Chapter Treinta y Cinco: Breaking Point

The next day, Serena was a flurry of activity as Adanna entered their shared chambers. Parchment and scrolls were scattered across every available surface, and Serena darted from one end of the room to the other, her eyes scanning over each document with furious intent.

"Serena, what on earth are you doing?" Adanna asked, her voice filled with amusement.

Serena looked up from her frantic search, her eyes wild with determination. "I am trying to find clues!" she exclaimed, waving her arms over the sea of paper. "About the dukes reappearance, the threats, and... everything!"

"Did you find anything yet?" Adanna asked, her eyes sweeping over the chaos.

Serena paused her frantic search and sighed heavily, her shoulders dropping. "No," she admitted, her voice laced with defeat. "But I will. I have to. There is something here, I can feel it."

Before Adanna could respond they heard arguing. Adanna looked at Serena her face filled with confusion and before Adanna could process what was happening, Serena grabbed Adanna by the arm, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Come on, we need to see whats happening."

As they made their way down the grand staircase, the commotion of voices echoed from the drawing room. Adanna exchanged a glance with Serena, and they both hurried toward the source of the noise.

Upon entering the drawing room, they found Countess Seraphine, Lady Catalina, Lady Isabella, Sorceress Beatriz, Princess Anjali and Lady Midori all in the drawing room, their voices rising in a cacophony of accusations and denials. The air was thick with tension, and the atmosphere was charged with the electricity of impending conflict. Lady Isabella and Princess Anjali were in a heated argument. "I saw you sneaking around my chambers, Anjali!" Isabella's voice was sharp, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I was not sneaking!" Anjali defended herself, her hands raised in exasperation. "I was simply looking for my necklace!"

Countess Seraphine crossed her arms, her icy demeanor making it clear where her loyalties lay. "Maybe you are the one causing the threats, Anjali, to throw us all off balance for the competition!"

Princess Anjali's eyes widened with indignation. "No! I would never do such a thing!"

"Ladies!" Adanna's voice cut through the tension, and the room fell silent. She stepped forward, her eyes scanning the group. "We cannot blame anyone without concrete evidence. Right Serena?"

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Serena, waiting for her to back Adanna's statement.

But Serena, who had remained quietly observing the entire scene, did notrespond right away. Her gaze lingered on Anjali, her expression unreadable. The memory of Leonardo and Anjali's intimate conversation in the library was still fresh in her mind. Now, watching Anjali being accused by Isabella and standing there trying to defend herself, Serena felt torn. Part of her wanted to defend Anjali—after all, she was a princess of Scaleonia and did not deserve these baseless accusations. But another part of her, the jealous, insecure part, couldn't help but wonder. What if Isabella was right? What if Anjali wasn't as innocent as she seemed?

Serena's jaw tightened, her silence speaking volumes.

Adanna glanced at her, sensing the hesitation. "Serena?" she asked again, her voice softer, more questioning this time.

Adanna stared at Serena and before she could say anything, Lady Midori spoke up, "Where is Enchantress Larissa?" Her question hung in the air, unanswered.

Everyone looked around, confusion etched on their faces. Just then, the door swung open, and in strode Olimpia with a smug smile playing on her lips. "Hello, ladies," she greeted, her voice smooth and taunting. "Did I miss something?"

The air grew thick with tension as all eyes turned toward her, suspicion and intrigue swirling in the atmosphere like storm clouds. Adanna felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that Olimpia's arrival was not just coincidental.

Countess Seraphine's eyes narrowed as she took in Olimpia's smug demeanor. "Just more of your grand delusions, I suppose?" she said coldly.

Olimpia's smile never wavered. "Perhaps it is not just delusions that bring me here," she replied, her eyes scanning the room. "After all we are all competing for the duke's hand, and I intend to win."

"What makes you think you belong here among us?" Lady Catalina spat out, her disdain for the mysterious woman palpable.

Olimpia tossed her hair over her shoulder, her confidence unwavering. "Oh, I think I have earned my place here. After all, I saved the duke's father. It is only a matter of time before I win the duke's heart as well."

The other ladies gasped, a mix of disbelief and anger rippling through the room. Lady Isabella stepped forward, her expression fierce. "You may have brought him back, but that does not mean you are entitled to his affection. This is a competition for the duke, not a charity event."

Adanna watched the exchange, her heart racing. She sensed the brewing storm as the other ladies gathered their collective indignation. Princess Anjali, however, remained silent, observing the scene with a contemplative expression, while Adanna and Serena exchanged worried glances.

"I will do what it takes to win him over," Olimpia declared, her voice ringing with arrogance. "While you all are busy playing nice, I will be capturing his attention. I am not afraid of the competition."

The tension in the room escalated as Countess Seraphine and Lady Isabella shared incredulous looks. "You really think you can just waltz in here and claim what does not belong to you?" Seraphine challenged.

Olimpia smirked, her confidence unshaken. "You will see. I am not like the rest of you. I have something you do not have—an advantage."

"Is that so?" Adanna interjected, stepping forward, her voice steady despite the growing unease. "Just because you have gained his father's favor does not mean you will have the duke's. You are underestimating us."

"Sweetheart, you are all beneath me," Olimpia retorted, her haughty laugh echoing in the room. "And when I win, do not come crying to me."

The air crackled with tension as the other ladies bristled at Olimpia's arrogance, but it was Adanna's words that seemed to hit the hardest. The room grew quiet, the only sound the distant chirp of a bird outside. Adanna's heart hammered in her chest as she held the other woman's gazes. Just as the argument threatened to escalate, a loud scream pierced the tension, freezing everyone in place.

"What was that?" Serena exclaimed, her eyes widening in alarm.

Without waiting for a reply, the group rushed toward the source of the sound, hearts pounding. Adanna and Serena led the way, pushing through the drawing room door and into the grand foyer.

When they reached the foot of the staircase, the scene before them left them in shock. Enchantress Larissa lay on the floor, unconscious, her face pale and her breathing shallow. Above her, a shattered vase sent a river of crimson liquid across the cold stone tiles, the smell of blood and crushed roses filling the air. The crimson pool grew larger, seeping into the fabric of Larissa's dress.

Adanna rushed to Larissa's side, her heart racing as she assessed the situation. "Someone get the healer!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the hall. The other women stared in horror, their squabbles forgotten in the face of real danger. "She was pushed!" Lady Midori exclaimed, pointing at the broken vase and the blood stain growing around Larissa.