a way of creeping in. It's nothing I can't handle," she replied, determined to keep the truth buried.
But deep down, she knew that whatever connection the Gemini rulers felt to her was just the beginning of something she couldn't afford to allow unfolding yet. If they knew... if they learned the truth, her plan would go south, it could jeopardize everything.
She wasn't her old self anymore, she couldn't let that happen. More than anything, she knew she couldn't trust in anyone else with this, definitely not any of the six heirs. It would bring too many things up, things that would end up wounded all of them, she wasn't ready to face that.
Seventeen doubted she would ever be, but she knew better than to think the day would never come. When it does, she'll regret hiding it for too long. But until that day arrived, she would keep lying to everyone, to herself.