The Weight Of Secrets

*Sofia Delacroix's POV*

The black lace veil scratched against my skin as I stood in the crowd, my hands trembling slightly beneath my cloak. I kept my face hidden from those around me, but I couldn't stop the heat of their gazes, whispers brushing the edges of my consciousness. They didn't know who I was, not yet—but they knew enough to suspect. It wasn't just Reinhardt's death that hung over this procession like a dark cloud, but the circumstances surrounding it.

I couldn't cry. Not here. Not in front of these people. They wouldn't understand. How could they? They didn't know what had really happened. They didn't know what I had been forced to do.

Reinhardt's coffin passed, carried by the solemn knights who had once been his comrades, and my heart twisted in my chest. My brother was gone, and I had buried the truth with him.

They believed my story—the one I'd been compelled to tell in court. That Reinhardt had been devastated by Alistair's death, that he had spiraled into a darkness he couldn't escape. That it had all become too much, and he had taken his own life. A tragic, noble warrior brought low by grief. A clean, simple explanation.

But the truth was far from clean. Far from simple.

I felt a presence at my side, and I didn't need to look up to know who it was. **Cedric Valen**, his figure cloaked in black, his expression unreadable as always. He moved so quietly it was as though he appeared from the shadows themselves. I should've hated him. I should've despised him for what he had done, what he had forced me to say.

But hate was such a useless emotion in a world like ours.

"Quite the crowd," he said in that smooth, detached tone of his. He didn't look at me as he spoke, his gaze fixed on the procession. "Your brother was well-loved."

I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and forced myself to reply, keeping my voice low. "He was loved because he was honorable. Because he didn't lie."

Cedric glanced at me then, the corner of his mouth twitching into something resembling a smile. "And yet, here we are."

His words hit harder than I expected, but I didn't flinch. I had learned long ago that showing weakness in front of Cedric was dangerous. He could see through me, just like he saw through everyone else. I knew Reinhardt's death was not suicide and yet i confessed it. Because of him. Because I was scared of him. The moment I said it he looked at me as if he saw through me.He knew the truth of what happened to Reinhardt. I don't know How but He had orchestrated it. I know it I was at Alistair's court and the things that I will never forget is him punishing Alistair to death. Even if Alsitair didn't called him out or even if Reinhardt told me who he is going after I know it's you Cedric. I know I am right. But I also get the feeling you know it too. You want me to play the part for your gain.

And I had played my part. Now it's your turn and I won't give you chance to play back. I lied to live for the chance to get back at you. You wouldn't have let me live otherwise would you? Someone lime you wouldn't kill a useful pawn right off right?

The image of **Seraphina Draven** flashed in my mind—the way she had been bound, how Reinhardt had held her, his eyes filled with rage and desperation. He had been so certain it was Cedric who was behind it all even if he didn't said it, so sure that his enemy was behind the conspiry of his best friend. And yet he is the one played in his enemy's hands that's what made the most angry of all. But Cedric, with that calm, composed expression, had walked convinced everyone like he controlled the very air, convincing Reinhardt that he had no knowledge of it.

By the time I knew what was going on—by forces I still didn't fully understand—it was too late. Reinhardt had been broken, manipulated into a corner he couldn't escape from. When I returned to him, the man I had known was already slipping away.

I couldn't protect him.

And now, here I stood, alone, the last of the Delacroix family, bearing the weight of a lie I couldn't escape.

Cedric leaned in slightly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "The people will remember him as a hero, Sofia. And you… you've ensured that memory stays intact. Don't forget that."

I clenched my fists beneath my cloak. "You didn't give me a choice."

"You always have a choice," he said lightly. "You simply chose the option that would allow you to survive. I don't blame you for that."

Survive. That's all I had been doing since the day Alistair fell, since the day everything began to unravel. Survival was all that mattered in Cedric's world. Truth, honor, love—those things had no place in this game. I knew that now. I'd been forced to learn it the hard way.

But even as I stood beside him, the cold breeze lifting my veil slightly, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to Cedric. Something beneath the calculated mask he wore. He wasn't just a manipulator, a master of lies. He had a plan, something larger than all of us, and I didn't know where I fit into it anymore.

The carriage carrying Reinhardt's coffin passed, and I allowed myself a single glance at it. The weight of my brother's death pressed down on me, but I didn't let it show. I couldn't.

"I did what I had to," I whispered, more to myself than to Cedric.

"You did," Cedric agreed softly. "And now, you're still standing. That's more than most can say."

I shot him a sideways glance. "What now? What happens after this?"

Cedric's eyes gleamed with that familiar, unsettling calm. "Nothing, what happens is what always have been. It up to you how you move."

A chill ran down my spine, but I nodded. What choice did I have? Cedric had me in his grasp, and as much as I wanted to tear free, I knew I couldn't. Not yet.

The procession turned a corner, disappearing from view, and the crowd began to disperse. I lingered for a moment, watching as the people left, their heads bowed, their voices hushed. They didn't know the truth. They would never know.

And perhaps that was for the best.

As I turned to leave, Cedric's voice stopped me. "Sofia."

I paused, not turning back.

"You'll need to be strong in the days ahead. There are more challenges coming. Life is a challenge in itself. You have to live and winning and moving on."

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know."

With that, I walked away, leaving Cedric and the lies behind me. But no matter how far I went, I knew I could never escape the shadows that had been cast over my life.

I was part of this world now—whether I wanted to be or not.

*Evelyn's POV*

The moonlight filtered through the thick curtains, casting eerie shadows across my room. It was late—too late for visitors—but a soft, insistent knock on the door pulled me from my restless thoughts.

I hesitated for a moment, hand resting on the doorknob, before opening it just enough to peer into the hallway. There was no one there. Only the faint sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor. Whoever had been at my door was already gone.

But there, lying on the ground at my feet, was a small, sealed letter. My heart skipped a beat as I knelt to pick it up. The wax seal was unfamiliar—an intricate design I didn't recognize—but the handwriting on the outside, written in hurried strokes, was unmistakable.

**Sofia Delacroix.**

Why would she write to me? Since Reinhardt's death, she had disappeared from public view, rarely seen and never heard from. Rumors circulated that grief had consumed her, that she was mourning in private. But now, a letter.

My fingers trembled as I broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. Surprisingly it's written in Valour language. Not even Royal Family knows this, I thought I was the only person in Arcadia who spoke of this, I guess I was wrong. I started to read the letter softly in my own language.

*Evelyn,*

*I don't have much time, so listen carefully. Cedric Valen is far more dangerous than you realize. He's not the man you think he is. Everything he does is part of a larger plan—a plan that will see you and those you care about destroyed if you're not careful.*

*I can't explain everything right now, but trust me when I say that you need to get close to him. Win his heart, earn his trust. You must be his eyes and ears, and report back to me. It's the only way to keep yourself safe from his manipulations.*

*I've learned things about him that I can't reveal in this letter. But believe me when I say that Cedric is capable of far worse than you've seen. Do this, and I will owe you a debt I can never repay.*

*—Sofia*

I stared at the words, my mind racing. Sofia… warning me about Cedric? It didn't make sense. Cedric had saved me. He had been the one who stood by my side when no one else would. And yet, there had always been something unsettling about him—something just beneath the surface, hidden behind his calm, controlled demeanor.

Could Sofia be right? Could Cedric truly be as dangerous as she claimed?

I refolded the letter, my chest tightening with uncertainty. There was no denying that Cedric was cunning, that he often worked in ways that were difficult to understand. But the idea that he was manipulating me, using me for some grander scheme—it made my stomach twist with doubt.

And what did Sofia mean by "win his heart"? The idea made me uneasy, but I couldn't deny that the thought had crossed my mind before. Cedric was charismatic in his own way, dangerous but alluring. But I wasn't some pawn to be moved across a chessboard—I wouldn't allow myself to be used, not by Cedric, not by anyone.

Still, Sofia's words echoed in my mind. *You must be his eyes and ears.*

As I pondered the letter's contents, I suddenly felt the weight of everything pressing down on me—the Academy, the tournament, the disappearances, and now this cryptic warning from Sofia. How much of my life had been shaped by forces I didn't understand?

A cold breeze drifted through the window, making the candlelight flicker. In that moment, I made a decision. If Cedric truly was as dangerous as Sofia believed, I needed to find out for myself. I couldn't simply ignore this. But I couldn't confront him directly either—Sofia's letter had made that much clear. No, I would have to play this carefully. I would have to get close to Cedric, learn his secrets, and unravel the truth.

I tucked the letter into the drawer by my bedside, my heart pounding with the weight of the choice I had just made. This was dangerous territory, but I couldn't sit idly by while everything unfolded around me.

If Sofia was right, Cedric's plans ran far deeper than any of us could see. And I needed to know what he was hiding.

But as I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just set something into motion that couldn't be undone.

---

The following days were a whirlwind. Cedric was his usual composed self, moving through the court with the grace of someone who knew exactly how to control every conversation, every situation. It was maddening, how he could wear so many faces, yet always seem sincere when he spoke to me.

I started spending more time with him, under the guise of seeking his advice. Cedric was eager to help, as he always was—his sharp mind always a step ahead. But now, every word he spoke, every glance he cast in my direction, I analyzed for hidden meaning.

I would have to be careful, cautious, but if I was going to uncover what Sofia had hinted at, I needed to play the role. Sofia hadn't sent another letter, and no one had seen her since the funeral. The rumors of her disappearance were growing louder, but I kept my distance, playing the part I needed to.

And then, one evening, I caught Cedric alone. He was standing by the balcony, staring out into the fading sunset, his posture relaxed yet somehow tense—like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Cedric," I called, stepping toward him. He turned, his gaze locking onto mine, and I felt that same unsettling sensation stir in my chest. The weight of Sofia's words hung between us, invisible but palpable.

"Yes, Evelyn?" His voice was smooth, as always, but there was something deeper in his tone tonight. Something I hadn't noticed before.

"I've been thinking about everything that's happened recently," I began, choosing my words carefully. "There are so many things I still don't understand."

He smiled slightly, though there was no warmth in it. "Life at court is full of mysteries, isn't it? But you've navigated them well."

I took a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. "I've had help."

He studied me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing just a fraction. "And what is it you're trying to say, Evelyn?"

I swallowed, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "I just want to understand you, Cedric. To know who you really are."

His smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Careful, Evelyn. Some truths are better left undiscovered."

My breath hitched as his words sent a chill down my spine. I could feel the weight of his presence, the power he held over everything around him. This was no ordinary man—he was playing a game far larger than I had realized.

But I couldn't back down now.

"I'm not afraid of the truth," I whispered.

Cedric's eyes darkened, and for a brief moment, I saw something flicker in his expression. Something cold. Dangerous.

"Then perhaps," he said quietly, "you should be."

His innocent yet cold gaze scared me. Did he see through me? As he walked ahead my heart race with tense and fear. That he caught me doing something wrong. But am I wrong? Is he right that I shouldn't mess with the things I don't understand. No if I don't understand them then first Is will understand them and then decide if is should or not mess with it.