Chapter 16: A Dance of Deception

Chapter 16: A Dance of Deception

Seraphina barely slept that night. Evelyne Valemont had died searching for the truth, and now, Seraphina was walking the same treacherous path. Her mind reeled with questions, each more dangerous than the last.

Her marriage to Adrian had always been one of duty, not love—but now, it was something even more perilous. A game of secrets, deception, and survival. And she refused to be another lost Duchess.

By morning, she had made her decision.

If Adrian would not tell her the truth, she would find it herself.

The great hall of Valemont Manor pulsed with life that evening. A grand affair, meant to celebrate the union of Duke and Duchess, it was a carefully curated display of power and elegance. Nobles from across the kingdom had gathered, their silk gowns sweeping over marble floors, their voices weaving a tapestry of laughter and intrigue. Chandeliers hung heavy with candlelight, reflecting gold and crimson hues across the room, as if painting the scene in fire and shadows.

Seraphina stood at the top of the grand staircase, the embodiment of grace in a gown of golden satin. To the watching eyes, she was the dutiful wife, the perfect Duchess. But beneath her poised exterior, her mind was sharp, calculating. Watching.

Her husband stood among the guests, commanding attention effortlessly. Adrian was dressed in midnight black, his presence undeniable, his silver eyes sweeping over the gathering like a predator surveying his domain. He spoke with ease, his charm masking the secrets she knew lay beneath the surface.

Seraphina's breath steadied. Was he her protector? Or the greatest threat she faced?

A noblewoman curtsied before Adrian, her fingers lingering just a moment too long on his arm. Her soft laughter rang through the air, delicate as a whisper but laced with intent.

Seraphina's smile remained, controlled and unreadable. Let them believe she was jealous. Let them see the doting wife, silently watching.

In truth, she was observing the men who stood along the edges of the room, the ones who avoided her gaze, the ones whose hushed conversations ceased whenever she neared. They were the ones who held the answers she sought.

And then she saw him.

Duke Laurent.

He stood near the wine table, his piercing gaze fixed on her, a slow smirk playing at his lips.

Seraphina's pulse quickened.

He knew something.

She descended the stairs, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease, her gown trailing like liquid gold. If Laurent held the answers, she would extract them herself.

But before she could reach him, a firm hand caught her wrist.

Adrian.

"Leaving so soon, ma chérie?" His voice was smooth, yet his grip told a different story.

She looked up at him, her practiced smile never faltering. "I was merely greeting our guests."

His gaze flickered toward Laurent before returning to her, his silver eyes unreadable. "Dance with me."

It was not a request.

The music shifted, the soft notes of a waltz filling the air. Seraphina found herself in Adrian's arms, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization, a spectacle for the assembled nobles. To the outside world, it was the picture of marital harmony.

But Seraphina knew better.

This was no mere waltz.

It was a battle.

She met his gaze, unyielding. "Are you going to tell me the truth, or must I keep searching for it myself?"

Adrian's grip on her waist tightened slightly, his expression unreadable. "Some doors are better left closed, Seraphina."

"And some secrets demand to be uncovered," she countered, her voice low but firm.

The dance continued, their movements measured yet charged with tension. Around them, the court watched, oblivious to the war waged in whispers between husband and wife.

"Do you truly wish to know the cost of the truth?" Adrian murmured, his lips barely moving. "Because once you learn it, there will be no turning back."

Seraphina inhaled sharply. "I have never turned back from a fight, Adrian. I won't start now."

His silver eyes darkened. "Then I hope you are prepared for what you may find."

As the final note of the waltz played, Adrian dipped her low, his face inches from hers. To the crowd, it was a display of passion. But in his whisper, only she could hear the warning laced beneath it.

"You are walking on dangerous ground, ma chérie. And you are not the only one watching."

Seraphina's pulse thundered, but she did not look away.

She had come too far to stop now.

And she would not lose this battle.