But he's there. My son. Adrian's heir.
Another pawn in training.
The door opens behind me.
Adrian. Of course he didn't listen. I'm not shocked.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
"No." I don't turn around. "But I don't think that matters, does it?"
"Of course it matters."
"Does it?" I finally face him. "You promised me three hours today. I got forty minutes. Because what you want, what your mother wants, what the family needs—it all comes first. Always. And I'm supposed to be grateful for one day a week. One day, Adrian."
"I'm sorry?—"
"Stop apologizing!" The words burst out of me. "Stop saying you're sorry and then doing the same thing over and over."
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to tell me the truth." I turn to face him fully. "I watched Gemma tonight. Watched her sit there while you and your mother and Antonio discussed her future like she wasn't even in the room. Watched her realize her entire life was being decided without her input."
"The Marini alliance is necessary?—"
"I know it is. I understand that now." I cross my arms. "That's not what I'm angry about."
He looks confused. "Then what?"
"I'm angry because I saw myself in her. Saw what I am to you. To this family." I take a breath. "We're both pawns, Gemma and I. Pieces being moved around the board to protect the king. To secure alliances. To strengthen the family."
"Seraphina—"
"Let me finish." I hold up a hand. "I sat there tonight and I realized: this is my life now. This is what it means to be a Nero. You get moved where the family needs you, and you smile and you accept it because that's what pawns do."
Adrian's jaw tightens. "If you're trying to make me feel guilty?—"
"I'm not." And I mean it. "Because I also realized something else tonight."
"What?"
"It could be worse."
Adrian's jaw clenches.
"You believe that the Queen should be protected. Saint will sacrifice his to win the board."
"Antonio will control him?—"
"Will he? Because tonight it looked like Saint does whatever the fuck he wants." I tilt my head.
"You're different."
"Oh?"
I nod, climbing into his lap. His large hands wrap around my waist. "The queen is the most powerful piece on the board." I hold his gaze. "She can move anywhere. Control everything. Protect the king better than any other piece. And she started as a pawn too."
Something shifts in his expression. Understanding.
