Eliza stood on the upper balcony of the mansion, arms resting on the railing, lost in thought. The sky was clear, painted with the soft lavender of early twilight. But suddenly, without warning, a violent gust swept across the estate—rattling the lanterns and making her hair whip across her face.
Her eyes narrowed.
A soft chime rang in her ear.
"Approaching signatures confirmed. Cassian Vale and Seraphine Vale. ETA: thirty seconds. They have not requested entry access. Permission to activate the air defense systems
The AI's voice was calm, but Eliza stiffened instantly.
Permission denied
She turned, storming off the balcony and heading down the spiral stairway. Each step echoed with tension, her breath slow and deep—like she was preparing for a battle, not a conversation.
Eliza descended the remaining stairs in silence, her bare feet making no sound on the polished floor.
But by the time she reached the first floor, they were already inside.
When she entered, she didn't bother to hide the disgust on her face.
There they were, sitting like kings on her velvet chairs, drinking tea that wasn't theirs, in a house they didn't build.
She stopped dead in her tracks.
There they were.
Cassian Vale stood tall in the center of the room, running a gloved hand along the edge of a family vase like it was some novelty from a street market. He wore a long obsidian coat with steel trim, every inch of it expensive and custom-fitted. His blond hair gleamed like a blade under the chandelier, and the smirk on his face was the same one he wore at Virele's funeral.
Beside him, Seraphine Vale sat in a crimson high-collar suit, legs crossed, sipping tea. Always pristine. Always pretending she belonged.
These two opportunists were the
Eliza didn't move.
"What the hell are you doing in my house?"
Lady Seraphine placed her teacup down, perfectly aligned with the saucer. "Our house. If you're going to accuse us of trespassing, at least have the courtesy to check the family law books. You know—assuming you can read legal codes and besides your systems weren't set to lock down, we assumed we are welcome. "
"I can read. And I can smell a lie when it walks through my front door."
Cassian chuckled. "Still sharp. You really are your virele's daughter."
That struck a nerve.
Eliza stepped further into the room, arms crossed
"You leeched off my mother when she was alive. And now that she's gone, you want what's left."
"Correction," Seraphine said calmly. "We're here to protect what's left. Virele entrusted us—"
"She didn't trust either of you!" Eliza snapped.
Cassian raised a brow but said nothing.
"I'd rather burn everything she left behind than let you touch another inch of it."
You are just worthless parasitic ass freaks.
The words cracked through the air like lightning.
Cassian blinked.
For a brief second, that polished smile faltered. His hand, resting casually on the back of a velvet chair, tightened.
"Excuse me?"
"You think you're in a position to define who belongs here?" she said, stepping forward. "You think you're in control just because the old queen died and left you her throne?"
"I don't need a throne," Eliza said coldly. I just know how to deal with money sucking parasites like you.
Cassian's jaw tensed. "Watch your mouth, girl. We helped build this legacy. I fought beside her when you were still learning how to tie your boots."
Helped, what help? Just last month you spent over 24 billion us dollars building ships and gathering strength from my virele army, just because of you, my mother's legacy is falling
Don't pretend you came to pay respects. You're here because you think her death left a power vacuum."
Seraphine stepped even closer, her voice low and venomous.
According to the rules, I should own 15%of virele fortune but I only have less than 10%
That is because the 15% was meant to improve on the standards of living of people on the African continent experiencing poverty, not only does it fund the United nations activities like UNICEF and WHO, but also helps other people all over the globe affected by wars. If you snatches this away, do you know how many people would be affected.
Who cares about the poor and their lifestyle, we just want to build a new, greater virele legacy.
The virele empire rose to heights because of its desire to promote global peace and build a much greater world but your plans are to build a new world order by forming your own private mercenary company to fight wars for nations with negative thoughts.
Cassian stood, his tone quieter but sharper. "The council will not protect you forever. When assets are disputed, blood isn't the only currency."
The council of elders was just a small governing board of the virelle family, controlling the law books of the entire billionaire empire,even these brats were afraid of the old men behind the council.you can say without the council ,the virelle family would dispute ,sharing amongst themselves billions and billions of money .
"I don't need the council. Just know, I will annihilate anyone who tries to destroy my mother's legacy let it be family.
Cassian snorted. "someone like you only a C rank thinks she can dominate the world, how ridiculous."
Cassian sighed, his tone mockingly sympathetic. "You know, grief makes people irrational. Maybe you should take a week or two away. Let us manage things in your absence. Give yourself time to heal."
"You mean give you time to loot the vaults?" Eliza's tone was ice.
You... ", seraphine snapped
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Even without raising her voice,
"You're clinging to a legacy you barely understand," she said. "Virele made enemies, Big ones. She built an empire from the bones of fallen tyrants. You think they'll just let her daughter inherit it in peace?"
Eliza didn't flinch even though it was true ,the fall of virelle allowed other families to raise and overwhelm everything she built ,no wonder the chances of collapse are growing daily .
Seraphine smiled faintly. "You've got your mother's eyes. But you don't have her mind. You're too emotional."
"Maybe. But at least I'm not a parasite."
Cassian let out a low whistle. "This is escalating quickly."
Eliza leaned forward, her voice dangerously calm. "You think just because I haven't thrown my weight around since her death that I'm weak? That I've been sleeping while you played house in my mother's empire?"
Seraphine raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a threat, little heiress?"
"No. This is your only warning."
Seraphine laughed under her breath. "How charming."
"Listen closely, Eliza. You're sitting on top of one of the most valuable vaults in the continent. People would kill for even a glimpse of what Virele buried in her private records. You think your little mercenary team and a few loyal old soldiers are going to keep that safe when the real wolves start sniffing around?"
Eliza tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. "Try me."
Cassian studied her for a long second.
And for the first time, his smirk faded.
"Come on, Seraphine," he said finally. "Let's give the girl her little throne for now. Let her feel powerful."
Lady Seraphine adjusted her gloves. "If she keeps playing queen, she'll learn the cost of wearing a crown."
The two turned and began making their way to the front hall.
But just before they stepped out, Eliza spoke one last time.
"Next time you break into my home, I won't be polite."
Cassian paused and looked over his shoulder.
"I hope you remember that when your world starts falling apart."
Then they were gone.
Eliza stood in the quiet, the echo of their words bouncing around the room. Her hands trembled not from fear, but from rage. Her mother built this world with blood and brilliance. And these two opportunistic monsters thought they could inherit it without a fight?
As soon as they left ,Eliza looked up at the ceiling and called out .
Artemis
Yes miss", the Ai system responded .
Activate copper belt air defense system ,shoot down anything within a 500 meter radius,Inflict minimum damage.
Available target confirmed : SAM will inflict damage to vale's ship in T - 5 seconds.
of course she wouldn't kill her own family members especially seraphine who was her mother's step sister but at least that would send a message to them that she isn't someone who they can mess with,the end of virelle revealed the serpents that were lingering in the shadows,they didn't even wait for her mother's soul to rest in peace before they dug in to what was left .
If you are weak ,you will definitely be looked down on ,no one will value your efforts no matter how hard you try .
This made Eliza's head spin , family what family,she expected her family to stand by her in time of need but it seems only an iron fist can rule a den of lions and snakes .
She had no time to worry about such idiots,the only thing they care about is money . Due to all the stress ,her head literally began to spin maybe because of the previous events or this one ,but this wasn't a normal headache,it was as if something was poking her brain trying to enter .
She stumbled backwards nearly falling but a hand .she couldn't recognize who it was because of her blurred vision but noticed a familiar necklace tied around the person's neck ,in the blink of an eye she could no longer see anything except darkness .