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Her face went pale.
This can't be. Celestine's mind raced.
The reason he was here? The reason he came to Vinrick's was to find the female lead?
Her gaze remained fixed on the design.
Lucian's eyes sharpened on her.
He held the piece of paper in his hand, scanning her expression. And her attention never left it.
"Is everything fine, Lady Celestine?" Lucian folded the paper neatly into his coat.
But, the words didn't register immediately.
Not until it was completely gone. Then it landed. Celestine blinked as realization hit her.
She had been staring for too long.
She clutched tightly on the handkerchief by her side. He noticed.
Quickly, she pressed her hand against her temples. "My lady, are you alright?" Gaia asked, worry buried in her tone.
"I am feeling a bit unwell." Finally she responded.
Lucian was quiet for a short moment.
Then…
"You should rest." He said. "A carriage will arrive shortly to take you home."
Celestine gave a soft smile, an attempt to dissolve suspicion. And just as quickly, the carriage arrived. Stopping beside them.
Celestine tried to move, but her legs gave out. Instinctively, Lucian reached out, steadying her.
"Thank you, Lord Iksander." Celestine said. As he gently helped her into the carriage.
"Ofcourse." Lucian gave a small nod. His gaze locked on hers through the window.
The carriage took off slowly. But Lucian's focus never left.
His eyes lingered on the carriage, long after it disappeared from view. Then he turned and walked away.
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The noble ladies clustered near the trinkets shop's entrance, whispering anxiously among themselves.
"Is Lady Celestine alright?"
"That wagon nearly–"
"She fell right to the ground. I saw it myself."
Panic spread across their faces.
Some of them glanced toward the Duke, carefully helping Celestine into a small tea shop.
Relief flickered across their faces. Though envy and suspicion lingered in others' eyes.
"She seems fine," one of the ladies murmured.
"why won't she be?" Clarice sneered. "She's with the Duke."
Penelope's head snapped towards her. "Don't say that, Lady Clarice." She said, "she might have been hurt."
"Who knows?" Another lady added. "We haven't seen ourselves"
"And besides, this might just be one of her tricks." Clarice folded her arms. "We all know how she is."
Penelope remained silent, glancing at the departing crowd.
"She indeed looks unharmed." Mary‐Anne murmured. "Perhaps we can leave?"
The ladies shared glances of agreement. One by one, they drifted away, their interest waning now that the danger seemed to have passed.
Lady Clarice turned to Jane. "Lady Jane, let's go?" She urged, motioning her to follow.
Jane hesitated.
Her eyes had caught something—
Or rather,
Someone.
Moving with quiet efficiency among the crowd. A tall man, adjusting the wagon harness and speaking firmly but politely to the raider.
His calm composure drew her attention immediately. Commanding respect without the need for a title.
The same man she collided with in the shop.
"You go…." She said softly. "I will join you. I just want to check something first."
Clarice stared for a moment, then gave a faint shrug. "If you insist."
She walked away, leaving Jane with Penelope, who had chosen to stay behind.
"Waiting for her?" Penelope asked, tilting her head towards Jane.
Jane's attention lingered on Aziah for a while, before feigning casual interest. "Yes, of course. I wanted to… make sure she's alright." Penelope gave a small smile.
As Aziah finished his task and turned to leave, Jane finally stepped forward. "Excuse me…" she began, her tone polite. "May…I ask a question."
Aziah paused, inclining his head slightly.
"Of course, my lady."
But for some reason, No words left her lips.
Penelope stepped forward. "How is Lady Celestine?"
"Apologies for the delay." He said calmly. "Lady Celestine is unharmed. The Duke has taken responsibility for the situation. She is currently being escorted safely."
Jane studied him. She noticed his posture, confident, that of someone accustomed to standing beside power.
"And you are?" She finally spoke. Curiosity sharp in her tone.
"I am the Duke of Northhill's personal guard," he replied, bowing just enough to remain polite.
Jane blinked, trying to process the information. Nobles did not serve other nobles. Not even the lowest among them.
He wasn't one of us. She thought.
"Oh," Jane said slowly, letting the word linger.
Aziah took a quick bow. "If you will excuse me," he said, turning smoothly and walking away.
Penelope watched him go, tilting her head. "Seems like an interesting young man." She murmured, her eyes following him.
Jane nodded absently, still taking in his presence. Neither of them noticed that Celestine had just stepped into the carriage, shielded by its polished wood. Penelope caught a glimpse of her through the window.
"We missed her," she whispered. "She must have been very shocked, I guess we won't see her again this time." She added. "Perhaps some other time."
Jane glanced at the carriage, but her attention lingered on Aziah as he disappeared into the crowd.
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The carriage rattled along the cobblestones, as Gaia chattered non-stop.
She thanked the heavens repeatedly, the Duke had arrived when he did and had saved her lady.
But Celestine only smiled and nodded in between, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
The mission. Lucian.
She had woken up in the middle of the plot and events were unfolding too quickly.
Lucian was this story's hero, and in no time he would choose the heroine.
How could it ever be her?
Celestine's head ached even more. She looked at the window, the sun dipped low, spilling warm shades of orange and purple across the sky.
Her chest tightened, as the town's rhythm slowed her. Without thinking, she called. "Stop the carriage!"
Gaia's brows furrowed. "My lady?"
But Celestine didn't answer. She stepped down, her heels clicking softly against the stone.
She moved towards a small fountain, the water shimmering from the fading lights, the coolness from the breeze touching her cheeks.
She observed as the world slowed around her, the laughter of children and the clatter of closing stalls painted the evening warmth.
Something she had never noticed in her novel.
Suddenly, a small figure collided into her. "Ah!"
Celestine reached out, holding him steady. But his ice cream smeared into her dress.
The young boy froze. "I….I am sorry…"
"It's alright." Celestine said softly, trying to wipe of the mess he made, with an handkerchief.
The woman chasing after him skidded to a halt. "Kale… i told you to slow down!" pulling him closer.
Her eyes fell on the smeared ice cream, "My apologies—
Gaia rushed in, immediately noticing the stain.
"My Lady…" her brows tightened. She faced the Woman and young boy. "Do you have any idea how much this dress cost?"
The Woman inclined her head to plead, then her gaze landed on the Crest pinned on Celestine's dress.
"The marquis's daughter…" The woman blurted out, immediately falling to her knees.
Celestine was stunned.
"I…I am so sorry… my lady." She panicked. "I didn't… realise…"
Gradually people stopped to stare as they murmured.
Poor lady…" one said.
"Such bad luck, she and her son will probably get flogged" another added.
"Worse, their fingers could get cut off" someone chimed in.
Celestine scanned the crowd. The image of the villainess preceeded her.
But she was different now.
"It's alright." Celestine reached out. "Truly it is." Pulling her to her feet.
The woman's gaze flickered, surprise glinting in them.
"It's just a dress." She said with a smile, then turned to the young boy. "Do you like bread?" She asked.
Kale's face was buried against his mother's dress. "Yes, I do."
Celestine offered him a piece of bread which Gaia had bought and kept in the carriage. "You can have it."
The young boy lifted his head to his mother. She stared back and gave him a nod.
With a smile on his face, he took the bread.
"Thank you, My lady." Kale said.
Celestine replied with a gentle smile.
The woman's tension eased, although disbelief still lingered. "I..I will pay for the dress, I will work for it…
"Really?" Celestine interrupted.
"Truly, its fine." She added. "Life is too short. Don't waste it on fear."
Gratitude and surprise lingered in their eyes for a moment, then the woman and her son departed, waving. The boy clutching the bread with a grin.
The crowd slowly dispersed, their expression shocked.
Celestine drew a short breath, the square quieting around her.
She felt it, the weight of her life, the novel she was trapped in. And deep down she knew, she was still the author of her choices.
Her fingers brushed against the handkerchief. She wasn't going to give up.
Not yet, and not without trying.
If this was a game, she was not going to go down with out using every card.
It was time, for the operation: seduce the Duke.