Kael didn't respond. Instead, he tapped twice on the window, signaling the driver.
The car pulled away from the extravagant venue, leaving behind the flashing lights and murmuring elites.
Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was something else—charged, perhaps, with the remnants of the night's performance.
Seren traced a finger along the hem of her dress, her mind replaying the moment Kael had kissed her hand. It had been calculated, of course. A move to assert dominance. But… there had been something in his gaze.
Something she couldn't quite place.
She turned to study his profile.
Kael, as usual, was unreadable. His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, his expression cool and distant.
Still, she couldn't help herself.
"You never did answer my question earlier," she murmured.
Kael didn't glance at her. "Which one?"
Seren smirked. "What exactly you were warning me about."
This time, Kael's fingers flexed against his knee—just for a second. A barely perceptible movement.
"You noticed them," he said instead. "That's enough."
Seren narrowed her eyes. "So I passed the first test?"
Kael finally met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "You've drawn attention."
Seren tilted her head. "Good or bad attention?"
Kael's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he looked away.
"That depends."
On what, he didn't say.
By the time they arrived at the estate, the night had deepened into quiet stillness. The grand hall was dimly lit, the air cool against her skin as she stepped inside.
Seren sighed, slipping off her heels. "I don't know how you do it," she muttered.
Kael raised a brow. "Do what?"
"Stay so composed. All night. Not even a flicker of boredom, annoyance, amusement—nothing."
Kael's lips curved slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "You assume too much."
Seren crossed her arms. "Oh? So you did feel something tonight?"
Kael took a step closer, his gaze steady.
"Perhaps."
Seren felt her breath hitch.
It was ridiculous—how he could make such a simple word feel heavier than it should.
She rolled her eyes, breaking the moment. "You're impossible."
Kael smirked faintly. "And you're reckless."
Seren scoffed. "Reckless? I was perfectly behaved tonight."
Kael leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down her spine. "That's the problem."
Seren frowned. "Excuse me?"
Kael straightened. "You're learning too fast."
Seren arched a brow. "Should I take that as a compliment?"
Kael studied her for a moment before turning away. "Get some rest, Seren."
And just like that, he walked past her, disappearing into his study.
Seren stood there, barefoot in the grand hall, replaying his words.
You're learning too fast.
What exactly was Kael worried about?
And more importantly…
Why did it feel like she was playing a game she hadn't even realized she was in?
The night was quiet, the house too still after the chaos of the event. Seren stood in the hallway, her mind racing. Kael's cryptic words, the weight of his gaze, the way he'd kissed her hand—it was all tangled up in her thoughts. He was a master of control, that much was obvious. But what if he wasn't the only one playing a game?
She tried to shake it off, telling herself it was just another part of the act. They had to play the role of the perfect couple, after all. But there was something about Kael—his detached, calculating demeanor that made her think there was more beneath the surface.
A soft creak of the door interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see Thalina standing at the top of the stairs, dressed in a silk robe, her hair disheveled from sleep.
"You're still awake?" Thalina asked, rubbing her eyes. "Did the night go as expected?"
Seren sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You could say that. I didn't expect to feel like I was walking on a tightrope the entire time."
Thalina chuckled, descending the stairs slowly. "Welcome to the world of high society. You're the new target now, whether you like it or not."
Seren groaned, leaning against the railing. "It's not even the people at the event. It's Kael."
Thalina raised an eyebrow. "Kael? What did he do now?"
Seren's gaze drifted to the study door, where Kael had retreated. "He's... just so cold. Detached. But tonight, he was different. At least, for a second."
Thalina crossed her arms, clearly intrigued. "Different how?"
Seren hesitated, trying to put her thoughts into words. "It was like for one brief moment, he wasn't just the 'perfect Young Master.' He was... possessive. Almost like he didn't want anyone else looking at me."
Thalina smirked, stepping closer. "Oh, so Kael is showing some emotions after all?"
Seren rolled her eyes. "If you could call it that. He's just a master at hiding them. And I'm starting to wonder if I'm the one who's getting played."
Thalina laughed softly. "You're not the only one. Trust me, you'll get used to it. But I'm curious, what exactly do you think he's hiding?"
Seren frowned, looking toward the study once more. "I don't know. But I plan to find out."
Thalina raised her hands in mock surrender. "You're on your own with that one. Kael's a force, Seren. Don't expect to break through that wall so easily."
Seren smiled wryly. "I don't expect to break through anything. But I've learned that sometimes, the best way to get what you want is to make the other person think you're not trying."
Thalina chuckled. "A woman of strategy. I like it."
Before Seren could respond, she heard a door creak open from down the hall. Kael's voice called out from the study, its icy edge unmistakable.
"Seren."
Thalina shot her a wink before disappearing back up the stairs. Seren took a deep breath and walked toward the study, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
When she entered the room, Kael was standing by the large window, his back to her. The dim light of the study reflected off the glass, casting long shadows over his figure.
"You wanted something?" Seren asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Kael turned slowly, his gaze cool but sharp. "You should get used to the way things work in this world."
Seren crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "I'm already getting used to it."
Kael's lips twitched in the smallest of smirks, but it disappeared just as quickly. "Don't make the mistake of thinking you understand it all. There are dangers in underestimating people like them."
"The men at the event?" Seren asked, though she already knew the answer.
Kael nodded. "They will smile in your face, but they're already calculating their next move. You need to learn how to navigate those moves, not just play the role of the perfect wife."
Seren raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you think I'm doing? Playing a role?"
Kael's gaze hardened, a subtle flicker of something darker in his eyes. "Isn't that what we're all doing?"
Seren stepped into the room, her voice low but steady. "So, you're not just warning me about them, are you? You're warning me about you, too."
Kael didn't move, didn't flinch. He simply looked at her with that unreadable expression. "If you can't handle this, then it's better for both of us if you walk away."
Seren's heart skipped a beat, but she held his gaze. "I'm not afraid of you, Kael."
There was a moment of silence, a tension hanging in the air between them. Kael finally broke it with a cold chuckle, his posture relaxing slightly.
"I didn't think you were."
Seren exhaled, trying to steady her breath. "You still haven't answered my question, Kael. Why are you so cold? What are you hiding?"
Kael's lips twitched, but he didn't give her an answer. Instead, he turned back to the window, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You'll figure it out. But remember, Seren—everything here is a game. And it's one that you can't afford to lose."
With that, he dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Seren stood there for a moment longer, her thoughts racing. She was no longer sure if she was playing Kael's game—or if he was playing hers. But one thing was certain: they were both in deeper than either of them realized.
Elara Hollingsworth paced the marble floors of her family's estate, her heels clicking sharply in the quiet of the late evening. The luxurious surroundings were the same as always—opulent, cold, and calculated. But tonight, they felt somehow stifling. She couldn't shake the image of Kael Velyne's impassive face, nor the sight of him standing beside that woman, his wife.
The announcement of Kael's marriage had sent a ripple through the high society. For years, Elara had kept a delicate distance, watching him from the edges of their shared world, knowing that sooner or later, their paths would cross again. The two families, the Hollingsworths and the Velynes, had danced around each other for generations—always cordial, always poised. But Kael? He had never been one to settle down. His disinterest in courtships had been the subject of endless speculation, and despite the glances exchanged, despite the subtle tension in their meetings, nothing had ever come of it. Until now.