"What if I tell you I came with my plan?" Serena steeled her voice, though her stomach shrank with nervousness.
The silence between them was lucid, save for the whispering of the wind as they both exchanged intense gaze.
Finally, with a misshapen grimace, Aaron said, "fine, let's discuss your plan over tea. Or do you prefer alcohol?"
Tea was one of the things Serena hated, but it was customary, especially among nobles. They drank it even when the weather was scorching hot, like now.
"Tea," she said.
Henry had warned her: Aaron didn't like alcoholics. Not like she was one, but may the lord forbid, a woman took even a drop.
Without another word, Aaron turned around, while she trailed him behind, leaving her servant.
As they strode through the stony path that wove through the garden, Serena noticed, unlike the front of the mansion, the garden had remained untouched.
It had been seven years since Serena had stepped foot, yet the statues still stood the way she remembered. It was as though the future knew she would return someday.
Her strides became rigid, as she recalled her time in the garden with Leo, how they had hidden behind hedges, their bodies melting into each other.
Serena's gaze drifted to Aaron. "You didn't touch this place after the war?"
His brows shot up. "You've been here before?" Aaron lowered his head, his gaze narrowing.
Quickly, she cleared her throat. "Just once, I followed Lord Henry here for a business deal," Serena lied. Not entirely.
Of course, Aaron didn't know about her and Leo. How could he? Leo had snuck her in like a dirty secret. Actually, she was his dirty secret and so was he.
"Leo wanted the garden untouched, and I didn't really mind," Aaron said.
A slow burn took over her chest. The garden felt like a deliberate message, as if Leo had known she would return no matter how far she ran.
She struggled to shake off the feeling. 'This wasn't the time for nostalgia,' Serena reminded herself.
At the pergola, they settled into their seats, the maid moved at a fast pace, pouring the tea in their cups, the steam curling into the already scorching air.
Serena took a sip of tea. By now she was used to its bitter taste. "I would like to hear your understanding of my brother's plan first," she said, her tone measured.
Aaron's fingers curled around the handle of the cup, but he never raised it to drink.
"He sent you here to seduce me."
Her heart raced. Too fast.
Serena swallowed down the bitter drink and the panic altogether. She tore her mind apart searching for answers she didn't keep.
'How did he know?' The question pulsed through her mind. 'Was he certain or this was just a test? Was the plan already failing before it began?'
Whatever it was, Serena knew she had to salvage this mission. Not for Henry's idiotic game. But her son.
Serena took another sip. This time she was too disturbed to notice its bitter taste. "I would be most interested in how you arrived at that conclusion."
"A woman from the house of Thalion knows nothing about politics," Aaron said, "so why send one here for a politics if it's not for another cause." A pause. "And I could only think of one— seducing me."
Serena knew there was no point in denying; she would only lose his trust. "You're right. That's what my brother sent me here to do. But I have no intention of fulfilling his wish."
Intrigued, Aaron leaned in. "Then tell me—what is your true purpose?"
Thalion women were never taught politics, but she had crawled into libraries late at night to read books. Lingered outside the door of Henry's study to learn the little she could. She had sat in council meetings, her mouth sealed, but her mind was opened.
And right here, Serena was ready to turn every theory she had learned into strategy.
"I am the legitimate child of the house of Thalion," she said, "yet the one that rules it, is an illegitimate bastard."
"And so?"
"I intend to take back what's mine. That's the law. Bastards have no business as the head of a house. So, I want an alliance with you."
Aaron leaned back. "And how do you plan to earn my alliance?"
Serena couldn't tell him about the second half of the plan where she's supposed to kill him. Not when Henry would gladly destroy her son if she failed. She needed to carve another part.
A stupid solution popped into her head, and she stood up gracefully. "I plan on making you fall in love with me."
Serena's words stirred something in him. Something Aaron couldn't quite name. He had heard about the women from the house of Thalion— docile, weak, puppets. But the woman before him was different.
"That's a bold ambition." Aaron finally drank from his tea. "And how do you plan on accomplishing that?"
"Women in my house may lack skills in politics." Serana kept her face expressionless. "But we were trained thoroughly in the art of pleasing a man."
Aaron chuckled, a deep one that reflected his amusement, his hungry curiosity. "If that's the case, why not go wait in my bed?"
Serena cocked her head. "I said I would make you fall in love with me, not make myself your bed warmer."
Aaron didn't respond, just took another sip of his tea, his lips crooking into a half grin.
For Serena there was no need to push further with the conversation.
Exhaling, her fingers brush at the flare of her gown. "The journey here was long and quite exhausting," Serena said, "I would like to rest. Perhaps we could save this conversation for another time."
Aaron turned to the butler, who had been standing like a living statue nearby. "Please escort Lady Serena to her chambers."
The butler bowed. "At once,my lord."
Trailing behind the butler, Serena found the stone path, gliding across with utmost poise. She could feel Aaron's gaze lingering on her.
Just as Serena passed the threshold of the garden arch, a figure appeared before her. Marian, her personal maid, quickly flung herself into a bow.
"Forgive me, my lady." Her head still lowered, hands clasped before her. "I did not intend to overhear. After dropping your luggage in your chambers, I wandered."
Silence stretched between them taut with scrutiny. Then Serena turned to the butler, and dismissed him with an elegant tilt of her head.
"She knows the way, I'll go with her."
Another bow, and the butler disappeared, leaving Serena and her maid alone.
Striding into the corridor with high stone arches, Serena questioned without facing Marian. "What did you hear?"
With a cautious tone, Marian responded. "Enough my lady. Enough to understand that you do not intend to follow your brother's plan."
Serena's throat tightened. "And do you plan on telling him that?"
"Of course not," Marian said. Too eagerly. "My loyalty lies with you." But also just a s quick, She continued. "But, your brother wouldn't be pleased."
Serena snapped around to face Marian. "Do you know what happens if my brother gets what he wants? Do you think it would end here?" She gritted. "He would keep selling me. One transaction after another. One man after another. And then when my son is old enough, he would sacrifice him too."
Marian stared at her madam, her gaze heavy with sympathy.
Serena turned, and began trodding down the hall. "I will not allow that. I must see to my own safety and my son's."
Her chest was heavy after all she was betraying Henry. She was aware of the cost, but for her freedom and her son, there was no price that was too expensive.
But at least, she won't be killing anyone. She wouldn't be a murderer.
As they arrived at the door of her chambers, Serena paused, her fingers lingering on the doorknob.
Without turning, Serena said with an ominous tone. "The poison, Do you remember the herbs used to make it?"
"I do my lady."
"I will need them," Serena said, "help me find them."
Marian wavered. "Forgive me, my lady. I thought you had abandoned the idea of poisoning Lord Bastien."
"This is not for him." Serena's grip tightened on the door knob.
Confused, Marian's mouth slacked as she spoke. "Then…may I ask who you intend to use if for, My lady?"
All Serena did was shoot Marian a broken smile, her gaze dipping into desperation."