Aria's POV
Morning comes too soon.
Marcus's text kept me awake.
I know who you are.
A knock at my door. I open it carefully.
A servant with a package. For you, Ms. Winters. No return address.
I take it. Wait until she leaves.
Then open it.
Files. Dozens of them. Financial records. Bank statements.
A note in Nikolai's handwriting:
As promised. Marcus's offshore accounts. Millions stolen. Enough to bury him. Be careful. He's watching.
I spread documents across my bed.
Account after account. Cayman Islands. Switzerland. Panama. All in Marcus's name.
Wire transfers from the royal treasury. Small amounts at first. Then bigger.
Five years of systematic theft.
I photograph everything. Document after document.
This is it. The evidence I need.
With this, I can destroy Marcus. Turn Celestia against him.
Another knock.
I hide the files under my mattress. Who is it?
It's me. Kael.
My breath catches. I check my reflection. Contacts in. Armor up.
I open the door.
Kael looks exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes.
Can I come in?
That's not appropriate
Please. I need to talk.
I step aside.
Kael enters. Closes the door. Leans against it.
I can't stop thinking about last night.
Nothing happened.
Didn't it? You almost told me something. I saw it in your face.
You saw nothing.
Stop pushing me away! His voice rises. Then softer, Please.
I'm here to work. Nothing more.
I don't believe you.
I don't care what you believe.
Yes, you do. Last night, you cried when I talked about Seraphina. You knew things about her. Personal things.
You told me those things
No. You said them first. You said maybe she was watching me too. Maybe she was scared. His voice drops. How could you know that?
My heart races. I was guessing.
Or you were speaking from experience. He pulls something from his pocket. A photo. Old. Worn. Princess Seraphina. Age twelve. Right after her riding accident.
He holds it up.
It's me. Younger. Golden hair. Sapphire eyes. Fresh scar on my temple.
Now look at yourself, Kael says quietly.
The same scar. Same placement.
Lots of people have scars
Not like that. And not combined with everything else. His hand shakes. Aria, please. Who are you really?
I want to tell him. Want to rip off my contacts. Want to say I'm the girl he loved.
But I can't.
I'm a lawyer. Here to negotiate.
You're lying.
Believe what you want.
Then prove it. Let me investigate you.
You already did. Your background check came back clean.
His eyes widen. How did you know about that?
Damn. Another slip.
I guessed. You're suspicious. Of course, you'd investigate.
The check showed Aria Winters is real. Columbia Law graduate. Perfect record. He pauses. But something feels off.
Maybe you're seeing what you want to see.
Or maybe Aria Winters is real, but you're not her.
My blood runs cold.
That's insane.
Is it? Identity theft isn't that hard. With resources. Money. Connections. His eyes bore into mine. Who would have those? Someone with a grudge. Someone who wants revenge. Someone who supposedly died five years ago.
I can't breathe.
You think I'm Seraphina, I whisper.
I think it's possible.
She's dead.
Is she? There was no body. Just reports. Just Celestia's word. His hand hovers near my face. And I've learned not to trust Celestia.
This is insane
Then prove me wrong. Take off your contacts.
My heart stops. What?
Your contacts. The violet ones. Take them off. Show me your real eye color.
This is ridiculous
If you're really Aria Winters, you'll have nothing to hide. Normal eyes. Whatever color. His voice gentle but firm. But if you're Seraphina... you'll have sapphire blue eyes. The ones I saw when I pulled you from the water.
We stare at each other.
I should refuse. Order him to leave.
But I'm tired of lying to him.
My hand moves toward my eye.
Then my phone buzzes. Loud. Insistent.
We both jump.
A text from unknown number:
Meet me in the throne room. Now. I have information about Marcus. Come alone. Lord Hartley
Lord Hartley. One of Nikolai's nobles. A potential ally.
I have to go, I say.
Aria
This conversation is over.
I grab my jacket and push past him.
This isn't over! Kael calls. I will find out the truth!
I don't look back.
As I rush down the hallway, I don't see Marcus watching from shadows.
He pulls out his phone. Sends a text.
She took the bait. Heading to throne room now. Guards ready.
In the throne room, Celestia sits on her throne, smiling.
The trap is set.