The Argent estate's library was Lila's sanctuary, a haven from the eyes and whispers that followed her since her dramatic change. Today, it wasn't the rows of books or the golden light filtering through the tall windows that occupied her mind, but the ledger open on the desk before her.
The numbers didn't add up. Expenses were marked for supplies that had never arrived. Revenue from certain lands had been significantly understated. It was a subtle sabotage—one she wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't spent the last week digging through every corner of the estate's finances.
Her hand tightened around the quill, ink blotting the corner of the page. Someone is trying to ruin us from within. The thought made her stomach churn.
"Trouble, Lady Lila?"
The voice, smooth as silk and just as untrustworthy, startled her. She turned to find Elyas Marwood leaning casually against the doorway, his piercing green eyes locked on her.
"Do you make a habit of sneaking into private libraries?" she asked, composing herself quickly.
He stepped inside, uninvited. "Only when I suspect the company inside is far more interesting than anything on the shelves."
Lila frowned. "What do you want, Lord Marwood?"
He moved closer, his movements unhurried. "I want to help you."
"Help me?" She raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked, I didn't ask for your assistance."
"No," he agreed, "but you need it. Those ledgers tell a story, don't they? Someone's been playing a dangerous game with your family's assets."
Her heart skipped a beat. "How do you know that?"
"I make it my business to know things," he said smoothly, his smile faint but calculating. "You're not the only one who's noticed the missing pieces. But unlike you, I have the means to trace them back to the culprit."
Lila regarded him warily. There was no doubt he had resources, perhaps even more than her brothers, but the idea of relying on him left a bitter taste in her mouth. "And why would you help me?"
His expression softened, just a fraction. "Because, Lady Lila, I find you fascinating. You've become...unexpected."
Her cheeks flushed, though she quickly masked it with a sharp glare. "Flattery won't earn you my trust."
Elyas chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Then let's call it a mutually beneficial arrangement. If your family falls, so does your value as an ally. I'd rather see you rise."
She studied him, the faintest flicker of vulnerability hidden behind his charm. An ally, or a puppet master?
"Fine," she said at last, her voice firm. "But if I find you've lied to me—"
"You'll have me thrown out on my pretty face," he interrupted, flashing a disarming grin.
She ignored the heat that rose to her cheeks. "I'll hold you to that."
Elyas inclined his head, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "I look forward to proving myself, Lady Lila."
As he turned to leave, the air seemed lighter, yet Lila couldn't shake the weight pressing on her chest. Trusting Elyas might save her family—or doom her entirely.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Argent estate's gardens. Lila found herself wandering there after Elyas's unsettling visit, her mind tangled with doubts. Could she truly trust him? And if she couldn't, what other options did she have?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter. Aria's laughter. Lila followed the sound, her curiosity piqued. She found her adopted sister sitting on a stone bench beneath the cherry blossom trees, a basket of embroidery beside her.
"Aria," Lila greeted, her voice soft but cautious.
Aria looked up, surprise flickering across her delicate features before her expression softened. "Lila. I didn't expect to see you here."
Lila hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside her. The bench felt colder than she anticipated, grounding her in the moment. "You seem...happy," Lila observed, her tone laced with a touch of envy she hadn't meant to reveal.
Aria tilted her head, studying Lila carefully. "Happiness is a fleeting thing, isn't it?"
The statement caught Lila off guard. She expected lightheartedness, perhaps even dismissal, but there was a depth in Aria's tone that mirrored her own worries.
"Sometimes, it feels that way," Lila admitted.
Aria set her embroidery aside and turned to face her sister fully. "You've changed, Lila," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I used to think I understood you, but now...you're different."
Lila stiffened, her instincts urging her to deflect, to deny. But something in Aria's gaze made her pause. "Is that...a bad thing?"
Aria shook her head, a faint smile curving her lips. "No. It's just unexpected. The Lila I knew would never sit here with me, let alone admit to feeling anything less than perfect."
The honesty in Aria's words struck a chord in Lila. "I'm not perfect," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not even close."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Aria reached out, her hand covering Lila's. "I don't know what's changed, but I like this version of you, Lila. The one who's willing to be human."
Lila blinked, her chest tightening with an emotion she couldn't quite name. "Thank you, Aria," she said softly, her voice wavering.
Aria smiled, her fingers giving Lila's hand a gentle squeeze. "We're sisters, Lila. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. You don't have to face everything alone."
The sincerity in Aria's words warmed something inside Lila, a flicker of light in the darkness that had been creeping into her life. Perhaps, despite the games and dangers surrounding her, she wouldn't have to navigate them entirely on her own.
The evening had settled in with a quiet grace, the sky a deepening shade of violet. The air was cool now, the scent of blooming flowers mingling with the earthy aroma of the gardens. Lila remained seated beside Aria, her mind still swirling with thoughts.
There was a lingering heaviness in her chest, a weight she couldn't shake. It wasn't just the games or the manipulation—it was the feeling that she was standing on the edge of something far bigger than herself. The love, the attention, the kindness... she had never been the recipient of such overwhelming affection. Not until now.
Her pulse quickened again as her thoughts turned to Ciel. Every encounter with him seemed to leave her more confused, yet more drawn to him. His subtle glances, his soft-spoken words—they made her wonder if the future she was trying to avoid might not be so bad after all.
"I can't keep pretending," Lila murmured, more to herself than to Aria.
Aria gave her a quizzical look. "Pretending?"
Lila hesitated, her fingers twisting the delicate lace of her sleeve. "Pretending that I don't feel... something. That I'm not drawn to people, to him, in a way I can't control."
Aria's gaze softened, a knowing look flickering in her eyes. "You don't have to hide, Lila. Not from me."
The sincerity in her sister's voice broke something inside Lila. She had spent so long guarding her emotions, wrapping them in layers of indifference and ice. But now, with the warmth of Aria's understanding, the walls she had built began to crumble.
"I'm not sure how to navigate all of this," Lila admitted, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "Everyone loves me, and I don't know if I deserve it. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it."
Aria placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. "You don't need to have all the answers, Lila. Love is messy, complicated, and sometimes painful. But that doesn't mean you should reject it."
The words settled in her heart, like drops of rain falling into the earth, soft and steady. Maybe Aria was right. Maybe she didn't need to have everything figured out. Perhaps it was okay to simply let things unfold, to allow herself to feel and to experience all that this life—this second chance—had to offer.
Just then, a soft voice called out from the shadows. "Lila?"
She turned to find Elyas standing at the edge of the garden, his posture stiff but his gaze intent. There was something in his eyes—something that made her pulse flutter again, against her will.
"What is it, Elyas?" she asked, her voice steady, though her heart was anything but.
Elyas stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "There's something I need to tell you. Something that concerns your future."
Lila's breath caught in her throat. She could feel the weight of his words before they were even spoken. "What is it?"
His gaze flickered to Aria for a moment, but he nodded as if making a decision. "It's not something I wanted to say here, in the gardens, but I think you need to know the truth. There are forces at play that may threaten your safety. Forces that go far beyond what you've experienced so far."
Lila's stomach clenched. "What forces?"
Elyas hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I can't explain everything just yet. But I promise you, Lila, the truth is darker than you think. I will protect you, no matter what it takes."
Lila's heart raced. There was a gravity to his words, an urgency that pulled at something deep inside her. She had felt the looming shadow of danger before, but now it seemed to be closing in on her from all sides.
But before she could respond, Elyas's expression shifted, a flicker of something softer behind his usual guarded demeanor. "But you should know this too, Lila," he added, his voice lowering. "In the midst of all this... chaos, there is something I feel, something I can't ignore."
Lila's breath hitched, her thoughts swirling once more. Was he about to confess? Was this the moment she had been dreading—or had been waiting for?
"I—I think I'm starting to care for you more than I should," Elyas continued, his words hanging between them like fragile glass. "And it's complicating everything."
Lila stared at him, her pulse thundering in her ears. She could see the vulnerability in his eyes, something raw and honest, but at the same time, there was a sharp edge, like a warning.
"I don't know what this means," he said, taking a step back. "But I had to say it."
The confession was like a spark in the dark, igniting something Lila hadn't even known was there. Her heart raced, her breath coming in short gasps. Was this love? Was this the start of the affection she had been craving, or was it another twist in the tangled mess of her destiny?
Elyas turned, his shoulders tense. "I'll leave you to think about it. But don't forget—whatever happens, I'm here. I won't let anything harm you."
Lila stood in the garden, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. As Elyas's words echoed in her mind, something shifted deep within her. She had never expected this—never expected to be loved in such a way, so unexpectedly, from all sides. And yet, it seemed to be happening.
Her pulse quickened again, but this time, it was with anticipation. Was this truly love, or was it merely the beginning of a tangled, dangerous game?
She didn't know the answer, but one thing was certain: her journey had only just begun.