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Ray blinked in confusion. Although the young boy in front of her was otherworldly beautiful, he had no right to speak to her in that manner.
She may not be the real daughter of the marquis. But she did inhabit her body.
"And who do you think you are? Ray said. Her voice laced with irritation.
"I won't repeat myself again," he said calmly. He rose carefully from the grass and brushed the dust and flower petals off his clothes.
He was evidently younger, yet emitted a strange–almost commanding presence. Ray stood as well, her bright dress stained with brown patches of dirt.
"Neither will I," Ray demanded. His presence was intimidating, and somehow reminded her of Lucian.
Was he one of the main characters?.
But no matter how she searched her memory, nothing about him felt familiar or recognizable. Ray immediately concludedthat he must be a background character. A nameless entity that existed within the world of her story.
Her lips curved into a grin. She couldn't believe she had gotten scared over someone of no importance. She folded her arms casually across her chest. "Are you a servant here?" She asked.
The young man's gaze widened in disbelief. " I should be the one asking that?" he said. Then his eye swept over her from head to toe, his sneered face deepened.
Ray released a nervous scoff. His scrutiny had caught her off guard. "I don't look like this all the time." She said defensively. "I just ran into a bit of…. trouble."
His expression remained calm and measured. His stare lingered on her for a second longer.
"You don't seem like someone here on an official visit." He said. Then paused for a moment, and added. "And you don't look like a maid either. The maids here are decent looking."
He tilted his head slightly. "You must be a thief." He concluded.
A thief?!
In all her years, this was the first time some one had accused her of being a thief. "Hey kid.." she called out, "does this look like the face of a thief." Her hand gestured towards herself.
"Well looks can be deceiving," he replied evenly. "And since you don't want to tell me who you are the easy way, you will tell me the hard way." He said.
Ray's breath hitched. She didn't know what he meant, and she didn't want to find out either.
"Guard…" the boy called out. Ray reacted instantly, clamping her hand over his mouth and silencing him.
He might be a nameless entity to her, but right now, he felt like someone of great importance.
"Okay," she said quickly. "I'll tell you who I am."
Ray glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby before lowering her voice.
"I am… Celestine Varondulf."
The garden fell silent. Even the light breeze seemed to had ceased at that moment.
The young man was quiet for a moment, then broke the silence with an unexpected laughter.
"Either you're insane," he said between chuckles, "or the rumors were true, and Celestine Varondulf has really gone mad."
"But I'm telling the truth," Ray insisted. "I am her. I came here looking for Lucian. You see, he's supposed to be my fiance. But things happened, and how I'm here to see him…"
The words poured endlessly out of Ray's mouth, until the bright, amused expression on the boy's face slowly faded and vanished completely.
"Wow," he said flatly. "Is the palace security really this bad, that they let a mad woman wander in?"
Ray paused. "I am no mad woman."
"Yes," he replied calmly, "and I am a fairy." Then, without hesitation, he raised his voice.
"GUARDS…"
Just then, two guards came rushing in. "Yes, your highness," they said in unison, bowing deeply.
Your highness?
"See to it that this lady is thrown out of the palace," the young man said coolly. "And tighten security. Something like this should never happen again."
"Yes, your highness," they responded in affirmation.
Before Ray could react, each guard grabbed one of her arms, dragging her toward the palace gates. It was only then that realization struck her.
Prince Kasper Cordova. Cousin to Crown prince Erik.
Of course she hadn't recognized him. He barely had any interaction with the main characters in her story. A minor presence. Easy to forget.
But now she was being dragged out of the palace on the order of that minor presence, before she even met Lucian. She wasn't going to give in that easily.
Ray twisted and struggled, pulling against their grip as she shouted and begged them to stop, calling back to them that she truly was Celestine.
"Wait!" She cried. "Hold on…please!"
"Your highness! Your highness! " she called again. But he didn't even turn.
"I really am Celestine," her voice echoed as she was dragged around a sharp turn, her words swallowed by the distance.
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The council chamber slowly emptied. Nobles filtered out in small groups. Their voices low and their laughter too practiced to be genuine.
Lucian walked ahead, his posture straight, and his expression carved from stone. Aziah fell into steps beside him. "The meeting…." He lowered his voice. "Did it go well?"
"It did," Lucian replied. Aziah glanced at him.
"You think someone from the court might be involved?"
Lucian's pace never slowed. He gave a small nod. "Even though the covenant of faith might be involved in the disappearances. Someone from the court is benefiting from this confusion."
Aziah's brows drew closer. "So this goes deeper than we thought."
"Much deeper," Lucian said calmly.
Suddenly, a mature voice called out.
"Lucian." Aziah and Lucian both turned.
Marquis Damarcus stood before them, only a few steps away. His hands clasped behind his back and a polite smile fixed on his face.
"It has been some time since your return from the border," he said. "We've hardly had the chance to speak."
Lucian gave Aziah a quick glance, as he excused himself to get the carriage ready.
"I visited your estate," Lucian responded. "You weren't present."
Damarcus chuckled lightly. "Ah, yes. My daughter mentioned it." He said. His gaze lingered on Lucian for a moment before he added, "Preparations have already begun."
Lucian stilled slightly. He tilted his head in confusion.
"Preparations?" He asked.
"Yes,"Damarcus replied. "The marital lessons preparations." He explained. A smile curved on his lips. "We still have to discuss the actual marriage preparations. You and I."
Lucian narrowed his gaze. Had Celestine not yet informed him the engagement was called off? He thought.
"I see," he said, nodding his head lightly.
"Prehaps we should discuss it further," Damarcus suggested. "Privately. Over tea."
"Actually Marquis," Lucian said, about to speak the truth. "Your daughter and I…"
But before he could finish his sentence, his name echoed livefully across the corridor. "Lucian!"
A bright, youthful voice called out. Lucian turned to see prince Kasper approaching, his expression open and cheerful. He stopped before Lucian, evidently pleased. "It's been too long," he said. "You're hardly ever at court."
Damarcus glanced between them, then smiled. "Another time, then," he said smoothly. "I won't keep you."
With a polite nod, the marquis turned and walked away. Leaving Lucian and Kasper behind.
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Lucian and Prince Kasper took a stroll through the palace corridors, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished marbles. "It's been so long since you had left for the borders," Kasper said with a sigh.
"No word from you at all. I even sent letters. Several." he said.
"I read them," Lucian replied. "I simply didn't find the time to respond. I was…occupied." He said.
Kasper huffed. "That's exactly why I hate this place." He gestured around them. "The capital is boring. Saenia has nothing interesting to offer, I miss the northern palace. At least there was life there." he rolled his eyes.
Lucian glanced at him. "You've exhausted the palace library already?"
Kasper groaned. "Twice. I have read everything worth reading."
Lucian's lips formed an arch upward. "At my temporary estate here in Saenia," he said gently. "The library is extensive. You are welcome to visit. You might find something new."
Kasper stopped mid step. His face was bright with a grin. "Really?"
"Yes." Lucian replied.
Kasper leaped slightly in excitement. "Then i'll…" just then, a sudden scream cut through the air.
"Let me go! Leave me alone!. The voice echoed down the corridor struggling and desperate. Lucian's steps slowed. His brows knitted together. "What is that?" He asked.
Kasper froze. Then his expression shifted to that of annoyance. "Oh, she's still here?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Come on, Lucian, let's go. The guards will handle it."
Lucian didn't move. "It's none of my business," Kasper added quickly, pulling Lucian away. "But honestly, she needs to be thrown out already."
Lucian turned to him then asked. "Who?"
For a bit, Kasper hesitated then signed.
"Some mad woman. She claims to be
Celestine Varondulf." He scoffed. "She even had the audacity to say she's your fiance."
Lucian stopped. His eyes widened in this belief. "What did you say?" He asked.
Kasper blinked. "I know. How ridiculous." His gaze slowly turned towards Lucian's.
Lucian didn't answer. He turned sharply toward the sound of the noise, while Kasper called from behind. As he rounded the corner, the sight came into view.
Two guards were restraining a young woman, each gripping one of her arms as she struggled violently against them. "Let me go!" She cried. "I am Celestine!"
Lucian's breath caught. His eyes widened in shock. Kasper followed him, he tried to inform him the lady was just mentally unstable. But his expression told him otherwise.
Lucian stared at Celestine. Her hair slightly disheveled, her expression wild with panic and fury.
He clenched his fist. And for the first time since returning to the capital, his composure cracked.