Seraphina's POV
I burned the note.
Watched Prince Daemon's warning turn to ash in the fireplace, my hands shaking.
"He's lying. Trust no one."
But which "he"? Cassian? Daemon? My father?
Everyone lied. Everyone betrayed. How was I supposed to know who to trust?
I paced the room as dawn broke, Daemon's dagger hidden under my pillow. Should I tell Cassian about the note? Or would that prove I didn't trust him?
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Lady Seraphina?" Elena's cheerful voice called. "May I come in?"
I quickly checked that the dagger was hidden. "Yes."
Elena entered with a breakfast tray and a bright smile. "Good morning! You look tired. Didn't sleep well?"
"Nightmares," I lied.
"Well, I have something that might cheer you up." She set down the tray. "The king asked me to give you a tour of the castle today. He thought you might like to see more than just this room."
A tour. Where anyone could attack me. Where Daemon might be hiding.
"I don't know," I said carefully. "Is it safe?"
"Commander Rylan and six guards will accompany us," Elena assured me. "Plus, the king wants you to see that Valcrest isn't the terrible place your kingdom claimed. He thinks if you see the truth with your own eyes, you'll understand."
Understand what? That he wasn't lying? Or was this all part of some elaborate trap?
Daemon's words echoed: Trust no one.
But staying locked in this room forever wasn't an option either.
"Alright," I agreed. "I'll go."
Elena beamed. "Wonderful! Eat your breakfast, and we'll leave in an hour."
The moment we stepped into the main castle corridor, I knew something was wrong.
Not wrong like danger—wrong like everything I'd been told was a lie.
Servants moved through the halls with smiles and greetings. They didn't flinch when they saw me. They nodded respectfully, some even wishing me good morning.
"They're not afraid of me?" I asked Elena, confused.
"Why would they be afraid of you?"
"Because I'm supposed to be a traitor. A spy. Everyone should hate me."
Elena laughed softly. "Oh, sweetheart. Everyone knows you were framed. The king made sure word spread—you're innocent, and you're under his protection. That makes you practically royalty here."
Practically royalty? But I was the enemy's daughter!
We walked through the great hall, where workers were setting up tables for breakfast. Children ran through, giggling and playing. A boy almost crashed into me, then stopped and bowed.
"Sorry, my lady!" he gasped before running off again.
I stared after him. "Why did he bow to me?"
"Because the king treats you with respect," Commander Rylan said from behind me. "And what the king respects, we all respect."
This made no sense. In Aeloria, servants feared nobles. Children were beaten for running indoors. Everything was strict, cold, controlled.
But here... here people seemed almost happy.
We climbed stairs to a balcony overlooking the training grounds. Below, soldiers practiced with swords and bows. And in the center, teaching them, was King Cassian.
I watched as he corrected a young soldier's stance—gently, patiently. When the boy finally landed a hit on the practice dummy, Cassian clapped him on the shoulder and smiled.
"He trains with them every morning," Elena said beside me. "Says a king who won't fight beside his men doesn't deserve their loyalty."
"My father would never train with common soldiers," I murmured. "He says they're beneath him."
"King Cassian is different," Rylan said proudly. "He's one of us. He eats in the same hall, trains in the same yard, bleeds the same blood. That's why we'd die for him."
Would anyone die for my father? Or would they celebrate his death?
I knew the answer, and it hurt.
"Come," Elena said, taking my arm. "Let me show you the library. It's beautiful."
She was right. The library was massive, filled with thousands of books from floor to ceiling. Sunlight streamed through tall windows. And sitting at tables, reading peacefully, were both nobles and commoners together.
"Anyone can use the library?" I asked, shocked.
"Of course," Elena said. "King Cassian believes knowledge should be free. He even started schools for children whose families can't afford tutors."
Schools? For common children?
In Aeloria, only nobles' children were educated. Everyone else worked from age five onward.
"I don't understand," I whispered, sinking into a chair. "Everything you're showing me contradicts everything I was taught. Valcrest is supposed to be cruel. Evil. A place of monsters and tyrants."
Elena sat beside me, her expression sad. "Your kingdom has been lying to you your whole life, Seraphina. They paint us as monsters to justify their attacks. But the truth is, we just want peace."
"Then why did this war start?" I demanded. "Someone had to attack first!"
"Your father did," Rylan said bluntly. "Three years ago, he sent soldiers across our border, claiming we'd stolen livestock. We hadn't. It was a lie to start a conflict. We've been defending ourselves ever since."
Three years. That was right after my mother died.
My mother, who'd been spying for Cassian. Who'd been trying to prevent war.
Had my father started the war because she couldn't stop him anymore?
My head spun with questions.
"I need air," I said, standing abruptly. "Please, can we go outside?"
Elena led me to a courtyard where a fountain bubbled. Flowers bloomed in neat gardens. And sitting on a bench, feeding birds, was an old woman.
She looked up as we approached and smiled warmly.
"Oh, how lovely! A visitor!" She patted the bench beside her. "Come, sit, dear. These birds are quite friendly."
I sat cautiously. The woman handed me seeds.
"I'm Margaret," she said. "I've been living in this castle for forty years. Since King Cassian's grandfather's time."
"You've seen three kings?" I asked, intrigued.
"Indeed! And I must say, young Cassian is the best of them all. So kind. So fair." She scattered more seeds. "Though he's been lonely since his parents died. Needs a good woman to stand beside him."
Elena coughed, trying not to laugh.
My cheeks burned. "I'm sure he'll find someone suitable."
Margaret gave me a knowing look. "Oh, I think he already has."
Before I could respond, a commotion erupted at the castle gates.
Guards shouted. People scattered. And through the gates rode a man I recognized instantly, even from a distance.
Prince Daemon.
He was here. In broad daylight. Demanding entrance.
My heart stopped.
Commander Rylan's hand went to his sword. "Stay here," he ordered, moving toward the gates with his men.
But I couldn't stay. I had to know why Daemon was here. What he wanted.
I followed, Elena calling after me in alarm.
At the gates, Daemon sat on his white horse, surrounded by ten armed guards. He wore his royal armor, crown gleaming.
And when his eyes found mine across the courtyard, he smiled.
Not a cruel smile. A relieved one.
"Seraphina!" he called out. "Thank God you're alive!"
King Cassian appeared from the training grounds, sword still in hand, his face dark with fury.
"Prince Daemon," he said coldly. "You're not welcome here. Leave. Now."
"I came for her," Daemon said, pointing at me. "I came to rescue her from you."
"She doesn't need rescuing," Cassian growled. "She's under my protection."
"Protection?" Daemon laughed bitterly. "Is that what you call holding her prisoner? I know your game, Cassian. You're using her against her father. Well, it won't work. I'm taking her home."
"Home?" I found my voice, stepping forward. "You threw me away! You called me a traitor! You helped my father frame me!"
Daemon's face crumpled. "I know. And I've regretted it every day since. Seraphina, I was a coward. I was afraid of your father, afraid of losing my position. But I've learned the truth. I know you were innocent." He dismounted and walked toward me, ignoring the guards' raised swords. "I'm here to make things right. Come with me. I'll expose your father's lies. I'll clear your name. We'll stop this war together."
I stared at him, my mind reeling.
Daemon was offering me everything—my name cleared, my home back, revenge on my father.
But his timing was suspicious. Right after he'd sent that warning note. Right after I'd started trusting Cassian.
"Why now?" I demanded. "Why come here now?"
Daemon's eyes darted to Cassian, then back to me. "Because I received information. Dangerous information about King Cassian's true intentions. Seraphina, he's not protecting you. He's using you."
"That's a lie!" Cassian snarled, moving toward Daemon.
"Is it?" Daemon pulled a scroll from his coat. "Then explain this. A letter from your war council, planning to use Seraphina as a hostage to force Duke Aldric's surrender. Dated three days ago."
He threw the scroll at my feet.
I picked it up with shaking hands and unrolled it.
It was written on Valcrest paper, with the royal seal.
And it described exactly what Daemon said—a plan to use me as leverage against my father.
The words swam before my eyes.
"Seraphina," Cassian said urgently, moving toward me. "That document is a forgery. I never—"
"Don't touch her!" Daemon stepped between us. "She's coming with me. By her own choice."
Cassian's silver eyes locked on mine, desperate and pleading. "Don't believe him. Please. I swear on my mother's grave, I would never use you. That letter is fake."
"Then prove it," Daemon challenged. "Let her leave. Let her choose. If you're really protecting her and not controlling her, let her go."
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Everyone watched. Waiting.
King Cassian looked at me, and I saw pain in his eyes. "Seraphina, I won't stop you if you want to leave. I meant what I said—you're not a prisoner. You're free to go."
He was letting me choose.
I looked between them. Daemon, my former fiancé, offering to restore everything I'd lost. Cassian, the enemy king, who'd shown me nothing but kindness.
One of them was lying.
But which one?
And my choice could mean the difference between peace and war, life and death, truth and betrayal.
"Seraphina," Daemon said softly, extending his hand. "Come home."
"Seraphina," Cassian said quietly, not moving. "Stay. Please."
I looked at Daemon's hand.
Then at Cassian's face.
And I realized—I had to decide right now who to trust with my life.
"I..." I started, my voice shaking.
Then I saw it.
A glint of metal in Daemon's sleeve. Hidden, but just visible when he'd reached out his hand.
A dagger.
The same dagger he'd thrown through my window last night.
My blood ran cold.
Daemon wasn't here to rescue me.
He was here to kill me.