Characters involved
LOVIS LOWITZ AGE 27
FRIEND AND BUSINESS PARTNER OF EISER.
Authors pov
The morning sun bathed the Grayan estate in a soft golden light, scattering rays across the marble courtyard. The air was alive with the scent of blooming jasmine, yet beneath the tranquility lingered a faint undercurrent of anticipation.
A carriage rolled up the path, and the quiet was broken by a cheerful voice.
"HELLO, SIR LOVIS! YOU'RE HERE!"
Raul's shout carried across the courtyard, drawing smiles from a few passing servants.
Lovis Lowitz, now twenty-seven and as charismatic as ever, stepped down from the carriage with his signature grin. His dark coat gleamed faintly in the sun, and his confidence filled the space like warm light.
"RAUL!" he greeted with a hearty laugh. "It seems we're seeing quite a bit of each other lately! Though you, my friend, look like you've barely had a wink of sleep!"
Raul exhaled, half in amusement, half in exasperation. "I'll take your bag," he said, reaching for the luggage. "Ah, thanks."
They began to walk toward the mansion, the stone beneath their boots echoing faintly. Raul muttered under his breath, though Lovis caught every word.
"WHY IS EISER DOING THIS? We barely got back from the trip! I'm the one that always has to put up with it…"
Lovis chuckled softly. He knew how demanding Eiser could be, yet his loyalty to his friend never wavered.
Then Raul's voice faltered. His gaze shifted toward the far end of the courtyard.
"Huh?" He squinted. "Wow… who is that?"
From the arched entrance of the mansion emerged two figures — a tall man with dark, windswept hair and a woman whose elegance quieted the very air.
Serena moved with measured grace beside the imposing stranger. The brim of her pale hat shaded her delicate features, and yet, the faint fatigue around her eyes betrayed recent unrest. The man at her side radiated restrained strength — a commanding presence, tempered by calm.
Lovis's usual confidence flickered for a moment before he recovered, striding forward with genial enthusiasm.
"It's nice to see you, Ms. Serena!" he greeted warmly. "How have you been? Out for a walk?"
Serena inclined her head politely. The faintest breeze stirred the ribbon of her hat.
Then Lovis noticed the subtle limp in her step. His hand twitched awkwardly as he tried to keep the tone light.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR—uh…" He coughed delicately. "Your ankle?"
Serena gave a quiet nod, her composure untouched despite the awkwardness.
Lovis's laughter filled the silence like a practiced performance.
"Haha! Ms. Serena hasn't changed, has she?"
He nudged Raul, who responded with a dry, knowing smile.
"Why don't we go inside?" Lovis suggested
The world outside the window looked deceptively calm — the garden bathed in sunlight, Raul's laughter faintly echoing in the distance. Inside, however, I felt the quiet storm of that man's presence even through walls.
I knew Eiser was in the drawing room with Lovis. Their voices carried faintly through the corridors — Lovis's cheerful tone, Eiser's low and deliberate one. The contrast was so distinct that I didn't need to see them to imagine the scene.
Lovis had always been the talkative one, fluttering like a social butterfly wherever he went. Eiser, on the other hand, was the calm before destruction — never loud, but always dangerous when he spoke.
"I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN A YEAR, BUT SHE HASN'T CHANGED A BIT," I heard Lovis laugh faintly through the door.
"I WONDER WHEN I'LL BECOME FRIENDS WITH MS. SERENA."
My lips curved bitterly. Friends? That word had long lost meaning for me in this mansion.
Then came Eiser's voice — cool, indifferent, the tone that once commanded my obedience and now only fueled my defiance.
"IT'S NOT HAPPENING. SHE HATES EVERYTHING THAT'S EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO ME."
He wasn't wrong.
Everything around him — the scent of smoke and paper, the echoes of his measured footsteps — all of it reminded me of what he'd taken from me.
But Lovis, bless his naive persistence, laughed again.
"HEY, LOOK! YOU'RE TALKING TO LOVIS LOWITZ! THERE ISN'T A SINGLE PERSON I CAN'T BEFRIEND WITH MY FRIENDLINESS!"
Through the crack in the door, I saw Lovis strike a ridiculous pose, one hand on his hip, his teacup raised like a prop in his comedy act.
He was harmless. Almost too kind for this house.
Then his words cut through me:
"IF SHE REALLY HATES EVERYTHING RELATED TO YOU, SHOULDN'T SHE HATE RAUL TOO? SHE SEEMED PRETTY FRIENDLY WITH HIM."
Raul.
My fingers tightened around the tray I was carrying. That child was the only light in this suffocating place.
Eiser's reply was calm — too calm.
"RAUL IS AN EXCEPTION. OF ALL THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT INTO THIS HOUSE, HE'S THE ONLY THING THAT SHE TOLERATES."
My heart thudded painfully at his phrasing. He brought into this house?
He talked about people like possessions. Even Raul.
Then came the words that froze me mid-step:
"...BECAUSE HE LOOKS LIKE HARPER."
Silence filled the hallway.
Harper.
My brother. My world.
The one Eiser's cruelty had cost me.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
The clinking of Lovis's teacup faded away, the air thickened, and all I could hear was Eiser's calm voice continuing to dissect my grief like it was a business matter.
"NOT ONLY DOES HE LOOK LIKE HER LATE BROTHER, HE'S ALSO LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER TO HER."
A tremor ran through my chest. He spoke as if he understood, as if my pain was something he could casually describe.
He didn't know. He could never know.
Harper's laughter, the way he shielded me, the night he died because of Eiser's decisions — those memories lived in every corner of this mansion, poisoning the air I breathed.
And yet Eiser said it so easily.
Like he hadn't been the cause of it all.
When I finally turned away from the door, I felt a cold tear slide down my cheek. I wiped it harshly with the back of my hand. No more crying. Not for him. Not for what was already gone.
But deep inside, something twisted — a dangerous spark that mirrored Eiser's words from last night.
"You evil bastard."
Yes. He was.
And one day, I'd make him remember every life he shattered — including Harper's.
As Lovis's laughter faded and Eiser's voice grew distant again, I made my vow silently in that empty corridor.
"You'll pay for all of it, Eiser Grayne."
Even if it meant losing the last piece of my heart to the same darkness he came from.
…like she was both present and elsewhere at the same time. Her hands rested lightly on the balcony railing, fingers tracing idle patterns across the wood as if searching for something invisible. The garden beyond seemed calm, almost peaceful, but the tension radiating from her was palpable enough to make the air between them feel charged.
Lovis approached cautiously, careful not to startle her. "MS. SERENA," he said, voice light but carrying a warmth she wasn't used to in this house. "YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THINKING TOO HARD. CARE FOR A CUP OF TEA?"
Serena's eyes flicked to him, green and sharp. She allowed a small, almost imperceptible nod. "I suppose… if it's not too much trouble." Her voice was calm, but every syllable carried an edge, a cautious assessment of the man before her.
Lovis chuckled, sensing her subtle walls. "IT'S NEVER TOO MUCH TROUBLE. AND DON'T WORRY — I WON'T ASK ABOUT THAT TERRIBLE GRAYNE MAN INSIDE." He gestured vaguely toward the drawing room, and Serena's lips twitched — a hint of amusement in an otherwise guarded expression.
They walked together to a small side table where Lovis had placed a delicate tea set. Serena seated herself, the motion graceful but controlled, her mind still replaying Eiser's words.
Lovis poured the tea, his movements careful and considerate. "YOU KNOW," he began, lowering his voice slightly, "THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW. ABOUT THE MAN YOU SAW EARLIER — THE TALL ONE WITH YOU IN THE GARDEN…"
Serena's fingers froze on the edge of her cup. Her heartbeat quickened, though she tried to maintain a composed exterior. "Yes?" she prompted, voice steady but sharp, every word measured.
Lovis leaned forward, the faintest shadow of concern crossing his features. "HE ISN'T JUST A STRANGER… HE'S IMPORTANT. TO EISER. AND… TO YOU, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT."
Her eyes narrowed, the subtle green flame of suspicion igniting. "Important… how?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. The words were more command than curiosity, an instinctive need to know everything about anyone who held a piece of power over her life.
Lovis shook his head slightly, a careful caution in his tone. "I DON'T KNOW THE FULL STORY. But I can tell you this — Eiser watches him closely. And Eiser doesn't watch people… unless he sees value in them."
A chill ran down Serena's spine. The garden, the sunlight, the laughter of Raul in the distance — all of it faded into a blur as her mind raced. Eiser, always calculating, had already placed the
The corridors of Grayne Manor were quiet now, save for the faint rustle of silk and the distant clinking of a teacup. Serena's figure moved with careful deliberation, each step measured despite the ache in her ankle. She had distanced herself from the drawing room, but the tension of what she'd overheard still clung to her like a second skin.
In the grand drawing room, Lovis Lowitz leaned back in the velvet armchair, swirling the remnants of his tea with theatrical nonchalance. His cheerful energy was a stark contrast to the cold, precise aura emanating from Eiser, who remained seated, papers splayed across the table like chess pieces in a game only he could see.
"YOU KNOW," Lovis said with a flourish, gesturing toward the empty hallway, "FOR ALL THIS SPLENDOR, IT FEELS LIKE NO ONE EVER SMILES HERE."
Eiser's gaze flicked up just long enough to mark the comment but gave nothing away. His presence alone dominated the room, a quiet storm contained beneath impeccable composure.
Lovis, undeterred, leaned forward conspiratorially. "RIGHT, ABOUT THAT… THE BIG AND PRETTY LOOKING MAN I SAW WITH SERENA EARLIER—WHO IS HE? HE SEEMS… SIGNIFICANT."
Eiser's expression didn't waver. He let his words drop with deliberate slowness, each syllable measured. "HE'S SOMEONE SHE'S NEVER MET… NOT YET. BUT HE WILL MATTER TO HER SOONER THAN SHE THINKS."
The subtle weight of the statement hung in the room. Lovis's brow furrowed, curiosity mingling with unease, and he tilted his head.
Meanwhile, Serena lingered at the far end of the corridor, unseen, her pulse quickening. Every word, every tone, seeped into her thoughts. That "big man" — whoever he was — had suddenly become a thread in the tangled web Eiser had spun around her. The manor itself seemed to breathe with secrets, shadows twisting at the edges of her vision.
She pressed her hand against the wall for support, her fingers tracing the cold wood paneling. Lovis's laughter, once light and friendly, now felt distant, almost fragile against the oppressive weight of Eiser's calm. Serena's mind raced, trying to map the dangers before her, but one thought remained sharp and unwavering: she would see this stranger, she would understand his connection, and she would use that knowledge.
For now, though, she remained a silent observer, cloaked in shadows, listening to the conversation that promised to shape the next chapter of her life.
The author's lens captures it all: the contrast between Lovis's lighthearted curiosity and Eiser's unnerving control, the tension of secrets half-revealed, and Serena's growing awareness that every step she takes is being watched — and measured.
The stage was set. The players were moving. And Serena knew, deep in her chest, that the next encounter would either tip the balance or shatter it completely.
🖋️
I watched her from afar, hidden behind the comfort of my own distance, yet every detail of her presence seared itself into my awareness. Even in rest, she commanded my attention — the subtle arch of her brow, the way her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, the faint tension in her jaw.
Lovis's words still echoed faintly, his bewilderment at my fixation almost amusing. He could never understand. It wasn't simple cruelty or a desire to see her falter. It was the puzzle she posed — every gesture, every glance, every calculated restraint was a challenge I could not ignore.
Her trembling, the small, barely perceptible shivers of frustration, they were the cracks I could almost detect but never quite reach. And yet she never cried. She would never allow herself to show weakness before me, the Grayan, the man she distrusted with every fiber of her being. That very defiance fueled the intrigue that had lodged itself stubbornly in my mind.
"Why is it that I care so much?" I murmured under my breath. "Why do her small victories, her silent endurance, gnaw at me like this?"
The room settled into a tense quiet, broken only by the soft swirl of Lovis's tea and the muted ticking of the antique clock. Eiser leaned back further into the leather chair, his fingers steepled, eyes narrowing slightly as if seeing through the walls themselves.
He replayed the image of Serena in his mind — her posture rigid, her hand trembling ever so slightly as she tried to suppress the emotions he knew were there. That defiance, that control… it was maddeningly precise.
"She never gives me the satisfaction of breaking," he murmured to himself, almost inaudibly. The words were a confession, though he wouldn't call them that aloud. It was a declaration of both irritation and fascination.
The sound of Lovis stirring beside him drew a brief glance. The friend's animated curiosity was a stark contrast to the quiet intensity Eiser felt coursing through him. Lovis didn't understand, and perhaps that was a relief — to articulate this internally was enough.
Eiser's gaze drifted to the window. Outside, the garden was bathed in sunlight, but he barely registered the warmth. All he could see were the subtle nuances of her expression, the tiny shifts in her body language that betrayed the battle raging beneath her calm surface.
Her eyes, those large, unflinching eyes, haunted him. They weren't afraid, exactly. But they weighed on him, tested him, judged him. A reflection not just of distrust, but of a force he couldn't predict or command. That was the source of his quiet, simmering obsession.
"And the fact that she never cries…" he whispered under his breath. The thought twisted something inside him — irritation, certainly, but also something uncomfortably like respect. He wanted her to falter, to show even the smallest crack, but she never did. Her restraint was a mirror he could not break, a puzzle that kept him on edge.
He tapped his foot, a rare break in his usual composed facade. Even he recognized the absurdity: why did such trivial, almost petty observations — a trembling hand, a clenched fist, unyielding eyes — provoke such an intense reaction?
Because she mattered. She mattered more than he wanted to admit, more than he would ever confess aloud. And that, above all, was the truth he could not shake.
The clock ticked on. Lovis's five minutes of chatter had long since ended, and the friend now sat quietly, sensing without understanding that Eiser's mind was elsewhere — entirely focused, entirely consumed, by the woman whose resilience both infuriated and captivated him.
Eiser exhaled, a faint sound, almost imperceptible. He looked down at the papers he hadn't touched, then back at the empty hallway beyond the drawing room. Serena was there, somewhere, alive in her defiance, and every inch of her unyielding presence was a challenge he would not forget.
The calm before the next storm, he realized, had only just begun.

It wasn't hatred, not really. It wasn't even possessiveness. It was curiosity. A need to understand the woman who could resist me so thoroughly. To see what she would truly be like if the barriers fell. And, perhaps, to discover what I might become in response to her exposure.
The thought alone was unsettling. I imagined her finally breaking, her tears spilling free, the anguish and defiance mingling in her eyes. Not out of malice, but out of necessity — to see the raw human beneath the composed exterior. The Serena I had never truly known.
And yet, even as the dark curiosity clawed at me, a caution lingered. "I must be careful," I reminded myself. "One misstep, and I will destroy the very thing I wish to understand."
My gaze shifted to the garden beyond the window. There she was, lying on a blanket beside the tall, quiet man — the mysterious figure who had accompanied her earlier. Her ankle, bandaged and vulnerable, was stretched out, and the sunlight caught the golden strands of her hair.
"…So, you're planning on learning business from Sir Eiser?" the man asked gently, nudging her slightly.
"Yes. Why?" she replied, her voice calm but edged with her usual wariness.
"Well… I didn't expect it. You'll have to spend more time with him then. Are you okay with that?" he observed.
She sighed, the faint resignation in her tone unmistakable. "I guess so. What can I do? I didn't want to at first, and I was suspicious of his intentions. As always, he probably suggested it only because it benefits him in some way."
Even in her acquiescence, there was pride. There was resistance. And it stirred something darkly thrilling within me. A small victory, perhaps, to have her in my sphere of influence, even under the pretense of learning.
I wondered, quietly, almost to myself: when I finally see the real Serena — stripped of pretense, her defenses down — what will I do? What face will she make? And what will I become in the reflection of that truth?
The garden remained serene. But inside, the storm of calculation, curiosity, and obsession raged quietly, unseen, shaping every next step I would take.

The world outside the mansion felt unusually calm, a soft breeze stirring the grass as sunlight spilled across the garden. For the first time in days, I allowed myself to relax, lying back beside Frederick, who had gently nudged me awake.
He broke the silence with a subtle rustle of leaves. "…So, you're planning on learning business from Sir Eiser?"
I glanced up at him, meeting his steady gaze. "Yes. Why?"
"Well… I didn't expect it. You'll have to spend more time with him then. Are you okay with that?"
I let out a faint sigh, adjusting my position to make myself comfortable. "I guess so. What can I do?" My voice carried a mix of resignation and determination. I needed to be honest with him, at least a little. "I didn't want to at first, and I was suspicious of his intentions. As always, he probably suggested it only because it benefits himself in some way. But this time, it's different. He's going to teach me how to do business."
I drew a deep breath and revealed the true reason behind my decision. "I didn't have a chance to learn from my mom and grandmother because I was too young. Whatever his intentions are, this will be beneficial for me as well."
Then, I allowed a sly smirk to creep across my face, leaning closer to him. "And when I'm able to handle things on my own, it'll give me the perfect excuse to kick him out!"
Frederick chuckled, a quiet, approving sound. "Of course, if that's what you want. Though I will be bored during the day."
I couldn't resist teasing him back, letting my head rest against his shoulder. "I'll spend more time with you at night instead."
He gave me a small smile, brushing a hand through my hair with gentle affection. "I can see your hair has grown quite long… it's pretty."
I stiffened instantly, pulling away just slightly. "You said that last time when the jewelers were here… I don't like being called pretty. Most men don't." My voice carried the edge of frustration I felt.
Frederick's lips curved into a playful smirk. "If you say that I'm pretty one more time…"
I narrowed my eyes. "Why? Then what?"
He leaned closer, teasing me. "I might just grow a beard."
I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous remark, and he laughed. But then, with a sudden gesture, his finger pinched my cheek. "Ow!"
I sprang up, furious, my pride flaring. He had dared to touch me! "Why you… how dare you?" I glared at him, my chest rising with indignation.
Even with Frederick, even in this moment of supposed closeness, I would show no weakness. I had to maintain my image. I would not give anyone — not Eiser, not Frederick, no one — the satisfaction of seeing me falter.
After all, I was Serena. And the day I made Eiser regret teaching me? That day would be mine, entirely.
👑 I: The Price of a Grayan
Frederick's lighthearted pinch on my cheek had been infuriating. It was a familiarity I rarely allowed, and certainly one I would never accept from Eiser. I had sprung up instantly, shouting, "WHY YOU… HOW DARE YOU?!"
Frederick only laughed, a soft, indulgent sound. "YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A CHILD!"
I knew I was being dramatic, but it mattered. "I'M NOT!" I jabbed a finger at him, my expression still tight with irritation.
He leaned closer, his smile warm and indulgent, almost disarming. "I APOLOGIZE. NOW, CALM DOWN."
I huffed, letting myself release a fraction of my frustration. "THIS IS WHY I HATE BEING WEAK!" The words were bitter, jagged with all the helplessness of a twisted ankle, forced dependence, and Eiser's constant, controlling "help." My pride bristled at the thought.
Frederick reached out, gently resting his hand against my head. "IT'S OKAY TO BE WEAK SOMETIMES. YOU'RE STILL A CHILD, AFTER ALL."
I shot him a look sharp enough to curdle milk. "I AM NOT A CHILD!" I was twenty-one, old enough to be married, old enough to inherit a ruined name, and certainly old enough to despise the man who owned my contract.
Frederick only chuckled, calling me "sulky" with such casual ease that I could never truly stay angry at him.
Finally, I let myself settle, resting my head against him, letting the sunlight filter through the trees ease the tension in my shoulders.
His voice shifted, thoughtful now. "I'VE TOLD YOU COUNTLESS TIMES. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE MARRIED SIR EISER."
I murmured a tired, defeated truth. "WHAT CAN I DO? I HAD NO CHOICE."
"But he's treating you so badly," Frederick countered gently, his words firm but caring.
I closed my eyes, the weight of his statement pressing into my chest. Treating me badly—it was more than indifference; it was subtle, constant warfare.
"HE ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M THE BAD GUY," I admitted, voice low, a confession I had held in for far too long.
Frederick didn't need more explanation. He knew everything—the history of our families, the long, bloody rivalry between the Grayans and the Eisers.
"A GRAYAN AND AN EISER CAN NEVER GET ALONG," I concluded, letting the cold truth settle in my stomach.
His hand found mine, gentle, grounding. A silent promise. "BUT DON'T WORRY. AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'LL HELP YOU DIVORCE HIM."
Divorce. The word rang like a beacon of hope, a glimpse of freedom at the end of this suffocating political marriage. I only needed enough strength, knowledge, and cunning to stand on my own.
And one day… I would take it all back.
🔥 I: The Power of My Name (Continued)
The sweetness of the pearls lingered on my tongue, but it wasn't enough to dull the edge of my resolve. I set the box aside, brushing crumbs from my lap. "ENOUGH SNACKS. I NEED TO FOCUS," I said, my voice firm. Frederick gave me a small nod, understanding the shift.
"I'LL LEARN FROM HIM," I continued, the words tasting of both challenge and defiance. "AND WHEN I DO… I WON'T BE SOMETHING HE CAN CONTROL OR DISMISS."
Frederick studied me, his eyes soft but steady, as if measuring the depth of my determination. "SERENA…" he began, but I cut him off, shaking my head.
"DON'T. Don't tell me I can't. Don't pity me. I've had enough of that my whole life," I said, my tone sharp with the anger and pride I'd buried for so long.
He didn't argue. He just offered a small, understanding smile. "ALRIGHT. THEN YOU'LL SHOW HIM. JUST… BE CAREFUL," he said, his voice a whisper of caution.
I laughed bitterly, a low, defiant sound. "CAREFUL? NO. I WON'T BE CAREFUL. I'LL MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND THAT SERENA GRAYAN IS NOT A GIRL TO BE IGNORED."
The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the grass, but I felt a strange heat inside me—a fire I hadn't realized had been smoldering beneath my grief and anger. Frederick's quiet support had reminded me that even if I was alone in name, I wasn't entirely without allies.
I leaned back against him for a moment, letting the warmth seep in, then straightened, lifting my chin. "I'LL LEARN. I'LL MASTER BUSINESS. AND I'LL STAND AGAINST HIM… WITHOUT FEAR. WITHOUT SHAME. WITHOUT REGRET."
Frederick's hand lingered on mine, a silent pact. "AND WHEN YOU DO… I'LL BE HERE," he said.
I looked at him, a fleeting smile brushing my lips, before my gaze turned outward toward the horizon. Eiser awaited me, a challenge wrapped in cold composure, but now I felt… ready. Not just to survive, but to fight. To reclaim my name, my power, and whatever shred of pride he thought he could trample.
The quiet of the garden around us seemed to sharpen, as though even the world itself had paused to witness my vow.
"I'M READY," I whispered to the wind, to Frederick, to myself. "LET HIM SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO MESS WITH SERENA GRAYAN."
And with that, I stood, steady and unyielding, the taste of pearls still sweet, but nothing compared to the fire that had just been lit inside me.
🔥 I: The Power of My Name (Continued)
I set the pearl box aside, brushing crumbs from my lap. The sweetness lingered, but it couldn't mask the simmering determination inside me. I straightened my back, the sun warming my face, and looked at Frederick.
"I'LL LEARN FROM HIM," I declared, my voice steady. "AND WHEN I DO… I WON'T BE SOMETHING HE CAN CONTROL OR DISMISS."
Frederick's expression softened, his eyes calm but alert, as if he could feel the storm behind my words. "SERENA…" he began, but I shook my head. "DON'T. I don't need reminders of what I already know."
He nodded, letting the silence speak for both of us. "ALRIGHT. THEN YOU'LL SHOW HIM. JUST… BE CAREFUL," he murmured, his hand still resting lightly over mine.
I let out a low, bitter laugh. "CAREFUL? NO. I'LL MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND THAT SERENA GRAYAN IS NOT A GIRL TO BE IGNORED." My eyes narrowed, the fire inside me igniting further.
The garden around us was calm, but I felt the world shift with my resolve. Frederick's quiet presence grounded me, a rare comfort I hadn't realized I needed. But it wasn't enough to stop me. Not now.
"I'LL MASTER BUSINESS. I'LL STAND AGAINST HIM… WITHOUT FEAR. WITHOUT SHAME. WITHOUT REGRET," I said, more to myself than to him.
Frederick gave a small, encouraging smile. "AND WHEN YOU DO… I'LL BE HERE."
I returned the smile briefly, a fleeting softness before my gaze turned outward. Eiser awaited me, wrapped in that same cold, measured composure he always carried. But this time, I wasn't the same girl who trembled under his presence.
I rose, brushing the grass from my clothes, feeling the heat of determination spread through my limbs. "I'M READY," I whispered, my voice firm against the quiet of the garden. "LET HIM SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO MESS WITH SERENA GRAYAN."
The pearls still lingered on my tongue, a reminder of fleeting comfort. But the fire inside me—the need to reclaim my name, my pride, my power—burned far brighter.
I stood tall, unyielding, my eyes forward. The battle wasn't over. In fact, it had only just begun.
Authors pov
The brief, sweet respite of the picnic ended, the last of the "pearl" candies consumed. Serena and Frederick knew the time for lighthearted conversation was over; the contract demanded their attention now.
Serena, having finished her snack, made a small gesture of finality, preparing herself for the confrontation to come.
"I'll show him," she had promised herself, the name Eiser echoing in her mind like a rallying cry.
The Library
The grand library of the Eiser mansion was a sanctuary of knowledge, though for Serena, it often felt more like a cage. She arrived, her ankle still slightly tender, and found Eiser waiting, seated behind a massive mahogany desk stacked neatly with documents. He looked up, his expression utterly detached.
"YOU'RE LATE, SERENA," Eiser stated, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.
Serena bristled. She hadn't expected courtesy, but she certainly wouldn't tolerate accusations of tardiness.
"WHAT?" she challenged.
Eiser simply pointed to the clock, his finger sharp and precise. "YOU'RE LATE BY SEVEN MINUTES. I TOLD YOU TO BE HERE EXACTLY AT THREE."
His words were an immediate assertion of dominance. "I TOLD YOU I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KEEP THEIR PROMISES."
Serena mentally counted to ten, reminding herself of her goal—divorce—and Eiser's involuntary role as her teacher. She bit back a retort about his own broken promises and simply looked at him, her eyes sharp.
He was testing her, attempting to break her will before the lesson even began. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her temper flare. Her face remained a mask of cool defiance.
Eiser, noting her controlled silence, allowed a faint, unsettling smirk to touch his lips. He pushed a stack of files across the desk towards her.
"LET'S START WITH THIS. YOU'LL STUDY THESE DOCUMENTS FIRST. THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE."
Serena leaned closer to examine the heavy files. They were complex, dense with figures and legal jargon. Her jaw tightened; this was no elementary lesson.
Eiser continued, his voice smooth and professional. "THESE ARE ALL ABOUT BUSINESS, SO DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ASKING ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND."
Serena shot him a furious look. "WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
He ignored her indignation, delivering the core principle of his brutal training. "BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT SURVIVAL. ONLY THE STRONG WILL SURVIVE. I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE MY TIME TEACHING A STUPID GIRL."
Eiser's gaze met hers, cold and challenging. "IF YOU WANT TO LEARN, THEN LEARN BY YOURSELF. FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS."
Serena stared at the intimidating stack of papers, then back at the man who was both her husband and her cruelest instructor. He was trying to make her quit. He expected her to fail. But every dismissive word, every cold rule, only hardened her resolve. She would learn. She would survive. And one day, she would use that knowledge to set herself free.
The battle lines are drawn. Serena must now tackle the complex documents Eiser has given her.

"Oh, really?" My voice was low, deliberate, edged with the kind of incredulity that made the air itself seem to tense. The report had landed on my desk, but the content only fueled my irritation.
I reclined slightly in the chair, the leather cold beneath me, my gaze distant yet cutting. So she has time for a picnic… I let the thought linger, heavy and sharp. The woman—the one whose recovery should have been her only focus—was instead indulging in frivolous distractions.
A darkness, subtle yet palpable, seemed to shimmer around me, the green light of the room catching the tension like motes of warning. She had not yet grasped the weight of the world she stepped back into. Defiance? Ignorance? Either way, it gnawed at my patience, already stretched thin.
I turned to Raul, standing with that rigid form I demanded, the quiet urgency barely hiding in his voice. "Raul."
"Yes, Sir," he answered, every syllable respectful, tense.
I didn't waste a second on unnecessary words. Commands were meant to be followed, not questioned.
"Go…" My voice hardened, steel in syllables, my gaze sweeping over the slumbering figure of Serena. Her golden-brown hair cascaded over the sunlight-dappled floor, her sapphire earrings catching the light like defiance trapped in glass. Delicate. Stubborn. Dangerous.
"…and fetch Serena."
The words hung in the air as a decree, absolute, non-negotiable. Raul's eyes widened ever so slightly, but he nodded, understanding the weight behind the command.
"IMMEDIATELY." I emphasized, letting no doubt remain. The situation was critical. There was no waiting, no hesitation, no leniency. Serena would face this moment, whether she was ready or not, and I would be there to see it through.
I let the word echo once more, silent but absolute, as if the walls themselves absorbed it:
IMMEDIATELY.
The stage was set. The next act would begin, and nothing in my ordered world could—or would—allow delay.


Tip's
THE KINGDOM OF MEURACEVIA HAS A ROYAL ACADEMY CALLED DALINCOUR, THE CHILDREN OF THE UPPER CLASS AND THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE REQUIRED TO ATTEND DALINCOUR BETWEEN THE AGE OF 15-18. EISER, LOVIS, AND HARPER(SERENA'S BROTHER) WERE FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES DURING THEIR TIME AT DALINCOUR.