Chapter 26: Secrets Beneath the Surface

Chapter 26: Secrets Beneath the Surface

The carriage rattled over uneven cobblestones as Seraphina watched the city shift around them. The grandeur of noble estates faded into narrower streets, where flickering lanterns cast long, restless shadows. She and Adrian had left the familiarity of Valemont Manor far behind.

She was stepping deeper into his world now, and the weight of it pressed against her chest.

Adrian sat across from her, silent, his expression unreadable. But his fingers tapped idly against the polished handle of his cane—a subtle indication of his thoughts running as sharply as hers.

She broke the silence. "Where exactly are we meeting this contact of yours?"

He leaned back slightly, the flickering lanternlight casting a sharp contrast on his features. "A private establishment owned by someone with little loyalty to Laurent and even less patience for foolish questions."

Seraphina arched a brow. "Then I should be cautious."

A hint of a smirk touched Adrian's lips. "You should be dangerous."

The carriage slowed, and the footman pulled the door open, revealing a nondescript building wedged between a tailor's shop and what appeared to be an abandoned inn. It bore no sign, no clear indication of its purpose. But the heavy iron lanterns flanking the door told her enough—this was a place of exclusivity, secrets, and hidden dealings.

Adrian stepped out first, offering his hand. Seraphina hesitated only a moment before taking it, letting him guide her down onto the uneven stone pavement. The air smelled of damp earth and burning coal, the distant hum of the city replaced by a quieter, more secretive energy.

A doorman inclined his head as they approached, stepping aside without question. Adrian did not need to announce himself; his presence was enough.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with murmured conversations, smoke curling toward the ceiling in lazy spirals. The room was filled with men and women whose wealth was displayed not in finery, but in confidence. Here, power was traded in whispered deals, not grand estates or royal favor.

A man in a dark waistcoat lifted his head as they approached, his sharp eyes flicking between them before settling on Adrian. "You're late."

Adrian's grip on his cane tightened. "Traffic."

The man scoffed but gestured toward a secluded alcove at the back of the room. "He's waiting."

Seraphina followed Adrian through the crowd, her gaze darting to every subtle movement, every hushed exchange. This was a place where words were weapons, and she was stepping onto a battlefield she had yet to fully understand.

A single candle burned on the table where their contact sat—a man older than she expected, with sharp eyes that held no warmth. He studied her first, then Adrian.

"She's bolder than I imagined," he mused. "You brought her here willingly?"

Adrian settled into the seat across from him, motioning for Seraphina to do the same. "Seraphina is not a woman to be left in the dark. And we need answers."

The man leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Then you should ask your questions quickly. There are ears everywhere."

Seraphina met Adrian's gaze before turning back to their contact. "Tell us about Laurent. And tell us why the Montverre family is involved."

A slow smile curved the man's lips. "Ah. So you do know where to start."

The candle flickered between them, shadows stretching long against the walls. And in that moment, she realized—whatever secrets they uncovered tonight would change everything.

The man leaned forward, voice lowering. "Laurent is not merely a noble with ambition. He is a broker of power, and the Montverre family has long been his benefactor. The king's council is not untouched by their influence. Your father's ruin, Seraphina, was orchestrated. Not by chance, not by misfortune, but by deliberate design."

Seraphina's breath caught. "You're saying they arranged it?"

The man nodded. "To clear the path for their own interests. Just as they removed Evelyne Valemont when she dug too deeply. If you are asking whether Laurent had a hand in her death, the answer is yes. But he did not act alone."

Adrian's jaw clenched. "Who else?"

The man hesitated. "That is a question worth more than mere conversation, Duke. But if you wish to uncover the truth, you must look toward Montverre's next move. Three nights from now, they gather at the Montverre estate."

Adrian exchanged a glance with Seraphina. A lead—but a dangerous one.

Hours later, as the carriage carried them back toward Valemont Manor, silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of what they had learned. The Montverre family's reach was deeper than she had ever imagined, their influence stretching into the king's council itself. Laurent was not working alone.

Adrian had been right—this was not just a personal vendetta. This was war.

As they entered the halls of Valemont Manor once more, Seraphina could feel the shift. The quiet tension in the corridors, the way the servants glanced away too quickly. The house itself seemed to hold its breath.

Adrian did not release her hand as they walked. Instead, he led her directly toward his study, his grip firm, unyielding. When they entered, he finally let go, moving toward the fireplace and pouring himself a glass of brandy.

She folded her arms. "We should talk."

He nodded once, his gaze unreadable. "We should."

She stepped closer. "Laurent is making his move sooner than you anticipated. You knew his influence was vast, but Montverre changes everything."

Adrian took a slow sip, his silver eyes flickering in the dim light. "Yes. And now that we know their next gathering, we have a choice. We either disrupt their plans or find a way to use them against them."

Seraphina tilted her head. "You already have a plan, don't you?"

He smirked faintly. "Of course I do. But I need to know if you're willing to take the next step. This isn't just about uncovering truths anymore. It's about playing the game better than they do."

A silence stretched between them, heavy and charged.

Seraphina inhaled deeply. "Then tell me what comes next."

Adrian leaned forward, setting his glass down with deliberate care. "We go to Montverre. And this time, Seraphina, we don't just ask questions. We make them answer."

A shiver ran down her spine—not from fear, but from the realization that she was no longer just an observer in this war.

She was a player.