News spread through the capital before sunset.
Lady Seraphina Valemont, the empire's disgraced villainess who had thrown herself from a cliff after being rejected, had survived. And the Crown Prince himself had visited her personally.
The noble district erupted into chaos.
Inside a luxurious tea room in the heart of the capital, noblewomen whispered behind jeweled fans while servants poured steaming moonflower tea into delicate crystal cups.
"She survived?"
"How unfortunate."
"I heard His Highness carried her himself."
"That cannot possibly be true."
"But the imperial crest was seen entering the Valemont estate."
The women fell silent. No one dared joke openly once the Crown Prince became involved.
One noblewoman leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Do you think Lady Seraphina truly attempted suicide because of Lucien Everhart?"
Another scoffed. "Of course she did. Everyone knows she was obsessed with him."
"How embarrassing for House Valemont."
A third woman frowned thoughtfully. "Still… if His Highness truly supports her, things may become troublesome."
At the mention of the Crown Prince, discomfort spread across the table. Kael Draven was not someone nobles wanted as an enemy, especially not over a woman.
Meanwhile, inside Lunaris Academy, Lucien Everhart stared silently at the official academy statement resting on his desk.
The afternoon sunlight cast long shadows across the room, illuminating stacks of books and research papers surrounding him.
A knock sounded.
"Enter."
The door opened, revealing Elena Ashbourne carrying a tray of tea. Her silver hair shimmered beneath the light, and her gentle smile softened the atmosphere instantly.
"You haven't rested since morning," she said quietly.
Lucien rubbed his temple. "I'm fine."
But he did not look fine. Ever since hearing Seraphina survived, an unfamiliar irritation had settled beneath his skin.
Elena carefully placed the tea before him. "Are you worried about Lady Seraphina?"
Lucien's expression cooled immediately. "No."
The answer came too quickly. Even he noticed it.
Elena hesitated before speaking carefully. "The academy acted rather harshly today."
"They protected their reputation."
"But all responsibility was placed on her."
Lucien's jaw tightened slightly. He already knew that. The academy elders acted swiftly the moment rumors threatened Lunaris Academy's image.
Sacrificing Seraphina publicly protected both the institution and himself. It was the logical decision, a necessary step to get everyone out of trouble.
So why did he feel uneasy?
His gaze drifted toward the window. For some reason, he could not erase the image of Seraphina standing in the rain from his mind.
Not the obsessive noblewoman who followed him endlessly. Not the arrogant daughter of House Valemont. But the broken woman who looked at him one last time before disappearing into the darkness.
Lucien closed his eyes briefly. "…Did she truly jump because of me?"
Elena looked startled. "Lucien…"
He exhaled slowly.
No. This was pointless.
Seraphina's actions were her own responsibility.
He had merely ended an engagement that should never have existed. Then why-- why did it feel like something irreversible had happened?
A servant suddenly rushed into the room, pale-faced. "Lord Lucien!"
Lucien frowned. "What is it?"
"The Crown Prince has issued a formal decree."
The room froze.
The servant swallowed hard.
"His Highness has invited Lady Seraphina Valemont to attend the Moon Ascension Banquet as his honored guest."
Silence.
The teacup slipped from Elena's hands and shattered across the floor.
Lucien slowly stood. "What?"
At the Valemont estate, servants rushed through hallways in complete panic. Dressmakers had arrived. Jewelry boxes filled entire tables. Tailors, stylists, and attendants moved frantically under the orders of the head maid.
Because after years of humiliation and ridicule, Lady Seraphina Valemont was returning to noble society. And she would return beneath the Crown Prince's protection.
Lila adjusted the curtains nervously before glancing toward the center of the room.
Selene sat calmly in front of a massive mirror while three maids worked around her.
One brushed her hair, another organized her gown. The third presented handwritten invitations and social reports from various noble families.
Selene skimmed them with terrifying efficiency.
"House Veridian invested heavily in academy trade routes?" she asked.
"Yes, my lady."
"Then they likely support Lucien politically."
Lila blinked in confusion. "Politically?"
Selene set down the paper.
"In every world," she said calmly, "people only protect what benefits them."
Nobles were no different from shareholders. Academies, titles, marriage alliances, reputations, they were simply another form of corporate structure.
And Seraphina had failed because she played emotionally while everyone else played strategically. That would no longer happen.
A maid carefully presented a crimson gown trimmed in silver moon-thread.
Selene barely glanced at it.
"Too predictable."
Another dress appeared.
"Too soft."
A third.
"Ugly."
The maids looked close to tears.
Finally, Selene stood and walked toward the wardrobe herself. Rows upon rows of luxurious gowns filled the room like a royal boutique. Then her eyes landed on one.
Black silk.
It was elegant. On her, it would look sharp and dangerous. A dress that looked less like a noblewoman's outfit and more like a declaration of war.
Selene smiled faintly.
"That one."
The maids froze.
"My lady…" Lila whispered carefully, "black is traditionally worn during political confrontations or mourning ceremonies."
"Exactly."
The room fell silent.
Selene touched the fabric thoughtfully.
The original Seraphina had spent years trying to appear lovable, approachable, and gentle enough for Lucien. But Selene had never survived by looking harmless.
If noble society already considered her a villainess, then she would become one they feared facing.
A knock sounded.
Lila hurried toward the door before quickly bowing. "Your Highness."
The entire room froze.
Kael entered without ceremony.
The maids immediately lowered their heads so quickly that one nearly tripped.
Selene turned calmly.
The Crown Prince's golden eyes swept across the room before stopping on the black gown in her hands. Something unreadable flickered in his gaze. "You chose black."
Selene tilted her head slightly. "Does it offend Your Highness?"
"No." His eyes darkened faintly. "It suits you."
The maids looked ready to faint.
Selene merely smiled politely.
Kael stepped closer, dismissing the servants with a glance.
The room emptied almost instantly.
Once alone, silence settled between them. It was not awkward or heavy.
Kael's gaze lingered on her face for several seconds before he finally spoke. "You've become very calm."
"Would Your Highness prefer hysteria?"
"No." A pause. "You don't look at me with fear."
Selene almost laughed.
Ah. So that was what interested him.
Everyone feared Kael Draven. Servants trembled around him. Nobles avoided his gaze. Even military commanders bowed carefully beneath his authority.
But Selene had spent her previous life surrounded by powerful men pretending to be gods in expensive suits. She recognized predators easily. And unlike others, she never bowed unless necessary.
"Fear is useful," Selene said smoothly. "But only when properly managed."
Kael stared at her. Then slowly, he smiled. This time, it was unmistakable and dangerous. "You really did change."
Selene met his gaze evenly. "People change after death."
The words hung strangely between them. For a brief second, Kael's expression sharpened as though he sensed hidden meaning beneath her voice. But before he could speak further, a violent pulse suddenly exploded through the room.
The windows rattled.
Candles flickered wildly.
Lila screamed outside.
Selene stiffened instantly.
The air became unbearably heavy.
A werewolf Alpha's pressure.
Raw instinct surged through her body unexpectedly. Her pulse accelerated while invisible tension coiled beneath her skin.
Kael's expression darkened immediately.
Then, a deep howl echoed somewhere beyond the estate walls.
The servants panicked outside.
"What's happening?!"
"The wolves--!"
"Seal the gates!"
Kael walked toward the window sharply.
Selene followed.
Outside the estate grounds, chaos erupted. Several guards had collapsed to one knee while horses screamed in terror. And standing beyond the main gates was a massive silver wolf.
Its glowing blue eyes burned with fury.
Selene's memories surfaced instantly.
Silver fur.
Academy crest markings.
Impossible!
Her eyes widened slightly.
Because she recognized that wolf.
Lucien Everhart.
Or rather--
His wolf form.
Kael's aura turned murderous instantly.
"So," he said softly, dangerously, "the scholar finally came."
The silver wolf growled violently outside the gates.
And for the first time, Selene realized this world's men were far more dangerous than the novel ever described.