Celia was bored.
Her concert was coming up, so she should have been busy enough to forget what boredom even felt like.
There were rehearsals, outfit fittings, stage checks, media runs, and a hundred other things people kept reminding her about.
But the venue had been too loud and too crowded earlier, with managers and technicians running around as if the world would end if a spotlight was misplaced.
So she had slipped out.
Like she always did.
Now, she did not even fear Vale much.
Before, sneaking out would have meant a lecture.
But these days, she was stronger. Not stronger than him, of course, but strong enough that she did not feel like a child who had to hide behind doors.
Still, when she returned home, she realized something unfortunate.
She had nothing to do.
