EVELINA
The palace tea room held its calm like a ritual. Afternoon light filtered through tall windows, warm across marble floors polished to glass. Roses in porcelain vases gave the air a sweet note that mingled with the sharper steam of hot tea.
Evelina sat at a long table near the center. Her gloves rested lightly in her lap, though she felt the fabric press hard into her palms. A smile touched her lips, steady, practiced.
At her side were Margaret and Victoria, their presence gave her a thread of comfort. They spoke easily, as they always had, their laughter quick, their voices softened in respect for the setting. Yet Evelina knew the comfort was fragile.
Across the table sat Lady Marlowe. Her posture was composed, her gestures careful, her tone bright and deferential as she leaned toward the Crown Princess. Evelina watched in silence. Selina's loyalty was sharp and deliberate. Every word angled toward favor.
The Crown Princess turned with grace that drew all attention to her. Her smile warmed her face. "Evelina, it is always good to see you here. How have you been since our last gathering?"
Evelina straightened, her voice smooth. "Quite well, Your Highness."
Inside, her stomach tightened. Rumors clung like dust, following her into every room. She felt their weight pressing from every side.
Margaret leaned closer, lowering her voice so that only Evelina and Victoria heard. "Have you heard? They say the Grand Duke visited your estate. The court speaks as if an announcement will soon follow."
Evelina's hand tightened against her teacup. She raised it slowly, took a sip, then lowered it with care. "I have heard the whispers," she said softly. "But they are not truth."
Victoria gave a soft, quick laugh without humor. "Whispers grow teeth here. Fanciful, yes, but dangerous too."
Evelina looked into her cup. The tea's surface trembled faintly. "I will guard against them. I will not let gossip twist what should remain private."
Across the table, Selina's tone reached her, light but edged. "Even the Grand Duke has his share of attention, Your Highness. His name draws many voices."
The Crown Princess gave a small smile. Evelina's breath caught. Selina had not spoken her name, but the intent was plain. The knot in her chest pulled tighter.
She spoke then, her voice low yet firm. "I will not let whispers set my path."
The Crown Princess looked at her with calm eyes. "Wise words, Evelina. Grace under scrutiny is a strength few hold. Remember that."
Evelina inclined her head. The compliment steadied her, though only slightly. She wanted to lean into the easy warmth of her friends, but the pressure of Selina's presence kept her spine stiff.
Selina leaned once more toward the Princess. Crown "With the plans in the north, the young Duke Ravenscroft will need a partner. Someone steady. Someone ready for such duty."
The Crown Princess tilted her head. "Do you have someone in mind?"
Selina's eyes swept the room, pausing on Evelina before settling back. Her smile was composed, her tone smooth. "I believe I could serve the House of Ravenscroft well. My experience has prepared me. I would be honored if he considered me."
The Princess's lips curved faintly. "Your loyalty is noted. But hearts do not always answer duty."
Selina inclined her head. "I understand, Your Highness. Yet loyalty is strength. And I will prove mine."
Evelina's heart gave a quick thud. She lifted her cup again, though the tea had cooled. The act steadied her hands, though the weight of Selina's words pressed sharp.
She turned slightly to Margaret beside her. "I hope the north will see peace this winter," Evelina said, her voice even.
Margaret's gaze was soft. "Do not let her trouble you, Evee. Selina has her aims. But you are not so easily set aside."
Evelina gave the faintest nod, though her mind worked quick. Selina's ambition was plain. The Princess had heard her claim, and the words now lingered in the air like a mark Evelina could not brush away.
The Crown Princess's eyes touched Evelina again, thoughtful. Evelina returned the gaze, a polite mask over the pulse that raced in her chest.
***
LUCIAN
At the edge of the room, Lucian stood in the shadow of a tall window. His coat was black, his bearing calm. Few noticed his presence, but Evelina felt his gaze. It held steady, unflinching, as if the clamor of gossip could not reach him.
She did not look long, but when she lowered her eyes to her cup, her breath came faster. His presence was a quiet tether, though one she dared not claim.
The tea ended. The clatter of porcelain faded as the ladies rose. Dresses brushed lightly across the marble floor. Evelina left with Margaret and Victoria, their words soft, their glances protective. She let herself breathe easier once they passed into the corridor, though Selina's voice still rang in her memory.
Inside her study, the Crown Princess sat at her desk. Sunlight spread across polished wood. Lucian entered, his step quiet but assured. She gestured to the chair before her.
"Sit, Lucian. We should speak of what we saw today."
He sat, posture straight, hands set on the arms of the chair. His eyes carried a faint tension, though his face remained calm.
The Crown Princess leaned forward. "Do not think I missed it. You watched Lady Everleigh more than was needed."
Lucian met her gaze, steady. "I respect her wit. Her restraint. That is all."
Her smile sharpened. "Respect often grows into folly. Be mindful. Many already count her an enemy, yet you watch her as though she were not."
Lucian gave no quick reply. His words came measured. "She knows the dangers of this court. She holds herself against them. That alone deserves regard."
The Crown Princess studied him closely. "Yes. And more. If the north must name a duchess, she is the only one fit. She does not bend. Not to Montclair. Not even to me."
Lucian's jaw shifted. "She does not yield. That is what makes her strong."
The Crown Princess leaned back. "Strength like hers cannot be pressed. If she is to choose, it must be her own will. If she ever turns her eyes to you, it must be earned."
Lucian's lips curved, the smallest smile. "Then I will honor her choice. No less."
Her eyes softened slightly. "Good. Watch her carefully. The court will turn, but she will not. That is her place of power."
Lucian lowered his gaze in thought. The Crown Princess returned to her desk, tracing the wood with her hand.
The Crown Prince entered, curiosity in his tone. "Why do you speak of Evelina Everleigh with such weight? She stands outside our plans."
The Crown Princess met his eyes. "I have seen her since she was young. She bends to no one. Not to Montclair. Not to the Crown. That is why she matters."
Lucian's focus sharpened. "So she would not yield to Montclair?"
"Exactly," the Crown Princess said. "He believes wealth and title will claim her. He is wrong. She cannot be claimed."
The Crown Prince tilted his head. "And this serves Ravenscroft?"
Her smile was small, but sure. "If she chooses him, yes. The north would gain not only strength, but a bond unbreakable. She would never serve as pawn. She would be his equal."
Lucian listened in silence. Her words settled heavy and true. Evelina was not a tool to be moved. She was herself, and she would remain so.
He rose from the chair with quiet resolve. "Then I will act with care. She deserves it."
The Crown Princess inclined her head, her eyes catching his in understanding.
Outside, the palace carried on with its usual hum. Yet in that quiet chamber, Evelina's name had taken root in their thoughts, not as gossip, but as power.
Lucian stepped into the corridor. The air felt different. He knew his path had already shifted toward her. Not through plan, not through design, but through the pull of her presence. Each time her eyes met his, the court blurred away. And each time, he found it harder to look elsewhere.