"The garden blooms with beauty, yet thorns lie beneath every rose. Isn't that how life always is?"
***
The library was steeped in a profound quiet, the kind that seemed to swallow every sound but the rustle of pages. Evelyn—Seraphina—sat at a heavy oak table, her amber eyes fixed on the faded text before her. She had combed through countless volumes in search of answers, and now, in her hands, was a book that promised to reveal the secrets of the Golden Finger.
Her fingers traced the embossed title, "The Lost Relics of the Elarith Kingdom." She had read a brief mention of this artifact in her past life, but this account offered more detail—or so she hoped.
The artifact's description was tantalizing yet vague.
"The Golden Finger," she murmured, her amber eyes darting over the text, "created by the first mage of the kingdom, holds the power to rewrite fate itself. To alter the threads of destiny, one must possess a soul both strong and pure, untainted by selfish desire."
She frowned. "What does that even mean? Strong and pure—sounds like the kind of nonsense they put in fairy tales."
Flipping another page, she found a hastily written passage. It seemed different, as though added by someone after the book's original completion.
"Beware the curse that follows the Golden Finger. For destiny does not yield without cost, and those who seek to wield it will find themselves ensnared by its power. Many have sought the Golden Finger, but none have returned unchanged. To seek it is to gamble with one's very existence. The wielder must be prepared to sacrifice…"
"Of course it's incomplete," she muttered. Evelyn frowned, her lips tugging into a grim line. Rewrite destiny? Does that mean this entire world, my existence here, has been rewritten somehow? The book offered no further clarity. The pages ended abruptly, as if someone had torn away the rest of the story. She groaned in frustration, resting her forehead against the wooden table. "Fantastic. Just when I need answers, the universe decides to play coy."
Seraphina sighed and closed the book, pressing her fingertips to her temple. The idea of "rewriting destiny" resonated with her in a way that felt disturbingly personal. She was living proof that fate could shift in ways no one expected. But why her? Why this world, this body, this moment?
If fate has a hand in this, it must be a cruel one.
If the Golden Finger could rewrite destiny, could it explain why she was here? Why had her soul been thrust into this dangerous game?
With these thoughts, she left the library, her feet carrying her toward the gardens of Seraphina's family estate. The air outside was cool, the sun casting golden light on the vibrant blooms. She walked aimlessly, her steps crunching on the gravel paths. The beauty of the garden felt at odds with the storm brewing inside her. Out in the garden, the crisp air did little to cool her turbulent thoughts. As she wandered along the paths lined with vibrant flowers, a sense of déjà vu struck her. She knew the way through this estate—the alcoves, the hidden fountains, even the names of the gardeners—without consciously recalling it.
If this is fate, then what am I supposed to do with it?
"Why do I know all this?" she murmured, pausing by a rose bush. The sharp scent of the blossoms prickled her senses. "Is it Seraphina's memories bleeding into mine? Or something more sinister?"
Her musings were interrupted by a low, familiar voice behind her. "Talking to flowers now, my Lady?"
Standing amid the roses, like a dark prince from a forbidden tale, was Adrien Valmont.
He was leaning casually against a low garden wall, his eyes—a piercing blue that always seemed to see through her—fixed on her. His brown hair was slightly tousled, as if he had rushed to find her, but his regal bearing remained intact. The afternoon light caught the sharp planes of his face, casting him in an almost ethereal glow.
"Your Highness," she greeted, steadying herself. "To what do I owe this… unexpected encounter?"
Adrien smirked, stepping closer. "Unexpected? I thought you might appreciate some company. Though it seems the roses were doing a fine job of keeping you entertained."
Adrien Valmont leaned casually against a low garden wall, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that felt like a touch. The sunlight caught the edges of his tousled brown hair, making him appear both regal and untamed, like a prince who had stepped straight out of a forbidden tale.
"Your Highness, shouldn't you be occupied with court matters?"
Adrien smirked, pushing off the wall to close the distance between them with slow, deliberate steps. "You wound me. Must I have a reason to enjoy the gardens?"
"I would think a prince has better things to do than loiter among rose bushes," she replied lightly, though her pulse quickened as he stopped a mere step away.
His lips curved, not quite a smile, but something sharper. "And yet here we are, the two of us, drawn to the same place. Fate, perhaps?"
"Or coincidence," she countered, tilting her head.
"Coincidence," he echoed, his tone skeptical, almost mocking. "I don't believe in coincidences, Lady Seraphina. Especially not when it comes to you."
Her breath hitched, and she took a small step back, only to find herself against the cool stone of the fountain. Adrien followed, his movements unhurried, calculated. He reached out, plucking a rose from the bush beside them with a casual ease that belied the sharpness of its thorns.
"Roses," he said, twirling the bloom between his fingers as his gaze flicked to hers. "Beautiful. Fragile. But dangerous, if you're not careful."
"Are we still talking about flowers?" she asked, her voice steady despite the heat rising to her cheeks.
Adrien chuckled, a low sound that sent a shiver through her. He leaned in, his voice a murmur against the space between them. "Perhaps not."
Without warning, he reached out, the movement smooth and deliberate. The rose hovered near her face for a heartbeat before he gently tucked it behind her ear. His fingertips brushed the curve of her jaw, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down her spine despite her best efforts to remain unaffected.
"There," he said softly, his voice dipping into something almost tender, though his gaze remained sharp and possessive. "A rose for a rose."
Evelyn blinked, caught off guard by the gesture and the sudden intimacy of his proximity. The warm scent of roses mixed with the faint, woodsy fragrance clinging to him, a combination that made her chest tighten, her hands gripping the edge of the fountain behind her. "What do you want, Your Highness?"
Adrien straightened slightly, but the intensity of his gaze didn't waver. "Answers," he said simply. "You have a knack for being where trouble brews, Lady Seraphina. First the banquet, now this… mood. You're hiding something."
"I have nothing to hide," she replied evenly, though her grip tightened on the stone.
"Liar," he whispered, his smirk returning, softer this time, more dangerous. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. The gesture was intimate, deliberate, and it sent her heart racing. "Your eyes betray you every time. You forget I've been watching you for years."
Her breath caught. "Watching me?"
Adrien tilted his head, his thumb grazing her cheek for the briefest of moments before his hand fell back to his side. "From a distance," he said smoothly, though his voice carried a dangerous undertone. "You've always intrigued me, Seraphina. But now… now you're something else entirely."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her tone sharper than intended.
"Don't you?" he asked, his gaze dipping briefly to her lips before meeting her eyes again.
The air between them felt electric, heavy with unspoken words and unrelenting tension. Evelyn forced herself to exhale, breaking the spell. "If you've come to accuse me of something, Your Highness, be direct about it. Otherwise, I'll take my leave."
Adrien moved swiftly, his hand catching hers as she turned to go. The grip wasn't forceful, but it was firm enough to stop her in her tracks.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, his voice low but commanding.
Evelyn looked up at him, her amber eyes blazing with defiance. "Are you giving me orders now?"
"Think of it as a request," he replied, his thumb brushing the back of her hand in a gesture that was equal parts soothing and possessive. "Stay. Humor me for a moment longer."
Against her better judgment, she stayed. "What is it you're so desperate to know?"
Adrien's expression softened, though the intensity in his gaze remained. "Who you really are."
"I'm Seraphina Aveline," she said, her voice steady.
"Are you?" he murmured, stepping closer, his proximity overwhelming. "Because the Seraphina I knew was timid. Predictable. But you… you're fire masquerading as ice."
Evelyn's pulse thundered in her ears as his free hand came to rest on the stone beside her, caging her in. "You seem quite sure of yourself, Your Highness," she said, her voice edged with defiance. "Careful, or you might burn yourself."
Adrien's smirk returned, wicked and predatory. "Perhaps I enjoy the fire."
The words sent a jolt through her, and she struggled to maintain her composure. "If this is your idea of a courtship, you're doing it wrong."
He laughed softly, his breath brushing against her ear. "Courtship?" he echoed. "No, my Lady. This is something far more dangerous."
Her heart pounded as his lips hovered near her temple, close enough to make her shiver. "What do you want from me, Adrien?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his expression unreadable. "Everything."
The weight of his words left her breathless, her chest tightening as the distance between them dissolved once more.
"Be careful, Adrien," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "You might not like what you find."
Adrien's smile softened, though his eyes remained dark with obsession. "Oh, Seraphina," he murmured, his thumb brushing her knuckles. "I'm counting on it."
Seraphina tilting her head slightly. "What is it you wish to discuss, Your Highness? I assume this isn't a social call."
Adrien leaned against the edge of a marble fountain, his posture deceptively casual. "Perhaps. But I came to discuss a matter far more serious than my ego ... The banquet incident," he said, his gaze sharpening. "The servant you accused—he confessed to the crime, but under questioning, he claimed he was acting under orders."
Her breath hitched. "Orders? From whom?"
Adrien's gaze sharpened, his smirk fading into something darker. "That is the question, isn't it? He refused to name his master, but he hinted at a noble with considerable influence. Tell me, Lady Seraphina, do you have any enemies worth such an elaborate scheme?"
Her heart pounded as she considered his words. Seraphina's life—this life—was filled with jealousy and venom from those who envied her beauty or her position. But she couldn't afford to show weakness now.
Evelyn crossed her arms, leaning back against a stone pillar. "And you think I have insight into this conspiracy?"
Adrien's eyes softened, though the intensity in them never wavered. "I think you're far more observant than you let on. You noticed the servant's trembling hands before anyone else. You had the composure to redirect suspicion. That's no small feat."
Evelyn shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Perhaps I simply didn't want to die for a crime I didn't commit."
"Or perhaps," Adrien countered, stepping closer, "you're far more cunning than anyone gives you credit for."
"I'm flattered by your confidence, Your Highness," she said, keeping her voice light. "But why not handle this through your court investigators?"
Adrien's gaze darkened, and for a moment, vulnerability flickered in his icy blue eyes. "Because the court is riddled with spies and opportunists. I can't trust anyone else. Whoever is behind this doesn't just want me dead," Adrien mused, his voice laced with bitterness. "They want chaos. And you were meant to be the scapegoat."
Evelyn's heart clenched at his words. The parallels to her life as Seraphina—a pawn in a cruel game—were all too clear.
"And what will you do once you uncover the truth?" she asked, glancing at him.
Adrien stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "I'll protect what's mine."
Her breath caught, and she stepped back instinctively. "Yours?"
Her heart hammered in her chest as their eyes locked. His gaze was piercing, his presence magnetic. For a moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in the quiet garden.
"Your Highness," she said softly, breaking the spell. "If we're going to discuss conspiracies, perhaps we should start with the servant's motive. Who paid him?"
Adrien's jaw tightened, the intensity in his eyes dimming slightly. "He claimed not to know. The coin was delivered anonymously, along with a threat to his family."
Evelyn frowned, her mind racing. "Who benefits from chaos at court? Someone who stands to gain from your downfall?"
Adrien nodded, his expression darkening. "Or someone who stands to gain from yours."
Her breath hitched, the weight of his words sinking in. "You think they wanted me dead?"
"Perhaps," Adrien said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Or perhaps they wanted to use you as a distraction. Either way, it's clear you're caught in the crossfire of something much larger. And if they failed once, they'll try again. You may not be involved, but you're entangled in this now."
She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off. "I'll be watching you, Lady Seraphina. Not because I don't trust you, but because I can't afford to lose someone as intriguing as you."
Her breath hitched at his words, a flicker of something unnameable stirring in her chest.
"Your Highness," she began, her voice quieter now. "You're walking a dangerous path, assuming I'm worth the trouble."
Adrien's lips curved into a slow, almost wicked smile. "Danger has never deterred me before."
Evelyn shivered, despite the warmth of the afternoon sun. "And what do you intend to do about it?"
Adrien's gaze softened again, and he reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Protect you," he said simply.
Evelyn frowned. "And you think they wanted to frame me?"
"Not just frame you," Adrien said, his expression darkening. "Discredit you, destroy you. But the bigger question is why. You've always been a convenient scapegoat, Seraphina, but this… this was deliberate."
Evelyn felt a pang of empathy for the real Seraphina—the timid girl who had been trapped in a web of jealousy and deceit. She lowered her gaze, her voice softer now. "Whoever it was didn't just want me out of the picture. They wanted chaos. They wanted to send a message."
Adrien stepped closer again, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what do you plan to do about it?"
Evelyn met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "What I must. I won't be their victim … If that's all, I think I'll retire for the evening. I'm not sure my sanity can handle any more this today."
Adrien smirked, inclining his head. "As you wish, my Lady. But rest assured, this conversation isn't over."
Without waiting for her reply, he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. The touch was fleeting, almost gentle, but it left her skin tingling.
"Be careful, Lady Seraphina," he said, his voice a low murmur. "In this game, even allies can become enemies. Until next time, my Lady."
Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked away, his stride confident, as if he owned not only the garden but the very air she breathed.
Evelyn sank onto a nearby bench, her thoughts a jumble of emotions and unanswered questions.