As I face the two envelopes both with the crest of the royal palace, Lady Rose, Miss Tan and Miss Louise anticipates on what should be open first.
'An invitation? A letter? I knew the palace will be asking for Celeste's presence sooner or later, but, this is too soon!'
As if hearing my worries, Sir Zeke enters the drawing room, "My Lady, I heard about the news. Are these the ones from the palace?"
We all nodded along, "May I speak freely?"
"What is it, Sir Zeke?"
'Now that I think about it, these envelopes are like ticking bomb knowing the content is like removing your innocence from whatever the palace wants. And there are only three royaly in this kingdom.'
Crown Prince Alexander.
The Emperor.
The Empress Dowager.
"You do not need to open these letters. You may remain feign ignorance and act like these lost in the mail." He suggests, 'Can I really do that? Can anyone in the kingdom just ignore the envelopes from the palace?'
"The Duke will handle all the affairs, if that's what you need and want. I... I apologize for not doing my job well enough. If I had found out about the Crown Prince and his nanny..."
'Not doing his job well enough.... Right, Sir Zeke in the novel remain loyal to Celeste until the end, and regretted not being more involved.'
When Celeste finds out that Alexander was having what seems to be an affair with Stella, before even they had a wedding, Sir Zeke feign ignorance and chooses to hope for the best for Celeste. Sir Zeke, felt guilty for not being more vocal when it comes to the lady's best welfare
"Thank you, Sir Zeke. But I know enough, and even I can not just feign my ignorance that there are two letters from the palace just a day after yesterday's fiasco."
'I know how cruel the palace can be. Celeste was executed by the palace's order without proper investigation. Did she really killed Stella? Celeste insisted until the very end it was not her, the alibi she has was not strong but despite her being the Villainess that she is, I still believe she did not do it. Somebody else plotted it, and put Celeste on that spot.'
I reached out to the invitation first, and saw the worries from Lady Rose's face, I smiled warmly before using the hand knife to remove the red crest.
[Empress Dowager's Seal
To Lady Rosenfield,
It is my esteemed pleasure to invite you to join me for a tea in the Heavenly Garden at the palace, on the 20th of this month, at the second hour past noon.
The Heavenly Garden, is in full bloom and beauty, and I would like to share this sight sith you.
Your attendance will greatly honor me and reflect your continued loyalty to the Crown.
Please make the necessary arrangements to ensure your timely arrival. The palace will provide the finest teas and refreshments for our enjoyment.
I look forward to the pleasure of your company.
With warm regards,
Empress Dowager Isabella
The Royal Palace of Astoria]
'The Empress Dowager?! I do not know anything about her, she was only mentioned once in the novel, and its really just for a family tree explanation. How could this happen? All I know is that she is a mean woman, Alexander sometimes mention her in the novel, how-how did this happen? Is she angry with me for turning down her grandson?!
"My Lady!" Lady Rose and the two others hugged me tightly, which I do not understand, is this hug because I just raised another deathflag given by the Empress Dowager?
I felt my soul coming right out my body, 'Well I thought I'll last much longer than this. That was a two-day for me as a Villainess.'
"Lady Celeste, aren't you excited?" Sir Zeke asked, "W-Why?"
"You've been wanting to meet her since you were merely ten, the ton knows that the Empress Dowager do not attend social events nor invite anyone. Many says she's just waiting for her time—"
"Sir Zeke!"
Looking at Lady Rose and Sir Zeke, maybe they are quite close to each other?
'I suppose its not bad to see the Empress Dowager. Whether this is just her showing her wrath or not, might as well fulfilling Celeste's desire to meet this woman.'
"Now for the other letter."
"I do not really think you need that one."
"Wha-Sir Zeke why—"
"In return of taking this letter, may I present to you, My Lady. The diamonds extracted from your wedding dress."
I felt my eyes lit up as he presented the diamonds.
'Maybe Celeste and I have a thing for such gems.'
Sir Zeke felt a relief that after almost a day of finding a way to make the lady smile, he finally sees it.
"These are magnificent," I said, her fingers delicately tracing over the sparkling stones. "I adore diamonds, and these are truly special."
I glanced up at Zeke, her eyes gleaming with appreciation. "I thought you might like them. They will indeed look perfect on you."
I nodded, already envisioning how the diamonds will be used. 'Its a box of diamonds. All in different sizes'
"Thank you, Sir Zeke."