Chapter 17

---

Evelina was barely awake when the disaster arrived.

It began with a loud bang on her door.

Then another.

Then—

"Lady Evelina, I'm coming in!"

The door slammed open.

A blur of blond hair, noble arrogance, and frustration stormed into her room.

Evelina groaned.

She did not need this.

Not at this hour.

Not before breakfast.

She turned her head slowly, squinting against the sunlight.

"Seraphina," she muttered, "if you have come to challenge me to another round of humiliation, please return at a more reasonable hour."

Seraphina did not appreciate the humor.

She crossed her arms, golden eyes blazing.

"You ruined my plans."

Evelina sighed, sitting up.

"Which ones?" she asked. "I ruin quite a lot of things."

Seraphina scowled.

"Do you know what you've done?"

Evelina stretched lazily.

"Annoyed you?"

Seraphina huffed.

"You've made me look like a fool."

Evelina tilted her head.

"Ah, but you did that yourself. I only assisted."

Seraphina's hands fisted at her sides.

Then—

She inhaled sharply, regaining control.

Evelina frowned.

That was never a good sign.

Seraphina straightened her posture, smoothing out the lace of her gown.

"Regardless," she said, voice cool, "we have a problem."

Evelina arched a brow.

"We?"

Seraphina's jaw tightened.

"Yes."

A pause.

Then—

"The Queen has summoned us both."

Silence.

Then—

Evelina groaned.

"Gods, what now?"

---

The royal palace was as suffocating as ever.

Evelina hated it.

She walked beside Seraphina through the grand hall, their footsteps too synchronized for comfort.

The court watched them with undisguised curiosity.

Two enemies.

Walking together.

Something was wrong.

Evelina exhaled.

"What exactly did you do to get us into this situation?"

Seraphina scowled.

"You assume this is my fault?"

"Yes."

Seraphina huffed.

"It's not my fault."

"Then whose?"

Seraphina hesitated.

Evelina narrowed her eyes.

"What did you do?"

Seraphina cleared her throat.

"...I may have implied that you and I were working together."

Evelina stopped walking.

Seraphina kept moving.

Then realized Evelina was no longer beside her.

She turned.

Evelina was staring at her.

Unmoving.

Expression utterly blank.

Then, after a long pause—

"I see," Evelina murmured.

Seraphina shifted.

"...Say something else."

Evelina exhaled, rubbing her temple.

"Yes," she muttered. "Yes, I will say something else."

A pause.

Then, flatly—

"Are you insane?"

Seraphina flushed.

"It was a strategic decision!"

"It was a stupid decision."

Seraphina crossed her arms.

"You'll thank me later."

Evelina snorted.

"I doubt that."

Seraphina lifted her chin.

"Well, I had no choice. The Queen was beginning to question me. I needed to redirect attention."

Evelina blinked.

"By throwing me into the fire?"

Seraphina smiled sweetly.

"Exactly."

Evelina exhaled sharply.

"This is going to be awful."

Then—

The doors to the Queen's private court opened.

A guard stepped forward.

"Her Majesty will see you now."

Evelina turned back to Seraphina.

"Do not speak unless necessary," she muttered.

Seraphina scowled.

"I am not an idiot."

Evelina smiled faintly.

"Debatable."

Seraphina glared.

Then they stepped inside.

---

Queen Ophelia sat at the far end of the chamber, expression unreadable.

Cassius stood beside her, arms crossed, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

Lovely.

Evelina and Seraphina approached, stopping at a respectful distance.

Evelina curtsied smoothly.

"Your Majesty."

Seraphina followed a second later.

"Your Majesty."

The Queen did not respond immediately.

She watched them.

Assessed them.

Then, finally—

She exhaled.

"You two are exhausting," she murmured.

Evelina froze.

Seraphina's mouth fell open.

Cassius rubbed his face.

The Queen sighed.

"Sit."

They sat.

The silence stretched.

Then, finally, the Queen spoke again.

"Tell me," she said, "why is the entire court under the impression that the two of you have formed an alliance?"

Seraphina shifted.

Evelina sighed.

"Because Seraphina has terrible judgment."

Seraphina gasped.

"I do not!"

Evelina arched a brow.

"Then explain why I am here."

Seraphina hesitated.

Evelina smiled.

"Exactly."

The Queen tapped her fingers against the armrest.

"It does not matter how this started," she said. "What matters is how it ends."

Evelina tilted her head.

"Are you suggesting something, Your Majesty?"

The Queen leaned forward slightly.

"You two will attend the upcoming royal banquet together."

Silence.

Then—

"What."

Evelina stared.

Seraphina gasped.

Cassius sighed.

"You heard her."

Evelina turned back to the Queen.

"You cannot be serious."

The Queen arched a brow.

"Do I appear to be joking?"

Evelina exhaled slowly.

No.

No, she did not.

Seraphina leaned forward.

"Your Majesty," she began, too innocently, "forgive my question, but… why?"

The Queen smiled faintly.

"Because I enjoy watching you suffer."

Silence.

Evelina blinked.

Cassius coughed.

Seraphina gasped.

"That is cruel!" she protested.

The Queen's smile widened.

"Yes."

Seraphina looked betrayed.

Evelina, meanwhile, considered running away.

A banquet.

With Seraphina.

With the entire court watching them.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Evelina exhaled.

"Very well," she said.

Seraphina turned to her, glaring.

"That's it? Just like that?"

Evelina met her gaze, unbothered.

"I do not argue with the Queen."

Seraphina huffed.

"How obedient of you."

Evelina smiled sweetly.

"How unexpected of you to notice."

Seraphina scowled.

The Queen sighed.

"Leave. Both of you."

Evelina stood immediately.

Seraphina did too.

Then, as they turned—

The Queen called after them.

"Oh, and ladies?"

They stopped.

She smiled.

"Wear something nice."

Evelina closed her eyes.

Seraphina groaned.

Cassius smirked.

The Queen laughed.

This was going to be a nightmare.