Chapter 7
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The evening air was heavy with the scent of rain.
Storm clouds loomed over the rooftops of the capital, dark and endless, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
Inside the grand halls of House Aurelius, Evelina sat by the wide arched window of her private study, watching the first drops of rain hit the glass.
There was something oddly soothing about it.
The quiet rhythm, the distant hum of thunder.
A reminder that the world moved on, no matter who won or lost.
She leaned back in her chair, fingers trailing absently over the rim of her wine glass.
She had spent the last hour rereading reports from her father's estate—documents on trade routes, grain shortages, quiet shifts in political power.
But her thoughts kept drifting.
Not to Seraphina.
Not to Cassius.
But to the Queen.
Adrian's warning from earlier still lingered in her mind.
"The Queen is watching you now."
Evelina exhaled slowly.
Of course she was.
It had only been a matter of time.
Her mistake hadn't been underestimating Seraphina.
It had been forgetting who truly controlled this kingdom.
And now?
Now the game had changed.
A soft knock echoed against her study door.
Evelina didn't turn.
"Come in," she said lightly.
The door opened with quiet precision, and the scent of rain mixed with something else—cologne, steel, the lingering presence of the outside world.
She knew exactly who it was before he spoke.
"You left early today."
Evelina finally looked up.
Leon Valcrest stood just inside the doorway, his uniform still crisp despite the damp air outside.
His posture was, as always, calm, controlled.
But there was something different today.
A sharpness in his gaze.
Like a man who had finally decided something.
Evelina rested her chin on her hand.
"Did you miss me, Sir Leon?" she murmured.
Leon exhaled, stepping fully into the room.
"I'm not here to play games."
Evelina arched a brow.
"That's a shame. You seemed to enjoy them yesterday."
Leon ignored the comment, his gaze steady.
"Seraphina is planning something."
Evelina smiled faintly. "Is she?"
Leon's expression didn't shift.
"Yes," he said simply.
A pause.
Then—
"So is the Queen."
That got her attention.
Evelina stilled, fingers tightening slightly around her glass.
Leon watched her carefully.
"You already knew," he murmured.
Evelina sighed.
"I had my suspicions," she admitted.
Leon studied her for a long moment, then finally said,
"Walk with me."
Evelina tilted her head. "Excuse me?"
Leon gestured toward the balcony doors.
"Walk with me," he repeated.
Evelina exhaled but rose to her feet, setting her wine glass aside.
"Lead the way, then."
---
The garden was silent, save for the soft sound of raindrops against the stone pathways.
The scent of wet earth and roses lingered in the air as Evelina followed Leon down the winding path.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
He hadn't spoken since they left the study.
Which meant whatever he had brought her here for wasn't something he wanted overheard.
She waited.
And eventually, Leon sighed.
"You're making enemies."
Evelina hummed lightly. "That's nothing new."
Leon glanced at her. "These are different enemies."
Evelina met his gaze, unbothered.
"You sound concerned."
Leon didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"You're not untouchable, Evelina."
The words were quiet, but they carried weight.
Evelina let the silence stretch before replying.
"Neither are you, Sir Leon."
A pause.
Then, to her surprise—
Leon smiled.
It wasn't his usual polite, unreadable expression.
It was something real.
Something dangerous.
"I know," he murmured.
Evelina watched him for a moment longer before sighing.
"Was that the whole purpose of this walk?" she asked.
Leon shook his head.
Then, slowly—he pulled something from his coat.
A sealed letter.
Thick parchment, stamped with the royal crest.
Evelina stilled.
Leon held it out.
"The Queen sent this."
Evelina didn't reach for it immediately.
She just studied it.
Because she already knew.
The letter wasn't a warning.
It was an invitation.
The Queen wasn't just watching anymore.
She was calling Evelina to her court.
---
Across the city, Seraphina sat in the private tea room of a noble estate, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
The air was too warm, too suffocating, but she didn't let it show.
She was here for one reason.
To fix everything.
To take back what was hers.
And the woman sitting across from her?
She was going to help.
Duchess Rosamund Lenore lifted her teacup gracefully, her emerald eyes cool, calculating.
"You have quite the request, Lady Seraphina," she murmured.
Seraphina forced a soft smile.
"I believe it benefits us both."
Rosamund tilted her head.
"You want to remove Lady Evelina from high society," she mused.
Seraphina's hands tightened slightly.
"She has been causing unnecessary disruptions," she said carefully.
Rosamund exhaled, setting her teacup down.
"And how do you intend to do this?"
Seraphina hesitated.
Then, finally—
She whispered, "With the Queen's favor."
A pause.
Rosamund smiled.
"Now that," she murmured, "is interesting."
---
Back at House Aurelius, Evelina stood on her balcony, the Queen's letter in her hands.
The wax seal was unbroken.
She already knew what it said.
It was a summons.
A message that Evelina had stepped too far into the game.
That if she wanted to play with power, she had to face the real players.
She traced a finger over the seal.
Then, without hesitation—
She broke it open.
A storm was coming.
And Evelina would be ready.
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