Chapter 11

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The morning mist clung to the Academy grounds, thick and unrelenting, as if the world itself had decided to obscure what was about to unfold.

Evelina walked through the marble halls with measured steps, her presence a quiet storm beneath the polished elegance.

She felt the shift before she even heard the whispers.

Something had changed.

The tension was no longer subtle.

It pressed against the air, thick and expectant.

Then she heard it.

"She lost the Duke's favor."

"House Aurelius is no longer as powerful as it once was."

"Her engagement might be reconsidered."

Evelina's grip on her fan tightened.

So this was their next move.

Seraphina and Rosamund had been patient, waiting for the right moment to strike.

And now, they had taken something from her.

Or rather, they wanted people to think they had.

Evelina exhaled slowly, her lips curving into a slow, deliberate smile.

Fine.

If they wanted a war, she would give them one.

---

The lecture hall was filled with hushed conversations when she entered.

Eyes flickered toward her, assessing, waiting for a reaction.

Evelina did not give them one.

She moved with the same elegance she always did, unhurried, untouched.

She took her seat near the center of the room, placing herself directly in the heart of the noble circle.

A statement.

She was not retreating.

She would not make this easy for them.

A few rows ahead, Seraphina sat among her usual admirers, her expression composed, her golden eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction.

Evelina met her gaze.

Held it.

Seraphina did not look away.

Neither did she.

The moment stretched, a silent battle waged between them.

Then, slowly—Evelina smiled.

Seraphina's fingers twitched against the edge of her desk.

Good.

She wasn't as confident as she wanted people to believe.

That was all Evelina needed to know.

---

The lesson passed in a haze of half-listened discussions and fleeting glances.

By the time the lecture ended, the hall was already abuzz with hushed voices.

Evelina stepped into the hallway, the familiar scent of parchment and polished wood filling the air.

She didn't get far before someone blocked her path.

Cassius.

He stood before her, his blue eyes shadowed with something unreadable.

Evelina arched a brow.

"Your Highness."

Cassius exhaled sharply.

"You need to fix this."

Evelina tilted her head.

"Fix what, exactly?"

Cassius's jaw tightened.

"The rumors," he said, voice low. "You know what they're saying."

Evelina hummed. "Many things are being said."

Cassius took a step closer.

"This isn't a game, Evelina."

She smiled.

"Isn't it?"

His fingers curled into fists.

"You don't understand."

Evelina's amusement flickered.

"No, Your Highness. I understand perfectly."

A silence stretched between them.

Then—

Cassius exhaled.

"You're impossible," he muttered.

Evelina's smile didn't waver.

"Thank you."

Cassius sighed.

Then, in a voice almost too soft to hear—

"Just be careful."

Evelina stilled.

She had expected frustration. Annoyance.

Not… concern.

She watched as he turned and walked away, his shoulders tense.

Interesting.

---

The day did not improve.

By the time the midday break arrived, the rumors had spread even further.

Evelina moved through the Academy gardens, the scent of damp earth and roses filling the cool air.

She could feel the shift even among the nobles who had once been neutral.

Some watched her with open curiosity.

Others with hesitation.

Rosamund and Seraphina had been smart.

They hadn't fabricated an obvious lie.

They had planted a seed of doubt.

Something subtle.

Something dangerous.

Evelina's fingers curled around the folds of her gown.

Then she heard them.

A group of noble ladies seated near the marble fountain, speaking in hushed voices.

"She hasn't denied the rumors."

"Because denying them would only make it worse."

"If House Aurelius is truly losing power, then what does that mean for her future?"

Evelina exhaled through her nose.

So that was their angle.

Not an attack on her character.

Not a direct confrontation.

A slow unraveling.

A shift in status, one that could turn everything against her before she even had a chance to respond.

Clever.

But not clever enough.

Evelina turned toward them, the movement slow, deliberate.

The young women stiffened immediately.

She smiled.

"Gossip is such an exhausting pastime," she murmured.

One of them swallowed visibly.

Evelina tilted her head, her expression calm but unrelenting.

"I do hope you haven't forgotten," she continued, "that rumors often say more about the speaker than the subject."

Silence.

Uncomfortable.

Then—one of the girls looked away.

Evelina turned gracefully and walked past them without another word.

She didn't need to say anything else.

The damage was already done.

---

That evening, she sat in her study, the soft glow of candlelight casting flickering shadows across the walls.

She was not alone.

Adrian stood near the window, arms crossed, watching her with thinly veiled amusement.

"You seem… irritated."

Evelina exhaled. "Irritation is for people who lack control."

Adrian chuckled.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Evelina met his gaze.

"You assume I wouldn't."

Adrian smirked. "Fair."

Then, after a pause—

"The Queen sent another message."

Evelina tilted her head. "Did she?"

Adrian nodded.

"She's waiting."

A pause.

Then, softly—

"For you to make a mistake."

Evelina leaned back in her chair, fingers tapping lightly against the wooden surface.

"She will be waiting a long time, then."

Adrian's smirk widened.

"I certainly hope so."

---

Across the city, in the private hall of House Lenore, Seraphina stood before Rosamund, her fingers tightening into fists.

"She's not reacting."

Rosamund sipped her wine, unbothered.

"She will."

Seraphina exhaled sharply.

"But what if—"

Rosamund cut her off with a single look.

"Do not panic, Lady Seraphina."

A pause.

Then—her lips curled into a slow, sharp smile.

"Because tomorrow, we raise the stakes."

---

Evelina stood on her balcony, the night air cool against her skin.

She knew Seraphina wasn't finished.

She knew the Queen was waiting.

And she knew—

This was only the beginning.

Her fingers tightened around the railing.

Let them come.

She was ready.

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