Dinner arrived far sooner than Seraphina would have liked. The rest of the afternoon passed in relative peace, but her mind remained occupied. Kael had noticed something, and she was certain of it.
A man who commanded fleets and conquered star systems didn't survive by being careless. The brief exchange in the Grand Hall had told her enough.
He was observant, calculating, and dangerous. Not because he was cruel, but because he was intelligent. Those kinds of people were always the hardest to deceive.
As evening approached, Seraphina stood near the balcony of her chambers, watching the sunset beyond the estate's energy barrier.
The sky glowed with shades of crimson and gold. Dozens of spacecraft crossed the heavens. Far above, massive battleships floated in orbit like celestial fortresses. No matter how many times she saw them, the sight remained surreal.
Just yesterday she had been an assassin on Earth. Now she was standing inside the residence of a werewolf ruler whose territory spanned entire galaxies. Life truly had a strange sense of humor.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Lady Seraphina." The butler's voice came through the door. "The Supreme Alpha is waiting."
She sighed.
There was no escaping now.
"Let's go."
The dining room this time was different. Far smaller than the breakfast hall and more private. Only three seats had been prepared.
One for Kael.
One for Aiden.
One for her.
The arrangement immediately told her something. This wasn't an official dinner. It was a family dinner. The realization felt oddly uncomfortable.
Back on Earth, family dinners weren't something she had experienced often. The organization that raised her had taught her many things. And love wasn't one of them.
The doors opened and Seraphina entered. Kael was already seated. Aiden sat beside him. The little boy immediately looked nervous when he saw her.
Thankfully, he was no longer fearful of me, just nervous...
That alone was a huge improvement.
Kael's golden eyes briefly lifted toward her. "Sit."
Seraphina obeyed.
The servants quietly began serving the meal. For several minutes, nobody spoke. The atmosphere wasn't hostile, but it was awkward.
Aiden occasionally glanced between them before lowering his head again. Apparently, he wasn't used to seeing both adults in the same room without arguing.
The original owner truly had done a number on this household.
Kael eventually broke the silence. "I heard you had breakfast with Aiden."
There it was, the investigation she was expecting had begun.
Seraphina calmly cut a piece of meat. "We happened to share a table."
Kael's gaze remained fixed on her. "According to the staff, that has never happened before."
Every word felt sharp and deliberate. Seraphina understood what he was doing. He was testing her, looking for inconsistencies.
"A lot of things haven't happened before."
The answer wasn't confirmation, nor was it denial.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
Aiden quietly focused on his food. The poor child looked like he wanted to disappear beneath the table.
The conversation continued.
"You seem different." This time he was more direct.
Several servants visibly tensed. Even they seemed curious about her response.
Seraphina leaned back slightly. "Different people change."
A long silence followed.
Kael continued studying her. She met his gaze without flinching. Back on Earth, she had stared down crime lords, military officers, and assassins. She wasn't about to lower her eyes now.
Eventually, Kael looked away. A small victory, though she doubted the matter was settled.
Not even close.
The meal continued. Then something unexpected happened. One of the servants accidentally dropped a serving tray.
Crash!
The sound echoed throughout the room. The young maid immediately turned pale. Her entire body shook.
"I'm sorry!" She dropped to her knees. "I'm sorry, my lady!"
The terror in her voice was obvious.
The room became silent.
Seraphina frowned.
The maid looked genuinely frightened.
Then she remembered.
The original owner had once ordered a servant whipped for spilling tea. Another had been dismissed for staining a dress.
No wonder the poor woman looked terrified.
The maid trembled, as if waiting and expecting punishment.
Instead, Seraphina simply said, "Clean it up."
The maid blinked. "What?"
"Nobody died." The words escaped before Seraphina could stop herself. "Just clean it up."
Silence filled the room.
The maid stared at her.
The servants stared at her.
Even Aiden looked surprised.
Kael's gaze sharpened.
The poor maid quickly bowed. "Thank you, Lady Seraphina!"
She hurried away before Seraphina could change her mind. The atmosphere shifted, subtly. Yet noticeably, the servants no longer looked terrified, just confused, certainly. But not terrified.
Aiden even seemed more relaxed. Only Kael remained unreadable. Which honestly worried Seraphina more.
Dinner ended shortly afterward. The servants cleared the dishes.
Aiden stood from his seat. Then hesitated, his golden eyes shifted toward his father. "Father?"
Kael looked at him. "What is it?"
The boy hesitated again, as though gathering courage. "Will you stay this time?"
The question struck the room like a physical blow. Even the servants lowered their heads.
Kael remained silent for several moments. Then he answered honestly, "No."
Aiden's shoulders immediately drooped.
The sight hurt far more than Seraphina expected.
Kael noticed it too. The Alpha sighed quietly. "There are still wars beyond the frontier."
Aiden nodded, he clearly understood, and that didn't make it easier. Children rarely cared about politics, military campaigns, or imperial responsibilities. They simply wanted their parents nearby.
The boy forced a smile. "I understand."
The words sounded mature, too mature for his age. Seraphina disliked it immediately. Children shouldn't have to act like adults.
Kael's expression softened, just slightly. He reached out and ruffled Aiden's hair. "When I return, we'll spend a day together."
Aiden's eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Really."
The smile that appeared on the boy's face was genuine, and unexpectedly adorable. For a moment, Seraphina forgot she was looking at the future emperor. He simply looked like a happy child.
After dinner, Aiden departed for his evening studies.
Only Seraphina and Kael remained. The moment the doors closed behind the boy, the atmosphere changed. The warmth vanished, and the room suddenly felt colder, more serious.
Kael folded his hands together.
"Now." His voice was calm. "Let's discuss what happened to you."
There it was, no more pretending or dancing around the subject. The Alpha was finally asking the question directly.
Seraphina remained composed. "What do you mean?"
Kael stared at her.
"You dislike Aiden."
The statement was blunt, matter-of-fact.
"You avoid me."
Another statement.
"You insult servants."
A third.
"Yet today you've done none of those things."
The room fell silent.
Kael continued.
"So I'll ask again."
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
"What happened?"
For the first time since arriving in this world, Seraphina felt genuine danger.
Not physical danger, but interrogation. Kael wasn't accusing her, he was investigating. And the worst part? He was absolutely right.
The woman sitting before him wasn't the same person, not anymore. Of course, she couldn't tell him she had died and transmigrated. Nobody would believe that. At best they'd think she was insane.
At worst...
They might decide she was possessed.
Neither option sounded appealing. So Seraphina chose the safest truth available. She looked directly into his eyes. Then said:
"I almost died."
The answer surprised him, she could tell, but Kael remained silent, as if waiting for more. So she continued.
"When someone believes they're about to lose everything, they start seeing things differently."
Part of that statement was true. Kael seemed thoughtful. The room became quiet again, neither spoke. Several seconds passed.
Then Kael slowly rose from his chair. "I see."
His expression revealed nothing. Which somehow made him even harder to read. He walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he paused. Without looking back, he spoke.
"If this change is genuine..." His voice was quieter than before. "...then don't stop."
The door closed behind him.
Leaving Seraphina alone. For several moments, she remained seated, processing everything. The conversation had gone better than expected, far better. Yet she couldn't shake a growing feeling in her chest.
She had seen something beyond Kael's reputation, authority, and power. The man genuinely cared about his son. And if the future memories were correct... That same man would one day stand before an execution platform and watch her die.
The thought lingered long after the room had emptied.
Like a shadow waiting patiently for its time to come.