Bound by fire, Claimed by love

The morning after her stay at Isabelle's estate, Evelyn decided to visit Damian. The wedding preparations had begun, and she wanted to discuss a few details with him. However, upon arriving at the Vale estate, she was greeted not by Damian but by Lady Celeste.

The duchess regarded her with a polite yet cold smile. "Lady Evelyn, what an unexpected surprise."

Evelyn forced a graceful smile, ignoring the slight in her tone. "Good morning, Your Grace. I was hoping to speak with Damian regarding the wedding."

Lady Celeste's eyes flickered with something unreadable before she gestured toward the parlor. "Unfortunately, my son is not here at the moment. But do come in."

Reluctantly, Evelyn followed. The duchess moved with effortless grace, but there was something unsettling in the way she carried herself—as if she was a queen entertaining a guest far beneath her.

Once seated, Lady Celeste took a sip of her tea before setting the cup down with deliberate precision. "You must be eager for the wedding. Though I must admit, I was quite surprised by His Majesty's decision to match my son with you."

Evelyn stiffened but maintained her composure. "Is that so?"

Lady Celeste tilted her head, her smile never reaching her eyes. "Yes. After all, House Ravenshire is not what it once was. A family with a tarnished name and dwindling influence… hardly what one would expect for a future Duchess of Ashbourne."

Evelyn felt the sting of the words, but she refused to give Lady Celeste the satisfaction of seeing her falter. Instead, she met her gaze directly. "With all due respect, Your Grace, I believe it is His Majesty's will that matters, not old prejudices."

For a fleeting moment, Lady Celeste's eyes darkened, but her expression remained serene. "Perhaps. But a marriage built on politics and obligation is rarely one that lasts. I wonder… how much does my son truly love you?"

Evelyn's breath caught. It wasn't the words themselves, but the way Lady Celeste said them—with quiet certainty, as if she already knew the answer.

Before Evelyn could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall. Damian.

Lady Celeste's expression instantly softened, her voice turning sweet and motherly. "Ah, there you are, my dear son. Lady Evelyn was just telling me how excited she is for the wedding."

Evelyn forced a polite smile, keeping her composure, but inside, she knew—Lady Celeste had no intention of accepting her. And worse… she wasn't going to make this easy.