Episode 23| A Feeling That Shouldnt Exist
The afternoon sun poured gently through the tall windows of the VanHale estate.
Golden light danced across porcelain teacups, casting soft reflections on the polished table between two young noblewomen.
Seraphina sat quietly.
Too quietly.
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Diana, seated across from her, watched carefully.
“…You’ve been like this since the engagement ceremony,” she said, setting her cup down.
A pause.
“…Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or should I start guessing wildly?”
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Seraphina exhaled softly.
Her gaze remained fixed on the tea in front of her.
“…I saw her.”
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Diana raised a brow.
“…The commoner girl? The Crown Prince’s fiancée?”
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“…Riley Scott.”
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“…Ah,” Diana leaned back slightly.
“…Yes, the entire capital is talking about her.”
A small smirk formed.
“…Including how she looks exactly like your beloved priest.”
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Seraphina flinched slightly at the word beloved.
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“…Don’t,” she murmured.
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Diana’s smirk softened.
“…Alright.”
A pause.
“…But that’s not what’s bothering you, is it?”
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Silence.
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Seraphina finally lifted her gaze.
And for once—
There was no composure.
No pride.
No carefully constructed mask.
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“…When I saw her…”
Her voice was quiet.
“…I felt something.”
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Diana tilted her head.
“…Something?”
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Seraphina frowned slightly, struggling to put it into words.
“…A loss.”
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“…Loss?” Diana repeated.
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“…Yes.”
Her fingers curled slightly against her dress.
“…But I don’t understand it.”
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The room fell into thoughtful silence.
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“…Explain,” Diana said gently.
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Seraphina nodded faintly.
“…When she walked into the hall…”
“…Everyone saw her beauty.”
“…Her grace.”
“…Her resemblance to Ryan.”
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A pause.
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“…But I didn’t just see that.”
Her voice lowered.
“…My heart reacted.”
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Diana’s expression shifted.
Now fully attentive.
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“…It shook.”
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Silence.
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“…The same way it does when I see him.”
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Diana blinked.
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“…That’s—”
She stopped herself.
Then leaned forward slightly.
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“…You’re saying you felt the same thing for her… as you do for Ryan?”
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Seraphina hesitated.
Then—
“…Yes.”
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Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Complicated.
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Diana leaned back slowly.
Processing.
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“…That’s… unusual.”
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Seraphina let out a quiet, almost frustrated laugh.
“…That’s one way to put it.”
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“…No,” Diana corrected, more serious now.
“…That’s very unusual.”
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Another pause.
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“…Did you speak to her?”
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“…Yes.”
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“…And?”
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Seraphina’s gaze softened slightly.
“…She was kind.”
“…Composed.”
“…Warm.”
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A faint smile touched her lips.
“…And when she smiled…”
Her voice trailed off.
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“…It felt familiar.”
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Diana’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Thinking.
Analyzing.
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“…Alright,” she said after a moment.
“…Let’s approach this logically.”
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Seraphina sighed softly.
“…You always do.”
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“…Someone has to.”
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Diana tapped her finger lightly against the table.
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“…You already have feelings for Ryan.”
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“…Yes.”
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“…Strong ones.”
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“…Yes.”
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“…And now you meet someone who looks almost exactly like him.”
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Seraphina nodded slowly.
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“…Someone who carries themselves similarly.”
“…Speaks gently.”
“…Acts kindly.”
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Another nod.
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Diana leaned forward slightly.
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“…Isn’t it possible…”
“…That what you felt wasn’t new feelings…”
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A pause.
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“…But a reflection of what you already feel?”
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Seraphina blinked.
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“…What?”
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“…Think about it,” Diana continued.
“…You’re in love with Ryan.”
“…But you can’t have him.”
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Seraphina’s expression tightened slightly.
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“…So your heart…”
Diana tapped her chest lightly.
“…Looks for an outlet.”
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Silence.
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“…And then…”
“…You see someone who looks just like him.”
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Seraphina’s breath slowed.
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“…Your mind connects the two.”
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“…And suddenly…”
Diana leaned back.
“…You feel something you don’t understand.”
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Silence stretched.
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Seraphina looked down at her hands.
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“…So you’re saying…”
“…I don’t actually feel anything for her?”
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Diana shrugged lightly.
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“…I’m saying your heart might be confused.”
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A pause.
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“…It happens.”
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Seraphina didn’t respond immediately.
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Her mind replayed the moment.
The way Riley entered the hall.
The way her heart trembled.
The way her chest tightened.
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“…No,” she whispered softly.
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Diana blinked.
“…No?”
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Seraphina looked up.
Her gaze steady now.
Certain.
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“…It wasn’t confusion.”
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Silence.
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“…It felt real.”
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Diana studied her closely.
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“…Then we have a different problem.”
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“…What problem?”
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Diana exhaled slowly.
Then—
Smiled.
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“…You might have a type.”
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Seraphina blinked.
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“…What?”
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Diana laughed softly.
“…Blonde. Radiant. Unfairly attractive.”
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Seraphina frowned.
“…This isn’t funny.”
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“…Oh, I’m very serious.”
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Diana leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.
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“…Do you realize how absurd this sounds?”
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“…You’re telling me…”
“…You might be falling for a man…”
“…And his twin sister.”
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Silence.
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Seraphina covered her face briefly.
“…When you say it like that…”
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“…It sounds like the plot of a terrible novel,” Diana finished.
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Despite herself—
Seraphina let out a small laugh.
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“…It really does.”
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Diana smirked.
“…Though I must admit…”
A pause.
“…If I had to choose…”
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Seraphina glanced at her.
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“…That woman…”
Diana leaned back.
“…Is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”
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Seraphina froze slightly.
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“…Even you noticed?”
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“…Noticed?” Diana scoffed.
“…The entire room noticed.”
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She gestured dramatically.
“…She walked in like the sun decided to take human form.”
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Seraphina’s lips twitched slightly.
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“…She did feel… radiant.”
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“…Radiant?” Diana laughed.
“…That’s an understatement.”
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A pause.
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“…Honestly…”
“…If I didn’t know better…”
“…I’d think she was a Saintess.”
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Seraphina stilled.
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The word lingered.
Heavy.
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But she said nothing.
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Meanwhile—
Elsewhere in the capital—
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“…Riley.”
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Gerald’s voice was serious.
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They sat in a quiet room within their temporary residence.
Away from the palace.
Away from prying eyes.
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“…You need to explain.”
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Riley sat across from him.
Calm.
But not entirely at ease.
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“…You told me you were working as a maid.”
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Silence.
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“…And now…”
He gestured slightly.
“…You’re engaged to the Crown Prince?”
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Riley exhaled softly.
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“…I’m sorry, Father.”
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Gerald’s expression softened slightly.
But his eyes remained firm.
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“…The truth.”
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Riley nodded slowly.
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“…I wasn’t a maid.”
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A pause.
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“…I’ve been working at the temple.”
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Gerald blinked.
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“…The temple?”
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“…Yes.”
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“…As what?”
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Riley hesitated.
Just slightly.
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“…A priest.”
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Not a lie.
But not the full truth either.
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Gerald leaned back slowly.
Processing.
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“…That’s… quite a leap from maid.”
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Riley smiled faintly.
“…I didn’t want you to worry.”
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“…You think this worries me less?” he replied dryly.
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Despite the tension—
Riley let out a small laugh.
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“…I suppose not.”
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Silence settled.
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“…And the Crown Prince?” Gerald asked.
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Riley’s gaze softened slightly.
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“…It’s complicated.”
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“…Do you trust him?”
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A pause.
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“…Yes.”
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Gerald studied her carefully.
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Then—
He nodded.
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“…Then I will trust him too.”
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Riley’s chest tightened slightly.
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“…Thank you.”
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Meanwhile—
Within the palace—
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Michael stood alone.
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His thoughts restless.
Unsettled.
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“…It’s not possible,” he murmured.
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And yet—
He couldn’t ignore it.
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The aura.
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Ryan.
And Riley.
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Similar?
Yes.
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But this—
Was different.
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“…Auras can resemble each other…”
He paced slightly.
“…But not like that.”
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Not identical.
Not overlapping.
Not—
Perfectly aligned.
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His hand tightened slightly.
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“…Who are you…?” he whispered.
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Because now—
His curiosity had turned into something deeper.
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Suspicion.
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And unlike the others—
Michael was not someone easily misled.
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Back at the VanHale estate—
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Seraphina stared out the window.
Lost in thought.
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“…Ryan…”
She whispered softly.
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Then—
After a pause—
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“…Riley…”
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Her heart tightened again.
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That same feeling.
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Unfamiliar.
Confusing.
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But undeniably real.
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And somewhere deep inside—
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She knew.
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This wasn’t the end of it.
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It was only the beginning.