Deviating from the original plot

Chapter six

"There you are!" Rosalie beamed as soon as she spotted Victoria.

Cedric smirked. "So, cousin, are you ready?"

Victoria hesitated before admitting, "Not really."

Her grandparents chuckled, with the Duke adding, "Go easy on her, you lot. We wouldn't want her getting injured right before her birthday."

"We'll take good care of her," Rosalie promised.

Edmund, however, grinned mischievously. "We won't let her fall too hard."

Cedric rolled his eyes. "Let's try not to scare her off before she even steps onto the ice."

Victoria sighed, already second-guessing her decision. "Alright..."

Rosalie laughed, cheerfully looping her arm through Victoria's. "That's the spirit! Trust me, you'll love it."

"I want to skate too!" came Clara's tiny voice, full of excitement.

Everyone turned to see Clara hurrying toward them, bundled up in a thick coat that made her look even smaller, her eyes filled with excitement.

Edmund laughed. "Are you sure about this, Clara? You're still pretty small."

Clara puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms. "I'm not too small! I want to skate just like everyone else."

Edmund chuckled. "But you are, though."

Clara stomped her little boot against the floor. "I am not! I want to skate!"

Everyone laughed at the siblings' playful banter, and even Victoria couldn't help but smile.

"She's been talking about it all morning, like she would actually go." Edmund added with amusement.

"Well, she can if she wants to." Then Cedric crouched slightly to meet Clara's gaze. "That's if you are not going to be scared."

Clara huffs. "I won't! I'm brave!"

Rosalie chuckled. "Well, I suppose if someone holds onto you, it should be fine."

Clara's face lit up instantly. "Really?"

"Really," she confirmed, and Clara squealed in delight.

With that, they all made their way toward the frozen lake at the edge of the estate. The ice shimmered beneath the pale winter sun, and a few servants were already clearing away fresh snow from the surface. As Victoria took in the vast, glistening expanse, uncertainty crept over her once more.

Cedric must have noticed because he nudged her playfully. "Don't worry, cousin. Don't be scared, besides falling is part of the process. And we're going to make sure you experience it to the fullest."

Victoria shot him a flat look, which only made him laugh.

Rosalie, meanwhile, handed her a pair of skates. "Come on, let's get you ready."

Victoria took them hesitantly, watching as her cousins slipped theirs on with ease. Nearby, Clara could barely sit still, tugging impatiently on Edmund's coat as she waited for help with hers.

Taking a deep breath, Victoria knelt down and began lacing up her skates. She could do this. Hopefully.

Once her skates were secured, Victoria carefully stood up, wobbling slightly as she tried to find her balance. She gripped the nearest stable surface—Cedric's arm—without hesitation.

He chuckled. "Not even on the ice yet, and you're already holding on for dear life?"

Victoria shot him a glare but refused to let go. "This is hard."