The royal dining hall glittered like something out of a dream crystal chandeliers, golden silverware, fresh roses, violin music drifting soft in the background.
It was a lie.All of it.
Seraphina knew it now every polished surface and perfect smile was just a cover. And somewhere in this very room, someone had tried to kill her.
She was being watched. Not by the press. Not by the people.
By someone who knew exactly what she'd found.The bruised photo.Lila's letter.And her growing connection to the one truth that had been buried alive.
Tonight, she would bait them out.
She sat at the long table, back straight, wearing midnight-blue silk and a razor-edged expression. Her mother was late. Her father hadn't looked her in the eye since the attack.
Levi leaned against the far pillar, pretending to be a shadow, still bruised from tackling her during the shot.
Kai sat directly across from her. He hadn't blinked in ten minutes.
Servants poured the wine.
Seraphina didn't touch hers.
Instead, she smiled sweetly. "Let's toast."
Her father raised his glass. "To your safety."
To your guilt, she thought.
She lifted hers just an inch, then paused. "Actually…" She turned to a servant, lips curling. "Bring me the bottle. I'd like to pour this round myself."
The air shifted. One second too long.
The servant froze.
Too late.
"Now."
The servant backed up, eyes darting, but not fast enough. Levi was already moving. Kai slammed his hand down on the table, standing up.
Guards scrambled.
The bottle clattered to the floor. Shattered.
And from it not wine.A thick, black liquid that hissed when it hit the tile.
"Poison," Kai said coldly.
Gasps. Screams. Chaos again.
Seraphina stood calm, centered. "Check every bottle that was served tonight. Every glass. Run the prints."
Her father barked orders, pale. But it was her mother who finally arrived gliding in, too late, too graceful.
"Sorry I'm late," Queen Vivienne said. Her eyes fell on the broken bottle. "What did I miss?"
Too late to act innocent.