Deviating from the original plot

Chapter nineteen

"Now, now, be nice, Celeste," Ria said with a laugh, lifting her glass of punch as though nothing was wrong. "We're all here to enjoy ourselves."

Gradually, the table settled into a quiet, uneasy rhythm as everyone began to eat. Victoria reached for a scone, doing her best to ignore the tension. But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Celeste shooting daggers at her.

'Ah... she remembers me. Well, she did say she'd never forget,' Victoria thought dryly, taking a bite of the scone.

Just then, Evelyn leaned in and whispered softly beside her, "Lady Victoria, what's your favourite dessert?"

Victoria blinked. "My favourite dessert? That's... random."

"Come on," Evelyn urged with a small smile. "I want to know."

"I suppose... red velvet cake?" She answered after a pause.

"Red velvet cake...It suits you," Evelyn laughed, and Victoria became puzzled.

"Um... Lady Celeste, do you like fruits? I noticed you've been enjoying quite a bit of it," Maura said, attempting to lighten the mood with a polite smile.

Victoria barely held back a snort.

Celeste shot her a cold look. "That's a rather stupid question. Perhaps you should mind your own business."

Maura flinched slightly, caught off guard by the hostility. The atmosphere around the table shifted again, the ladies clearly unimpressed by Celeste's response.

"She was just trying to be friendly," Fiona said with a disapproving frown.

"Did I ask her to be?" Celeste replied sharply.

"That's not the point," Fiona countered, her tone firm. "It's called basic courtesy."

"Keep your courtesies to yourselves," Celeste said, disinterested. "I didn't come here to mingle with unremarkable people."

"Unremarkable?!" Fiona echoed sharply, her tone rising with anger.

"Oh, don't take it to heart, Lady Fiona," Ria cut in smoothly, flashing a mischievous smile. "I'm sure Lady Celeste is simply upset we're not discussing her favourite topic—herself."

"Tch..." Fiona rolled her eyes.

Ria turned toward Celeste. "So, Celeste, when can we expect the engagement announcement?"

Victoria shot Ria a subtle glance. That question wasn't innocent—she knew exactly what she was stirring.

Celeste's smile was tight. "The Crown Prince has a great deal of responsibility at the moment. Once things settle, the engagement will move forward."

"Or maybe he's just taking his time," Fiona muttered to herself. "No respectable man would willingly commit to someone so vile."

Elenora chimed in with a sigh. "Lady Celeste really is fortunate to be promised to someone like the Crown Prince. I wish my betrothed was half as handsome."

Celeste had a smug look on her face. "Oh, I know how lucky I am. To be destined as Crown Princess—and, in time, Queen. The Crown Prince and I are perfect for each other."

Victoria fought the urge to roll her eyes. Hearing Celeste boast about a man who barely acknowledged her was almost painful.

"Lady Victoria, do you like pineapple?" Evelyn suddenly asked quietly while the conversation went on.

Victoria blinked at her. "Uh... yes?"

"Open up," Evelyn said with a sweet smile, lifting a forkful of pineapple to Victoria's lips.

Confused, Victoria hesitated, then opened her mouth. Evelyn fed her the fruit with a pleased smile.

'Okay, this is weird; why did she do that?' Victoria thought as she slowly chewed, cheeks slightly warm under the attention.

Evelyn giggled softly. 'So cute,' she thought, still watching her.

"As if he weren't already the perfect gentleman," Maura added cheerfully. "Oh! Remember the night of the first ball? The one we held in his honour? He saved Lady Evelyn and then danced with her."

Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts the moment she heard her name. "What?"

"The Crown Prince", Maura clarified. "You danced with him, didn't you?"

Victoria stiffened slightly, eyes widening. Of all the things they could've brought up...

Evelyn gave a small nod, her tone lacking enthusiasm. "Oh... yes. I did."

"What was it like?" Elenora asked eagerly. "I mean, Celeste might be his fiancée, but you're the only woman who's actually been seen in public with him."

"I remember that night vividly," Fiona chimed in with a smirk. "You both looked enchanting together. You seemed to enjoy each other's company."

Across the table, Celeste's expression darkened. Her nails curled into her palms beneath the table.

"He was just being kind," Evelyn said flatly. "He stepped in to help me when a man tried to harass me."

"So romantic," Elenora sighed dreamily.

"I don't know..." Maura mused aloud. "The two of you looked like a better match. People were talking about it for days. Even the papers published something, though they later retracted it."

Victoria bit her lip and glanced at Celeste, who looked ready to explode. 'This isn't going to end well...'

"You shouldn't say that," Evelyn said, shaking her head. "He's already promised to someone."

Celeste glared at Evelyn, gritting her teeth as she spoke. 'How dare she...'

"You're so noble, Lady Evelyn," Fiona sighed. "Still... I think you'd make a lovely queen."

"I don't like the sound of that at all," Evelyn muttered, frowning.

Celeste's voice came cold and venomous. "What woman wouldn't want to be queen? Who are you trying to fool with that innocent act?"

"Pardon?" Evelyn blinked.

It is happening...

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A/n: Hello friends! I am back. Thank you to all of you read and voted on my story. It really means a lot to me! So the Villainess and the Heroine finally met. How do you all think it will go?

Anyways, please vote and comment your thoughts.

-Cattycat🐾