Chapter 3
The crowd erupted instantly.
“Lady Seraphina was invited to a private audience with the Queen herself? She must have real talent after all!”
“Seems Lady Elena was bluffing all along.”
“Say what you will, but Lord Cedric has an eye for treasure. He knew exactly who was a pearl… and who was a pebble.”
“If I were Lady Elena, I’d take what dignity I had left and leave quietly. Better to settle into life as a companion than embarrass herself further.”
Cedric watched Seraphina leave, then turned to me, smug as ever.
“Told you,” he said, lifting a brow. “Seraphina’s a prodigy. You didn’t believe me.”
“But there’s still time, Elena. Admit you were wrong, and maybe we can move past this.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded parchment-a written arrangement proposing an unofficial union, signed and sealed-and offered it to me in front of everyone.
“Just take this,” he said, holding it out. “Do it here, now, and we’ll consider the past forgotten.”
“Neither Seraphina nor I will hold it against you. And once she bears my heir… perhaps I’ll permit you a place in my household. For companionship, if nothing more.”
The crowd murmured and laughed. It was as if the Spring Banquet had ended and I had already lost.
Lydia, my maid, clenched her fists. “My lady, shall I fetch Lord Hawthorne?”
But I only shook my head calmly.
“This is Her Majesty’s banquet,” I said quietly. “It would be inappropriate to involve my father.”
“Be patient. It won’t be long before someone comes looking for us.”
And sure enough, the steward soon returned.
“Lady Elena,” he said, “Her Grace requests your presence.”
I didn’t move.
“My lord,” I said politely, loud enough for all to hear, “I humbly ask Her Grace to appear here in person. Otherwise, it might give the wrong impression.”
Moments later, Princess Sophia, Duchess of Highmere arrived.
She set two poetry books on the table and frowned. “Lady Elena… why is your manuscript identical to your sister’s?”
Seraphina stood beside her, eyes red with tears. Her voice trembled with hurt.
“Elena, I’ve never guarded myself against you. How could you copy my poems?”
Chapter 3
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I didn’t flinch.
Because in the life before, it was Seraphina who had stolen my manuscript and used it to shine at the Spring Banquet.
Back then, Princess Sophia-an old friend of my mother-had pulled us aside in private to avoid shaming the House of
Hawthorne in public.
I’d kept quiet for the sake of my father’s reputation. I didn’t want a scandal of sisterly betrayal to stain our name. And Cedric? He never supported my ambitions. He wanted a quiet life, free of court intrigue. He’d hated the idea of me entering royal service.
So I swallowed the blame, and Seraphina rose.
But this time… I owed no one anything. Especially not Cedric. And now that I knew what Seraphina truly was, I had no
reason to play the martyr again.
I looked her in the eye, voice cool and clear.
“In this world, the one who cries first and grabs the spotlight isn’t always the victim.”
“You accuse me of copying? Then prove it.”
Seraphina’s lips parted, but no words came.
Cedric stepped forward instead.
“Your Grace,” he said, “three days ago, I saw Lady Elena lurking outside Seraphina’s chambers.”
“At the time, I thought little of it. But now… it’s clear. She must have stolen the poems then!”
Princess Sophia narrowed her eyes. “You saw her outside, and from that, you presume guilt?”
“Because I trust Seraphina,” Cedric insisted. “She’s brilliant, she’s honest. As for Elena… she may be clever, but compared
to Seraphina, she’s lacking.”
I had long since stopped expecting anything good from Cedric-but the sting still came.
I inhaled slowly.
“Since Lord Cedric believes in Seraphina so deeply,” I said, my tone measured, “let us take this matter before Their
Majesties.”
“Let His Grace the King and Her Majesty the Queen pose their own test. Let the truth speak for itself.”
Seraphina’s pupils flared. She tugged at Cedric’s sleeve, trying to stop him.
But he brushed her off with a confident smirk.
“Perfect. That settles it. No more false accusations-only truth.”
