Victor and Beatrice Burchart moved with natural elegance through their stately mansion, preparing for the evening’s social dinner. The grand dining hall, with its high ceilings and opulent decor, was a testament to their rise in Vhantrosa’s high society. Tonight, they were hosting a dinner for potential allies, a crucial step in reclaiming the Ferucchi legacy and securing their family’s position.

Beatrice oversaw the final touches with meticulous care, ensuring that everything was perfect. The table was set with the finest china, crystal glasses sparkling under the soft glow of the chandeliers. Fresh flowers adorned the centrepiece, filling the room with a delicate fragrance.

Victor approached her, a confident smile on his face. “Everything looks splendid, Beatrice. Our guests will be impressed.”

She nodded, her eyes scanning the room one last time. “We’ve worked hard to get here, Victor. Tonight, must be flawless. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

As the first guests began to arrive, Beatrice and Victor greeted them with warm smiles and gracious hospitality. Among the attendees were influential business leaders, politicians, and socialites, each one carefully chosen for their potential to support in reclaiming the Ferucchi legacy.

The conversation flowed smoothly, with Victor expertly steering it towards topics that showcased their family’s achievements and future plans. Beatrice engaged the guests with charm and wit, her poised demeanour earning their admiration.

At one point, Victor pulled Beatrice aside, his expression serious. “We need to secure Mr. Emrani’s support. He’s crucial to our plans regarding the relations with Niaqhi.”

Beatrice nodded, understanding the significance. “Leave it to me. I’ll make sure he’s on our side.”

As the evening progressed, Beatrice found herself in conversation with Thorpe Emrani, the Niaqhi ambassador, a key figure in their strategic plans. She spoke with eloquence, highlighting their shared interests and the benefits of a partnership.

Meanwhile, Victor mingled with other guests, subtly gathering information and forging connections. He kept a close eye on the interactions, ensuring that everything went according to plan and as he watched his son interacting with guest and coming into his true legacy, he felt a sense of pride.

In a quieter moment, Victor calculated it as the perfect moment to introduce his daughter. This moment was crucial and timed perfectly, because her striking resemblance to Archintra Ferucchi, was the key to making his allies this was the moment of decisions. He left the room for a moment and urged his daughter Kaye, from her room. She had just finished dressing, wearing an elegant flowy black dress that made him feel overwhelmed at how fast his little girl had grown. She joined the gathering, her presence adding a touch of youthful charm to the event and also, the chilling shock of their guests realising what was happening. He started at one side of the room, introducing her to a group of influential guests and just like he expected, her presence had the desired effect.

Kaye smiled politely, engaging in the conversations with grace. She was well aware of the importance of these social dinners, yet oblivious to her families’ schemes and true heritage -and the role she played in presenting a united and impressive family image.

As the evening drew to a close, Victor and Beatrice exchanged a satisfied glance. The dinner had been a success, and they had made significant progress in securing the support they needed. As they saw their guests out, they had successfully secured the confirmation from many allies in their quest. Amongst them, Thorpe Emrani stood out -his partnership was of great importance.

As the evening progressed, Kaye felt the weight of the social expectations pressing down on her. The constant mingling and polite conversation were starting to wear her down. She longed for a moment of solitude away from the prying eyes and strategic machinations.

Seizing an opportunity, Kaye slipped out through the glass doors that led to the backyard. The cool night air was a welcome relief, and she took a deep breath, savouring the quiet. As she wandered through the garden, she noticed a girl her age sitting on a bench, staring up at the stars.

he girl looked up as I approached, offering a small smile. "Boring, isn’t it?"

I nodded, grateful for the shared sentiment. "Yeah, more than a little."

She extended her hand. "I'm Freja, by the way. Freja Emrani."

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I shook her hand, introducing myself. "Kaye Burchart."

Freja's eyes widened slightly. "You're Victor and Beatrice’s daughter? Must be nice to have caring parents."

I nodded. "Yep, I guess."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in our thoughts. Finally, Freja spoke up. "I miss the simpler life in Ghryza. Newk Hemshore was superficial, but here, it’s on another level..."

I glanced at her, curiosity piqued. "You’re from Ghryza?"

Freja nodded. "Yes, and not quite. My mom was from Ghryza, and my father used to be a warlord in Niaqhi. Now he protects his country’s interests here in Vhantrosa—he’s the Niaqhi ambassador. I moved here a few years ago after my mom kidnapped me and sought refuge in Newk Hemshore, in order for me not to be married off to an Afgari warlord’s son, you know, rival country relations." She said it so nonchalantly, like it was normal to force teenagers into arranged marriages.

"I guess being in this high society game is much better than being married off," she sighed, exhaustion evident in her tone. "You’re lucky things are different here. I suppose the beautiful secret daughter of the first family would spark a war if marriages at this age were still a thing in Vhantrosa."

My heart skipped a beat at her words. "Secret daughter of the first family? What are you talking about?"

Freja raised an eyebrow. "You don’t know? You look just like Archintra Ferucchi. My father thinks Victor might be the first son of the Ferucchis."

My mind raced, struggling to process this revelation. "No, we’re not... I mean, I don’t think we’re part of the first family."

Freja looked genuinely shocked. "You really don’t know what tonight is, do you?"

I shook my head, feeling a sense of unease. "No, what is it?"

Freja leaned in, her voice low. "This dinner... it's for former loyal allies to the Ferucchi family. Your parents are trying to reclaim their legacy."

My heart pounded in my chest as the pieces began to fall into place. The lingering glances, the whispered conversations, the weight of expectations—it all made sense now. "I had no idea."

Freja's expression softened. "I’m sorry to drop this bombshell on you. But maybe it's time you started asking questions, Kaye."

As we sat in the garden, the night air filled with secrets and revelations, I realized that my life was more complicated than I had ever imagined. The truth about my family's legacy and their ambitions was out there, and I needed to uncover it. I needed to know how much was hidden from me, why my parents didn’t tell me and I wondered if this was the cause of the sudden change in my brother.

Feeling betrayed and overwhelmed, I stormed out of the mansion, my heart pounding in my chest. The elegant dress I wore suddenly felt suffocating, a symbol of the secrets and lies that had been hidden from me. I quickly found our driver and told him to get my car ready.

As the car sped through the city streets, my mind raced with the weight of Freja’s revelations. I needed to clear my head. I remembered that I had agreed to meet Jae at the old pier, and even though I was almost an hour late, I hoped he would still be there.

When I finally arrived at the pier, I saw Jae standing by the railing, gazing out at the water. The cool night air and the gentle sound of the waves provided a small sense of relief. As I approached, Jae turned to me, his eyes widening in surprise.

"You look stunning, Kaye," he said, his voice filled with awe. "What's the occasion?"

I forced a smile, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Thanks, Jae. It's been a crazy night."

He noticed the tension in my voice and stepped closer, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong? You can talk to me."

I took a deep breath, my mind racing with questions. "Jae, what do you know about the Ferruchis? What happened to them?"

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He glanced around, lowering his voice. "The Ferruchis were the first family of the chain islands, all the islands belonged to them. They were powerful and influential, but they were betrayed. Their lands and titles were stolen, and the family was forced into exile. Rumors speculated that most of them were brutally killed. Most people think they’re gone for good."

My heart pounded as I listened to him. "Do you think any of them could still be around?"

Jae looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's possible. There have always been rumors about the Ferruchis trying to reclaim their legacy, but no one knows for sure. Until the duke and duchess were forced out of exile in Afgari, they returned home with the body of the second son of the Ferruchis. I think they settled in Ghryza, maybe Newk Hemshore. To be honest, my friends think you look a lot like Archintra Ferruchi, but I don’t see it. It's not like we lived to see the Ferruchis back then; we only heard the stories of their infamous time of ruling."

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I just felt stupid at this thing my parents hosted," I lied. "I didn’t even know the basic history of Vhantrosa."

Jae gave me a sympathetic look, his eyes softening. "Hey, it’s nothing to feel stupid about. History can be complicated, and not everyone keeps up with every detail. Besides, what's important is that you're curious now. You want to learn more, and that’s what matters."

I nodded, appreciating his support but feeling the turmoil roiling inside me. The realization that there might be more to my family's past than I ever knew was both thrilling and terrifying. As we stood there at the pier, the night enveloping us in its cool embrace, I resolved to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.

Jae's presence was comforting, a steady anchor in the midst of the storm of emotions inside me. His words had given me a direction, a starting point in my search for answers. The Ferruchi legacy, the betrayal, the exile—these were all pieces of a puzzle that I was now determined to solve.

“Did you like the lavender rose?” he asked, changing the subject, the moonlight tracing his small smile.

I was taken aback, but I guessed there was a reason why he invited me here. Was it that he remembered me now? Unable to tell, I simply replied, “I did, thank you. It was nice.”

He looked proud of himself and somewhat content with this moment. “I’ve been meaning to ask, do you have a date to the high society gala? If not, I would like to consort you at your debut.”

I looked up at Jae in shock. I could tell he was serious. “What about Wiley? What would he think?”

“I think he’ll be happy that it’s me instead of someone he doesn’t know. It’s not like it’s a date-date or anything.”

The reality of what we are sank in, the disastrous feeling of knowing he would never think of me like that all because he was my brother’s best friend.

“I’m sorry,” he said as soon as he saw my face drop, “Kaye, I didn’t mean it like that.”

I turned around without a word, my eyes welling with tears, ready to leave and put this hopeful dream behind me once and for all.

“Kaye, wait!” he ran after me, stepping in front of me.

“What are we even doing here, Jae?” I could no longer contain my emotions. “What is this!?”

Jae snapped at me, “I don’t know, okay! I don’t know what we’re doing, but I’m incapable of leaving you alone now. I have feelings for you, and not being able to be with you is driving me fucking insane!”

His confession left us both breathless, our eyes connecting deeper than they ever had before. “Fuck it!” he hissed under his breath, pulling me in and kissing me passionately. Our tongues danced in sync with each other, the moment high on emotions, intensity and our deep attraction to each other.