Selena blinked at the empty space where Heihei had been. She wasn't entirely sure how their connection worked, but Heihei always seemed to know what she needed without her having to explain much.
"Wait," she called after it. "You know where the party is?"
Heihei paused mid-step, licking its paw nonchalantly.
"Of course I do," it replied smugly. "Your thoughts are an open book to me, my dear master. Lady Evelyn's estate isn't far. I'll handle the spying, so you can stop sulking."
Selena opened her mouth to protest, but before she could get a word in, Heihei's form shimmered. It melted into the shadows near the corner of the room, vanishing completely.
Selena leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly. "Well... That's one way to deal with it."
Heihei moved during the day, leaping from shadow to shadow with uncanny grace. The bustling streets of the capital were alive with chatter, carriages, and vendors, but the cat remained unseen, its shadowy form blending seamlessly into its surroundings. Its destination: Lady Evelyn's estate.
The estate loomed in the distance, a grand building adorned with intricate carvings and surrounded by manicured gardens.
It was a hive of activity with servants rushing to and fro with last-minute preparations for the upcoming event. Heihei slipped past the gates unnoticed, weaving through the shadows cast by the tall hedges and statues.
Inside the grand ballroom, Clara stood near a table piled with decorations, her hands idly adjusting a bouquet of flowers. Her expression was tense, her movements distracted. Lady Evelyn, dressed in an elegant yet understated gown, directed the servants with sharp precision, her voice cutting through the din like a whip.
"Place the arrangements by the arch," Evelyn ordered, gesturing toward the far corner of the room. "And make sure the crystal glasses are polished to perfection. I won't have anyone thinking I host subpar soirées."
Clara hesitated, glancing toward Evelyn as she finished her instructions. "Maybe we shouldn't do this," she said softly, her voice uncertain.
Evelyn turned to her sharply, an incredulous look crossing her face. "What are you talking about?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip.
Clara looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Selena's already called off the engagement. There's no point in antagonising her further. What if it backfires?"
Evelyn let out a scoffing laugh, striding over to Clara and grabbing her hands firmly. "Oh, Clara, you're too kind for your own good," she said, her tone laced with condescension.
"You're engaged to the Northern Duke now. Why not finally take your revenge? After all the years Selena lorded her position over you, after all the times she humiliated you, don't you think it's time to settle the score?"
Clara bit her lip, her gaze flickering between Evelyn and the decorations. "It just feels... Unnecessary," she murmured. "Nicholas—he wouldn't want me to—"
Clara didn't hear back from Nicholas. She went to meet him but she was immediately refused. She couldn't tell Evelyn that they were not engaged. She couldn't bring herself to say it... She anticipated the questions that would be raised if she revealed that information.
"Nicholas isn't here, is he?" Evelyn interrupted, her voice sharp. "And honestly, if he cared so much about her, why would he get engaged to you immediately after breaking it off with her?"
Evelyn stepped closer, her emerald eyes gleaming with determination. "This isn't just about you, Clara. It's about showing everyone that Selena Whitlock doesn't get to escape her fall from grace without consequences."
Clara hesitated, her fingers curling into fists. Deep down, a part of her wanted to let it go, but Evelyn's words struck a chord. All her life, she'd been pushed aside, and treated as lesser, even by her own family. Now, she was finally in a position of power, and Evelyn was offering her the chance to assert it.
"You're right," Clara said, though her voice lacked conviction. "I shouldn't feel bad for her."
Evelyn smiled, satisfied, and patted Clara's shoulder. "That's the spirit. Now, go oversee the servants in the dining hall. I want everything to be perfect when our dear Selena arrives."
Clara nodded and left the room, though her steps were slow, her thoughts were racing, they were about how to finally give Selena back everything she had endured.
From a high beam overlooking the ballroom, Heihei crouched silently, its golden eyes narrowing as it watched the exchange. Evelyn's manipulation was clear, but Clara's reluctance intrigued the cat.
"Interesting," Heihei thought, its tail flicking thoughtfully. "The little lamb has teeth but no bite. Evelyn's pulling all the strings."
It leapt silently to the next shadowy corner, positioning itself to eavesdrop further as the preparations continued. The more it learned, the more it could report back to Selena. This party wasn't just a gathering—it was a battlefield in disguise.
Heihei returned to Selena's chambers in the dead of night, slinking through the shadows and appearing on the edge of her bed as if it had materialised out of thin air. Selena sat up, startled at first, but her surprise quickly faded when she saw the familiar glint of the cat's golden eyes.
"You're back," she said, reaching out to scratch behind Heihei's ears. The cat let out a satisfied purr before settling on her lap. "What did you find out?"
Heihei tilted its head, its expression unusually serious. "They're planning something," it said, its voice soft yet brimming with disdain. "That woman, Evelyn, seems to be the one organising it. She wants to use the fact that Nicholas and you are not engaged anymore... To humiliate you."
Selena's hand froze mid-stroke. "Humiliate me?" she asked, her voice calm but with an edge of steel. Hah, she really could not have a peaceful day.
The cat nodded. "They think it'll be a grand spectacle. Evelyn suggested they flaunt Clara's engagement to Nicholas as a way to mock you, to remind everyone of how 'pitiful' you were in your so-called attempts to win him over."