"This world wouldn't allow a woman to survive on beauty alone. It demanded sharp minds and sharper words."
***
A familiar voice broke the silence. "Lady Seraphina?"
She froze, her heart racing. Slowly, she turned to find Adrien Valmont standing in the doorway, his icy blue eyes illuminated by the soft glow of his lantern. His brown hair framed his chiseled features, and his lips curved into an unreadable smile.
"Your Highness," she greeted, curtsying out of habit. "To what do I owe this… unexpected visit?"
Adrien stepped closer, the air around him charged, pulling her into his orbit. "I might ask you the same. A noblewoman alone in the library at this hour? Intriguing."
"I needed answers," she replied evenly, meeting his gaze. "And I doubt they'd come to me in a dream."
"You handled yourself well tonight," he said at last, his voice quiet but firm. "I didn't expect such composure."
Evelyn tilted her head, her amber eyes meeting his without flinching. "Should I take that as a compliment, Your Highness?"
A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but it vanished as quickly as it had come. "Perhaps." He stepped closer, and she fought the urge to step back. His presence was overwhelming, his icy blue eyes piercing as if they could uncover her very soul.
"But it also makes me question you," he continued, his tone sharpening. "The Seraphina Aveline I've observed from a distance was timid, a shadow among brighter stars. Yet tonight, you spoke with a clarity and confidence that caught even me off guard. Why?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Evelyn's mind raced. How much should she reveal? She couldn't let him suspect the truth—her knowledge of the world, the story, him.
"Perhaps near-death experiences change people," she said, echoing the words she had spoken to Kael earlier. Her lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "Or perhaps you never truly noticed me before."
Adrien's eyes narrowed, his gaze calculating. "Oh, I noticed you, Lady Seraphina. It's my duty to notice everyone at court—especially those who might pose a threat."
His hand, almost unbidden, reached for hers, his fingers brushing the back of her hand in a soft, tentative touch. The brief contact sent a jolt of warmth through her, and she held her breath, hoping he wouldn't notice the way her pulse quickened.
"You don't have to hide from me, Seraphina," he whispered, his voice like a caress. "I see the fear, the doubt in you. And yet, I also see strength. Strength you've kept hidden from everyone else."
Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
"You're more than a mere shadow in the court," Adrien continued, his voice growing hushed. "I've always known there was more to you, something that's been buried. Let me in, Seraphina. Let me see all of you."
The space between them was impossibly small now, the air thick with their shared breath. His thumb gently traced the curve of her knuckles, and Evelyn heart pounded erratically in her chest. She felt dizzy with the intensity of his attention, the way his gaze consumed her, making her feel as though she were the only person in the room—no, the only person in his world.
"I don't need you to see me, Your Highness," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. The words felt like a lie even as they left her lips.
Adrien leaned in, his lips just a breath away from her ear. "But I already do, Lady Seraphina. I already see you." His voice was a low murmur, like a secret shared between them.
"Why do you do this to me?" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
His smile was slow, dark, and predatory. "Because, Seraphina, I can't stay away. Not from you."
Evelyn's chest tightened as the weight of his words sank in. There was no escape now. But just as she thought she might succumb to the pull between them, Adrien pulled away, his smile turning cold once more, though his eyes remained glued to hers.
"As much as I would like to stay," he said, his tone shifting back to its usual detached manner, "I have other matters to attend to. But don't worry, Lady Seraphina. I'll be watching. I always am."
With one final, lingering glance, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room. The lantern's soft glow dimmed as he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Evelyn standing alone, her heart still racing, her thoughts tangled.
As the library door closed behind him, she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She stood there for a long time, the silence pressing in on her, the weight of his words heavy on her chest. I'll be watching.
***
Back in her chambers, Evelyn sat at her vanity, staring at her reflection once more. The face that stared back was ethereal, perfect, and wholly alien to her.
"I am not Seraphina Aveline," she whispered, her voice steady. "But I'll become her. Not the woman they envy, not the woman they scapegoat. I'll be something else entirely. Let them play their games," she said, her tone dark with resolve. "I'll make my own rules."