Chapter 16

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Evelina had never been fond of surprises.

Which is why, when she entered House Aurelius that evening, she was met with the deep, soul-crushing desire to throw something across the room.

Preferably at the man sitting in her chair.

Adrian Everhart, Duke's heir, menace of the nobility, and self-proclaimed connoisseur of other people's furniture, lounged casually at her desk.

Boots on the polished wood. A glass of her father's finest wine in his hand.

And, worst of all, a smirk on his face.

"Ah," Adrian drawled, tilting his head lazily. "My dear Lady Evelina. Welcome home."

Evelina inhaled deeply.

The servants had scattered the moment she walked in, which meant they knew.

They knew she was about to commit murder.

"Get. Out."

Adrian sighed dramatically, swirling his wine.

"So cold. So ruthless. Truly, you wound me."

Evelina crossed the room in three measured steps, leaned over the desk, and plucked the glass straight from his hand.

Then she drank it.

All of it.

Adrian blinked.

Then burst out laughing.

"Well," he murmured, amusement flickering in his silver eyes, "I suppose I deserved that."

Evelina slammed the empty glass onto the desk.

"You are not supposed to be here."

Adrian grinned.

"And yet, here I am."

Evelina exhaled sharply.

"Why?"

Adrian leaned back, stretching lazily.

"Because, my dear Evelina," he said, "I heard a rather interesting rumor today."

Evelina rubbed her temple.

"I despise rumors."

Adrian grinned wider.

"Yes, but this one involves you."

Evelina lowered her hand slowly.

"...Go on."

Adrian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand.

"Seraphina has challenged you. Publicly."

A pause.

Evelina blinked.

"She did what now?"

---

The Academy's great hall was packed the next morning.

Word had spread alarmingly fast.

Seraphina had issued an official challenge—one Evelina apparently had not agreed to.

Yet.

Which meant, of course, that Evelina had to walk into the lion's den completely unprepared.

Lovely.

She stepped into the hall, the scent of morning tea and fresh scandals thick in the air.

The nobles turned to watch her, eyes gleaming with interest.

Seraphina stood at the center, posture flawless, golden curls shining in the light.

Her expression was just smug enough to be punchable.

"Lady Evelina," she said sweetly, "I see you've arrived."

Evelina sighed.

"Tragically, yes."

Seraphina's smile tightened.

There was no escape.

Adrian, standing at the sidelines, looked absolutely delighted.

Leon looked exhausted.

Cassius was… unreadable.

Evelina turned back to Seraphina, forcing a very strained smile.

"To what do I owe this unexpected and completely unnecessary honor?"

Seraphina clasped her hands together.

"I have challenged you to a test of etiquette and grace," she announced.

Evelina blinked.

Pause.

Then she turned to Adrian.

"Did she just say etiquette?"

Adrian nodded, grinning.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

Evelina turned back to Seraphina.

"...You're joking."

Seraphina's smile was positively lethal.

"Not at all."

Evelina exhaled.

This was…

This was fine.

She could do this.

It was only etiquette.

How bad could it be?

---

It was bad.

Very bad.

The challenge, apparently, involved multiple rounds.

Because the gods hated Evelina.

The first round was tea preparation.

A seemingly simple task.

Except the tea set was designed by demons.

Evelina sat across from Seraphina at an ornately decorated table, staring down her opponent.

The nobles gathered around them, whispering excitedly.

Evelina picked up the teapot.

Poured gracefully.

And promptly spilled half of it onto the table.

Seraphina's smile widened.

The nobles gasped.

Adrian wheeze-laughed.

Leon covered his face with his hands.

Cassius rubbed his temples.

Evelina took a slow, deep breath.

"...Ah," she murmured. "How tragic."

Seraphina tilted her head.

"Shall we continue?"

Evelina smiled.

"If we must."

---

The second round was dancing.

Evelina, of course, hated dancing.

Cassius stepped forward, offering his hand.

Evelina took it reluctantly.

The music began.

She moved with graceful precision.

For exactly five seconds.

Then she stepped on his foot.

Hard.

Cassius did not flinch.

But the entire court did.

Leon groaned.

Adrian clutched his stomach, unable to breathe from laughter.

Seraphina beamed.

Evelina inhaled slowly.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?"

Cassius, deadpan—

"Perfectly."

Evelina sighed.

"Good. Because that wasn't the last time."

Cassius stared at her.

"...What?"

Evelina stepped forward.

And immediately crushed his foot again.

Cassius inhaled sharply.

The music did not stop.

Neither did her suffering.

---

The final round was poise and conversation.

Seraphina sat perfectly composed, speaking in soft, elegant tones.

Evelina?

Evelina had given up.

She leaned back in her chair, swirling her tea lazily.

The nobles waited.

Seraphina smirked.

"Tell me, Lady Evelina," she said sweetly, "what is the proper way to respond to an insult in high society?"

Evelina took a slow sip of tea.

Then—

She smiled.

"With devastating wit, of course."

Seraphina's smile faltered.

Evelina placed her cup down, resting her chin on her hand.

"Shall I demonstrate?"

A long pause.

Then—

Seraphina exhaled sharply.

"I see."

Evelina tilted her head.

"Do you?"

The nobles stared.

Seraphina's fingers curled against her dress.

But she said nothing.

Evelina smiled wider.

"How delightful."

---

That evening, Evelina collapsed onto her bed.

Adrian's laughter still rang in her ears.

Leon's exhaustion, Cassius's long-suffering sighs—all of it.

She exhaled deeply.

Today had been a disaster.

And yet—

She had won.

Not in etiquette.

Not in grace.

But in something far more important.

She had gotten under Seraphina's skin.

And that?

That was worth every single misstep.

Evelina closed her eyes.

Tomorrow, the game would continue.

But for now—

She slept.

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