Kiarha kept a composed exterior as she sat at the dining table, her back straight and her hands were placed on her lap. The room was filled with tension.

Duke Augustine and Duchess Emmeline's distress were evident in their somewhat subdued expressions and the way their eyes darted around warily. Luke, seated beside her, was unusually quiet, staring at his plate and stabbing the peas on it with his fork.

"To think someone would dare break into the Schuyler Manor,"

Duke Augustine muttered, his voice tinged with both anger and unease.

"It's an affront to our family. We'll find the perpetrator."

"Yes, Father."

Luke said, his tone clipped. His usually warm demeanor had turned cold. You knew it was bad when even the sunshine of the Schuyler family turned icy.

The maid, Adeline, entered the room to serve the first course—a fragrant soup made from freshly harvested vegetables. As she placed the bowls in front of each guest, her eyes lingered on Kiarha for a bit too long. Kiarha felt her pulse quicken, but she kept her expression neutral.

She knows something.

Kiarha thought, noting the unease in Adeline's demeanor.

"Thank you, Adeline."

Count Yan said, dismissing her with a wave. The maid curtsied and exited, but not before glancing back at Kiarha one last time.

As they ate, the conversation turned to lighter topics. The Duke and Duchess, eager to distract themselves from what had just transpired, began discussing the upcoming debutante ball.

"Lady Kiarha."

Count Yan said, addressing her with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I understand you'll be making your debut soon. How are the preparations coming along?"

Kiarha dabbed her lips with a napkin before responding.

"Everything is proceeding smoothly, my lord. I brought a few gowns with me to finalize my choice. I hope to make a lasting impression."

"I'm sure you will."

Count Yan replied, though his tone carried an undertone of suspicion.

"A debutante's ball is a very important milestone. It must be perfect."

"Indeed."

Kiarha said, returning the smile. Beneath the polite exchange, she could feel the weight of the Count's scrutiny.

He doesn't trust me.

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Later that evening, Kiarha slipped away to her room under the pretense of needing rest. Once inside, she bolted the door and sat on the edge of her bed, tapping her fingers against the Topaz in her lap.

The day's events had gone too close to disaster. She had to be more careful, especially with people like Adeline and Count Yan keeping a close eye on her.

A soft knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She quickly slid the Topaz into her jewelry box and opened the door to find Hara standing there, her expression serious.

"Come, Lady Kiarha." Hara said in a low voice. "We need to solidify the next steps."

Kiarha followed her to the study, where a map of the kingdom was spread out on the desk. Small, intricate figurines representing key players in the court were placed at various points.

Hara pointed to a spot near the capital.

"This is where we'll strike next. If we can destabilize the King's most loyal servant, it will open the door for my ascent. I'll need you to use the Topaz again."

Kiarha hesitated. The Topaz was dangerous. It stole souls, after all. It was the same as manslaughter.

"The Topaz is powerful, but its effects leave traces. If anyone discovers its use, it could compromise everything."

"Then ensure no one discovers it."

Hara said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"You've handled yourself well so far, Kiarha. Don't falter now."

Kiarha nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. She had always been confident in her abilities, even more so with the Topaz and the Amethyst, but the risk of exposure was growing with each step of their plan.

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LUKE'S POV

The following morning, Luke approached Kiarha in the garden. The sun cast a golden hue over the meticulously trimmed hedges and blooming flowers, but Luke's expression was anything but serene.

"Kiarha," Luke began, his voice unusually stern. "I need to speak with you."

"Of course." she replied, feigning innocence.

"I've been thinking about what happened at the manor."

He said, crossing his arms.

"Something doesn't add up. You were in your room the entire time, yet you weren't startled when we had to evacuate. It's almost as if you expected it somehow."

Kiarha's heart raced, but she kept her composure.

"Sir Luke. I assure you, I was just as surprised as everyone else. I didn't show it because... well, I didn't want to add to the chaos."

Luke studied her intently, his piercing gaze making her uncomfortable. Skepticism was written all over his face.

"You've changed, Kiarha. Ever since you returned, there's been something different about you. I just can't put my finger on it."

Before she could respond, Adeline appeared, carrying a tray of tea.

"Pardon the interruption..." she said, her tone polite but strained. "...but I thought you might like some refreshment."

"Thank you," Luke said, taking a cup. Adeline hesitated before turning to Kiarha. "Would you like one, my lady?"

Kiarha smiled and took a cup, though her mind was racing. Adeline was clearly watching her, waiting for a slip-up. Kiarha sipped the tea, forcing herself to appear relaxed.

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KIARHA'S POV

As the days passed, Kiarha continued to play her role, attending meals and engaging in polite conversation. But the tension was intense.

Luke's suspicion lingered, Adeline's watchful eyes followed her everywhere she went, and even the Count and Countess seemed to be observing her every move.

Meanwhile, Hara worked tirelessly in the shadows, orchestrating the next phase of their plan. Late at night, they would convene in secret, poring over the documents and strategizing. The stakes were higher than ever, and failure was not an option.

One evening, as Kiarha returned to her room after another meeting with Hara, she found a folded note slipped under her door. Her stomach tightened as she unfolded it.

"I know what you've done, Lady Kiarha. Meet me in the library at midnight, or I'll expose you to the world, shatter your reputation, and make sure you will never be classified as a noble ever again."

There was no signature, but she had a sinking feeling she knew who it was.

-----------------------------------------------------------

At the stroke of midnight, Kiarha entered the dimly lit library, the Amethyst glinting faintly in the moonlight. She scanned the room and saw a figure emerge from the shadows. It was Adeline.

"You've been meddling in things you shouldn't be."

Adeline said, her voice steady but laced with anger.

"I saw you that night, Kiarha. You can't hide your sins. You were traveling to the manor, despite your uncle's explicit orders."

Kiarha tilted her head, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"And what exactly do you think you saw me do, Adeline?"

"I saw you use that ring of yours."
Adeline spat. "I don't know what it is, but I know it's dangerous. You're a threat to this family."

Kiarha stepped closer, her voice low and menacing.

"You're brave, Adeline. Foolish, but brave. Do you think anyone would believe you, even if you told every single newspaper company about what happened? I'm a noble, and you're just a maid."

Adeline faltered, but she didn't back down.

"I'll find proof. I won't let you harm this family."

Kiarha's smile widened as she raised her hand, the Amethyst ring catching the light.

"You won't find anything, Adeline. Because you won't remember."

Before Adeline could react, Kiarha tapped the ring against her forehead. The maid's eyes glazed over, and she stood motionless. Kiarha leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"You'll forget this conversation," Kiarha stated. "And you'll forget everything you saw that night."

Adeline nodded slowly, her expression blank. Kiarha guided her out of the library and back to her quarters, ensuring no one saw them by taking the routes with the least lighting.

As she returned to her room, she couldn't shake the feeling that her carefully constructed web of lies was beginning to break.

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The next morning, the atmosphere at the manor was tense. Luke seemed distracted, the Duke and Duchess were on edge, and Adeline avoided everyone, her usual confidence replaced by a quiet unease.

Hara pulled Kiarha aside after breakfast.

"What happened last night?" she demanded.

"Nothing I couldn't handle." Kiarha replied.

"But we need to accelerate our plan. Adeline found out, but I managed to erase her memory with the Amethyst. The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it becomes."

Hara nodded.

"Agreed. Let's ensure our next move leaves no room for failure. First, we need to find a more clandestine rendezvous point."

As they finalized their plans, Kiarha couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. The game she was playing was a dangerous one, and one wrong move could bring everything crashing down.

After a few days, it was deemed safe to return to the Schuyler manor. They took the Eunelope carriage back, courtesy of Count Yan and Countess Helena.