"Miss Celestia," the maid began with a slight bow, her eyes downcast before meeting Celestia's gaze with a sense of urgency.
"What is it?" Celestia inquired, her tone tinged with impatience.
"I have been ordered to inform you of an interview you and Madam Rosella must attend to. I have to get you ready this instant, Miss Celestia," the maid explained, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety.
Celestia's brow furrowed as she considered the implications of the maid's words.
"Do I have to go in this attire?" she questioned, her tone dripping with disdain as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her dissatisfaction evident.
The maid hesitated for a moment before responding, her expression carefully neutral.
"Madam Rosella insists that you present yourself in your finest attire for this occasion, Miss Celestia," she replied, her voice soft yet resolute.
Celestia's lips pressed into a thin line, a silent acknowledgment of the inevitable. With a resigned sigh, she nodded in acquiescence.
"Very well," she conceded, her tone begrudging.
As the maid busied herself with making final adjustments to Celestia's appearance, the young girl couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration brewing within her. Despite her reluctance, she knew she had little choice but to comply with her mother's wishes.
With a heavy heart, she allowed the maid to lead her away, her thoughts consumed by the impending interview and the weight of expectations that hung over her like a shadow.
"You look beautiful, Miss," the maid complimented, her words echoed by nods of agreement from the others.
"Your mother is calling you down. You must leave right away for the interview," Another maid mentioned as she walked in.
With an annoyed glint in her eyes, Celestia nodded before turning to leave the room.
She approached her mother, who was already dressed impeccably for the interview. As they stood face to face, their eyes briefly met before quickly averting, both masking their true emotions.
They made their way to the waiting car in silence, the air thick with tension.
Once inside, the car pulled away, the quietness enveloping them like a heavy blanket. It was only broken when Rosella finally spoke up.
"Don't embarrass me," she said tersely.
"Yes, mother," Celestia mumbled, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. She had no desire to engage in further conversation with her mother, the weight of their strained relationship hanging heavily in the air between them.
As they arrived at Café Cappuccino, a two-story building, Celestia spotted the male journalist who lightly waved towards them. She was the first to step out of the car, followed by her mother, who returned the wave with a practiced smile. They entered the café and settled into their chairs, Celestia positioning herself by the window while Rosella took a seat closer to the journalist, who positioned himself opposite Celestia.
"I just want to say, it's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Levant... a-and you too, Miss Celestia. My name is Alonzo Knight," the journalist introduced himself, his gaze lingering on Rosella with admiration.
In his moment of awe, he seemed to forget Celestia's presence entirely. When he attempted to correct himself, he stumbled over his words, revealing a stutter that Celestia struggled to suppress an eye roll at.
Clearing his throat, the journalist opened up his notebook, clicking the top of his pen to release the tip.
"Since this article will be based on the relationship between you, Mrs. Levant, and your daughter, I would like to ask first, what type of activities do you do to spend time with each other?" He directed his question towards both women, his gaze shifting between them expectantly.
"Go on, Celestia," Rosella urged her daughter with a playful nudge, prompting Celestia to nod and speak up.
"We watch movies, cook together, and make lovely dishes, but the kitchen always ends up in a mess," Celestia answered smoothly, though every word rang false. Rosella's giggle that followed seemed to reassure the journalist, his smile growing wider at the apparent closeness between mother and daughter.
"Next question is…" the journalist continued, addressing Rosella, but Celestia's attention had already drifted elsewhere.
She let out a small huff of boredom, her eyes wandering around the café in a disinterested manner, her frustration evident even as her fringe fluttered with the movement.
As Celestia glanced out the window, her gaze caught a figure waving towards her, and a spark of recognition flickered in her brown orbs when she realized it was Han. He waved his hands frantically, his expression conveying urgency as he tried to convey something to her.
"What are you trying to say?" Celestia silently mouthed to him, her curiosity piqued by his animated gestures.
Han paused, his brow furrowing in concentration as he searched for another way to communicate. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with an idea, and he began to mimic claws with his hands, scrunching up his face in a comical expression. He stomped his feet and danced about, trying to convey his message through exaggerated movements.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Celestia's lips as she watched Han's antics, finding amusement in his attempt to communicate nonverbally. However, her moment of distraction was interrupted by her mother's voice.
"Celestia?" Rosella's voice snapped her out of her daze, and Celestia turned to face her mother, her attention fully back on the interview at hand.
"Huh?" Rosella's voice was puzzled as she called out to Celestia, who seemed momentarily lost in thought. She glanced over to the window, following her daughter's gaze with mild curiosity.
Han quickly ducked out of sight just before Rosella could catch a glimpse of him, prompting a small sigh of relief from Celestia.
"Is something wrong?" Alonzo's voice cut through the moment, his confusion evident in his expression as he observed Celestia's behavior.
"I just need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me," Celestia replied hastily, not giving them a chance to respond. With a sense of urgency, she hurried over to the female toilets, eager to escape from their line of sight as quickly as possible.
Finding an opened window next to the stalls, Celestia summoned her arm strength to pull herself up. She managed to slip most of her body through the window, but soon found herself stuck, her backside wedged awkwardly.
A frown settled onto her features as she became conscious of her predicament. Glancing around, she spotted Han still crouched by the window and decided to call out to him.
"Han," she called, her voice loud enough for him to hear.
His head tilted back to look up at Celestia for a moment before he returned it back into its normal position as he quickly crawled away from the window he was by.
"There are some demons-" He tried to speak up, but she calmly cut him off.
"Tell me after I get out of here. I'm stuck," she stated, her tone composed despite her predicament.
Surprised by her words, Han couldn't stop himself from lightly chuckling over her situation, earning a brief glare from Celestia.
"Help me now," she urged, her tone firm, as she quickly moved to grasp his hands.
He tugged and heaved until Celestia felt herself slipping out and landing on top of her friend. The impact knocked the wind out of her momentarily, but she quickly propped herself up on her elbows, intending to apologize for causing him harm. However, as she looked at him from up close, she found herself momentarily mesmerized by his features.
"Celestia?" His voice, soft and concerned, pulled her out of her reverie, causing her heart to flutter unexpectedly.
Blinking away the strange sensation, Celestia swiftly decided to get up and create some distance between herself and Han. She adjusted her hair and cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. Turning to him, she extended her hand to help him up.
Slipping his hand into hers, she grasped it tightly, intending to pull him up. But just as she exerted force to lift him, the heels she despised decided to betray her yet again. With a wobble, she lost her balance and stumbled forward, falling into Han's chest. In a reflex, he wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice as he looked down at her.
As Celestia tilted her head back to meet his gaze, she realized that her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. Han's eyes widened in surprise at the sight, and for a moment, they both remained locked in a silent exchange.
"Let's go before the demons are killed again," Celestia mentioned, her voice carrying a hint of urgency as she tried to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness of their earlier encounter.
"R-Right," Han stammered in response, still slightly flustered from the unexpected intimacy of their close proximity.
With a shared sense of determination, the two rushed off, Celestia's frustration evident as she kicked her heels off in annoyance at one point and continued running barefoot towards the location in the forest where they detected the demons. Each step seemed to echo with the weight of missed opportunities and the burden of their responsibilities.
Despite their best efforts, they arrived too late, the scene before them a grim reminder of their failure. Celestia's heart sank as she surveyed the lifeless forms of the demons strewn across the forest floor, their once menacing presence now reduced to mere husks.
"We missed it again?!" Han exclaimed, his voice tinged with frustration and disappointment.
Feeling a sense of responsibility weighing heavily upon her shoulders, Celestia murmured an apology, her gaze falling to the ground as she struggled to come to terms with their failure. But before she could dwell on her guilt any longer, Han shook his head, his expression gentle yet resolute.
"It's alright, Celestia," he reassured her, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled mind.
A heavy silence settled over the two as they stood amidst the remnants of their defeat, the air thick with unspoken emotions.
They watched in silence as the pile of dead demons began to wither away into ash, carried away by the wind like whispers of regret fading into the ether.
As the last traces of the fallen demons vanished, Celestia couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss wash over her.
"Just how fast is this demon?" Han questioned, the disbelief in his tone making it clear that he couldn't believe what had transpired.
Celestia hesitated, knowing that revealing the full truth about the demon's speed would also disclose her connection to Zerro.
"I don't know, but the demon's presence has definitely gotten stronger since the last time we sensed it," she admitted, her worry palpable as her heart hammered in her chest.
"We need to lure the demon so then we can catch them," Han suggested, but Celestia felt a wave of apprehension wash over her. She couldn't bear the thought of putting Han in harm's way, especially if their plan involved confronting a powerful demon.
"I think we need to stop this. What...what happens if you or I get hurt?" she voiced her concern, her words laced with genuine worry for their safety.
To her surprise, a smile appeared on Han's face as he reached out to reassure her.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Celestia, but we have each other, and that's what makes us strong. No demon will be able to defeat us."
Celestia wanted to protest, to argue against risking their lives for a cause that seemed increasingly perilous. But the unwavering faith shining in Han's chocolate brown eyes made her feel weak, her resolve faltering in the face of his conviction. Unable to meet his gaze, she lowered her eyes to the ground.
"Okay," she conceded, her voice barely above a whisper, a mixture of resignation and uncertainty lingering in her tone.