Seraphina POV:
In the end, I came to the Regent's castle alone.
No family escort, no blessings, just a plain carriage and a few pathetic boxes for a dowry.
The Beaumont family couldn't wait to get rid of me. The day after I exposed Faye, they shipped me out like I was a plague. They probably thought sending me into the castle of the infamous "Living Devil" was the best punishment for me.
The carriage passed through a gloomy, dark forest before finally stopping in front of a massive, oppressive castle. It was built entirely of black obsidian, its tall spires seeming to pierce the gray sky, exuding an aura that warned all to stay away.
I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped out of the carriage alone. The cold wind whipped my long hair as I straightened my back. For some reason, the chill felt sharper than it should have, sinking into my bones instead of merely touching my skin.
I ignored the strange discomfort. This was the castle of the man who had been the instrument of my family's betrayal in my last life. And it would be my new beginning in this one.
A middle-aged man in a tailored tailcoat with slicked-back, graying hair stood at the castle entrance. His posture was rigid, exuding the stern decorum of a lifelong royal servant.
This was Alfred Hayes, the head majordomo of the Regent's estate, a man whose loyalty to the crown was absolute and whose patience for useless political collateral was nonexistent. He looked at me as if I were a lifeless object, his eyes filled with scrutiny and disdain.
"You are Seraphina Beaumont?" he asked, his voice as cold as the castle stones.
"I am," I replied calmly.
"I am the majordomo here, Alfred Hayes." He gave a slight nod, a gesture that barely passed for a bow. "His Grace, the Regent, is waiting for you in the study. Follow me."
I followed him into the castle. The massive gates closed slowly behind me with a heavy thud, as if sealing off one world from another.
The interior of the castle was even more oppressive than the outside. The light was dim, and the air was filled with the faint scent of herbs and... blood.
After walking through a long, silent corridor, Alfred stopped before a huge oak door and knocked. "Your Grace, Miss Beaumont has arrived."
"Let her in," a deep, magnetic voice came from within. The sound alone carried an undeniable authority.
I pushed the door open and walked inside. The study was vast, with a fire crackling in the hearth, its light dancing across rows of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
A tall figure had his back to me, seated in a wheelchair by the window. He wore a black silk shirt, his midnight-black hair glinting in the moonlight.
Even from behind, I could feel an almost suffocating Alpha presence. This was him. The Regent of Silvermoon City, Gideon Sinclair.
"Come here," he ordered without turning around.
I walked toward him.
When the firelight finally revealed his face, I saw him clearly for the first time. He was as handsome as a god, but his cold silver-gray eyes held no emotion, only the desolation of a barren winter.
He studied me carefully, his brows drawing together slightly.
"Something is wrong," he said coldly, his words striking directly at the truth.
My heart skipped a beat.
"The letter from the Beaumont family stated that the woman marrying me would be their most beloved daughter, Faye," he said, slowly turning the black and gold ring on his thumb. His gaze was sharp as a blade. "You are not her."
"I am not," I admitted openly. "I am Seraphina Beaumont. The daughter they never loved."
A mocking curve appeared on Gideon's lips.
"So they used a daughter nobody wanted to deal with me?"
His dominant aura intensified abruptly, and the temperature in the study seemed to drop. I felt my breath catch in my throat. This was an Alpha's absolute suppression over a subordinate.
But I was no ordinary Omega. The ancient white wolf blood awakened within me after my death had changed something fundamental in my body. Even under Gideon's overwhelming Alpha pressure, I could barely remain standing.
"It seems so," I forced myself to say, my voice a bit dry.
"Alfred," Gideon called out coldly. "Throw her out. And tell the Beaumonts I appreciate their gesture. I will pay them a visit tomorrow to discuss this 'surprise' personally."
The majordomo, Alfred, appeared silently behind me, ready to carry out the order.
Just as he was about to grab my arm, my eyes fell on the blanket covering Gideon's legs. The faint herbal scent in the air was coming from there.
In my last life, I never had the chance to truly understand the truth behind Gideon's condition. I only saw fragments—the medicine, the pain, and the way everyone around him carefully hid his weakness.
I died before I could uncover the secret.
But now, with the memories of my previous life and the awakening of my ancient white wolf bloodline, I could finally understand what I had once overlooked.
That scent... it was a symptom of silver poisoning.
"Wait!" I blurted out.
"Before you throw me out, wouldn't you like to know if I can cure your legs, Your Grace?"
