CHAPTER 9: WHISPERS IN THE DARK

A Merchant's Hesitation

Seraphina placed the mysterious emblem on her desk, tracing its intricate symbols with her fingers. It was a puzzle—a connection to her past, yet it offered no answers.

A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts.

"My lady," Elise said, peeking inside. "Master Laurent has arrived."

Seraphina exhaled slowly. So, he came after all.

She stood and smoothed her dress. "Where is he?"

"The waiting room, as you instructed."

"Good." She didn't want him to think she was desperate. If he wished to do business with House Liora, he needed to understand that she wasn't some helpless noblewoman clinging to his favor.

When she entered the waiting room, Laurent stood, his expression carefully neutral. He bowed slightly. "Lady Liora."

"Master Laurent." She took a seat across from him, her back straight, her expression unreadable. "I hear House Ravencourt has been busy."

Laurent's fingers drummed lightly against the armrest. "That they have."

"You must be in a difficult position."

A flicker of something—guilt?—passed through his eyes, but he schooled his features. "A merchant's survival depends on caution."

Seraphina gave a small smile. "And yet, caution rarely brings great fortune."

Laurent studied her for a moment. "You don't seem surprised that the merchants are wavering."

"I expected it." She leaned forward slightly. "But I did not expect you to hesitate."

He didn't flinch, but his silence was telling.

"I understand," Seraphina continued, her voice softer. "House Liora has been gone for years. To many, we are a relic of the past. But tell me, Master Laurent—do you truly believe House Ravencourt can silence me forever?"

Laurent let out a slow breath. "You speak with certainty."

"Because I have no choice."

For a moment, there was only silence between them.

Then, Laurent nodded. "Very well, Lady Liora. If you can prove that your house still holds power, I will not withdraw my support."

Seraphina smiled. "Then watch closely."

Laurent stood, bowing slightly. "I will."

As he left, Seraphina felt the weight of his words settle on her shoulders. She had won a battle, but the war was far from over.

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A Meeting in the Moonlight

That night, the estate was quiet.

Seraphina stood by her window, her hands resting on the cool frame. The city beyond was bathed in silver, the moon casting long shadows across the rooftops.

She wasn't expecting visitors. But something told her tonight would not be peaceful.

A knock echoed through the room.

Slow, deliberate.

Seraphina turned sharply. The knock had come not from her door—but from the glass doors leading to the balcony.

Her heartbeat quickened. Few would dare enter unannounced. Fewer still would come under the cover of darkness.

She reached for the dagger hidden beneath her desk before stepping toward the balcony. Carefully, she unlatched the doors and pulled them open.

A figure stood before her, his form half-lit by the moon. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark attire. The air around him carried a weight of authority, even in silence.

Seraphina's grip on the dagger tightened. "I assume you didn't come to admire the view."

The man stepped forward, into the faint glow of candlelight. His face became clearer—sharp features, piercing gray eyes, a presence that demanded attention.

Duke Everhart.

Seraphina's breath stilled.

The infamous Iron Duke. A man both feared and revered.

Their gazes met, and for a moment, the silence stretched between them.

Finally, she spoke, her tone measured. "You come unannounced, Your Grace."

His expression didn't change. "Would you have welcomed me if I had sent word?"

Seraphina didn't answer.

The duke took another step inside, his gaze sweeping across the room before returning to her. "House Liora has been quiet for too long. Now, you return—and already the capital is stirring."

Seraphina remained still. Was this a warning? A test?

"House Ravencourt moves against you," he continued, his voice calm. "And the merchants begin to waver."

Seraphina lifted her chin. "Do you make a habit of keeping track of fallen houses, Your Grace?"

One corner of his lips twitched—not quite a smile. "Only when they rise again."

She studied him, searching for an answer in his unreadable expression. Why was he here? Did he come as a potential ally—or as a future threat?

"I didn't realize my affairs warranted the attention of the Iron Duke."

"They do," he said simply. "And that should concern you."

Seraphina's grip on the dagger remained firm. She would not be intimidated. "Are you here to offer a warning, then?"

Everhart regarded her for a long moment. "I am here because you intrigue me."

A flicker of something passed through Seraphina's chest—something unfamiliar. But she pushed it aside.

"Then you came for nothing," she said coolly. "I have no intention of playing court games, nor do I need the duke's intrigue."

Everhart tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "No. But you do need allies."

Silence fell between them again.

Seraphina knew he was right. The weight of her situation was pressing in. But she would not bend so easily.

Finally, Everhart stepped back toward the balcony. "Tread carefully, Lady Liora. The capital is watching."

With that, he disappeared into the night.

Seraphina stood still for a long time, the cool breeze brushing against her skin.

She had expected the merchants to resist. She had expected House Ravencourt to retaliate.

But she had not expected Duke Everhart.

And she had the feeling this would not be their last meeting.

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