Read House of Nobles :: Seraphine.

The portrait-lined corridor of House Valmont seemed brighter than usual tonight. The chandeliers glowed with almost defiant beauty.

Perhaps it was the taste of victory—the problem that had threatened the school had been resolved, and I had been the one to resolve it.

I approached my suite and found Alex and Lucien waiting by the door.

"What is going on?" I asked Cassia, who walked beside me. Unlike this afternoon, her steps were sharp, purposeful. Strategy always gave her direction.

She wasn't just my second-in-command—Cassia thrived on control.

"We need to finalise the plan," Alessandro said, his voice a low murmur—no trace of the lazy charm he wore like silk just hours before.

"If you had something to say, you should've arrived earlier to the meeting," I said coolly, brushing past him.

"Principessa," he said smoothly, "you and I both know those meetings are mere formalities. In the end, c'est toi qui commandes."

I stopped, turning toward him sharply, one brow rising.

"What do you mean by that?" Cassia interjected, her voice laced with challenge. Loyal to the bone.

Alex raised his hands in mock surrender. "Per carità, I'm not here to challenge your crown."

Lucien, quiet until now, finally spoke.

"Let's go inside. It's unseemly for the ruling House to bicker in corridors—especially after everything that's happened."

I hesitated briefly before placing my finger on the scanner. The door opened with its familiar hiss.

I led them to the living area and took my seat—regal, composed. Even now, years after I'd been trained to sit like a queen, my body still ached for release. But since twelve, I had never allowed myself the luxury of slouching.

No one offered pleasantries. I didn't offer refreshments. Only a silent stare—cool, controlled.

Alessandro might wear charm like a cologne, but I had never trusted it. And now, he was being audacious.

Still, I could never understand why Lucien, my brother, remained so close to him.

"Fifi," Lucien began with a smirk. "We all know how much you love your throne."

"Lucien!" Cassia snapped, her voice like flint against steel.

My eyes flicked to him—expression flat, but pain flickering underneath.

Even Lucien thinks I covet power for its own sake?

I inhaled slowly, forcing my face back to stillness.

A blank canvas. Always.

Lucien chuckled. "Relax, Fifi. I'm teasing. I know you better than anyone."

I said nothing. I had perfected the art of silent scorn.

Cassia stepped forward, glaring at him. Alessandro, meanwhile, hadn't stopped watching me.

Lucien leaned back into the sofa. "Look. Your plan might not be ideal in terms of fairness. But justice is a luxury we can't afford right now. What you've devised is—frankly—brilliant."

"Obviously," Cassia huffed. "This is Sera. Hello?"

"She is la principessa Seraphine de La Croix," Alessandro added smoothly.

"Enough," I said, slipping off my lilac gloves. "Let's get to the point. What do you propose?"

Lucien nodded to Alessandro, who finally glanced away from me and folded himself elegantly onto the velvet sofa.

I resisted the urge to sigh.

"We invite people to House Valmont," Alessandro said lazily.

"Scusa?" Cassia blinked. "What?"

Lucien gave her a look. Let him finish.

"Not as members of the House," Alex clarified.

"We show inclusivity. Optics. Unity."

Lucien leaned forward. "We know the joy you take from choosing new members, Cassia," he said with a smirk. "Le frisson du pouvoir, non?"

Cassia rolled her eyes. Everyone knew she selected applicants with the most elite bloodlines—and she took pride in it.

I never stopped her. Her ruthlessness strengthened House Valmont.

"So why invite them?" Cassia asked, narrowing her eyes.

"To show Valmont isn't hoarding power," I replied, understanding immediately. "It's a performance."

Alessandro's eyes lit with amusement—this time, a different smile. Not flirtatious. Something deeper.

"Yes," he murmured. "If we invite the president and vice-president of each House during the competition—even though the command still lies with Valmont—it becomes a collaboration. And it silences talk of discord."

"Smart," Cassia said. "We keep control, but the illusion of unity protects us."

"That's why I agreed," Lucien added. "You're the media's favourite target, Sera. They're going to dissect everything."

"Then I'd rather leave them nothing to dissect," I said quietly. "Let them find no cracks."

"Prevenire è meglio che curare, Sera," Alessandro said with a faint smile, adjusting his cufflink.

"And frankly, I'd rather avoid cleaning up after catastrophes I didn't cause."

He stood, stretching like a panther rising from stillness. Lucien and Cassia rose as well.

Cassia kissed my cheek and left first. Lucien followed, after whispering, "You were born to lead, Fifi," and brushing a kiss on my temple.

Alessandro lingered.

He didn't look at me. Just leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

Then, with the weight of centuries in his voice, he said:

"You didn't offer us refreshment, principessa." His tone was velvet wrapped around steel.

"But then again—power is its own kind of hospitality, isn't it?"

He winked, turned on his heel with the casual elegance only old blood could manage, and shut the door quietly behind him.

For the first time in eighteen hours, my shoulders fell.