When Rachel started talking about blends, I zoned out immediately. I mean, I had more important things to think about. Like how I used to fail math and science. Those were my sworn enemies back in the day, and honestly? I'm so glad I don't have to deal with them anymore. Bye-bye, exams, and good riddance. Who needs calculus when you're stuck in a novel trying not to get killed, am I right?
Rachel was still talking. I could feel my eyelids drooping. Why do noblewomen talk so much? Celine, ever the observant one, must have noticed my glazed-over look because she suddenly asked me a question about blends. I blinked, caught off guard.
"Uh, I… I don't know anything about that," I said, completely honest. Because, seriously, what do I know about blends? In my old life, the closest I got to anything fancy was deciding whether or not I wanted ketchup on my burger.
But the moment the words left my mouth, the air in the room changed. Celine and Rachel looked at me like I had just declared I was an alien from Mars.
Oops. I forgot for a second. I wasn't supposed to be Seira Fallon anymore. I was Irina Everhart. And Irina? She knew everything about fashion, jewelry, and yes—blends. I could practically feel the weight of their shock pressing down on me. The rumors about Irina painted her as a borderline genius when it came to this stuff. So how could she, the famously stylish Irina, not know something so basic?
Rachel, looking a bit thrown, cleared her throat and smiled at me. "But, Lady Irina, the rumors say you're obsessed with fashion and jewelry," she said carefully, like she was trying to remind me of who I was supposed to be.
I felt a flicker of irritation. Rumors. Why did everyone in this house live and breathe rumors? I forced myself to stay calm and composed, though it wasn't easy. "It's just a rumor. Don't believe everything you hear." I tried to keep my voice light, but the annoyance was creeping in.
In reality, I'd much rather be playing on my phone right now. You know, checking my Instagram or maybe watching TikToks. But here I was, stuck talking about fashion blends with a noblewoman and her perfect maid.
Celine, ever so helpful, suggested a few blend ideas to me. She was good at this stuff, way better than Irina ever was. And that's probably why Irina had always been so jealous of her. Celine's natural talent just made her shine.
I nodded along, pretending to be interested, but honestly, I was just trying to survive this conversation. My goal was to stay on Celine's good side. If I could do that, maybe Ezra and Noah wouldn't be so quick to kill me off.
Just as I was thinking this, Noah suddenly walked in. Ah, yes, the male lead. He had finally arrived.
I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he greeted everyone with that charming smile of his. He was handsome, no doubt about that. In fact, he had this happy-go-lucky aura that seemed to draw people in. But his smile disappeared the moment his eyes landed on me. Great. Apparently, Irina really was that hated.
Poor Noah. He had no idea that Celine wasn't in love with him—she was head over heels for Ezra, my husband. That was probably the weirdest part of all this. I never finished reading the novel, so there were gaps in my knowledge. All I knew for sure was that Ezra and Celine were supposed to end up together, and Noah… well, he was left out in the cold.
Noah seemed to have come here specifically for Celine because after a few minutes of pleasantries, he gently took her aside. My eyes narrowed. Oh, I knew where this was going.
And that's when I decided to throw a wrench in the storyline.
"I want Celine as my personal maid," I said, my voice clear and casual, like I wasn't just dropping a bomb on everyone.
The room went dead silent. Rachel looked shocked. Celine looked shocked. Even Noah, who had been all smiles a moment ago, now looked completely dumbfounded. I smiled to myself. Oh, of course they were all shocked. Celine was their precious one. The one everyone adored. But I needed her on my side if I was going to survive. Having her close to me meant safety. It meant those two simps, Noah and Ezra, wouldn't dare try to kill me.
Noah's shock quickly turned into suspicion. "Why?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"I just do," I said, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I tilted my head, giving him a look that was both childish and determined. "I'm married to Ezra, so I'm part of the Everhart family now. And as part of the family, I want Celine to be my personal maid. Simple."
Noah's jaw tightened. "No."
I blinked, playing innocent. "No?"
His eyes were stormy now, annoyance flickering behind that handsome face of his. "Celine isn't going to be your personal maid," he said firmly. "She's—"
I cut him off. "She's just a maid. I don't see why not." I crossed my arms, keeping my voice light and playful, like I didn't notice how tense things were getting.
Noah's expression darkened in a second, and for a brief moment, I thought he might explode. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, but he managed to keep himself calm—barely.
"Come with me," he said through gritted teeth. "I want to talk to you alone."
I raised an eyebrow, but I didn't argue. I got up and followed him out of the room, leaving Rachel and Celine behind.
Once we were alone, Noah turned on me, his eyes blazing with anger. "What are you trying to do?" he snapped. "You've already abused her enough. Just leave Celine alone."
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. "I haven't done anything to her. I want her as my personal maid, that's all."
"You're married to Ezra now, and you think that gives you the right to treat Celine however you want?" His voice was rising, and I could feel his frustration boiling over.
I narrowed my eyes. "I'm part of the Everhart family now. I have every right."
Noah's jaw clenched again, his face tense with barely-contained anger. "Just because I didn't return your feelings, and you and Ezra got married, doesn't mean you can use Celine to get my attention. You'll always be Irina Helgrave to me—a manipulative, selfish woman who doesn't deserve any kindness."
That stung. My irritation flared, and before I could stop myself, I shot back, "You're just angry because Celine loves Ezra and not you! You can't stand that your cousin—my husband—is the one she wants!"
Noah snapped. His face twisted with anger, and for a moment, I thought he might actually yell at me. But instead, he just stood there, fuming.
I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving him stewing in his own anger. Well, that went well, I thought sarcastically. Note to self: don't provoke the male lead.