The refreshing scent of roses in the palace was alluring to anyone passing by. However, for Seraphina, the fragrance only brought a wave of tension through her mind. Ever since her closeness with Prince Adrian had become more noticeable, Evelyn's attitude had changed drastically. If she used to hide her dislike behind a polite smile, now she didn't even bother concealing her hatred.
While Seraphina was cleaning the bookshelf in the royal library, a maid approached her in a rush. The girl hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Lady Evelyn wants to see you in the rose garden."
Seraphina turned to her, noticing the maid's head bowed low, as if afraid of being caught. Something felt off, but refusing wasn't an option. With a sigh, she wiped the dust from her hands and headed to the garden.
When she arrived, Evelyn was already waiting under a circular gazebo, her crimson dress flowing gracefully. On the other side of the garden, two other maids stood nearby, waiting for something.
"Lady Evelyn," Seraphina greeted cautiously.
Evelyn gave a thin smile. "Seraphina, I'd like to speak with you for a moment," she said softly, though there was a chill hidden in her voice. "I've noticed you're getting quite close to Prince Adrian."
Seraphina lifted her chin. "Forgive the misunderstanding, Lady Evelyn. I'm simply fulfilling my duties as a palace maid."
"Of course," Evelyn clicked her tongue. "But sometimes, a maid forgets the boundaries she must always respect."
Before Seraphina could respond, another maid arrived carrying a silver tray with a dazzling blue gemstone necklace. Evelyn picked up the necklace, letting it glint under the sunlight.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Evelyn turned the necklace between her fingers. "Such a shame, though. I heard something interesting. Apparently, this necklace went missing from Queen Helena's chambers. And do you know what's even more interesting?" Evelyn smiled sweetly, her expression poisonous. "A palace maid saw you near the Queen's room last night."
Seraphina felt the trap closing in. She hadn't even gone near the Queen's chambers, let alone touched her jewelry.
"That's a lie," Seraphina said.
Evelyn chuckled softly. "Are you sure? Because strangely enough, this necklace was found in your drawer this morning."
One of the maids near the garden entrance stepped forward, holding a slip of paper. "We found the necklace among Seraphina's belongings," she said, her voice dripping with feigned sincerity.
Seraphina's eyes widened. This was clearly a setup. She stared at Evelyn, who was still smiling triumphantly.
"There's no need to deny it," Evelyn continued, her eyes gleaming as if she'd already won. "The royal guards will be here soon to investigate."
Seraphina clenched her fists. If she stayed silent, Evelyn would win. But if she defended herself, it would only sound like an excuse to those who already believed the accusation.
**
Royal guards surrounded the garden, their hands gripping their sword hilts, ready to detain Seraphina. Evelyn could barely hide her sense of victory, while the other maids whispered among themselves.
Seraphina straightened her posture. "I did not steal the necklace," she said firmly.
Evelyn offered a faint smile. "But the evidence is clear. The necklace was found in your room. If you're going to lie, at least come up with a better story."
"Or maybe," a deep voice cut through the tension, "you tried too hard to fabricate a lie, Evelyn."
Prince Adrian stood at the garden's edge, his gaze sharp, cold, and full of disbelief. He walked forward with firm steps along the stone path. Everyone present bowed their heads, while Evelyn quickly put on a shocked expression.
"Your Highness," Evelyn bowed deeply. "I was only trying to ensure that the thief in this palace is punished accordingly."
Adrian stopped in front of them, his eyes shifting from Evelyn to Seraphina. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and in that instant, Seraphina felt something—belief.
"You're accusing Seraphina of stealing from Queen Helena?" Adrian asked, raising his eyebrows. "What an interesting accusation."
Evelyn gave a small smile. "It's not baseless. A witness saw her near the Queen's chambers, and the necklace was found in her room."
"And who is this witness?"
Evelyn glanced at one of the maids behind her. The girl swallowed hard, clearly hesitant to speak.
Adrian crossed his arms. "Speak. If you truly saw her, then you shouldn't hesitate to give details."
The maid fidgeted nervously. Her hands trembled, and when she finally raised her head, her voice was barely audible. "I... I didn't really see her take anything... I just saw her near the Queen's chambers."
"That's it?" Adrian repeated with a mocking tone. "You're accusing someone based on a guess? Or rather, on someone's orders?"
The maid looked down further. Evelyn gritted her teeth but kept her composure. "Your Highness, with all due respect, this is more than a guess. The evidence was found in her room."
"And you truly believe Seraphina is foolish enough to steal something and leave it in her own room?" Adrian stepped closer, his gaze piercing Evelyn like a blade. "That sounds more like a poorly constructed trap."
Evelyn's face paled slightly. "I was only trying to protect the palace from betrayal," she said, trying to regain control.
Adrian let out a cold laugh. "Funny how you're always so concerned about the palace's safety only when it involves Seraphina." He turned to look at everyone present. "I wonder. If I ordered an investigation of the other maids' rooms, would we find more suspicious items?"
Tension thickened. The other maids exchanged glances, while Evelyn clenched her fists.
"If you're going to set someone up, Evelyn," Adrian continued mockingly, "at least do it in a way that doesn't test my patience."
Evelyn was cornered. "Your Highness, I only—"
"Enough."
The word was spoken quietly, but it carried a force that silenced Evelyn instantly.
Adrian turned to the guards. "Return the necklace to Queen Helena. I'll speak to my mother about this incident myself. And as for Seraphina..." He glanced at the girl briefly before facing Evelyn again. "I don't want to hear any similar accusations again. Understood?"
Everyone nodded in unison.
Evelyn's eyes sparkled with unspoken rage. However, she could no longer oppose Adrian directly. Reluctantly, she bowed. "As you command, Your Highness."
As the guards left with the necklace, the crowd slowly dispersed. Evelyn remained in place, her gaze fixed on Seraphina—full of silent promise that this wasn't over.
Seraphina let out a relieved breath, but before she could say anything, Adrian turned to her.
"You should be more careful," Adrian said, his voice softer than when he addressed Evelyn, but still sharp.
Evelyn wouldn't give up so easily. If she could trap her once, she would surely try again.
And next time, Adrian might not be there to save her.