"Now presenting! Duchess Kaede Fujimori of Silverwind!"
The room stirred.
Ayame's fists curled tightly under the table.
Kaede entered the banquet hall with serene grace, not emitting any haughtiness one might expect from a woman who had just recently betrayed her sister to become the duchess in her stead.
In fact, Kaede was so serene that she glided forward as if she were a painted doll come to life. Her silk kimono was elegant, pristine, perfectly folded in all the right places. Every step she took was measured and refined.
She shared the same fine bone structure as Ayame, the same jet-black hair, and the same blue eyes, though hers seemed to be veiled in a placid mask.
That's where the similarities ended.
None in the harem doubted that if Ayame were to stand next to this woman, she'd be mistaken for being the younger sister.
