Chapter 4~More Obstacles Ahead
937 Words
As the last of the nobles began leaving the palace, Selene nearly sighed in relief.
She had survived somehow.
The entire evening had felt like walking through a field of hidden traps every conversation had been exhausting.
Every glance from Soren had made her nerves tighten and now it was over.
At least, that was what she hoped the carriage carrying her back to the
Ashbourne estate rolled through the quiet streets of the capital,moonlight spilled across the city, bathing everything in silver, Selene leaned against the window and closed her eyes.
For the first time all day, she allowed herself to relax, Soren's suspicion bothered her, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
She had already changed the story the original Selene would never have survived that conversation without insulting someone at least she hadn't made things worse probably, the uncertainty made her groan.
"Being a villainess is exhausting."
The coachman glanced back from outside."My lady?" "Nothing."
The poor man looked confused Selene decided talking to herself was becoming a bad habit, A short while later, the carriage arrived at the estate, the gates opened.Servants rushed forward to welcome her the moment she stepped out, however, she noticed something strange, everyone seemed nervous.
Very nervous,A maid hurried toward her.
"My lady!" Selene frowned."What happened?" The maid hesitated. "Your father is waiting for you." That was never good news.
The Duke of Ashbourne was not a patient man nor was he known for affection in fact, Selene couldn't remember a single pleasant memory involving him A knot formed in her stomach."What does he want?" The maid lowered her head.
"He seemed angry." Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
After surviving the Serpent King, she now had to deal with an angry duke,Selene made her way toward the study,the closer she got, the more uneasy she felt.
According to the novel, Selene's relationship with her father was complicated.The Duke valued strength, reputation, and usefulness above everything else to him, emotions were weaknesses.
And lately, Selene had become more trouble than she was worth,She stopped before the large wooden doors taking a deep breath, she knocked. "Enter."
The cold voice came immediately,
Selene pushed the door open.
The Duke sat behind an enormous desk.
Stacks of documents surrounded him.
His sharp gray eyes lifted from the papers,for several seconds, neither spoke.Then he frowned. "You embarrassed this family." Straight to the point, Selene almost admired it."What did I do this time?"
The Duke's expression darkened.
"The entire capital is discussing your false accusation against Lady Evelyn."
Right,that.Selene rubbed her forehead.
The scandal had spread faster than she expected. "I already admitted I was wrong." The Duke stared at her. "You what?" There it was again,that reaction.
Apparently nobody in this world expected Selene to admit fault."I apologized." His eyes narrowed. "Why?" Selene blinked.
Why?
Wasn't apologizing the normal thing to do? Judging from the Duke's face, apparently not.After a moment, he leaned back in his chair."You're behaving strangely." Not you too at this point, half the kingdom had noticed,Selene forced a smile. "I simply decided to be more mature." The Duke looked unconvinced.
Very unconvinced.
Fortunately, he didn't pursue the matter.
Instead, he pushed a document across the desk."I have another issue." Selene picked up the paper,the moment she saw the seal, her stomach dropped,Royal Academy,oh no.The academy,the primary setting of the novel,the place where nearly every disaster in Selene's life had begun,the Duke folded his hands.
"You'll be returning next week." Selene nearly choked. "Next week?" "Is there a problem?" Only a hundred of them.
The academy was where all five Beast Kings frequently gathered where the heroine studied,where the original villainess committed most of her crimes.
Returning there was like voluntarily walking into a battlefield."I was enjoying my break," Selene said weakly. "You've had enough time." The Duke's tone left no room for argument,Selene wanted to cry. She really did.The Duke returned to his paperwork. "You're dismissed."
Realizing the conversation was over, Selene quietly left the study.
The moment the door closed behind her, she slumped against the wall.
The academy,she was going back to the academy,this was bad,very bad.In the original story, several important events would occur there within the next month.
Events that pushed Selene closer to her downfall,events involving the heroine.
The Beast Kings and countless misunderstandings.Selene slowly made her way toward her room.
The hallway seemed much longer than usual by the time she arrived, she was mentally exhausted,she collapsed onto her bed. "I miss my old life." At least her biggest concern used to be meeting writing deadlines now she was trying to avoid execution.A noticeable downgrade.
The room fell silent for a while, she simply stared at the ceiling,then something caught her attention.
A folded piece of paper rested on her bedside table,Selene frowned she definitely hadn't left that there.Slowly, she sat up.A chill ran down her spine.
The paper looked ordinary enough.
Yet something felt wrong,very wrong.
She picked it up there was no signature,
No seal,just a single sentence written in elegant handwriting.
You can't escape the story, Selene froze.
The blood drained from her face her hands trembled Impossible.Nobody should know.Nobody should know she was trying to change the plot.Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Slowly, she turned the paper over.
Nothing.No clues.No explanation.
Only that message.
A cold breeze slipped through the open window.
For the first time since arriving in this world, genuine fear gripped her heart.
Because the message confirmed one thing she wasn't imagining it.
Someone was watching her.
Someone knew she was changing the story and whoever they were
They had just declared war.
- Writer
