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As the night deepened, Evelina returned to the manor's main hall, only to find Marius waiting for her.
"Evelina," he greeted, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "You're up late."
"As are you," she replied, arching an eyebrow. "What brings you here?"
"Curiosity," Marius said, stepping closer. "I saw you speaking with the Duke earlier. What did he have to say?"
Evelina's lips curved into a smile. "Oh, nothing of consequence. Just his usual warnings and veiled threats."
Marius chuckled. "Typical Cedric. Always so protective of his precious Seraphina."Evelina's smile tightened. "She's not as untouchable as he thinks. Cedric may protect her now, but he can't watch her forever."
"And what do you plan to do about it?" Marius asked, his tone almost playful.
Evelina's expression turned cold. "What I must. Seraphina may have changed, but she's not invincible. Sooner or later, she'll make a mistake—and when she does, I'll be there to ensure it's her last."
Marius nodded approvingly. "Just don't underestimate her again, Evelina. You only get so many chances in this game."
Evelina's smile returned, but it was devoid of warmth. "Don't worry, Marius. I won't."
Web of Deception.
Amelia sat in Lady Seraphina's grand study, her delicate fingers tracing the edges of the letters scattered across the desk. Each one was a fragment of a larger puzzle—Evelina's manipulations, Cedric's cold betrayal, and Lilith's calculating mind. She felt the weight of Seraphina's legacy pressing down on her, demanding she act, even as the fear of misstep loomed.
The knock at the door startled her, and she quickly slid the letters into a drawer. "Enter," she called, forcing a tone of authority she barely believed in.
Lilith stepped inside, her presence commanding as always. Her emerald eyes seemed to pierce through Amelia, and for a moment, Amelia worried she'd see the truth—that this wasn't the real Seraphina. "Lady Seraphina," Lilith began, her voice smooth but with a hint of steel. "I thought I'd find you here, brooding as always."
Amelia forced a small smirk. "You mistake planning for brooding, Lilith. What brings you here?"
Lilith took a seat without invitation, crossing her legs elegantly. "The alliances you've made—or failed to maintain—are crumbling. Evelina's influence grows by the day, and Cedric…" She paused, letting the name hang in the air. "Cedric seems more distant than ever."
Amelia's heart raced, but she kept her expression calm. "Cedric's loyalty isn't my concern," she said, feigning confidence. "What matters is that our enemies are kept in check.". Lilith tilted her head, studying her. "And yet, I hear whispers that you've been avoiding confrontation. That's not like you, Seraphina."
Amelia clenched her fists beneath the desk, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn't let Lilith see her falter. "Perhaps I've learned that patience can be more effective than brute force."
Lilith's lips curved into a sly smile. "Perhaps. But patience only works when you hold all the cards. Do you?"
Before Amelia could respond, a servant appeared at the door. "My lady, Lord Cedric requests an audience with you."
Lilith arched a brow, clearly intrigued. "Well, this should be interesting." She stood, her gown swishing softly as she moved toward the door. "Don't keep him waiting too long, Seraphina. He's not known for his patience. As the door closed behind Lilith, Amelia exhaled deeply. She wasn't ready to face Cedric, but she had no choice.
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The Tension with Cedric
Cedric was waiting in the drawing room, his posture as composed as ever. His dark eyes met hers the moment she entered, and Amelia felt a chill run down her spine.
"You've been avoiding me," he said without preamble.
"I've been busy," she replied curtly, taking a seat across from him.
Cedric leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Busy doing what, Seraphina? Watching as Evelina strengthens her position? Letting Lilith play her games unchecked? This isn't the woman I once believed in."
Amelia's breath caught. She didn't know how to respond, and the weight of his disappointment was almost unbearable. "Maybe," she said slowly, "you've forgotten that I don't need your approval to lead."
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought she'd gone too far. But then his expression softened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
"Perhaps," he said quietly. "But if you continue down this path, you'll lose everything."
Amelia watched him leave, her heart heavy with the knowledge that Cedric wasn't just an ally she couldn't afford to lose—he was also the one person who could expose her for who she really was.