Zara woke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. Her first thought was relief: no more quests had been issued—yet. But her second thought sent a pang of unease through her.
Lady Celeste Devereaux.
Adrian's childhood friend. A noblewoman of striking beauty, refined manners, and razor-sharp intellect. In the original novel, Celeste was Lavinia's greatest rival, both in social standing and in Adrian's affections. While Adrian didn't reciprocate Celeste's feelings, her presence added tension to every scene she was in, and she was unyielding in her attempts to expose Lavinia's faults.
System Alert:
Warning: A significant character has entered the narrative.
Character Profile: Lady Celeste Devereaux
Childhood friend of Adrian Valmont.
Unspoken feelings for Adrian.
Highly intelligent and suspicious.
Advice: Maintain composure and don't antagonize her unnecessarily.
"Wonderful," Zara muttered. "It's like the universe wants to keep throwing fire at me."
Clara entered with a cheery smile, oblivious to Zara's inner turmoil. "Lady Lavinia, the Duke has requested your presence in the garden. He mentioned Lady Celeste has returned and will be joining him for tea."
Zara froze mid-bite of her toast. Tea? Already?
The garden was as picturesque as ever, with its carefully trimmed hedges, blooming roses, and elegant wrought-iron furniture. Adrian sat at the table, his back straight and his expression as cold as usual.
Beside him sat Lady Celeste. She was even more stunning in person than Zara had imagined, with honey-colored hair cascading in soft waves and green eyes that glinted like polished emeralds. Her dress, a soft lavender, brought out the glow of her fair skin, and the confidence in her posture was almost unnerving.
As Zara approached, she plastered on her most charming smile. Play nice. Play smart.
"Ah, Lavinia," Adrian said, his tone neutral as he stood to greet her. "You're late."
"I apologize," Zara replied smoothly, curtsying. "I wanted to look my best for such an important guest."
Celeste rose gracefully, her lips curving into a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Lady Lavinia. It's been far too long."
"It has," Zara said, forcing warmth into her tone. "And might I say, Lady Celeste, time has only made you more radiant."
"Flattery suits you," Celeste replied lightly, though her gaze was anything but.
The tea began, and the conversation felt like walking a tightrope over a pit of snapping alligators. Celeste asked pointed questions, her every word designed to put Zara on edge.
"Tell me, Lady Lavinia," Celeste began, her voice sweet, "how have you been occupying yourself recently? I hear the Duchess Dowager has taken quite the interest in you. That must be… intimidating."
Zara resisted the urge to glare. She's fishing for weaknesses. Don't give her any.
"It's been a wonderful opportunity," Zara replied with a serene smile. "Her Grace has been nothing but kind to me."
Celeste's brows lifted slightly. "How fortunate. You must have made quite an impression. After all, not everyone can win over someone as discerning as the Duchess Dowager."
Zara smirked inwardly. She doesn't know I already passed the test.
"I simply showed her my sincerity," Zara said. "Honesty and humility go a long way, wouldn't you agree?"
Adrian, to Zara's surprise, glanced at her with a flicker of something resembling amusement.
As the conversation continued, Zara began to notice something odd. While Celeste's words were sharp, her gaze would often drift toward Adrian, softening whenever he wasn't looking. Oh, so it's like that, Zara thought.
It wasn't hard to see why Celeste was drawn to him. Adrian, with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes, carried himself with an air of effortless authority. He was every bit the cold, brooding duke that romance novels thrived on.
But Zara wasn't here for romance—at least, not willingly. Her goal was survival.
Still, the tension between Celeste and Adrian was palpable, and Zara couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her rival. Loving someone like Adrian must have been exhausting.
The tipping point came when the conversation shifted to Adrian himself.
"Adrian," Celeste said, her voice softening, "do you remember the time we visited the lake near Devereaux Manor? We used to spend hours there, skipping stones. You were so good at it—you even taught me."
Adrian's expression didn't change. "I do. It was a long time ago."
Zara bit back a laugh. Wow. Way to kill the mood, Duke Iceberg.
Celeste's smile faltered for the briefest moment before she turned to Zara. "And you, Lady Lavinia? Do you have any cherished memories with Adrian?"
Zara blinked, caught off guard. Memories? Are you kidding me? She searched her mind frantically, trying to recall anything Lavinia might have done with Adrian in the novel. Unfortunately, the answer was mostly just arguments and drama.
"Well…" Zara began, stalling. "I wouldn't call them cherished memories, but every moment with Adrian is certainly… memorable."
Adrian's gaze snapped to hers, his eyes narrowing slightly. Celeste tilted her head, clearly waiting for more.
"I'll never forget the first time I saw him," Zara said, improvising. "He was walking through the estate gardens, looking as though he owned the entire world. I thought to myself, 'There goes the most arrogant man I've ever seen.'"
There was a beat of silence before Adrian scoffed, and to Zara's surprise, Celeste let out a soft laugh.
"Well," Celeste said, "I suppose that's one way to describe him."
The tea ended without further incident, though Zara could feel Celeste's eyes on her the entire time. As she left the garden, she let out a sigh of relief.
System Alert: A Hidden Objective Has Been Triggered.
Objective: Keep Lady Celeste from becoming a dangerous enemy.
Progress: Neutral.
"Of course," Zara muttered. "It's never simple, is it?"