4. A Call to Power

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Lenora’s eyes softened, and she stepped closer, cupping my face gently in her hands. It was the kind of touch I hadn’t felt in so long—a touch that wasn’t meant to manipulate or control me. It was genuine. For a moment, I felt the overwhelming urge to pull away, to distance myself from the vulnerability in her eyes, but I couldn’t.

"You need to keep fighting, Cessalie," she whispered. "You inspire Elliora. She looks up to you more than you know."

I blinked, trying to absorb her words.

Elliora? That quiet, unassuming girl who rarely spoke? She admires me?

"But what can I do? What can I possibly do in all of this?"

Lenora’s gaze was steady as she leaned in closer. "Fight." Her voice was firm now, as if the word itself carried all the strength I lacked. "Fight for the position of head of this house. Become the Duchess. Be the first woman to break these oppressive laws."

I stared at her, stunned. Become the Duchess? Me?

"For yourself," she continued, her grip tightening slightly, "for me, for my daughters... for every woman who suffers in Ferendia. You can change things, Cessalie. You have to change things."

My throat tightened, emotions swirling within me—anger, fear, defiance. She was asking me to overthrow everything I had ever known, to challenge the very foundation of this house.

"For my mother too?..." I muttered under my breath, but the moment the words left my lips, Lenora shook her head.

"No," she said softly, her eyes darkening with knowledge I hadn’t yet grasped. "She enjoys his torment, Cessalie. Believe me or not, she’s the only one who obeys him the most just to be his favorite. I’ve seen things... things you don’t even know about."

I felt my stomach churn.

My mother—enjoys this? The torment, the manipulation, the way he rules over every part of our lives?

"How could she..."

"It’s not your concern now. You need to focus on the future, not on her choices. Your father can only be stopped by someone who knows how to fight back, someone who refuses to bend under his power. That someone is you, Cessalie."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. Me? The thought was terrifying, and yet... exhilarating.

I stared at Lenora, my mind racing to keep up with her words. “How will I do this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t have any powers. The only children of his first and second mistresses have those abilities. They can do magic, and they’re his favorites because they obey him.”

Lenora patted my shoulder gently, her touch warm and reassuring. “No, Cessalie, that’s not right,” she said. “Not everyone who obeys him is his favorite.” She leaned in closer, her pale blue eyes searching mine, urging me to grasp what she was trying to convey.

My heart raced as a realization struck me. “Rylan,” I breathed, my eyes widening. “Rylan doesn’t obey my father, but he’s still his favorite. He’s been hired to look after... everything.”

Lenora nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “Yes. But why is he his favorite?”

I thought for a moment, then answered, “Because he has power. He’s more powerful than my father.”

“Exactly,” she said, her smile widening. “And you need to have that power, Cessalie.”

I shook my head, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “No, I don’t have any power. My mother and father both have none, so I can’t do anything.”

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