CHAPTER 12: THREADS OF THE UNRAVELED PAST
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The Letter and the Library
Seraphina's eyes skimmed over the letter once more, its words etched into her mind.
> Seek the Library of Forgotten Names.
The past is not as buried as you believe.
The wax seal on the parchment bore a crest—familiar yet unplaceable. She traced the edges of the insignia, the cool texture of the dried wax sending a shiver through her fingertips. Who had sent this? And more importantly, what did they know?
Elise stood beside her, hands clasped, worry evident in her gaze. "My lady, do you think this is a warning or a clue?"
"Perhaps both," Seraphina murmured. "But the sender knows something of my family's past—something that I was never meant to uncover."
Her mind whirled with possibilities. Could this library hold the key to her family's downfall? The truth behind their exile?
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Elise turned, straightening. "Lady Liora, Cassian Veltor has arrived."
Seraphina's brow arched. Cassian Veltor. A merchant known for his shifting allegiances. If he had come, it was not out of goodwill but opportunity.
She folded the letter carefully and placed it inside her desk. "Let's not keep him waiting."
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The Merchant's Bargain
The receiving chamber was dimly lit by candlelight, the scent of parchment and aged wood hanging in the air. Seraphina stepped inside, composed, every movement deliberate.
Cassian Veltor stood by the hearth, turning at the sound of her entrance. He was a man in his early forties, with sharp eyes that spoke of a lifetime of carefully measured risks. His attire was modest but expensive—he knew how to play the role of a man who neither flaunted nor lacked wealth.
"Lady Liora," Cassian greeted, dipping into a shallow bow. "It seems you are a woman of great interest these days."
Seraphina did not smile. "And you would not be here if that did not benefit you in some way, Master Veltor."
A smirk tugged at his lips. "A fair assumption. House Ravencourt has begun exerting its influence over the merchants, pressuring them to withdraw their dealings with you. Many are... hesitant to align with a noble house still regaining its footing."
She gestured for him to sit. "And you?"
Cassian took his time lowering himself into the chair opposite her, his fingers tapping against the armrest. "I am a businessman, Lady Liora. I serve neither crown nor noble houses, only profit. But what House Ravencourt fails to understand is that alliances are not forged through fear alone. A merchant's greatest loyalty is to opportunity."
Seraphina leaned forward slightly, meeting his gaze. "And what opportunity do you see in me?"
Cassian chuckled. "You are a woman who does not cower, despite the odds. That makes you dangerous. But also... useful." He clasped his hands together. "If you wish to gain the merchants' trust, you must show them that standing beside you is not a risk, but an advantage."
Seraphina's mind raced. He was right. Fear would make them hesitate, but profit, security, and power would bind them to her.
"What do you propose?" she asked.
Cassian smiled. "A demonstration of power. A move that makes it clear House Liora is not a relic of the past, but a force that will shape the future."
She exhaled slowly. A bold move indeed.
And one she was willing to make.
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The Duke's Curiosity
The flames in Duke Everhart's study flickered, casting long shadows across the walls. He sat in silence, the letter before him an unspoken weight.
> The House of Liora should have perished. Why does she return now?
The words carried both warning and intent.
Seraphina Liora was gaining attention, and not just from him. Someone feared her resurgence. Someone who wished her removed.
Everhart exhaled, his gaze fixed on the flames. He recalled their meeting—the sharp intelligence behind her eyes, the guarded way she carried herself. She was not a woman easily manipulated. She was calculating. Wary.
And yet, there had been something about her. A flicker of recognition he could not place.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter."
A man clad in dark leathers stepped inside and bowed. "My lord, our sources have confirmed that Lady Liora is searching for something."
Everhart turned his attention fully to the man. "What is she after?"
"The Library of Forgotten Names."
The duke frowned. "What?"
The spy hesitated. "We do not know what it is, my lord. It is not recorded in any known archives, nor have any scholars spoken of it. Yet Lady Liora is actively seeking it."
Everhart's fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.
A library with no record. A name erased from history.
His curiosity deepened.
Seraphina Liora was not merely rebuilding a fallen house—she was chasing a forgotten past.
And the fact that someone had sent her a letter urging her toward it meant there was something worth finding.
His grip loosened as a slow smirk curved his lips.
If she wanted to uncover the truth, then so would he.
Not out of mere curiosity.
But because he wanted to know exactly who Seraphina Liora truly was.
And what she might uncover that could change everything.
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