"I guess I'll have to really live as a Villainess... for now."
On Celeste's bedside table, I gathered my thoughts and began to jot down what needed to be addressed and done.
[How To Avoid Deathflags!]
[1. Remember all the key plots in "The Star and the Crown Prince"]
[2. If Celeste marries Alexander, a year later she kills the Royal Consort—Stella]
'Yes, marrying Alexander is definitely the first deathflag.'
[3. Celeste's jealousy makes everyone believe that all the bad things happening to Stella are because of her.]
'Well, she does plot to make Stella's life miserable sometimes, but honestly, Stella's own naivety doesn't help either! Ugh, I despise naive characters.'
'So, I have to avoid that. Better to be cautious than dead!'
[4. The ending...]
I stared at the pen in my hand, my mind blank. Frowning, I tapped my fingers nervously against the wooden table, furrowing my brows.
"What was the ending again?" I muttered, almost whispering. The words felt foreign, like grasping at fragments of a long-forgotten dream.
"Regardless, avoiding my first deathflag is what matters most!"
Before climbing into bed, I jotted down other pieces of information that I thought would be useful if I were to stay in this world as Celeste.
When I blinked awake, the early morning light streamed through my window. The flurry of activity just outside my chambers caught my attention. Slipping out of bed, I opened the door to find a bustling scene.
Seamstresses rushed past, their arms laden with fabric. Jewelers carried velvet boxes, and fragrance testers wafted various scents through the air. Even servants with trays of desserts scurried about.
"What on earth is going on?" I muttered, stepping into the chaos.
Lady Rose appeared, her ginger hair slightly askew, indicating the frenzy of the morning. "My Lady, we didn't mean to wake you with the noise! We were just about to bring breakfast to your chambers."
"Lady Rose, why are there so many people here?" I asked, bewildered. "It looks like the entire marketplace has moved into the household."
She gave me a knowing look. "My Lady, after yesterday's... incident—"
"The Duke suggested it would be best for you to indulge in your favorite activities," Sir Zeke interrupted, appearing out of the blue.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I appreciate the gesture, but this is too much. The household is in chaos."
Sir Zeke and Lady Rose exchanged astonished glances. 'Sh*t, right. Celeste's coping mechanism is spending money.'
"What I mean is, it's too early in the morning. This bustling woke me from my sleep!" I stated, looking at them for validation. 'This is more like it, right? Celeste acting like a brat because they're bustling so early in the morning, worried I might sulk in my room because of what happened yesterday, at the altar.'
Lady Rose and Miss Tan and Miss Louise helped me prep my chambers before we headed downstairs to the salon, where the seamstresses and jewelers awaited me.
As I stepped into the drawing room, a man with a monocle and cane, adorned with a timekeeper and rings on both hands, greeted me. Beside him stood a mistress in a dark purple dress, wearing a feathered fascinator that covered half of her face. The jeweler and seamstress awaited my arrival.
The seamstress, a petite woman with sharp eyes and nimble fingers, curtsied deeply. "Good morning, Lady Celeste. It is a pleasure to see you today. I have brought the finest fabrics and the latest designs for your selection."
[Madame Corinne, the most renowned seamstress in the Astoria Kingdom. Born into a family of tailors, she quickly surpassed her parents' skills and gained recognition for her exquisite designs and impeccable craftsmanship. Her talent and ambition led her to establish her own atelier in the heart of the capital, where the elite of society come to have their garments custom-made.
A woman of refined taste, always impeccably dressed in the latest fashions she herself creates. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and high standards, she accepts only the most distinguished clients. And Celeste is her most valuable customer, ensuring she shines among the ton at balls, parties, and social events.]
"Madame Corinne, you finally made it," I said with a hint of impatience.
Madame Corinne's favorable attitude toward me is as fickle as a dog wagging its tail for whoever holds the treat. Once Celeste became the unwanted bride of the Crown Prince, she quickly saw an opportunity to further her business and secure her position at the top of Astoria's fashion world by favoring Stella over Celeste.
"I hope you've brought something worthy of my attention this time."
"Ah, Lady Celeste," she began, her tone overly sweet. "I have brought my finest designs, ones that no one has seen yet. I was saving them for the moment you became Crown Princess..." She trailed off, curiosity visibly piqued. "But alas, that moment didn't come to pass, did it?"
Just looking at her, I could see the wheels turning in her mind trying to piece together what really had happened.
"Madame Corinne, get to the point," I said, not hiding my irritation.
She blinked, then nodded. "Of course, my Lady." She clapped her hands, and her assistants began to unveil a series of stunning dresses. "These are the latest fashions, the pinnacle of my craft. I designed them with you in mind, my muse, envisioning you at the center of the court's attention."
The dresses were breathtaking, but I could see her struggling to hold back her questions. Finally, she couldn't contain herself. "Lady Celeste, if I may be so bold, what happened at the altar? And what of the wedding dress? The one that was commissioned from that foreign seamstress—" she spat the word, her disdain evident. "I was quite offended that the royalty didn't hire me for such an important task."
Her insensitivity and lack of discretion were staggering. 'How can she have other noble clients if she can't hold her tongue? I suppose her refreshing and sharp-tongue personality poses an opening for the noble ladies to share their sentiments as the seamstress preps their clients, for Madame Corinne have the guts to say what everbody else was thinking making the ladies of the tons feel that freedom even just for a session with her.'
I clenched my jaw, taking a deep breath before responding. "Madame Corinne, some things are better left unsaid. Focus on the task at hand."
She nodded, though I could see the disappointment in her eyes. She had always been a blabbermouth, caring more about gossip than the feelings of her clients. "Of course, my Lady. I meant no offense."
As I made my choices, Madame Corinne's assistant, a young lady with round glasses and bangs tied in pigtail braids, scribbled notes diligently, burying her face in her pen and paper. Compared to her mistress, she seemed rather plain. 'How does Madame Corinne allow her right-hand woman to look so... unfashionable? Isn't that bad or business?'
Caught between Madame Corinne's designs and her assistant's lackluster presence, I was relieved when Lady Rose asked for permission to leave us briefly to fetch refreshments.
Outside the drawing room, Sir Zeke had been waiting, and Lady Rose greeted him with a silent communication passing between them.
"How is Lady Celeste?"
"I worry for her, Zeke," Lady Rose whispered carefully, barely audible. "She wouldn't even confide in Madame Corinne about these fiascos with the Crown Prince. She usually calls on her for everything. I fear she's putting on a brave face for us, but this engagement... Did you really not know she planned to bolt from the altar?"
Sir Zeke nodded, his expression grim. "The Duke believes this will help her cope. But we must be vigilant. She needs our support now more than ever."
Lady Rose sighed. "We'll do what we can. For her sake." She withdrew from the conversation politely to fetch the refreshments to her Lady and to the seamstress.