The Affected Excitement Day

Evelyn stood at the edge of the grand coronation hall, her delicate hands clasped together, trying to conceal the tremor running through her fingers. The atmosphere was thick with awe and tension as Seraphina, the Villainess, now ascended the throne of Arcadia as queen. It should have been a moment of pure celebration, but Evelyn's heart raced with a cocktail of emotions—fear, jealousy, and the slightest tinge of guilt.

Her eyes followed Cedric, the one who had once seemed so distant, so unreachable. Now, he was a key player in Arcadia's rise to power. Everything about him commanded attention, from his unreadable eyes to the casual way he stood, confident and in control, beside Seraphina. Evelyn couldn't deny the growing knot of resentment in her chest. How had it come to this? Seraphina, the feared and hated villainess, now not only ruled Arcadia but held Cedric's loyalty and affection in a way that Evelyn couldn't comprehend. Together they would be unstoppable. They have to be seaprated but it was not easy. Evelyn knew The rumours and the gossips didn't worked even a little. Instead backfires and thier influence more stronger than ever. They can't turned on each other no matter.

But Evelyn had a plan.

She remembered the whispered conversations with Sofia, the warnings about Cedric, and the dangerous power he wielded. If there was any truth to what Sofia had said, Cedric's heart was not as cold as he made it seem. Evelyn believed she could turn him, make him see that he was better off with someone like her. Someone pure. Someone who could soften the edge of his ruthless nature. But it needed precision, timing, and the right circumstances.

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**A Few Days Later**

The grand halls of the royal palace were buzzing with excitement once more. This time, not for a coronation, but for a far more personal matter—an announcement of the marriage date between Queen Seraphina and Cedric. As the news spread, Evelyn felt her window of opportunity slipping away. If that marriage went ahead, Cedric would be lost to her forever.

But fate had a strange way of opening doors in the most unexpected ways.

The banquet that evening had been extravagant, even by Arcadian standards. The finest wines flowed like rivers, and the grand ballroom was filled with laughter, conversation, and intrigue. As the night wore on, Evelyn saw Cedric slip away, clearly not one for these social affairs. She followed him quietly, heart pounding with each step.

When she finally found him, he was alone in a private chamber, his hand clutching a goblet of wine. His usually sharp eyes were dull, his movements sluggish. Panic and a strange thrill raced through her as she realized what had happened—someone had drugged him. But who? And why?

Before she could think too deeply on it, Cedric swayed and slumped into a nearby chair. His voice, normally so clear and commanding, was low and mumbled. "Evelyn... why are you here?"

This was her chance. Her moment.

"Cedric," she whispered, stepping closer to him. Her voice was soft, filled with false concern. "You're not well. You should rest."

He blinked, as if trying to focus on her, but his mind was clearly muddled. Evelyn knelt beside him, her heart racing. "I'm here for you, Cedric. I've always been here. You know that, don't you?"

She placed a hand on his arm, her touch lingering. His eyes flickered with confusion, but there was no resistance. Evelyn leaned closer, her lips almost brushing his ear as she whispered, "You don't need her. You don't need Seraphina. You and I… we could be together."

Before he could respond, the door to the chamber slammed open. A gasp filled the air as Seraphina, now the queen, stood in the doorway, her eyes ablaze with fury. Behind her, Princess Selene and Adriana followed, their expressions a mixture of shock and intrigue.

It was over in an instant. Evelyn pulled away from Cedric, feigning surprise and innocence. "Your Majesty!" she gasped, turning to Seraphina. "I found him like this! I—I don't know what happened, but something's wrong with him."

Seraphina's cold eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here, Evelyn?" Her voice was ice, cutting through the tension in the room like a blade.

Evelyn took a step back, her mind racing. This was it—the moment she had prepared for. "Cedric… he's been acting strange for some time now," she began, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. "He… he confessed to me. That he's in love with me. That he's only been with you out of duty."

The room went silent, every word hanging in the air like poison. Selene's eyes flickered between Evelyn and Cedric, while Adriana's lips twisted into a slight smirk, enjoying the spectacle.

"You lie," Seraphina spat, stepping closer, her fists clenched at her sides.

Evelyn shook her head, her eyes wide with false sincerity. "Why would I lie about something like this? Look at him!" She gestured to Cedric, still slumped and dazed, his mind clouded by the drug. "He's been confused, torn between his duty and his feelings for me. He didn't want to hurt you, but he couldn't help himself."

The tension in the room was suffocating. Then Evelyn delivered the final blow. "As your queen, Seraphina, I beg you to see reason. Conduct a trial! If he truly loves you, let him say so. But if his heart belongs to me, then you must let him go."

Seraphina's eyes burned with fury, but she was nothing if not calculated. She turned to Selene and Adriana, who exchanged glances, clearly enjoying the turn of events. "You think you can manipulate me?" Seraphina said softly, stepping closer to Evelyn. "You think I can't see through your lies?"

But Evelyn knew she had struck a chord. Seraphina's pride had been wounded. Cedric, her most loyal ally, was now being questioned. And the court would demand answers.

"The justice will be served fairly. Cedric you are to be present on the trial and prove that you are right, and Evelyn same to you." Seraphina said, her voice cold as steel. "Till then, Cedric would be house arrested and would come to the court either on his own or we will arrange it for him. The date of our marriage will now be the date of judgment. We'll see if your claims hold any truth, Evelyn."

Evelyn smiled inwardly. She had played her part well. Now, all she had to do was wait.

As she left the room, the weight of the moment settled on her. The trial would determine everything—her future, Cedric's loyalty, and Seraphina's reign. One way or another, Evelyn would emerge victorious. Or so she thought.