Avery descended the grand staircase slowly, the soft swish of her dress and the echo of her heels against the polished marble the only sounds in the otherwise silent corridor. Her heart raced in her chest, but outwardly, she forced herself to remain calm. She had been Lady Celeste for all of an hour, yet already, the reality of her situation was starting to sink in. This wasn't a dream, nor was it some fevered hallucination. She was living inside the world she had created—the story she had written. And now, as Celeste Duvernay, the villainess of her own tale, she was about to meet her 'family' for the first time.
Her steps slowed as she approached the doors to the drawing room. Beyond them, she knew what awaited: her father, Duke August Duvernay, her mother, Duchess Mariana, and, of course, her younger sister, Lady Evelisse—the beloved heroine of The Prince and His Rose. The thought sent a wave of unease through her. How was she supposed to play the role of Celeste, when every fiber of her being rejected what the villainess had done in the story?
With a deep breath, Avery pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
The room was just as she had described in her novel—luxurious and grand, with tall windows draped in rich fabrics, elegant furniture arranged in perfect symmetry, and a grand chandelier casting a soft glow over everything. But it was the people in the room who truly stole her breath away.
Duke August Duvernay sat at the head of the room, his imposing figure exactly as she had envisioned. He was broad-shouldered, with graying hair at the temples and sharp, calculating eyes. Next to him was Duchess Mariana, a beautiful woman in her middle years, with an air of regal grace and cool detachment. But it was Evelisse who drew her attention next.
Her sister was stunning, just as Avery had written her—blonde, delicate, and angelic, with a golden heart to match. She stood beside Prince Adrian, her cheeks flushed with a soft pink hue, her fingers nervously twisting the lace handkerchief in her hands.
And then there was Adrian.
Avery's breath caught in her throat as her eyes landed on him. He was more handsome than she had ever imagined—tall and regal, with a face that seemed carved from marble. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his piercing blue eyes were framed by thick lashes. But his expression was as cold as she remembered from her book—distant, aloof, and completely disinterested in Celeste.
She tried not to stare at him, but it was difficult. He was the prince—her prince, or at least, the prince of her story. And now, he stood before her, every bit the character she had created, except for one thing: he was staring at her.
Avery's mind raced. Why is he staring at me? Prince Adrian never looked at Celeste like this before.
The weight of his gaze unsettled her, but she quickly schooled her features into a mask of calm. This was her world now, and if she didn't want to give away the fact that she was no longer the real Celeste, she needed to play her part.
"Celeste," her father greeted her, his voice deep and authoritative. "You're late."
"Apologies, Father," she replied, dipping into a graceful curtsy. Her voice came out smoother than she expected, and she was grateful for the instincts that seemed to be taking over.
Her mother gave her a cool smile, her eyes assessing. "You look… radiant, dear."
"Thank you, Mother," Avery—no, Celeste—responded, glancing around the room as she took her seat.
Her gaze flickered back to the prince, and to her surprise, he was still watching her. She met his eyes for a brief moment, trying to ignore the strange twist in her stomach at the intensity of his stare. Why is he acting so strangely? she wondered again.
Formalities were exchanged, with polite conversation filling the room as they all settled into their places. Evelisse remained quiet, her hands folded demurely in her lap as she sneaked shy glances at the prince. Celeste's parents engaged in light conversation, though Avery could sense the tension beneath the surface. Today was an important day—the day that would set into motion the very events that would lead to Celeste's downfall. Today was the day her parents would announce Evelisse's engagement to the crown prince.
Avery clenched her hands in her lap, trying to keep her nerves at bay. She remembered exactly how this scene had unfolded in her book. Evelisse would blush with happiness as the announcement was made, and Celeste, filled with jealousy and spite, would begin plotting her revenge. It was the beginning of her transformation into the cruel villainess who would do everything in her power to tear Evelisse and Adrian apart.
But now, standing in Celeste's shoes, Avery couldn't imagine being that heartless. How could Celeste have ever hated her sweet, innocent sister so much?
As her thoughts spiraled, Duke August cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "We have gathered today for a very special announcement," he began, his voice solemn. "It is with great pride that we formally announce the engagement of our beloved daughter, Evelisse, to His Royal Highness, Prince Adrian."
A chorus of congratulations followed, and Evelisse's face lit up with a shy, radiant smile. She looked at the prince with adoration, but to Avery's surprise, Adrian didn't return her gaze. In fact, his expression hadn't changed at all. Instead, his eyes remained locked on Celeste—on Avery.
And then, in a moment that sent a cold chill down Avery's spine, Prince Adrian rose from his seat.
"I'm afraid I must interrupt," he said, his voice firm and clear, cutting through the room like a blade.
All eyes turned to him, confusion flickering across Evelisse's face as she looked up at him in surprise. Duke August frowned, and Duchess Mariana raised an eyebrow in silent question. Avery's heart began to race, the air in the room growing thick with tension.
Adrian's gaze swept over the room, finally settling back on Avery. "There has been a mistake," he said. "While I have great respect for Lady Evelisse, it is not her I wish to marry."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Avery's stomach dropped. What is happening? This wasn't how the story was supposed to go. Adrian was supposed to be in love with Evelisse, devoted to her above all else. Why was he saying this?
Evelisse blinked, her voice barely a whisper. "But… Your Highness, I thought—"
Adrian cut her off with a sharp shake of his head. "The one I wish to marry," he said, his voice ringing with certainty, "is Lady Celeste."
Avery's breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling with shock. This was impossible. This wasn't supposed to happen. Adrian was supposed to despise Celeste, to see her as nothing more than a nuisance, an obstacle in his love for Evelisse. Yet now, he stood before her, declaring that she was the one he wanted to marry.
The room erupted into chaos. Evelisse gasped, her face paling as tears welled in her eyes. The duke and duchess exchanged shocked glances, their carefully composed masks slipping for the first time. Avery, still frozen in her seat, could only stare at Adrian, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"How could this be?" Evelisse stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "You said… you said you loved me."
Adrian's gaze softened for a brief moment as he looked at Evelisse, but then his eyes hardened once more. "I thought I did," he said. "But I have come to realize that my true feelings lie elsewhere."
The words struck like a dagger to Avery's heart. True feelings? Prince Adrian had never loved Celeste in the story—he had barely tolerated her! So why, now that Avery had taken her place, was he saying these things?
She glanced around the room, searching for an explanation, for some hint that this was all a misunderstanding, a terrible joke. But the expressions on her parents' faces, on Evelisse's face, told her otherwise. This was real. This was happening.
The weight of the moment pressed down on her, suffocating in its intensity. As Adrian's eyes remained fixed on her, Avery realized that everything she thought she knew about this world, about the characters she had created, was shifting beneath her feet.
And in that moment, she understood: this was no longer her story. The rules had changed. And she, now Lady Celeste, was at the center of it all.