WebNovels

Chapter 8 - Games of Winter, Fires of the Heart

The doors of Ravenscroft Mansion closed behind him with a muted click but the warmth of the hall did little to melt the chill that had settled in his chest. He had returned carrying more than the night's cold. He carried every fleeting glance, every soft word and every impossible smile that make his heart fluttered. Evelina's presence lingered like the faint scent of jasmine, a reminder that the world outside these walls could be as exquisite as it was cruel.

He wandered through the long corridors and tracing the familiar contours of his home. The weight of unspoken thoughts pressed against his ribs. How was it possible, he wondered, to feel so tied to someone whose loyalty was not his to claim? In quiet moments, he admitted to himself that it was not Alistair he envied but the intimacy he had glimpsed in Evelina's eyes, a warmth he had never known and perhaps never would.

A soft rustle of boots on marble broke his reverie. His shadow guard appeared at the entrance of his study, cloak trailing behind, eyes sharp and disciplined as always.

"Your Grace," the guard said, bowing slightly. "We have completed our investigation regarding the Grand Duke and Lady Everleigh."

Lucian gestured toward the chair by the desk, forcing himself to straighten his spine. "Speak."

The guard's eyes flickered briefly to the young duke's face, reading the tension there then returned to his report. "It appears the Grand Duke's intentions toward Lady Everleigh are as strategic as they are personal. He is consolidating influence over certain palace factions."

Lucian's hands clenched. "Explain."

"Lady Everleigh," the guard continued, "is connected to the Grand Duke through her family's historic ties to the late Queen. Her father, the Marquess Everleigh, served as Knight Commander of the Queen's Guard while her mother as the Queen's Lady-in-Waiting. Their loyalty to the previous reign still shapes their decisions. However, Lady Everleigh herself is not a player in this political struggle nor will her parents allow her to be. She is considered a precious gem of the House of Everleigh. Her safety, reputation, and future are paramount; the House of Everleigh would never sacrifice their daughter for a political war."

Lucian pressed his palms to his eyes. "So, she remains untouched by the factions, even while they circle around her."

"Exactly, Your Grace," the guard said. "Her connection to the Grand Duke does not make her an agent. She does not act on his behalf nor does she involve herself in his maneuvering. She is careful, deliberately polite but never affectionate beyond friendship. The Grand Duke's devotion is clear, yet she shows him nothing more than what courtesy demands."

Lucian let that settle for a moment, feeling both relief and an ache that went deeper than either jealousy or frustration. She was untouchable not because of pride but because her family had safeguarded her, she herself would not be used as a tool. Her restraint was deliberate; her heart was her own and no one would claim it by force or strategy.

He leaned back against the edge of his desk, exhaling slowly. Evelina so close yet untouched by the very intrigue that threatened to consume them all. And still she had left a mark he could not ignore. The thought of her laughter, restrained but genuine or the soft tilt of her hand as she dismissed some grand gesture from the Grand Duke settled in his chest like both fire and ice.

He straightened, resolving himself to vigilance. "Keep me informed of every move surrounding the factions, every whisper in the halls, every meeting, every letter. I want the full picture. She may not play but the game still surrounds her."

The guard inclined his head. "As you wish, Your Grace."

For a moment, Lucian allowed himself the faintest ache of hope however as foolish before, the weight of duty and politics pressed in once more. Desire alone will never won battles, nor hearts, in a court of crowns and shadows but for the first time in days, he let himself wonder what he might do if he could reach her without consequence. And yet… he found himself thinking of her, not as a prize or a pawn, but as a person who is brilliant, untouchable, and fiercely her own. Her laugh lingered in his mind like a melody he could not silence. Her eyes, polite but unwavering, reminded him that she belonged only to herself.

He clenched his fists, feeling both the pull of longing and the fire of resolve. If others could maneuver and scheme around her, he would not stand idle. Not to control her, not to claim her, but to protect her from a world that would see her used, or worse broken.

And as he let his gaze sweep over the familiar contours of his study, a thought crystallized, if Evelina's brilliance was to remain untarnished, he would have to move quietly and carefully. Watching alone would no longer suffice. He would need to navigate the web of factions, whispers, and alliances himself, positioning where he could and strike only when the moment demanded it.

For now, it was a plan born in shadows and patience but he could already feel the first stirrings of its shape. Lucian, who had watched the world from the edges for so long, would step closer. Not recklessly, not brazenly but with all the calculation, caution, and care a man could muster for the one he could never afford to lose.

And in the silence of his study, he whispered to himself without realizing it: Let them play their games. I will see her safe. I will see her free. And I will not fail.

The next morning, Lucian found himself walking through the Crown Princess' palace, the sunlight glinting off polished marble and gilded walls. Even in its grandeur, the palace felt constricting every glance, every gesture, weighed with expectation. Today, he was summoned not only by the Crown Princess but in the company of the Crown Prince himself.

"Brother," the Crown Princess greeted, "You were in the Rose Palace last night but never had time to see your sister?" her voice light but disappointed. The Crown Princess knew her brother, he did not like to be in a place where his presence will outstand. "Your Royal Highnesses, The Crown Prince and Princess" he respectful bowed to them ignoring her sister little rant. 

"Still the same, brother." she replied. Tinged with curiosity, "I hear your winter preparations have already begun." Lucian tilted his head, taking care to maintain a controlled tone. "The North is constant, Your Highness. Supplies and defenses are organized. If this winter is harder than last year, we are prepared." The Crown Prince sat with a sense of calm power, nodded attentively. "We appreciate your diligence. Your plans for defenses and supply lines will be considered carefully."

As the conversation flowed, Lucian felt the subtle shift in the room, the Crown Princess's gaze lingering on him with a warmth he could not mistake.

"And speaking of the future," she said, a soft smile curving her lips, "we must consider suitable matches for the House. Winter is when arrangements often begin. Have you given thought to the future Lady of Ravenscroft?"

Lucian's chest tightened but he held himself steady. "I have, Your Highness. The future Lady of Ravenscroft will be chosen with care for the good of the House. I will find someone who fits the position perfectly, soon."

A flicker of something, amusement? curiosity? passed across the Crown Princess's eyes, though her voice remained composed. "I see," she said lightly. "And I trust you will be thoughtful in your choice,have you thought maybe Lady Marlowe? She is a remarkable young woman, and as my closest friend, perhaps a consideration, if one wished to involve her…"

Lucian inclined his head politely, suppressing the tension in his jaw. "She is remarkable," he said evenly, "but she is not the one Ravenscroft requires. My choice is firm."

The Crown Princess's smile did not falter, but Lucian could feel the sharp awareness behind it as if she might already suspect whom he had chosen.

Before the conversation could wander further, the Crown Prince's voice drew his attention. "Lucian," he asked, calm but direct, "tell me what are the updates from Grand Duke and his faction? How do their movements appear in the capital?"

Lucian's posture stiffened imperceptibly. "They are active, Your Highness," he replied, his voice steady. "The Grand Duke is consolidating influence quietly, strengthening his position in council and among allied Houses."

The Crown Prince frowned slightly. "And the Crown Princess's concerns?"

"Lady Everleigh is neither player nor pawn," Ravenscroft said firmly. "Her family ensures her protection and she herself has no intention to involve herself. The factions may circle but she remains untouched, as she should be. But The Grand Duke faction's reach is growing and it would be unwise to underestimate their strategy."

A pause fell over the room, heavy despite the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. Lucian met both their gazes feeling the weight of expectation and the quiet curiosity behind the Crown Princess's composed expression. He knew that no words about duty, strategy, or alliances could convey the truth of his own convictions, that he would protect what was precious and that the woman he had chosen would remain at the heart of Ravenscroft, no matter the politics around her.

And in that pause, he allowed himself the briefest flicker of something else: hope, resolve and a quiet certainty. Winter would come, the factions would move, and schemes would unfold but Lucian would hold his line. Not as a pawn of the court but as the man who had already claimed the future of his House, in his heart.

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