Vaelis stood before her parents in the grand sitting room of the Cara estate, their expressions cold, unreadable.

“You will attend the banquet with us,” her father said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Vaelis remained silent. She had no interest in such events, no desire to play the role of the obedient daughter in a family that barely acknowledged her existence.

“Refusing is not an option,” her mother added sharply. “This is not about you, Vaelis. It is about our family’s reputation.”

A quiet scoff almost escaped her lips. Reputation? What reputation? They barely regarded her as part of the family.

But she knew the truth—she had no choice.

She could either comply or face consequences that would make the evening even more insufferable.

So, she inclined her head, her expression perfectly composed. “As you wish.”

And with that, the matter was settled.

---

The grand chandeliers cast a golden glow across the opulent hall, illuminating the sea of elegantly dressed guests. Tonight’s banquet was an affair that gathered the most influential families—the elite of the elite. Every whispered conversation carried weight, every fleeting glance held meaning.

Vaelis stepped into the ballroom, her posture poised, her expression unreadable.

And yet, the moment she entered, the air shifted.

The murmurs came first.

“Is that… Vaelis Cara?”

“She looks… breathtaking.”

“She was always beautiful, but tonight—”

She ignored them all. Dressed in a long, midnight blue gown that shimmered under the light, every movement she made was effortless elegance. The delicate embroidery traced along the fabric, catching the eye with its subtle brilliance. Her black hair cascaded in soft waves, her pink lips untouched by any forced smile.

Her family, of course, did not acknowledge her transformation. Her parents remained indifferent, too focused on socializing, on ensuring their reputation remained untarnished.

But the rest of the room?

They could no longer ignore her.

“Vaelis,” a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

She turned, meeting the sharp gaze of an unfamiliar man. He was tall, refined, with an air of effortless confidence. His suit was tailored to perfection, his presence commanding.

The grandson of tonight’s host.

“Leo Laurent.” He introduced himself smoothly, offering his hand. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”

A dance. A declaration, subtle yet undeniable.

The attention shifted to her once again, eyes filled with curiosity, envy, speculation.

She could refuse. She should.

But Vaelis did not back down from a challenge.

She placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her onto the polished marble floor. The orchestra swelled, the first notes of a waltz filling the air.

He was a practiced dancer, his steps controlled, precise.

“You don’t seem like the type to enjoy these gatherings,” Leo remarked, his tone easy yet observant.

“I don’t,” she replied simply.

“Then why did you come?”

“My family insisted.”

He hummed as if unsurprised. “And yet, you carry yourself as if you belong here more than anyone else.”

Vaelis merely tilted her head. “Do I?”

“Undoubtedly.”Their dance was flawless, drawing more attention than she cared for. But before she could respond, her gaze caught on something—or rather, someone.

A young man, dressed in the standard uniform of the banquet staff, moving silently through the crowd.

He carried himself differently than the other workers. His presence wasn’t meek. It wasn’t forgettable.

And when their eyes met, she knew—

This was him.

The real villain of the story.

The one who would rise from the lowest depths to become the most powerful man of all.

She remembered.

In Eclipsed by Summer, this very banquet had been the moment where fate twisted for two men.

Leo Laurent—the charming grandson of the most influential elder—had been one of the female lead’s love interests. But in the end, he had faded into the background, left with nothing but lingering regrets.

And the other man…

The villain ---

In Eclipsed by Summer, he had been nothing more than a passing shadow to most people in this room. He had spent years clawing his way up, his heart and mind consumed by a singular obsession.

Serena Vale.

The real female lead.

Vaelis remembered the book’s description of his love for Serena—it had been a madness, a devotion bordering on self-destruction. He had pursued her, not because she loved him, but because she was the first person who had ever shown him kindness.

But tonight… his gaze was not on Serena.

It was on her.

A fleeting moment. Barely a glance.

Yet, she felt the weight of it.

The way his movements stilled, the way his grip on the tray tightened ever so slightly.

Something had shifted.

But Vaelis didn’t care.

She walked past him without a second thought, offering him no acknowledgment, no recognition.

He was nothing to her.

At least, for now.