The Garden Of Thorns

The days leading up to the Ashford banquet passed in a blur. I found myself caught between the cold, calculating gaze of my father and the chilling presence of Seraphina. It was like walking a tightrope with no safety net, and I couldn't afford to misstep. My every move was scrutinized, every word I spoke measured, and the weight of knowing what was to come pressed on me like a leaden shroud.

Seraphina had been oddly quiet since our conversation in the gardens. She was as composed and graceful as ever, but there was something simmering beneath the surface—something dangerous. It made me uneasy, but I couldn't confront her. Not yet. I needed to learn more about her, about this world, and how to navigate it without falling into the trap that had been laid out for Cedric.

The night before the banquet, I found myself pacing my chambers, restless. The Ashford banquet was the first major event where I would encounter the key players of the story—Lady Evelyn, the heroine, and the various nobles who would eventually turn against Seraphina. It was supposed to be a gathering of celebration, but beneath the surface, alliances were forged, and betrayals brewed.

I had to be prepared.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door creaked open, and Seraphina stepped inside, her silver hair glowing faintly in the dim light of the candles.

"Cedric," she said, her voice smooth and calm. "You're troubled."

I stopped pacing, forcing myself to relax. Her ability to read people was unnerving, but I had to remember that I wasn't the same Cedric she had controlled before. I couldn't let her see my fear.

"I've just been thinking about the banquet tomorrow," I replied carefully. "There's a lot riding on it."

Seraphina moved closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes. There is."

She stepped to the window, gazing out at the moonlit gardens below. For a moment, she was silent, and I wondered what was going on in her mind. Was she plotting something? Or was she just as aware of the precarious position we were in as I was?

"You know, Cedric," she began, her voice soft, almost contemplative, "tomorrow's banquet will determine more than just our future. It will determine the fate of this entire kingdom."

I stiffened. "What do you mean?"

She turned to face me, a cold smile playing on her lips. "The Ashfords are powerful, but they are not without enemies. There are those who would see their downfall, and those who would use them to further their own ambitions. The banquet is more than just a social event—it's a battleground."

A battleground. The word sent a chill down my spine. In the original story, the banquet had been the stage for the beginning of Seraphina's downfall, but now… it seemed there was far more at stake than I had realized. I needed to tread carefully, or I would be caught in the crossfire.

Seraphina's gaze bored into mine, as if she were searching for something beneath the surface. "You're different lately, Cedric."

My heart skipped a beat. Did she know? Had she sensed that I wasn't the same person who had blindly followed her?

"You've become… more cautious. More calculating." Her lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "I like it."

Relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by a gnawing sense of dread. If Seraphina saw me as more useful now, it meant she had plans for me—plans I couldn't fully understand.

"Tomorrow," she continued, her voice lowering to a whisper, "we must be ready for anything. Allies can become enemies in the blink of an eye, and those who seem innocent may have more power than you realize."

Her words hung in the air, and I felt the weight of the coming banquet settle even more heavily on my shoulders. Seraphina was right—nothing was as it seemed, and the people I would meet tomorrow were all playing their own games.

"I'll be ready," I said, meeting her gaze.

She smiled again, this time more genuinely, but there was still a flicker of something darker in her eyes. "Good. I'll be counting on you, Cedric."

With that, she turned and left, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. I sank into the chair by the window, staring out into the dark night, my mind racing. Seraphina's words had been cryptic, but they had revealed one important thing: tomorrow, the banquet wouldn't just be about social posturing—it would be a war of power, and I was now a player in that game.

I didn't have long to contemplate. The night passed fitfully, sleep evading me as I tossed and turned, haunted by the weight of the choices ahead. When the morning light finally filtered through the curtains, I felt a surge of nervous energy. Today would be the day everything changed.

***

The Ashford estate was a sprawling manor, its grandeur rivaling even that of the Lennox estate. The ballroom was filled with nobles in extravagant attire, their laughter and conversation masking the political maneuvering that simmered beneath the surface.

I arrived with Seraphina on my arm, her presence drawing the attention of everyone in the room. She was the picture of elegance, her silver hair pinned up in intricate curls, and her emerald dress shimmering like the ocean at night. But beneath her beauty was a cunning that few could see. I had to stay vigilant.

As we made our way through the crowd, exchanging polite greetings and nods to the other nobles, I spotted **Lady Evelyn** across the room. She stood near her father, Duke Ashford, her golden hair framing her gentle face. She was every bit the heroine I remembered from the story—kind, beautiful, and destined to rise above the chaos.

Her eyes met mine briefly, and I saw a flicker of recognition, as if she had been expecting me. But before I could approach, Seraphina's grip on my arm tightened.

"Careful, Cedric," she whispered, her voice low and dangerous. "She may look innocent, but she's more of a threat than you realize."

I glanced at Seraphina, surprised by the venom in her tone. I had expected her to dislike Evelyn, but this was something more. It was as if she saw Evelyn not just as a rival, but as an enemy who needed to be destroyed.

"Let's not cause a scene," I murmured, trying to defuse the tension. "We need to play this carefully."

Seraphina smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Of course, darling. I always play carefully."

Before I could respond, the sound of music filled the room, signaling the start of the first dance. Nobles began to pair off, moving gracefully across the ballroom floor.

"Shall we?" Seraphina asked, her voice laced with an edge of command.

I nodded, though my mind was far from the dance. As we took our place among the other couples, I couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was going to be far more dangerous than I had anticipated.