CHAPTER 10: WHISPERS OF THE PAST
---
Seraphina sat by the window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of a porcelain teacup. The room was quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the fireplace. But her mind was far from still.
Her meeting with Duke Everhart lingered in her thoughts like an unfinished melody—each word, each glance, each pause in their conversation replaying in her head.
There was something about him.
Something eerily familiar.
Not in the way one recalls an old acquaintance but in the way a long-forgotten dream resurfaces in fragments, teasing at something deeper.
She had studied him carefully during their exchange—the glint of steel in his eyes, the measured way he spoke, the subtle weight of his presence. A duke of his stature was expected to command attention, but with him, it was different. It wasn't mere power or authority that made people yield; it was something else.
Something she couldn't yet name.
Or perhaps… something she had once known?
Her fingers clenched around the cup before she realized what she was doing. No. That was impossible. She was Seraphina Liora, reborn into this world centuries after her past life. It made no sense to feel any connection to a man she had only just met.
And yet…
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Elise entered, her expression tense.
"My lady," she said hesitantly, "there's been movement from House Ravencourt."
Seraphina straightened. "What kind of movement?"
Elise folded her hands in front of her, speaking carefully. "Their influence is tightening. Master Laurent has sent word—he wishes to speak with you directly."
Seraphina's lips curled slightly. Laurent had been hesitant before, unwilling to openly align himself with House Liora. If he was calling for a meeting now, then the tides were shifting.
"Prepare the carriage," she said, standing. "I will see him at once."
Elise hesitated. "Do you think it wise to go in person?"
Seraphina met her gaze with quiet determination. "If I do not, I will always remain a step behind."
Elise lowered her head in understanding.
Seraphina turned toward the mirror before leaving, adjusting the silver clasp at her collar. A flicker of candlelight caught in the polished metal, and for the briefest moment, she thought she saw another reflection staring back at her—one that wasn't her own.
She blinked, and it was gone.
---
A Calculated Meeting
Laurent's private chamber was lined with shelves upon shelves of records, ledgers, and old scrolls—an archivist's treasure trove. Seraphina's gaze swept over them briefly as she entered.
Laurent, a man of thin build and sharp eyes, was seated behind his desk, fingers steepled. He rose when he saw her, bowing slightly.
"My lady," he greeted. "You came sooner than I expected."
Seraphina sat opposite him, her expression unreadable. "You wished to speak. I saw no reason to delay."
Laurent exhaled, rubbing his temples. "House Ravencourt has spread its influence deeper than I anticipated. Many merchants fear aligning with you."
Seraphina's voice was calm. "And what of you, Master Laurent? Do you fear them as well?"
A flicker of something passed across his face—guilt, perhaps, or hesitation. "I fear wasted investments, my lady. I am a businessman, not a revolutionary."
Seraphina's lips curved slightly. "And yet, you have always placed your bets on those who rise from nothing."
Laurent studied her. "What are you proposing?"
She leaned forward. "I am not asking for blind faith. I am offering something House Ravencourt cannot—an opportunity to stand beside a name that will not fade."
Laurent remained silent for a moment, then exhaled. "You speak with certainty, Lady Liora."
She met his gaze without wavering. "Because I have no intention of losing."
Laurent drummed his fingers against the desk, then finally nodded. "Then I will extend my support, cautiously. But know this, my lady—House Ravencourt does not forgive easily."
"Neither do I," she said smoothly, standing.
She left the chamber without another word, feeling Laurent's eyes on her until the door shut behind her.
---
A Cryptic Message
The ride back to the estate was quiet. Seraphina allowed herself a moment to close her eyes, though her mind remained restless.
Laurent was a necessary ally, but he was also a man who played both sides. His allegiance was not yet solidified, and that meant she had to move carefully.
As she stepped into the estate, Elise was already waiting.
"A letter has arrived for you, my lady," she said, handing over a folded parchment sealed with wax.
Seraphina's brows furrowed slightly. The seal was unmarked, but she had seen it before.
The first letter.
Her pulse quickened as she broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. The message was brief, yet its weight was undeniable.
> Seek the Library of Forgotten Names.
The past is not as buried as you believe.
Seraphina's grip on the paper tightened.
The past.
A place called the Library of Forgotten Names.
Her gaze flickered to the silver emblem she had received before. Was this connected to her family's lost history? To the magic she had yet to uncover?
The shadows of House Liora's fall were stirring once more.
And she intended to unearth every buried truth.
---