"Finally got back home!" Seraphina announced as the carriage stopped. She scrambled out and raced to her room, Marin following right behind her as she dove onto her bed. P?h?y?s?i?o?l?o?g?i?c?a?l? ?c?o?n?d?i?t?i?o?n? ?u?n?s?t?a?b?l?e?.

  "Young lady, stop! You'll crumple your dress!" Marin said fretfully as Seraphina rolled around, wrinkling the fabric against the sheets.

  "But I'm sooo tired, Marin," Seraphina whined, thrashing her limbs on the mattress.

  "Please, Sera. Your mother would be disappoin-"

  "Hmph! I hate her!" Seraphina cut her off, abruptly turning her back to face the wall.

  "Y-you... hate Her Grace?" Marin paused, clearly confused. "But My Lady, whenever you are with your mother, you seem so happy."

  "No! No! I hate her! Go away!" Seraphina screamed. s?t?o?p?.?.?.?.? ?I? ?m?u?s?t? ?r?e?g?a?i?n? ?c?-?

  Marin, unsettled by Seraphina’s strange behavior, quietly slipped out of the room.

  After pouting for a moment, Seraphina hopped up and checked her reflection in the mirror. "Who cares about this stupid thing, anyway? I bet I have way prettier dresses in here!"

  She stomped over to the wardrobe and threw the doors open, only to find a set of plain, rough clothes hanging in front. ?C?a?m?o?u?f?l?a?g?e? ?u?t?i?l?i?z?e?d? ?d?u?r?i?n?g? ?l?o?w?e?r? ?d?i?s?t?r?i?c?t? ?r?e?c?o?n?n?a?i?s?s?a?n?c?e?.?

  "Ewww, what is this?" She grabbed the fabric with two fingers. "Why is it in my closet?" With a huff, she tossed the dress onto the floor.

  Seraphina took her time raiding the rest of the wardrobe, experimenting with various outfits. Marin knocked and entered carrying a new blue dress, but stopped short when she saw her mistress. Seraphina was wearing a bizarre mismatch of clothing, looking odd as she posed in the mirror.

  "My lady?" Marin whispered, a hint of worry in her tone.

  "Huh? Yeah, of course." Seraphina was too busy posing to even glance back.

  "I brought a new dress," Marin said, laying the garment on the bed while staring at Seraphina’s strange outfit. "This time, it was picked by your father."

  "Bring it to me, Elodie." Seraphina reached out a hand, still refusing to look at the maid.

  Elodie... wasn't that the previous maid? Marin wondered as she handed over the new dress.

  Seraphina held the garment against her body. "Daddy picked this for me? I guess it will do." She began to change, though she looked reluctant.

  Marin fidgeted with her hands. "Um, my lady? Are you feeling alright?"

  Seraphina turned while fastening the dress. "Hah? Yeah, why?"

  "It’s just... you've been acting differently since we returned home."

  "Hah?! How am I acting-" R?e?m?e?m?b?e?r? Seraphina collapsed as a sudden migraine struck her.

  "My lady!" Marin rushed forward to assist, but Seraphina shoved her away violently.

  "Don't get close to me!" Seraphina barked, massaging her throbbing temples. "Where is Mr. Kibby?"

  "Mr. Kibby?" Marin asked, confused.

  "MR. KIBBY! MY CAT!" Seraphina shouted, curling into a ball on the floor.

  "I... I don't know," Marin stammered. Shocked and helpless, she could only stare at her mistress.

  Suddenly, a horn blasted outside. Before Marin could react, Seraphina sprang up, seemingly forgetting the pain. She bolted from the room and slammed the door, locking it from the outside so Marin couldn't follow.

  "My lady! My lady, please open this door!" Marin called out, knocking urgently on the wooden door.

  Ignoring Marin, Seraphina left her room and made her way toward the main hall. Just as she paused at the top of the stairs, a group of nobles noticed her. They began clapping and shouting congratulations for her thirteenth birthday.

  Mother among the crowd looked up in shock, wondering as to why Seraphina had come out so early and without supervision. She rushed to her daughter's side to accompany her down the steps.

  "Seraphina, what are you doing? Don't you think it is a bit too early to make your appearance?" her mother whispered with a frown as she guided Sera down the steps.

  Seraphina clutched her head, dazed. She allowed her mother to escort her, her eyes darting around the room, unable to comprehend why their mansion was filled with strangers.

  As they reached the bottom of the stairs, a wave of nobles swarmed them, eager to offer their well-wishes.

  "There is the birthday girl!" a man with a handlebar mustache bellowed. "Thirteen already? It feels like yesterday she was in the cradle."

  "Blessings upon you, child. May this year bring you a suitable match!" a lady with a fan giggled.

  Mother stepped in front of her, smiling to mask Seraphina’s odd behavior. "Lord Alier, you flatter us." She turned gracefully to the woman beside him. "And Lady Margaria, so lovely to see you. Please, give my girl some air. She is quite breathless from the surprise. Seraphina, curtsy for the Count."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Seraphina peeked out from the safety of her mother's gown. Unsure of what else to do, she offered a small, hesitant curtsy.

  After the necessary introductions were made, Seraphina finally released her mother’s dress.

  Once the crowd of nobles dispersed, Mother turned and knelt to meet Seraphina's gaze.

  "What is the matter, dear?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

  Seraphina’s eyes darted nervously. "Nothing."

  Mother sighed and stood up. She was about to signal for a maid when Seraphina suddenly tugged on the hem of her gown.

  "Where's Daddy?" Seraphina asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.

  "Daddy is tired at the moment, but he will be here in a minute."

  Seraphina released her grip on the fabric.

  "Is something wrong?" a familiar voice asked from nearby.

  Kaelen walked over, looking sharp in a fitted leather jerkin.

  "Kaelen," Seraphina whispered, her eyes lighting up instantly.

  "Oh, look, your friend Kaelen is here." Mother sounded relieved. She immediately addressed him. "Kaelen, would you be a dear and watch over Seraphina while I attend to the guests?"

  Kaelen faced the Duchess and executed a respectful, courtly bow. "Of course, Your Grace. It would be my pleasure."

  Once her mother had stepped away, Kaelen turned back to Seraphina with a warm smile. "Lady Seraphina, it has been far too long. How have you been?" He slyly extended his hand, revealing a piece of candy hidden in his palm just for her.

  Seraphina snatched the candy and popped it into her mouth.

  "A while? But weren't you just practicing horse riding with me?" she asked, a look of confusion crossing her face.

  Kaelen looked surprised and a bit perplexed. "No, my lady. My father sent me to the province of Ovalar to prepare for the academy. I have been there all Solstice, learning etiquette and training in swordsmanship."

  Seraphina’s eyes widened in shock. "No, that isn't right. What do you mean you were away during the solstice? Isn't it November?"

  "November?" Kaelen tilted his head. "I am sorry, my lady, but I am not familiar with that word."

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  The sound hammered against the inside of her skull. Seraphina clutched her temples, her vision swimming as her knees trembled.

  "My lady!" Kaelen caught her before she hit the floor, pulling her against his chest for support. His voice sounded distant."Seraphina! Can you hear me?" w?a?k?e? ?u?p?

  The music and laughter of the ballroom dissolved into a high-pitched ring. The world outside didn't matter anymore; only the chaos inside remained.

  W?a?k?e? ?u?p?,? ?V?i?p?e?r?.? ?R?e?a?l?i?g?n? ?w?i?t?h? ?t?h?e? ?o?b?j?e?c?t?i?v?e?.? ?R?e?a?l?i?g?n? ?w?i?t?h? ?y?o?u?r?s?e?l?f?.?

  November? Where did that word come from? What is a November?

  The questions spiraled faster than she could catch them. Why do they think it's my birthday? What time is it? Why is everyone acting so wrong?

  She gasped, her breath hitching. Who am I? What am I?

  T?o?x?i?c?o?l?o?g?y? ?a?l?e?r?t?.? ?D?e?l?i?r?i?u?m? ?o?n?s?e?t? ?d?e?t?e?c?t?e?d?.? ?S?o?u?r?c?e? ?u?n?c?o?n?f?i?r?m?e?d?:? ?c?o?u?l?d? ?b?e? ?i?n?g?e?s?t?i?o?n? ?o?r? ?a?n? ?i?n?h?a?l?a?n?t? ?a?t? ?t?h?e? ?s?a?n?c?t?u?a?r?y?.? ?T?r?u?s?t? ?n?o?t?h?i?n?g?.?

  "Seraphina!" The voice boomed across the main hall. The Duke stepped onto the balcony and descended, silencing the room instantly. All eyes turned to him.

  "By the gods, look at his face," a Baron whispered nearby. "He looks like a walking corpse," a lady replied behind her fan. "Do you think it is a sickness?" "Or poison," a man muttered darkly. "He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks."

  Her father stumbled weakly toward Seraphina and Kaelen. Mother walked briskly beside him, whispering in his ear, urging him to stop. Ignoring her, the Duke collapsed to his knees to check on his daughter.

  "D-Dad? What's wrong?" Seraphina stammered.

  Her father raised a trembling hand. A faint, golden light glowed from his palm, causing a ripple of shock to tear through the crowd.

  "Golden magic?" "Heretic!" someone hissed.

  "That is the light of the false prophet!"

  "Shh! Don't mention the prophet, do you want us killed?"

  But the Duke's magic was too weak. The light sputtered and died after only two seconds. He slumped, exhausted.

  "Thank God," he wheezed. "You don't seem to have been affected."

  "See? She is fine," Mother said, frowning deeply at his display. "Stop worrying about it."

  "Affected?" Seraphina asked. But before she could get an answer, the double doors of the main hall burst open with a deafening crash.

  The High Priest had arrived for the rite. The guests recoiled in shock, clearing a path, with many dropping to their knees in reverence.

  The High Priest and his monks walked toward our group. Father, though still on his knees, glared up at him with defiance.

  The High Priest beamed, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Oho? It seems we have arrived a bit too early."

  Father’s legs trembled violently. Using every ounce of his remaining strength, he clawed his way upright, shielding Seraphina from the Priest’s gaze.

  "The event is cancelled," the Duke declared, his voice shaking but absolute. "You will leave. We will speak of the rite another time."

  The room erupted in hushed panic.

  "Is he insane? Turning away the High Priest?" "The Duke has lost his mind, first the dark magic and now this!?"

  "He is signing his own death warrant," a Count muttered, stepping further back.

  "Quiet! Or we shall be implicated in his heresy," his companion hissed.

  "To defy the church is to defy the crown itself."

  Amidst the ensuing chaos, Theo stood back and watched the scene unfold. Although he was terrified, he clenched his fist tightly.

  Mother stepped forward, but not to help. She aligned herself with the High Priest, standing against her husband.

  "Corvin! Do not be so selfish," she scolded. "This is Seraphina's most important day! How dare you compromise a rite that determines her entire future?"

  "Seraph-" Kaelen tried to interject, but a sharp glare from Mother silenced him instantly.

  "Tsk." Father cast a fleeting glance back at us, checking on Seraphina one last time, before turning his hardened gaze back to seemingly the world.

  "I will not compromise my daughter's health for a ritual," Father declared, his tone stripping the holy event of its perceived importance.

  The nobles lost their composure completely. "He is a heretic! He values the flesh over the soul!"

  "He is destroying his daughter's destiny with his arrogance! Someone must stop him!"

  The High Priest raised his open palms, commanding the chaos to settle. "Peace, my children. Please, let us show respect for the Duke's concerns."

  He stepped closer, his gaze boring into Corvin’s face, that beatific smile masking a predatory intent. "Corvin, you must not be selfish. This rite defines the child's very soul. Since it is her life in the balance... shall we let her decide?"