Diana Hayes—a name that carried weight, one that sent an immediate jolt of realization through me. Manipulative, cunning, dangerously intelligent. A woman who could get anything she wanted just by weaving the right words together, making you believe you wanted it too.
Her father, Orion Hayes, was no different. A strategic mastermind, the tactician and strategist within the army, while my own father served as one of its generals. Their family was known for being sharp, calculating, and always five steps ahead of everyone else.
So when my mother had said one of my father's friends was coming over with his daughter, I really should have connected the dots right then and there.
Yet, somehow, I had been blissfully unaware—right until the very moment I stepped into the entrance hall and saw them standing at the front door.
Orion Hayes.
Diana Hayes.
And, as expected, Diana's signature smug grin stretched across her face the moment she locked eyes with me.
Oh, for the love of—
I turned to my mother, betrayed. "Mother… they're our guests?"
Eleanor Vandren, the graceful and composed woman that she was, simply smiled as if this were completely normal and not, in fact, a potential disaster waiting to happen.
"Of course," she replied, her tone warm and welcoming. "It's been quite some time since we've had the pleasure of hosting the Hayes family."
I felt Diana's gaze on me, and when I glanced back, she was still grinning—like a cat that had just cornered a mouse.
This… was going to be a long day.
And judging by the way Diana was watching me from across the dining table, it was about to get even longer.
We were all seated in the grand dining hall, the atmosphere deceptively warm and welcoming. A lavish spread of food covered the table—freshly baked bread, roasted meats, a selection of finely crafted dishes my mother had specially prepared for our guests.
I focused on my plate, pretending very hard that Diana wasn't sitting directly across from me, sipping her tea with an all-too-knowing smile.
"So, I heard you know Diana," my mother said suddenly, her tone casual—but just a little too interested. "How did you two meet?"
I froze mid-bite.
Diana didn't. She simply tilted her head, watching me with mild amusement.
"At the academy," I answered quickly, swallowing my food. "She's… one of my five friends."
Eleanor's eyes sparkled. Oh no. I knew that look.
"Oh really?" she mused, the corner of her lips twitching upward.
Beside her, my father, Duke Vandren, gave an approving nod. "Good, good. The Hayes family is known for their strength and intelligence. Having someone like Diana as a close friend will do you well, Sera."
Diana, still looking way too entertained by all of this, gently placed her cup down.
"Oh, but Sera and I are very close," she said smoothly, her voice laced with something undeniably mischievous.
I nearly choked on my drink.
"Ah, is that so?" Eleanor asked, clearly enjoying this way too much.
"Yes," Diana continued, eyes gleaming. "She's quite fond of me, aren't you, Sera?"
I turned my head away, not even dignifying that with a response.
"Oh my," my mother giggled, nudging my father playfully. "Did you hear that, dear? It seems Sera has quite the connection with the Hayes family."
I groaned. "Mother, please."
"Well, I must say," Orion Hayes, Diana's father, finally spoke, his deep, calculated voice cutting through the teasing. "It is good to see our children getting along. Friendships built during youth tend to last a lifetime."
Diana smiled innocently. "Oh, don't worry, Father. I fully intend to keep Sera around for a lifetime."
My fork slipped from my hand.
I looked up at her, only to be met with the sight of Diana resting her chin on her hand, smirking at me across the table.
This woman.
I was not going to survive this meal.
Not with Diana here.
Not with my mother looking way too entertained.
And definitely not with my father nodding in approval like this was some kind of noble alliance being formed.
"Oh?" Eleanor hummed, her grin widening as she turned her attention back to Diana. "For a lifetime, you say?"
Diana, who was very clearly enjoying herself, placed a hand delicately over her heart, sighing as if she were reciting poetry.
"Of course," she said smoothly, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. "Sera and I have an unbreakable bond. Why, it would be cruel of me to leave her side, wouldn't it?"
I nearly knocked over my glass.
"Mother, please," I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Don't encourage her."
"Oh, but dear," my mother feigned innocence, as if she wasn't the mastermind behind half the teasing in this household. "I think it's lovely that Diana is so fond of you."
"Yes," my father added, completely unaware of the absolute chaos unfolding right in front of him. "It's good to have strong allies. The Hayes family is one of the most strategic minds in Fiore." He nodded toward Orion Hayes, who took a sip of his wine, completely unfazed.
Diana, however, simply smirked. "Oh, I wouldn't call Sera my ally, Duke Vandren. She's much more than that."
I stiffened immediately.
Orion raised an eyebrow at his daughter. "Oh? And what exactly would you call her then?"
Diana turned to me, eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and something else I couldn't quite place.
"A treasure," she answered smoothly.
My soul left my body.
Eleanor gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "How romantic!"
Orion chuckled. "How bold."
Duke Vandren simply nodded, as if this was all a perfectly normal conversation.
Meanwhile, I sat there gripping the edge of the table, contemplating if I could somehow disappear into the floorboards.
"That's it," I muttered under my breath. "I'm going to the garden."
Diana placed a hand under her chin, watching me with the same smirk that had haunted me since the moment she stepped through my front door.
"But Sera," she drawled. "You haven't even finished your meal yet."
I shot her a glare before standing up. "I suddenly lost my appetite."
My mother tutted. "Now, now, dear, no need to be shy—"
I didn't stay to hear the rest. I was already marching out of the dining hall, my face burning hotter than any fire spell I could cast.
And, as expected—because fate was never on my side—I could hear the distinct sound of Diana's chair scraping against the floor.
She was following me.
Of course she was following me.
We were in the garden, far from the gazes of our parents.
I scowled at her, arms crossed, trying to will away the lingering heat in my face. Unfortunately, Diana was Diana. And that meant she was utterly unfazed by my irritation.
"Had your fun?" I deadpanned, narrowing my eyes at her.
Diana grinned, completely shameless. "Oh, immensely."
Before I could shove her away—or at least step back to reclaim some dignity—she moved faster, smoother than I anticipated.
An arm snaked around my waist, pulling me forward.
I stumbled slightly, palms pressing against her chest. But Diana was unshaken, standing tall, steady—as if she had planned this.
"Aw, don't be like that," she purred, her voice dropping into something dangerously soft, dangerously playful.
Her warmth seeped through the fabric of my uniform, and I suddenly became very aware of just how close we were.
Her fingers grazed the small of my back, lingering just enough to send a shiver down my spine.
"I despise you," I muttered, my voice completely unconvincing.
Diana chuckled, low and rich, the kind of sound that coiled around my heart and refused to let go.
"You wound me," she murmured, feigning hurt—but the way she held me tighter told a different story. "After everything we've been through, my dear Sera, surely you don't mean that."
I opened my mouth—whether to argue, protest, or just scream at the sky, I wasn't sure. But before I could say a word, she leaned in closer, her breath fanning against my ear.
"Besides…" she whispered, the weight of her words sinking into my skin. "If you truly despised me, you wouldn't be holding onto me like this."
I froze.
And then—with dawning horror—I realized she was right.
My fingers, which I had meant to push against her chest, were instead curled slightly into the fabric of her uniform, gripping it—like I was grounding myself.
Like I didn't actually want to pull away.
Diana's smirk was nothing short of triumphant.
I was going to kill her.
As soon as I figured out how to breathe properly again.
I barely had time to recover from my internal crisis before Diana decided to completely ruin me.
"I missed you, Sera," she murmured, her voice like honey and silk, smooth and laced with something dangerously sweet. "I was thinking about you a lot these past few days."
My breath hitched.
I could feel the heat creeping up my cheeks, spreading fast, burning hotter than any fire spell I could conjure. This was unfair. Completely unfair.
Diana knew exactly what she was doing. She always did.
"I—" I started, except my brain completely blanked.
She tilted her head, watching me—studying me—as if she were cataloging every single reaction I made.
Then, as if my suffering wasn't already at maximum capacity, she cupped my cheek, her fingers featherlight but impossibly firm.
"Look at you," she whispered, her thumb tracing just beneath my jaw. "You're adorable when you get all flustered like this."
I nearly combusted.
This was illegal. This had to be illegal.
My hands finally worked, pushing against her (weakly, because apparently, I had the strength of a wet leaf right now).
"D-Diana," I stammered, voice betrayingly shaky. "H-have you no shame?"
Diana grinned, tilting my chin just enough to force me to meet her gaze. And oh gods, she looked so smug.
"None," she said easily, pleased with herself. "Not when it comes to you."
Oh. My. God.
I needed to escape. Immediately.
But before I could break free from her grasp, she leaned in, pressing the softest kiss to my forehead—so quick, so fleeting, that I almost thought I imagined it.
Almost.
Because the moment she pulled away, her eyes darkened with something deeper, something more dangerous.
"Don't make me miss you too long next time, okay?" she murmured, her voice just above a whisper.
And then—just like that—she let go.
Leaving me standing there, completely and utterly wrecked, my heart hammering so loudly I was convinced the entire estate could hear it.
Diana, of course, looked completely unbothered.
Smug. Pleased. Self-satisfied.
Like she hadn't just obliterated me and walked away unscathed.
I needed a moment. Or maybe an entire week to process whatever the hell had just happened.
But before I could even begin to recover, we stepped back inside, and my attention was drawn to the serious conversation happening between our parents.
Orion and Duke both wore grim expressions, speaking in low tones, their usual relaxed demeanors gone. My mother, usually so composed, tapped her fingers thoughtfully against the table.
Something was up.
I barely had time to analyze it further before Eleanor turned her gaze toward me.
"Sera, darling," she said, her usual warmth returning to her voice. "Why don't you take Diana to your room? Show her around a bit."
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
That was a set-up if I had ever heard one.
"We're just a little busy here," she added smoothly, taking a sip of tea, not fooling me at all.
I shot a quick glance at Diana, who, unsurprisingly, was already watching me like a cat who just cornered its prey.
She was enjoying this.
Damn it.
"What are we waiting for?" Diana said, tilting her head at me innocently, as if she hadn't just made me completely malfunction in the garden not even five minutes ago.
I let out a slow breath. Fine.
"Alright," I muttered. "Come on."
Diana beamed as she followed me up the grand staircase, far too content for someone who was supposed to be the guest here.
She walked beside me, hands casually tucked behind her back, like she belonged here—like she owned the place.
"So, tell me," she started, eyes shining with amusement. "What's in this mysterious room of yours?"
"A bed," I deadpanned. "And maybe some regrets."
She laughed, the sound light and teasing. "I'd expect nothing less."
By the time we reached my door, I was already regretting every life decision that had led to this moment.
I opened it, stepping inside first.
Diana followed, hands still behind her back as she took her time looking around.
Then, with a perfectly straight face, she turned to me and said—
"So. Should I sleep on the left side or the right?"