The night was thick with silence as Lila returned to her room. The conversation with Adrian Blackwood lingered in her thoughts like a stubborn shadow, refusing to fade. The chill in the air had settled deep into her bones, and though the conservatory had been warm, something about Adrian's presence had made the temperature drop. His words, too, seemed to cling to her.
You are not a background character in this story.
What did he mean by that? Was it just another cryptic statement? Or did he know something she didn't?
Lila couldn't stop thinking about it. She had spent so much time trying to fit herself into the life of a minor noblewoman that she hadn't given much thought to the idea of being something more. But something in Adrian's eyes, the way he looked at her with that knowing stare, suggested there was more to her presence here than just happenstance.
There had to be a reason she had been drawn to House Blackwood, a reason she had stepped into this dangerous, tangled web of power and secrets.
As Lila sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit grounds of Blackwood Manor, she felt a pull toward the one place she had been avoiding—the manor's vast library. She'd heard whispers about it among the servants, stories of books that contained forbidden knowledge, of magic older than the kingdom itself.
Magic that could change the world.
She had to know more about Adrian. About his past.
Her curiosity was stronger than any fear she felt.
The library was quiet when Lila arrived, the scent of old parchment and dust filling the air. The grand shelves towered over her, stretching to the high ceiling. Faded tapestries adorned the walls, their colors muted by age, depicting scenes of long-forgotten battles and heroes that had once been legends.
Lila's fingers brushed along the spines of the books, her eyes scanning the titles—books on magic, politics, history, and more. As she walked deeper into the room, she stumbled upon a door hidden behind a velvet curtain. The door was smaller than the others, almost inconspicuous, and its wood was darker than the rest of the library, as though it had been untouched by time.
The door creaked as Lila pushed it open, revealing a narrow staircase that spiraled down into the shadows below.
She hesitated for a moment, but the promise of answers was too tempting. Lila descended the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the confined space. The air grew colder as she went deeper, the faint sound of distant whispers tickling her ears.
At the bottom, she found herself in a dimly lit chamber, the walls lined with bookshelves that were filled with ancient tomes. In the center of the room, a single stone pedestal held a weathered, leather-bound book.
Lila's breath caught in her throat. The book was unlike any other she had seen in the manor. The cover was cracked and faded, its surface covered in intricate symbols that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light.
She approached cautiously, her hand hovering over the book, unsure if she should touch it. The pull of curiosity, however, was irresistible. As her fingers brushed the cover, a surge of energy coursed through her, making her gasp.
The book opened on its own, its pages flipping rapidly, stopping on a particular passage.
The room seemed to shift around her as Lila read the words written in delicate, ancient script.
"Adrian Blackwood, Heir of House Blackwood, the Warborn Duke, is bound by the blood of the First Keeper. The mark of his ancestors is both a blessing and a curse, for he holds the power to shape fate itself. But the weight of that power comes with a cost—one that can never be erased. Adrian must choose: to continue the path of his ancestors and bring darkness to the world, or to forsake his legacy and break free of the chains that bind him."
Lila's heart raced as she read the words, her mind spinning with the implications. Adrian Blackwood wasn't just the heir to House Blackwood—he was bound to something much darker, something ancient. She had known there was something off about him, something dangerous. But this... This was different.
The First Keeper.
She had heard whispers about that name in passing, rumors of an ancient bloodline tied to powerful magic, but no one ever spoke of it openly. It was a subject reserved for the most secretive corners of the kingdom.
Lila closed the book and stood there for a long moment, her thoughts a whirlwind. The revelation sent a cold shiver down her spine. Adrian Blackwood had the potential to shape the very fabric of the world, and yet, he was haunted by the choices of his ancestors.
Her mind returned to the conversation she had had with him earlier. The way he had looked at her like he knew something she didn't. Like he had been waiting for her. But for what?
Lila didn't know if she could trust Adrian. But she couldn't ignore the fact that the answers to her questions were tangled up in him, in his past. And the only way to understand the truth was to confront him directly.
She returned the book to its pedestal and made her way back up the stairs, the weight of the knowledge heavy on her shoulders. As she walked through the library, she passed a row of tall windows, and her eyes fell on the silhouette standing at the edge of the garden—Adrian.
He stood alone, his back to her, staring out into the night. The faint glow of the lanterns cast long shadows across his form, making him seem like a figure from another time.
Lila's pulse quickened. He was waiting for her.
The next morning, Lila couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking through a dream. Every conversation she had, every movement she made, felt like part of some greater design one she hadn't yet fully grasped.
The manor's corridors were busy with preparations for a grand dinner, but Lila found herself drawn to the quiet of the garden once more. She needed to think, to process everything she had learned.
As she stepped into the garden, she found Adrian standing near the fountain, his gaze distant. The sight of him, standing so alone, reminded her of the man she had read about in the book—the Warborn Duke, a man bound by blood and fate.
This time, she didn't hesitate. She walked toward him, her footsteps soft on the gravel path. Adrian turned as he heard her approach, his expression unreadable.
"You've been to the library," he said, his voice low, almost too calm.
Lila stopped in front of him, not bothering to hide the wariness in her gaze. "I've read the Book of Lines," she said bluntly. "I know who you are."
His eyes flashed with something— recognition, perhaps, or regret but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the familiar cold detachment.
"You shouldn't have," Adrian said quietly. "That book isn't meant for curious minds."
"I'm not curious," Lila replied, her voice steady. "I'm trying to understand why I'm here. Why you are here."
He sighed, stepping closer, the weight of his presence palpable. "You've been drawn into something that neither of us can control, Lady Hart. You don't know what you're dealing with."
Lila shook her head. "I'm starting to think I know exactly what I'm dealing with."
Adrian's gaze softened just a fraction. "Then you know what's at stake."
Her heart pounded. "I know. And I need to know how you plan to handle it."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Finally, Adrian's lips curled into a faint, rueful smile.
"We'll see," he murmured.
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lila standing in the garden, her mind racing. She didn't know if she could trust him. But one thing was certain Adrian Blackwood's past was tied to something far bigger than either of them could have imagined.
And now, whether she liked it or not, Lila Hart was part of it.