Chapter 15: The Masquerade of Shadows
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**Chapter Fifteen: The Masquerade of Shadows**
The grand ballroom of the Celestian Palace shimmered with opulence, its gilded chandeliers casting a warm glow over the assembled nobility. Music swelled, and laughter echoed, yet beneath the surface, tension simmered.
Seraphina de Alvere stood at the edge of the dance floor, her crimson gown flowing like liquid fire. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the crowd, noting alliances and rivalries masked behind cordial smiles.
Across the room, Duke Alaric Montrose approached, his demeanor as composed as ever. He extended a gloved hand.([WebNovel][1], [KoreanScan][2])
"May I have this dance, Lady Seraphina?"
She hesitated for a heartbeat before placing her hand in his. "Of course, Your Grace."
As they moved in tandem to the waltz's rhythm, their conversation was a delicate dance of its own.
"You've been elusive of late," Alaric remarked, his tone light.
"Merely attending to personal matters," Seraphina replied, her smile not reaching her eyes.
He leaned in slightly. "Rumors abound. Whispers of clandestine meetings and secret correspondences."([KoreanScan][2])
She met his gaze steadily. "The court thrives on gossip. One must learn to navigate its treacherous waters."
Their dance concluded, and as they parted, Alaric's expression was inscrutable.
Later, in the solitude of her chambers, Seraphina unpinned her hair, letting it cascade over her shoulders. She approached the ornate mirror, her reflection revealing the weight of her burdens.
From a hidden compartment in her vanity, she retrieved a sealed letter. Breaking the wax seal, she read its contents, her expression hardening with each line.
The letter detailed movements of key figures within the empire, hinting at an impending coup. The time for subtlety was over.([Fenrir Translations][3], [KoreanScan][2])
Seraphina moved to her desk, penning a missive to her most trusted allies. The rebellion she had meticulously planned was about to commence.
As dawn approached, she stood by the window, watching the horizon. The first light of day signaled not just a new morning, but the beginning of a revolution.
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