Chapter 4: Lady Catherine

London, 15 January 1867

The London sky was a shade of gray, like a blank canvas softly painted by winter clouds. Inside Aldric Seraphis's office, Lady Catherine felt the heavy silence enveloping her surroundings. This office, with walls adorned with bookshelves filled with ancient texts and secret documents, was the command center of the Circle of Aegis, where great decisions were made in whispers and shadows.

In front of her lay stacks of newspapers, maps, and documents—information gathered by their network of spies and informants from around the world. Her fingers gently traced the edges of the papers, feeling the rough texture, as if trying to read the hidden secrets within them. Her gaze stopped on a large map on the wall showing the sea route to Borneo, the path currently taken by "The Seraphic Dawn."

The Circle of Aegis team had set sail five days ago, leaving Southampton's dock for the open ocean. Catherine had calculated the distance and estimated the time of their journey. The ship was likely now crossing the Mediterranean Sea, heading toward the port of Alexandria. Communication, Catherine knew, was a significant challenge. There was no way to send a message directly to the open sea. The only hope was to wait for the ship to reach a port where their agents would be waiting with the latest information.

Catherine sipped her black tea, the familiar bitter taste calming her restless mind. She never liked uncertainty, but it was part of her job—to guess what could not be known, to plan for what could not be predicted. She moved closer to the window and peered outside. The streets of London were bustling with the clamor of people, horse-drawn carriages passing by, and the endless sound of hooves clattering on the cobblestones.

She turned back to the desk and picked up a sheet of old parchment paper. While writing instructions to the agent in Alexandria with a quill, her mind drifted to a time ten years ago—a time when it all began.

**Flashback, Ten Years Ago**

The rain poured heavily that night, drenching the cobblestone streets of London. Lady Catherine was then nothing more than a young noblewoman trapped in a tedious life. Lavish parties, shallow conversations, and stifling family expectations. She remembered standing on her family's balcony, gazing out at the dark streets illuminated by gas lamps, feeling the vibrations of something greater than herself, something beyond the walls of her noble house.

Then Aldric came, like a storm in the midst of a quiet night. He was a man who seemed older than his years, with a sharp gaze and an attitude full of confidence. He did not come as a guest, but as someone who knew what he wanted and would not accept rejection. "You have the ability to see beyond what is in front of you," he said that night. "You can be more than just a decoration at these parties, Catherine."

Catherine smiled faintly. "And what are you offering, Mr. Seraphis?" she asked skeptically. She was already tired of men who tried to exploit her status, who pretended to admire her but saw her only as a tool to achieve their ends.

Aldric approached, his voice calm but firm. "You could be someone who makes a difference. You could be at the forefront of a real fight, not behind these gilded curtains."

Catherine couldn't resist the curiosity that arose within her. Deep down, she knew her current life was just an empty shell. She felt the call, the urge to learn more about the world out there. And when Aldric spoke of the Circle of Aegis—a clandestine organization fighting political intrigue, power, and injustice from the shadows—Catherine knew she had found what she had been searching for.

**Back to the Present**

Catherine returned to the present. The room now seemed darker, as if haunted by the shadows of past memories. Ten years had passed since that night, and she had been with Aldric through every twist and turn—facing conspiracies, betrayals, and countless threats. The Circle of Aegis had flourished under their guidance, becoming stronger and more influential than she had ever imagined.

But now, this mission—the mission to Borneo—could change everything. Catherine knew the risks involved. Lord Blackwood, Aldric's nemesis, wielded extensive influence, a powerful network, and nearly limitless resources. If this mission failed, it wouldn't just be their reputation at stake, but perhaps the very future of the organization they had built with blood, sweat, and tears.

She penned the final instructions on her letter. "Deliver this to our agent in Alexandria," she said to her assistant. "They must remain vigilant and be prepared to receive a message from 'The Seraphic Dawn' as soon as the ship arrives. We need to know every development."

Her assistant nodded quickly, took the letter, and hurried away. Catherine turned back to the map on the wall, studying the routes their ship might take. She knew, deep in her heart, that they had embarked on something big. A journey that would not only determine the fate of the Circle of Aegis but also the future of politics in England and beyond the seas.

Catherine moved her hand closer to the glass window, feeling its coldness. She closed her eyes for a moment, sensing the silence enveloping her. In this solitude, she knew she could never return to her old life. The choice had been made, and the road ahead was clear—even though the fog of uncertainty still covered much of what was to come.

When she opened her eyes again, Catherine knew one thing for certain: whatever happened, she would stand by Aldric's side, ready to face whatever came their way. Because this was the life she had chosen, a life where she had full control, a life that meant more than just being a lady in a noble house.