3. The Original Heroine

“Lady Elena.” Seraphina’s voice was low, but she didn’t look away. “What have you planned for me this time?”

Nora’s mind went completely blank.

She had expected whispers, cold stares, and maybe a few mean comments from people who remembered what Elena used to be like. But what she had not expected was to stand face-to-face with the girl whose death had made her hiss at her bedroom ceiling at two in the morning.

Seraphina waited for her answer.

The music was still playing, but all the talking around them had stopped. Nora could feel everyone’s eyes on her, which made it harder for her to keep it together.

Of course they were all watching. Elena Ashford had promised the whole court a show, and nobody was going to believe she changed her mind just because she showed up wearing a dark dress.

“I haven’t planned anything for you,” Nora said.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you tell half the house I’d regret standing in the same room as you?”

Nora swallowed hard.

There was no way she could answer without lying or saying something she could never explain. She couldn’t tell Seraphina that a different woman had woken up in Elena’s body, that she already knew how the story would go, or that Seraphina’s death was once nothing more than words on a page.

“I was wrong to say that,” Nora said carefully. “I’m sorry.”

Seraphina raised her eyebrows.

For a second, Nora thought the apology might have actually worked.

Then Seraphina let out a short, bitter laugh.

“In front of the whole court. How perfect.”

“I mean it.”

“I’m sure you do, tonight.” Seraphina looked at the guests watching them before turning back to Nora. “But look at the position you’ve put me in. If I accept your apology, and this turns out to be another one of your games, I’ll look like a fool in front of everyone. If I refuse, then I’ll look like the mean one for turning down a lady’s apology. Either way, you’ll walk out of this hall looking better than me.”

Nora opened her mouth.

But no words came out.

She was an editor. She knew how to look at a scene and understand what was really happening, and somehow, she had not seen what her own apology was doing to Seraphina.

In the book, Seraphina had been sweet, trusting, and always smiling, the kind of main character who let things happen to her. The writer never once mentioned that she could read a room like a game of chess.

But of course she could. Anyone who had spent that long with people watching for their mistakes would learn to watch back.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” Nora said.

“Good.”

Seraphina said it without even thinking. Nora blinked.

“Then what do you expect?” Seraphina took a little step closer. 

She didn’t raise her voice, but there was nothing shy about her anymore. “Since the day I arrived at court, I haven’t walked into a single room without wondering what you’ve planned for me. You’ve made fun of my clothes, acted like I don’t belong here, and made it very clear you think you’re better than me. And now you think a few words of apology would make all of that disappear?”

Nora felt the words sting, even though she knew she wasn’t the one who deserved Seraphina’s anger.

And that was the problem.

She had Elena’s face, Elena’s name, and Elena’s past. No matter what she said, Seraphina had every reason to suspect there was a threat hiding in her words.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Nora said.

Seraphina’s jaw tightened.

“Don’t.”

That one word stopped Nora from saying anything else.

“Don’t stand there and pretend like you care about what happens to me.” Seraphina’s voice shook a little, but she still didn’t look away. “You can say something rude, walk away, and forget about it before dinner. I’m the one who has to live with it long after you’ve moved on.”

Nora suddenly felt ashamed.

She wanted to tell Seraphina that she was right. That she never asked to take Elena’s place, that she never asked for any of this. That if she could go back to her apartment and her unfinished manuscripts, she would do it without thinking twice.

But those were Nora’s truths, not Elena’s. To Seraphina, they would just sound like she was putting on another act.

So Nora kept quiet and let her say what she needed to say.

That was when she noticed Seraphina’s eyes move past her shoulder, toward the musicians.

Then back to her.

“You’ve looked at them twice,” Seraphina said. “Since I walked up to you.”

Nora froze.

She hadn’t even noticed she was doing that. Had Tessa gotten to the head servant in time? Were the musicians still waiting for a signal that would never come?

“Is that part of your plan?” Seraphina asked. “Is that how you’re going to do it?”

Nora knew she only had two choices.

She could deny it. That would be the easy way out, but Seraphina would only take it as another lie.

Or she could tell her the truth, and give a girl who already had every reason not to trust her something she could use against her.

“There was a plan,” Nora said.

Seraphina’s mouth fell open a little.

“It was mine. The music, the seats, a speech.” Nora kept her voice low enough for only Seraphina to hear. “I called it off just a few minutes ago, at the door. I don’t know if everyone got the message in time. If those musicians start playing anything while I’m near you, it’s not coming from me.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“You’re actually admitting it,” Seraphina said slowly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you would’ve found out anyway.” Nora took a breath. 

“And I’d rather you distrust me because of the truth than because of a lie.”

Seraphina looked at her for a long moment, like she was trying to find something Nora couldn’t quite figure out.

When she finally spoke, she sounded a little less angry, but she still didn’t trust her.

“That’s the first thing you’ve ever said to me that I didn’t see coming.” She raised her chin. “That doesn’t mean I believe you.”

“I know.”

“You can’t blame me for waiting to see if the music plays.”

“Honestly, I’d think less of you if you didn’t.”

The words came out before Nora could stop them.

For a second, something changed on Seraphina’s face. Maybe surprise. But it disappeared almost immediately.

“I’ll stay on the other side of the hall tonight,” Nora added. “That way you won’t have to wonder where I am. At least you can keep an eye on that.”

Seraphina didn’t say anything.

Nora understood why. A promise was just words. Only time could prove whether she meant it, and thanks to Elena, time was the one thing she didn’t have tonight.

Then Seraphina looked past Nora’s shoulder again.

But this time, she wasn’t looking at the musicians.

Her face changed. It wasn’t fear, not really. It was more like she had suddenly remembered how many people were watching them.

Nora really wanted to turn around, but she didn’t.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Seraphina said.

It came out way too fast.

She was still holding her head up, but Nora could tell she was nervous.

Behind them, people started going quiet one by one. Even the music sounded softer.

Nora knew exactly what that kind of quiet meant.

She had read about it in more chapters than she could count. That silence that always filled a room whenever the king was watching.

Slowly, Nora turned toward the raised platform.

Adrian hadn’t moved. He was still sitting in his big chair, one hand resting on the arm. Everyone in the hall kept sneaking looks at him, but nobody dared to stare. His golden eyes went to Seraphina first.

Then they moved to Nora.

His face didn’t show what he was thinking. But he had been watching long enough to see Elena Ashford stand in front of the girl she swore to embarrass and not say one mean word to her.

And from the look in his eyes, he had noticed. In the book, he barely looked at Elena unless she pushed her way in front of him. So why was he watching her now?