Seeds of Deception

Serene left the banquet hall with a satisfied smirk lingering on her lips. Tonight had been only the first step in her plan, but it was enough to plant the seeds of doubt in Lilian's mind. The evening still played vividly in her memory—Revero's subtle confusion at her coldness, lilian's momentary flicker of uncertainty.

But there was much more to do.

She had spent years suffering under the weight of betrayal, but now she had the power of foresight. She could use the knowledge of the future to her advantage and tear apart the alliances that had once destroyed her.

As she walked through the palace corridors, Serene’s thoughts turned toward her next move. Lilian had been unnerved, but Revero—he was the real threat. His ambition knew no bounds, and she knew from bitter experience how quickly he could turn on anyone who no longer served his goals.

This time, she would outmaneuver him.

"Serene!"

The voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to see a familiar figure approaching—a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair and a commanding presence. Lord Damien Greythorne, the son of the Duke of Greythorne, and a man who had been one of Revero's closest allies in the past. He had been charming, quick-witted, and dangerous—though not in the way Revero was. Damien’s danger lay in his cunning. He was always a few steps ahead of everyone else, though in her past life, Serene hadn’t fully realized it until it was too late.

Now, however, she knew just how useful Damien could be.

“Lord Damien,” Serene greeted, giving him a polite curtsy. She had to play this carefully.

Damien smiled, his dark eyes studying her intently. “I’ve been looking for you all evening. You disappeared so quickly after your conversation with the prince. Did something happen?”

Serene knew Damien had an uncanny ability to read people, and if she wasn’t careful, he would sense her true motives. She softened her expression, letting a trace of vulnerability slip into her voice.

“Nothing of consequence, my lord,” she replied. “It was simply... a little overwhelming, to be in the spotlight like that.”

Damien’s smile widened slightly, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “You? Overwhelmed? I find that hard to believe, Lady Serene. You’ve always carried yourself with such grace.”

He’s testing me.

Serene returned his smile, though inwardly she steeled herself. Damien Greythorne was not someone to underestimate. In her past life, he had remained neutral, never fully aligning with Revero or opposing him. This time, however, she would need to ensure Damien was on her side—or at least far enough away from Revero that he wouldn’t pose a threat.

“You flatter me, Lord Damien,” she said lightly. “But I’ve heard whispers of your own reputation. You’re known for your... ability to navigate difficult situations.”

Damien’s smile became sharper. “Reputation is often exaggerated. People love to talk.”

Serene tilted her head slightly, meeting his gaze head-on. “Perhaps. But I imagine you’re more interested in truth than in rumors.”

His eyes flickered with interest at her words. “Indeed. And what truth are you offering, Lady Serene?”

Serene stepped closer to him, lowering her voice. “The truth is, Lord Damien, there are forces at play here that you might not fully understand yet. Alliances shifting, old friendships dissolving. But I think you’re clever enough to see that, aren’t you?”

Damien raised an eyebrow, his curiosity clearly piqued. “You speak in riddles, my lady. Are you suggesting that the court is not as stable as it seems?”

Serene smiled, knowing she had his attention now. “I’m merely suggesting that we both keep our eyes open. The winds are changing, and those who adapt will thrive. Those who don’t...”

She left the sentence unfinished, letting the implication hang in the air.

Damien studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he chuckled softly. “You’ve certainly changed, Serene. I like it.”

“Change is inevitable,” Serene replied smoothly. “It’s how we survive.”

Damien’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he inclined his head. “I’ll keep your words in mind, Lady Serene. And if you ever find yourself in need of an ally, don’t hesitate to seek me out.”

With that, he gave her a graceful bow and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of courtiers.

Serene watched him go, her mind already calculating. Damien would be useful, but she had to be careful not to reveal too much too soon. He was unpredictable, and while he could be an ally, he could just as easily turn on her if he saw an advantage in it.

One step at a time, she reminded herself.

---

Later that night, back in her chambers, Serene stood by the window, gazing out at the moonlit gardens. The events of the evening had unfolded as she’d hoped, but she couldn’t afford to be complacent. She needed to be ten steps ahead, always anticipating her enemies’ next moves.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Come in,” she called.

Lily entered the room, her expression worried. “My lady, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Serene turned to face her, immediately alert. Lily had been her faithful maid in both lives, and while she had never been directly involved in the court’s political games, she often heard things. Things that others assumed were too insignificant to matter.

“What is it, Lily?” Serene asked, her tone calm but firm.

Lily hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I overheard some of the servants talking, my lady. They said Lady Lilian has been spending a lot of time with the prince recently. More than usual. And... they said she’s been asking questions about your family.”

Serene’s blood ran cold. She had expected Lilian to begin her subtle sabotage, but it seemed she was moving faster than Selene had anticipated.

“What kind of questions?” Serene asked, keeping her voice steady.

Lily bit her lip, glancing nervously toward the door before answering. “About the Van dera lands, my lady. About your father’s influence in the court.”

Serene’s mind raced. In her past life, Lilian had slowly undermined her reputation, casting doubt on her loyalty and competence. But it seemed this time, Lilian was going straight for the Van dera family’s political power.

She wants to weaken my father’s position, Serene realized. If the court loses faith in him, Revero will have the excuse he needs to break off the engagement and align himself with Lilian.

This couldn’t be allowed to happen. Serene needed to move quickly—before Lilian could do any more damage.

“Thank you, Lily,” Serene said, her voice calm despite the storm brewing inside her. “You’ve done well to bring this to me.”

Lily nodded, relief flooding her expression. “Of course, my lady. I’ll keep listening for anything else.”

As Lily left the room, Serene turned back to the window, her jaw clenched in determination.

So Lilian wants to strike at my family? Fine. Let her try.

But Serene would be ready. She would expose Lilian for the schemer she was—and in the process, tear apart her alliance with Revero before it could fully form.

The seeds of deception had been planted.

Now, it was time for Serene to nurture them and watch them grow into the downfall of her enemies.

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