Chapter 76
Celestina stood frozen, her heart pounding as Liora’s sharp smile widened. The air between them felt charged, and every instinct told her to leave. But she couldn’t. Not yet.
“What are you doing here, Liora?” Celestina demanded, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions raging inside her.
Liora took a slow sip of her tea before answering, her eyes glinting with amusement. “I could ask you the same thing,” she said lightly, setting the cup down. “But since you’re so curious… I’m helping Kael with some sensitive matters. You know how demanding his work can be.”
Celestina’s jaw tightened. “Sensitive matters? That’s vague, even for you.”
Liora shrugged, the picture of calm. “It’s not my place to share his business. You should ask Kael yourself. I’m sure he’d be happy to explain.”
Celestina clenched her fists. Liora’s casual tone and infuriatingly calm demeanor only heightened her suspicion.
As if summoned by the tension, Kael appeared, his steps quick but unhurried.
“Celestina,” he called, his face lighting up in a smile that felt far too rehearsed. “This is a surprise.”
Kael crossed the lawn to join them, placing a hand on her arm as though she were a skittish animal he was trying to calm.
“What are you doing here?” he asked gently.
“I needed to see you,” Celestina said sharply, pulling her arm back. Her eyes darted toward Liora. “I didn’t expect… her.”
Kael followed her gaze and chuckled softly. “Liora’s been helping me with some private matters. Business, mostly. Nothing for you to worry about.”
Celestina’s chest tightened. “Business?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “Liora’s father was involved in the assassination attempt on my wedding day. And you trust her to work with you?”
Kael’s smile faltered for only a split second before he recovered. “Liora’s father made mistakes, yes. But her father’s actions don’t define her. She’s proven herself to be an ally.”
“An ally?” Celestina shot back, glaring at Liora. “What exactly is she helping you with, Kael?”
Before Kael could answer, Liora interrupted with a laugh. “Oh, Celestina, don’t be so dramatic. Kael and I are just working toward a shared goal.”
“And what goal is that?” Celestina snapped.
Kael stepped between them, his calm facade cracking just slightly. “Enough, both of you,” he said firmly. “Liora isn’t your enemy, Celestina. Can we please have a civilized conversation without throwing around baseless accusations?”
Celestina bristled but held her tongue. She wasn’t going to let this go, but she needed to bide her time.
Dinner was served in the grand dining hall, a table set with Kael’s usual attention to detail. The meal should have been elegant, but the tension in the air made every bite feel heavy.
“So,” Liora said casually as she reached for her wine, “Celestina, how has life been at the presidential palace? It must be comforting to be back under your father’s watchful eye.”
Celestina’s fork paused mid-air, her eyes narrowing. “It’s been fine,” she replied curtly. “What about you, Liora? Still living in the shadow of your father’s crimes?”
Kael cleared his throat, his tone warning. “Celestina.”
Liora’s smile didn’t waver, but her eyes gleamed with something sharper. “Oh, I’ve long since moved past my father’s mistakes. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you stop looking to the past and focus on the future.”
Celestina placed her fork down deliberately. “Some things from the past can’t be ignored, especially when they refuse to stay buried.”
Liora tilted her head, her expression feigning innocence. “You sound as though you’re speaking from experience. Are there ghosts from your past haunting you, Celestina? Perhaps someone like Dimitri?”
The name sent a chill down Celestina’s spine, and her stomach twisted painfully. “What do you know about Dimitri?” she demanded, her voice cold.
Liora leaned back in her chair, sipping her wine slowly before answering. “Nothing more than anyone else, of course. But it’s strange, isn’t it? How his name always seems to resurface.”
Kael placed his glass down with a soft clink. “Enough,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “This isn’t the time or place for this discussion.”
Celestina turned to him, her eyes blazing. “No, Kael. This is exactly the time and place. I’m tired of being told what I should or shouldn’t worry about. You’re hiding things from me, both of you.”
Kael’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained smooth. “You’re imagining things, Celestina. You’ve been under so much stress lately. Don’t let it cloud your judgment.”
Her blood boiled at his patronizing tone, but she bit back her response. She couldn’t afford to push too hard—not yet.
That night, while Kael and Liora were occupied elsewhere, Celestina slipped into Kael’s study again. Her hands shook as she searched through his desk, desperate for answers.
Her breath caught when she found a thick envelope tucked beneath a stack of papers. Pulling it out, she opened it carefully.
Inside was a document labeled “Operation Legacy.”
Her eyes widened as she scanned the contents. The plan was vague but damning, with mentions of her father’s administration, Dimitri, and the bombing at her wedding. One line stood out, sending a shiver down her spine:
“Target: The Alvada legacy. Neutralize threats to ensure control.”
Her father. Dimitri. And now her.
