A Dance Of Masks

The tea with Seraphina ended on a note of thinly veiled tension. As I made my way back to my quarters, her words echoed in my mind: *You're mine*. The way she said it, with that eerie confidence, felt more like a threat than an endearment.

I needed to figure out my place in this world quickly—what Cedric's life had been, and more importantly, how to stay alive in it. My mind buzzed with fragments of Cedric's memories, but they were incomplete, disjointed, like watching snippets of a film out of order.

In the novels I'd read, Cedric was little more than a pawn, manipulated by Seraphina and eventually cast aside. He had been complicit in her schemes, but always in the background, never realizing how deeply he was trapped until it was too late. If I followed that same path, I'd meet the same grim fate.

But I wasn't Cedric, not really. I had the advantage of knowing what was to come—or at least, I thought I did. The plot of the novel had always focused on the heroine, Lady Evelyn, and her eventual triumph over Seraphina. What the story never explored in depth were the machinations behind the scenes, the undercurrents that led to Cedric's demise.

*If I'm going to survive, I need to play a new role.*

The thought crystallized in my mind as I entered my room. The opulence of the Duke's estate felt suffocating, a constant reminder that I was living someone else's life. But there was no turning back now. This was my reality.

I approached the ornate writing desk near the window and sat down. There were stacks of correspondence scattered across it—letters, invitations, reports. Cedric had been a busy man, it seemed. I began rifling through them, hoping to piece together more of his life.

A particular letter caught my eye, sealed with a familiar crest—Lady Evelyn's family, the House of Ashford. My stomach tightened as I broke the seal and began reading.

---

**Lord Cedric,**

I hope this letter finds you well. My family has received your recent inquiry regarding our annual summer banquet. We would be honored to host both you and Lady Seraphina during the festivities. I trust your presence will add to the grandeur of the occasion.

Warmest regards,

**Lady Evelyn Ashford**

---

Lady Evelyn—**the heroine of the story**. This banquet was a crucial event in the original narrative. It was there that Seraphina began her final descent into darkness, and where Evelyn first gained the upper hand in their deadly rivalry.

A realization struck me. This banquet wasn't just an event—it was the turning point. If I could change what happened there, perhaps I could steer both Seraphina and myself away from the tragic fates the story had dictated.

But there was a problem. Evelyn was destined to become the righteous heroine, and I was engaged to her nemesis. She wouldn't trust me, especially if I remained aligned with Seraphina. If I wanted to shift the course of this story, I would need to play both sides carefully.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Enter," I called, trying to sound composed.

The door creaked open, and in stepped a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in the formal attire of a knight. His sharp green eyes and stern face were unmistakable—**Sir Dorian Grey**, Cedric's closest friend and confidant. In the original story, Dorian had always been loyal to Cedric, even when Seraphina's plots grew darker. But his loyalty wasn't enough to save Cedric from his fate.

"My lord," Dorian greeted me with a respectful bow. "The Duke requests your presence in the council room. There are matters that require your attention."

The Duke—Cedric's father. A cold and calculating man, one of the few individuals Seraphina couldn't manipulate so easily. He had always viewed his son as a tool for advancing the family's political power, nothing more. But if I wanted to survive in this world, I would need to navigate both his expectations and Seraphina's influence.

"Thank you, Dorian," I replied, rising from my seat. "I'll head there now."

Dorian's gaze lingered on me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You seem... different today, my lord."

I stiffened, my heart skipping a beat. Had he noticed? I couldn't afford to arouse suspicion, not from someone as perceptive as Dorian.

"Just... a lot on my mind," I said with a small, forced smile. "The engagement, the upcoming banquet... It's all a bit overwhelming."

Dorian nodded, though there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "Understandable. If there's anything I can do to assist you, you need only ask."

"I appreciate that, Dorian. Truly."

As he escorted me through the long corridors of the estate, I couldn't shake the feeling that Dorian was watching me closely. Cedric's memories told me that Dorian had always been more than just a bodyguard. He was a friend, perhaps the only one Cedric had. But trust was a luxury I couldn't afford yet. Not when the stakes were this high.

The council room was as grand as I expected—vaulted ceilings, marble floors, and an enormous table where Cedric's father, Duke Lennox, sat surrounded by advisors. The Duke was an imposing man, his face lined with age but his eyes sharp and calculating.

"Cedric," he said as I entered, barely glancing up from the documents spread before him. "Sit."

I took my place at the table, trying to suppress the unease gnawing at me. Duke Lennox wasted no time.

"There have been whispers," he began, his voice cold. "Whispers about your fiancée, Seraphina. The Draven family has long been valuable allies, but recent... behavior has raised concerns. Your engagement was meant to solidify our alliance, but I wonder if it will do more harm than good."

His words sent a chill down my spine. This was it—the beginning of Cedric's downfall. The Duke's disapproval of Seraphina would only grow, eventually leading to their fractured relationship and, ultimately, Cedric's death.

But this time, I could change it.

"I understand your concerns, Father," I said carefully, trying to sound measured. "Seraphina can be... difficult, but I believe she's more than capable of handling her responsibilities. With the right guidance, she could still be a valuable ally."

The Duke's eyes narrowed. "Guidance? Are you suggesting you can control her?"

Control her? No, that wasn't my goal. Surviving her, maybe. "I'm suggesting that abandoning the engagement now would send a message of weakness. Our enemies would see it as a fracture within our house. If we handle this carefully, we can use the rumors to our advantage."

The room fell silent. The Duke studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Very well, Cedric. We'll see how this plays out. But be warned—Seraphina's actions reflect on our house. If she steps out of line, you will be the one to deal with the consequences."

"I understand," I said, suppressing a sigh of relief.

As I left the council room, I realized the gravity of the situation. The Duke expected me to keep Seraphina in check, a near-impossible task given her nature. But if I wanted to survive, I would need to find a way to balance both the Duke's expectations and Seraphina's dangerous ambitions.

This wasn't just a game anymore. It was a dance of masks, and one misstep could be my undoing.

And the worst part? The villainess I was bound to wasn't the only one I had to watch out for.

I wasn't just in a story. I was rewriting it.